Patents by Inventor Robert L. Watts

Robert L. Watts 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).

  • Publication number: 20040045338
    Abstract: A collision repair rack is provided. The rack includes a platform and a plurality of pivotally mounted arms which arms and associated pulling towers can be moved to positions on either side of the rack in addition to being positionable at an end of the rack. The arms are mounted in a manner to allow the arms to remain generally in the same plane while providing a high degree of freedom of movement of the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Dobbins, Robert L. Watts, Giovanni Dallapiccola
  • Patent number: 4494938
    Abstract: A method and apparatus deploys a hydrophone array in a predetermined patt. A master buoy includes a float and an anchor which hold a central portion at a predetermined depth in the water. A number of hydrodynamically shaped glide vehicles are disengaged from the central portion and glide radially outwardly from it. When the glide vehicles come to rest, strings of hydrophones are released and buoyed along the bottom in a preestablished pattern. Acoustic energy impinging on the hydrophones, optionally is fed to a transmitting unit on the float or to a remote installation via a cable lying on the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert A. Flood, Howard R. Talkington, Richard A. Wheelock, Robert L. Watts
  • Patent number: 4272835
    Abstract: A method and apparatus deploys a hydrophone array in a predetermined patt. A master buoy includes a float and an anchor which hold a central portion at a predetermined depth in the water. A number of hydrodynamically shaped glide vehicles are disengaged from the central portion and glide radially outwardly from it. When the glide vehicles come to rest, strings of hydrophones are released and buoyed from the bottom in a preestablished pattern. Acoustic energy impinging on the hydrophones, optionally is fed to a transmitting unit on the float or to a remote installation via a cable lying on the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert A. Flood, Howard R. Talkington, Richard A. Wheelock, Robert L. Watts
  • Patent number: 3962672
    Abstract: The location of a tethered undersea vehicle is determined by functionally operating elements on the vehicle, the end of a main cable and a support ship. An acoustic signal is projected from the distal end of the main cable and is received by several hydrophones carried on the vehicle. Frequency multiplexing the time deployed or different phases of the received acoustic signal and transmitting them back to the support craft, permits a processing of the multiplexed signals. This processing gives a visual indication of the vehicle's location with respect to the end of the cable. Since ocean currents can cause a catenary effect in the main cable as it hangs in several thousand feet of water, or the support ship might drift off-station, the tethered vehicle cannot be pulled away from an object of interest on the ocean's floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert L. Watts, Michael D. Juniper