Patents by Inventor Michael A. Leal

Michael A. Leal 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: 9115964
    Abstract: A projectile includes a propulsion booster for producing pressurized gases, a nozzle for expelling the pressurized gases produced by the booster, and a supplementary integrated actuation system. The integrated actuation system selectively directs propellant from a storage reservoir of the integrated actuation system through an interiorly-located outlet of the integrated actuation system located at the nozzle and into the nozzle, thus changing a direction of the pressurized gases expelled by the booster. The integrated actuation system also selectively directs propellant from the storage reservoir through a peripherally-located outlet of the integrated actuation system, to produce thrust at an external periphery of the projectile, thus diverting the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Andrew B Facciano, Michael S Alkema, Michael A Leal, Daniel Chasman, Robert T Moore
  • Publication number: 20150184988
    Abstract: A projectile includes a propulsion booster for producing pressurized gases, a nozzle for expelling the pressurized gases produced by the booster, and a supplementary integrated actuation system. The integrated actuation system selectively directs propellant from a storage reservoir of the integrated actuation system through an interiorly-located outlet of the integrated actuation system located at the nozzle and into the nozzle, thus changing a direction of the pressurized gases expelled by the booster. The integrated actuation system also selectively directs propellant from the storage reservoir through a peripherally-located outlet of the integrated actuation system, to produce thrust at an external periphery of the projectile, thus diverting the projectile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Andrew B Facciano, Michael S Alkema, Michael A Leal, Daniel Chasman, Robert T Moore
  • Patent number: 9068808
    Abstract: An air vehicle, such as a missile or a steerable submunition released from a missile or another air vehicle, has a bilateral thrust system for steering. The thrust system includes a pair of diametrically-opposed divert thrusters that provide thrust having radial components in opposite radial directions. In order to control the direction of thrust, the air vehicle controls rotation of the divert thrusters and/or timing of the firing of the thrusters. The air vehicle (or some part of the air vehicle that includes the divert thrusters) may be discretely rolled to position the divert thrusters to produce desired steering thrust. Alternatively, the air vehicle or part of the air vehicle may be continuously rolled, with the steering controlled by timing the thrust to the divert thrusters, such as by allocating thrust between the diametrically-opposed thrusters. Pressurized gas may be allocated between the two thrusters by use of pintle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert W Morgan, Eric J Borg, Michael A Leal, Adam D Nicholl
  • Patent number: 8800913
    Abstract: An aeronautical vehicle includes at least one set of tandem divert thrusters incorporated into the body. Each set of tandem divert thrusters includes a first divert thruster and a second divert thruster, each configured to provide substantially equal thrust forces at substantially the same time and in substantially opposite directions such that the moment reference point lies between the first and second divert thrusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Philip W. Pagliara, Michael A. Leal, Justin C. Jenia, Teryn Dalbello, John M. Hitner
  • Patent number: 8735788
    Abstract: Embodiments of a propulsion and maneuvering system that may be suitable for use during a terminal phase in an interceptor are generally described herein. The propulsion and maneuvering system may include one or more axial thrusters to provide thrust along axial thrust lines that run through a center-of-gravity of the interceptor and a plurality of divert thrusters to provide thrust in radial directions. The combination of divert and axial thrusters may allow the interceptor to respond to a maneuvering target and may allow the interceptor to increase its velocity along a line-of-sight (LOS) to a target to change target impact/engagement time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Preston, Michael A. Leal, Rondell J. Wilson, Richard C. Hussey
  • Publication number: 20120211596
    Abstract: Embodiments of a propulsion and maneuvering system that may be suitable for use during a terminal phase in an interceptor are generally described herein. The propulsion and maneuvering system may include one or more axial thrusters to provide thrust along axial thrust lines that run through a center-of-gravity of the interceptor and a plurality of divert thrusters to provide thrust in radial directions. The combination of divert and axial thrusters may allow the interceptor to respond to a maneuvering target and may allow the interceptor to increase its velocity along a line-of-sight (LOS) to a target to change target impact/engagement time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Preston, Michael A. Leal, Rondell J. Wilson, Richard C. Hussey
  • Publication number: 20110029160
    Abstract: An aeronautical vehicle includes at least one set of tandem divert thrusters incorporated into the body. Each set of tandem divert thrusters includes a first divert thruster and a second divert thruster, each configured to provide substantially equal thrust forces at substantially the same time and in substantially opposite directions such that the moment reference point lies between the first and second divert thrusters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip W. Pagliara, Michael A. Leal, Justin C. Jenia, Teryn Dalbello, John M. Hitner
  • Patent number: 7494090
    Abstract: The present invention provides a MKV interceptor including multiple kill vehicles with autonomous management capability and kinematic reach to prosecute a large threat extent. Each KV can self-manage its own KV deployment and target engagement for a determined target volume assigned by a designated master KV. At least one KV is master capable of managing the post-separation of all of the KVs without requiring updates to the mission plan post-separation. The autonomous capability and increased kinematic reach provides for a more efficient use of boosters and more effective engagement of the threat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Leal, Todd L. Baker, Kent P. Pflibsen