Patents by Inventor Justin R. Helton

Justin R. Helton 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: 11543014
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing gears to balance counteracting gravity moment and a torque equilibrator across an elevation range. The method includes assigning a value to summation of pitch radii of the first and second non-circular gears; calculating a torque for both the non-circular gears for an angle within the elevation range; calculating a first pitch radius of the first non-circular gear by the gravity moment and the torsion equilibrator; calculating a second pitch radius of the second non-circular gear from the summation; and fabricating the non-circular gears based on the first and second pitch radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Justin R. Helton
  • Publication number: 20200378488
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing gears to balance counteracting gravity moment and a torque equilibrator across an elevation range. The method includes assigning a value to summation of pitch radii of the first and second non-circular gears; calculating a torque for both the non-circular gears for an angle within the elevation range; calculating a first pitch radius of the first non-circular gear by the gravity moment and the torsion equilibrator; calculating a second pitch radius of the second non-circular gear from the summation; and fabricating the non-circular gears based on the first and second pitch radii.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Justin R. Helton
  • Patent number: 10526049
    Abstract: A lift assist mechanism is provided for positioning a hatch cover in relation to a corresponding opening in a hatch frame. The assist mechanism includes a torsion bar and a lifting mechanism. The torsion bar has first and second opposite ends. The first end secures to the hatch frame. The second end connects to a bar spur gear. The lifting assembly includes a lift spur gear and a hinge gear. The lift spur gear engages the bar spur gear. The gears convert an acute angle twist of the bar to substantially perpendicular pivot the hatch cover from the hatch frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Justin R. Helton
  • Patent number: 10495401
    Abstract: A truss is provided for stiffening a gun barrel on a mount. The truss includes a collet, a plurality of retainers and complementary sets of first and second beams. The collet has corresponding pluralities of corners and faces and an annulus for receiving the gun barrel. The sets of beams correspond to the plurality of retainers. Each beam has proximal and distal ends in relation to the mount. The distal ends of the first beams connect to a corner. The distal ends of the second beams connect to a face. The proximal ends of the first and second beams connect to a respective retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Justin R. Helton
  • Patent number: 8754853
    Abstract: An ergonomic control instrument for an operator's hand is provided to be disposable on a platform and communicate with a processor. The instrument includes a base for mounting to the platform, a pistol-grip handle disposed on the base to tilt from perpendicular to the platform, a head unit disposed on the handle, a deck within the head unit connecting to the handle, and a plurality of input devices disposed on at least one of the head unit and the handle, each device of the plurality for receiving a command from the operator's hand. Also, an ergonomic control station for an operator is provided, with the station including a platform in front of the operator, a first hand-held instrument mountable to the platform, a second hand-held instrument mountable to the platform, and a processor having a plurality of connections to the first and second pluralities of input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Justin R. Helton
  • Publication number: 20140001931
    Abstract: A modular frame is provided for containing electronic components within a replaceable mission module for installation aboard ship. The frame includes a plurality of metal tubes having rectangular cross-section, a plurality of sheet-metal panels, and a plurality of fasteners for connecting together the tubes and panels. The frame assembles as a rectangular base platform, a lower portion, a mezzanine level, and an interface level. The base platform includes horizontally arranged tubes. The lower portion has vertical tubes attaching to the horizontal tubes on the base platform. The mezzanine level has a horizontal panel and horizontal tubes connecting together atop the lower portion. The upper portion has vertical tubes attaching to the horizontal tubes of the mezzanine level. The interface level has horizontal tubes connecting together atop the vertical tubes of the upper portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Justin R. Helton, Andrew C. Smith
  • Patent number: 8619417
    Abstract: A computer docking station is provided having an enclosure unit, a cable-to-panel connector, a dock cover, an electrical connector that includes an open box configuration; and a cable-to-panel component. The enclosure unit connects to the docking station. The dock cover is disposed inside the enclosure unit. The electrical connector is also disposed inside the enclosure unit and connects to the dock cover. The electrical connector comprises connectors to enable electrical connections to peripheral devices, a mounting plate positioned over the enclosure unit, a docking connector operatively connected to the dock cover and extending through the mounting plate, and a plurality of gaskets connected to the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Justin R. Helton
  • Patent number: 8413569
    Abstract: A gun mount is provided that includes a first linear actuator, a second linear actuator, and a gimbal. Each of the first linear actuator and second linear actuator is terminated by a ball joint at either end thereof. One ball joint associated with each linear actuator is coupled to a location on a gun where the two locations are proximate to one another. The remaining ball joint associated with each linear actuator is coupled to a support base. An angular relationship is defined between the two linear actuators. The gimbal is one that provides two-degree-of-freedom movement, and is coupled to the gun forward of the ball joint attachment locations. The gimbal further is coupled to the support base so that the gun is supported by the gimbal and the linear actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Justin R. Helton
  • Publication number: 20120313853
    Abstract: An ergonomic control instrument for an operator's hand is provided to be disposable on a platform and communicate with a processor. The instrument includes a base for mounting to the platform, a pistol-grip handle disposed on the base to tilt from perpendicular to the platform, a head unit disposed on the handle, a deck within the head unit connecting to the handle, and a plurality of input devices disposed on at least one of the head unit and the handle, each device of the plurality for receiving a command from the operator's hand. Also, an ergonomic control station for an operator is provided, with the station including a platform in front of the operator, a first hand-held instrument mountable to the platform, a second hand-held instrument mountable to the platform, and a processor having a plurality of connections to the first and second pluralities of input devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Justin R. Helton