Patents by Inventor Ralph R. Kissel

Ralph R. Kissel 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: 4821425
    Abstract: A tool is shown having a cross beam assembly (15) made of beams (18, 19, 20, 21) joined by a center box structure (23). The assembly (15) is adapted to be mounted by brackets (16) to the outer end of a cylindrical case (11). The center box structure (23) has a vertical shaft (25) rotatably mounted therein and extending beneath the assembly (15). Secured to the vertical shaft (25) is a radius arm (28) which is adapted to rotate with shaft (25). On the longer end of the radius arm (28) is a measuring tip (30) which contacts the cylindrical surface to be measured and which provides an electric signal representing the radius of the cylindrical surface from the center of rotation of the radius arm (28). An electric servomotor (49) rotates the vertical shaft (25) and an electronic resolver (61) provides an electric signal representing the angle of rotation of the shaft (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James R. Currie, Ralph R. Kissel, Charles E. Oliver, Earnest C. Smith, John W. Redmon, Charles C. Wallace, Charles P. Swanson
  • Patent number: 4594540
    Abstract: A system for measurement of shaft angles wherein a synchro resolver (10) is sequentially pulsed, and alternately, a sine (32) and then a cosine (36) representative voltage output of it are sampled. Two like type, sine or cosine, succeeding outputs (V.sub.S1, V.sub.S2) are averaged and algebraically related to the opposite type output pulse (V.sub.c) occurring between the averaged pulses to provide a precise indication of the angle of a shaft (18) coupled to the resolver (10) at the instant of the occurrence of the intermediately occurring pulse (V.sub.c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James R. Currie, Ralph R. Kissel
  • Patent number: 4156971
    Abstract: A measurement system for measuring the departures from a straight line of discrete track sections of a track along a coal face in a mine employing a vehicle having a pair of spaced wheel assemblies which align with the track. A reference arm pivotally connects between the wheel assemblies, and there is indicating means for measuring the angle of pivot between the arm and each of the wheel assemblies. The length of the device is less than the length of a track section, and thus when one of the wheel assemblies is on one track section and one is on an adjoining track section, the sum of the indicated angles will be indicative of the angle between track sections. Thus, from the length of a track section and angle, the departure of each track section from the line may be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James R. Currie, Ralph R. Kissel, Emsley T. Deaton, Jr., Richard A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4083520
    Abstract: A system for tethering one orbiting space vehicle to another in which a tetherline between the vehicles is controlled by a motorized reel which in turn is controlled to deploy, retrieve, or maintain a constant line length while effecting a stabilizing influence on the line. This is accomplished by applying a tension to the line which takes into account the instantaneous length of the line, rate of change of the length of the line, and certain constants which vary depending upon the mode of operation, deployment, retrieval, or station keeping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Charles C. Rupp, Ralph R. Kissel