Patents by Inventor Kenneth B. Groves

Kenneth B. Groves 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: 7202809
    Abstract: A fast acting active protection system for military vehicles defeats RPG (rocket propelled grenade) threats fired from close ranges. The system minimizes the hazard to troops and civilians nearby. The system uses a plurality of passive sensors to locate the threat and initialize the system. A low cost radar or laser tracker is used as the means to determine range, velocity, and (if required) angular position of the threat. The countermunition used may be one of several choices, with the requisites being that the countermunition provides fast response with low inertia, and is able to damage or destroy the detected threat. A multi-barrel recoilless gun is the weapon of choice. A launching device is used to deploy and aim the countermunition and the tracking means. On board software and electronics are used to control the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P.
    Inventors: David A. Schade, Thomas C. Winant, Jaime Alforque, Jeffrey Faul, Kenneth B. Groves, Valent Horvatich, Marco Albert Middione, Christopher Tarantino, James Robert Turner
  • Patent number: 6622608
    Abstract: A method of achieving a variable standoff distance on an armored vehicle or structure between a standoff plate and a base armor plate. The method comprises building the armor system with the base armor plating covered by a layer of electromagnetic material, and standoff plates also covered by a layer of electromagnetic material. The standoff plates are movably attached to the base armor plate. The base and standoff plates are oriented so that the two layers of electromagnetic material face each other. The amount of standoff distance is varied depending on the type of threat recognized by a sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: United Defense LP
    Inventors: Jeffrey Faul, Kenneth B. Groves, Valent Horvatich
  • Patent number: 5403384
    Abstract: In a regenerable collective protection system the turbine of an air cycle machine is driven by a potion of the clean air output of a pressure swing adsorber bed pair in the system. The beds in the pair are used alternately to cleanse contaminated air. They are then alternately purged of contaminant products. Valves are used to direct these alternate operations. The valve closures cause overpressures in the clean air output. The overpressures are predictable in relation to the valve actuation sequence and are removed by coordinating operation of a surge air bleed valve in the clean air output with valve actuation in the pressure swing adsorber bed pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Faul, Kenneth B. Groves, Debra L. Sutton