Patents by Inventor Walter K. McCarter

Walter K. McCarter 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: 5480743
    Abstract: A bipolar compression cell for a water-activated battery that can be used with a plurality of such cells stacked together in a side-by-side array to form the bipolar battery. Each cell includes an elastomeric frame that can be compressed and a special alloy foil that separates cuprous iodide and magnesium elements and which does not interact with the cuprous iodide or magnesium to allow for bipolar action when the cells are stacked side-by-side. The use of elastomeric frames allows for low cost manufacture, eliminating manual construction. The water-activated battery is especially useful in sonobuoys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter K. McCarter, Jorgen T. Fischer
  • Patent number: 5395707
    Abstract: A water-activated, primary reserve battery for use in an environment, such as the ocean, that provides an environmentally safe battery, especially useful in sonobuoys. The battery includes the use of cuprous iodide as a cathode and magnesium as the anode in an array to provide voltage, amperage, and operational time equivalent to conventional lead chloride batteries. Once the sonobuoy is no longer useful as it deteriorates in the environment, no lead will be presented into the ocean. The structural frame members protect the cuprous iodide which is brittle in a rigid array and provides for proper venting of gas and sludge formation to insure efficient operation of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter K. McCarter, John F. Flood, Jorgen T. Fischer
  • Patent number: 5340662
    Abstract: An emergency battery system having an infinite shelf life, comprising a first primary reserve, water-activated battery that can be connected directly to an emergency appliance to provide voltage therein once activated, that can be connected to a self-contained, rechargeable battery utilized with the water-activated battery and stored for long periods of time to provide charge to the rechargeable battery, which itself can then be connected to an electrical emergency appliance, or the water-activated battery is connected to a power conversion circuit that can provide a variety of voltages to emergency electrical appliances that already have their own self-contained, rechargeable batteries. The emergency battery system described herein can be used to power emergency appliances, such as lights, lanterns, emergency radios, or DC-powered telephones. As long as the water-activated battery is kept free of moisture or water, the shelf life is virtually infinite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter K. McCarter
  • Patent number: 5237491
    Abstract: An improved personal rescue light attachable to a life vest or raft for use by an individual floating in a large body of water (salt or fresh) having increased visible range especially with fresh water usage. The device includes a water-activated battery and improved battery housing that increases the battery efficiency to produce more power for an incandescent lamp that provides a single source of light through a lens providing for a very narrow, intense beam of light, greatly increasing the overall candle power of the projected light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Inventor: Walter K. McCarter