Patents by Inventor John A. Volk

John A. Volk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6766981
    Abstract: Disposed on each wing of an aircraft adjacent the wing tip is at least one deflector mechanism for twisting the wings as part of a control system for alleviating a gust load on the wing. The wing twisting is performed in conjunction with a vertical motion sensor, a sensor signal processor, and a deflector controller. The vertical motion sensor measures the vertical motion of the wing tip in response to the gust load on the wing and generates a sensor output signal. A sensor signal processor generates a deflector control signal in response to the sensor output signal. The deflector control signal represents the duration and degree of the deflector mechanism movement effective to counteract an increase in bending moment on the wing due to a gust load on the wing. A deflector controller regulates the deflector mechanism movement in response to the deflector control signal such that the deflector mechanism is alternately deployed and retracted into and out of the airstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Volk
  • Publication number: 20040079835
    Abstract: Disposed on each wing of an aircraft adjacent the wing tip is at least one deflector mechanism for twisting the wings as part of a control system for alleviating a gust load on the wing. The wing twisting is performed in conjunction with a vertical motion sensor, a sensor signal processor, and a deflector controller. The vertical motion sensor measures the vertical motion of the wing tip in response to the gust load on the wing and generates a sensor output signal. A sensor signal processor generates a deflector control signal in response to the sensor output signal. The deflector control signal represents the duration and degree of the deflector mechanism movement effective to counteract an increase in bending moment on the wing due to a gust load on the wing. A deflector controller regulates the deflector mechanism movement in response to the deflector control signal such that the deflector mechanism is alternately deployed and retracted into and out of the airstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: John A. Volk
  • Patent number: 5988102
    Abstract: A pop-up thermometer having an elongate housing formed with a longitudinally extending bore, a plurality of internal neck regions, and a plurality of internal cavities. The neck regions each having a minimum diameter portion and a neck locking surface extending outwardly from the minimum diameter portion of the neck. An indicator rod slidably disposed in the bore of the housing includes at least one stem stretch having a diameter less than the remainder of the bore and a stem locking surface extending outwardly from said stem stretch. A fusible material fills the internal cavities. When the fusible material is in solid form, the neck locking surface exerts a substantially downward directed force on said stem locking surface on the rod to resist upward movement of the rod relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Volk Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven John Volk, Gary Myrle Thompson
  • Patent number: 5799606
    Abstract: A pop-up thermometer having an elongate housing formed with a longitudinally extending bore, first and second internal neck regions, a first internal cavity and a second internal cavity. An indicator rod slidably disposed in the cavity includes a front end portion, a first stem stretch extending from the front end portion and terminating in a raised portion, a second stem stretch extending from the raised portion and a rear end portion spaced from the front end portion. The front end portion and the first stem stretch are positioned in the first internal cavity while the second stem stretch is positioned in the second internal cavity. The first stem stretch has a lesser cross sectional diameter than the front end portion of the rod. A fusible material substantially fills the first internal cavity, engaging the front end portion and at least a portion of the first stem stretch to retain the indicator rod in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Volk Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven John Volk, Gary Myrle Thompson
  • Patent number: 4331036
    Abstract: A follower element flowmeter which includes a hollow enclosed toroidal path around which a follower element travels in response to a flowing fluid. A pair of sensors are located adjacent to the fluid inlet and outlet to sense the passage of the follower element. The transit times of the follower element from inlet to outlet and from outlet to inlet is determined. The internal torus is described by juxtaposed housing halves one of which contains the fluid inlet and one, the fluid outlet. The halves are constructed so as to be relatively rotatable such that the distance between the inlet and outlet may be varied to adjust the calibration of the flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Asbjorn M. Severson, John A. Volk
  • Patent number: 4051534
    Abstract: An improved, self-contained, remotely controlled color television system is disclosed. The system utilizes a small head mounted television camera which is adapted to transmit a picture of the operations carried on by the wearer of the camera to be remotely viewed and/or recorded by a third party. The focusing and aiming of the camera is remotely controlled from a console equipped with controls and a television monitor. An illumination system is provided which utilizes a dual beam, the convergence and elevation of which is controlled by the wearer. The illumination is fixed to the head mounting so as to follow the head movements of the wearer. The dual beam of the illumination system enables the area desired to be illuminated by the wearer to be so illuminated virtually without shadows and without interference to his field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Peter P. Dukich, Isaac W. Metzger, John A. Volk