Patents by Inventor William A. Chambers

William A. Chambers 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: 11535345
    Abstract: An apparatus and method transports, launches, and recovers an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) on a boat. A pair of support rails secures the UUV to the boat during the transport across a body of water on the boat. The support rails support the UUV in sliding movement along the support rails during the launch from the boat into the body of water and during the recovery from the body of water onto the boat. A ramp is deployed that extends the support rails into the body of water through a stern of the boat. The ramp includes a pair of alignment rails for aligning the UUV with the support rails during the recovery. A winch pulls the UUV out of the body of water during the recovery, with the winch pulling the UUV into the alignment rails and then onto the support rails in the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, Jeffery Towns Gilchrist, William A. Chambers, Taylor R. Doolittle
  • Publication number: 20220258841
    Abstract: An apparatus and method transports, launches, and recovers an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) on a boat. A pair of support rails secures the UUV to the boat during the transport across a body of water on the boat. The support rails support the UUV in sliding movement along the support rails during the launch from the boat into the body of water and during the recovery from the body of water onto the boat. A ramp is deployed that extends the support rails into the body of water through a stern of the boat. The ramp includes a pair of alignment rails for aligning the UUV with the support rails during the recovery. A winch pulls the UUV out of the body of water during the recovery, with the winch pulling the UUV into the alignment rails and then onto the support rails in the boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, Jeffery Towns Gilchrist, William A. Chambers, Taylor R. Doolittle
  • Patent number: 11417198
    Abstract: A modular damage control system and portable damage control apparatus for integrating damage control monitoring information with a transport vessel's centralized monitoring system. The modular damage control system includes a centralized monitoring system, portable equipment installation, at least one alarm, and a relay enclosure. The portable damage control apparatus includes at least one alarm and a relay enclosure, further comprising an external power supply, relay, end of line resistor, and alert device. The portable damage control apparatus allows for plug-and-play type integration with a centralized monitoring system, wherein the system described herein can enable the monitoring of hazards to a portable equipment installation by interfacing with a transport vessel's damage control network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jeffery T. Gilchrist, William A. Chambers, Tyler J. Browe
  • Patent number: 10538191
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing and/or installing a side guide of a trailer-mounted boat capture system for guiding a boat onto the trailer, the apparatus comprising: an outboard post pivotally attached to an upper support rail of the side guide; two inboard posts, each pivotally attached to the side guide proximal to where the side guide is attached to the trailer via first pins, wherein each inboard post includes a manual leveling jack; an attachment point on the side guide suitable for attaching a winch cable from a boat held in the boat capture system; and second pins attaching the side guide to the trailer such that when the first pins are removed the side guide is free to pivot around the second pins from an upright position towards a support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, William A. Chambers
  • Patent number: 10436241
    Abstract: A snap-hook, including a hook and a dual-direction latch pivotally attached to the hook by a latch pin. The dual-direction latch blocks an opening to the hook's throat when held in a neutral position by a latch spring having a first spring force and a lever-return spring having a second spring force. The dual-direction latch is configured to move into the throat by overcoming the first spring force and to move out of the throat by overcoming the second spring force. The dual-direction latch comprises a spring guard attached to the dual-direction latch so as to shield the lever-return spring from coming into contact with one or both of an object disposed within a throat of the hook and an inner edge of the hook throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, William A. Chambers, James Benjamin Penney
  • Patent number: 10434888
    Abstract: A vehicle charging station comprising: a container comprising an upper portion having an air duct, and a lower portion comprising a support structure, a smoke detector, a fire-suppressant inlet, and a charging/communications junction, wherein the upper portion is configured to mate with the lower portion to form a weather-tight enclosure around a vehicle, and wherein removal of the upper portion allows for loading/unloading of the vehicle into/out of the lower portion; and a resource control unit (RCU) comprising a processor, an environmental control unit (ECU), a fire-suppressant control manifold, and a charger, wherein the ECU is operatively coupled to the air duct, the fire-suppressant control manifold is operatively coupled to the fire-suppressant inlet, the charger is electrically coupled to the charging/communications junction, and the processor is communicatively coupled to the smoke detector, the charging/communications junction, the ECU, the charger, and the fire-suppressant control manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, Jeffery Towns Gilchrist, William A. Chambers, Bradley Joseph Easterwood, Brett Paul Lassus, Paul Michael Collins, Samuel Thomas Edwards, Terry Lance Silas, Marc Ludwig Roth, Harry Lynn Barker, Steven Dustin Bennett
  • Patent number: 10407138
    Abstract: A system comprising a clamp assembly configured to capture an unmanned underwater vehicle, wherein the clamp assembly comprises a first arm, a second arm, and an extending rod assembly, wherein the first arm and second arm have a first end and a second end and are configured to form a hollow chamber when connected on both ends, wherein first arm and second arm are connected at the first end with the extending rod assembly, wherein the extending rod assembly comprises an extending rod that is configured to project downward when first arm and second arm are in an open position and is configured to retreat inside the extending rod assembly when the first arm and second arm are in a closed position, wherein a spring-loaded latch and a pin on the second end of the first arm and second arm are configured to automatically catch and lock upon closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph D. Hooper, Jeffrey T. Gilchrist, William A. Chambers
  • Publication number: 20190264729
    Abstract: A snap-hook, including a hook and a dual-direction latch pivotally attached to the hook by a latch pin. The dual-direction latch blocks an opening to the hook's throat when held in a neutral position by a latch spring having a first spring force and a lever-return spring having a second spring force. The dual-direction latch is configured to move into the throat by overcoming the first spring force and to move out of the throat by overcoming the second spring force. The dual-direction latch comprises a spring guard attached to the dual-direction latch so as to shield the lever-return spring from coming into contact with one or both of an object disposed within a throat of the hook and an inner edge of the hook throat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, William A. Chambers, James Benjamin Penney
  • Publication number: 20190241239
    Abstract: A system comprising a clamp assembly configured to capture an unmanned underwater vehicle, wherein the clamp assembly comprises a first arm, a second arm, and an extending rod assembly, wherein the first arm and second arm have a first end and a second end and are configured to form a hollow chamber when connected on both ends, wherein first arm and second arm are connected at the first end with the extending rod assembly, wherein the extending rod assembly comprises an extending rod that is configured to project downward when first arm and second arm are in an open position and is configured to retreat inside the extending rod assembly when the first arm and second arm are in a closed position, wherein a spring-loaded latch and a pin on the second end of the first arm and second arm are configured to automatically catch and lock upon closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Ralph D. Hooper, Jeffrey T. Gilchrist, William A. Chambers
  • Patent number: 10285394
    Abstract: A system for deterring pinnipeds comprising a plurality of connected tracks interspersed with expansion joints, wherein the tracks and expansion joints are operatively coupled via connector keys that fit into a recessed channel running underneath the tracks and expansion joints, the tracks and expansion joints having electrically insulated recessed channels allowing for conductive wire to run throughout the tracks and expansion joints, the expansion joints further comprising two wells allowing for excess wire to be coiled and housed, acting as a spring and allowing for expansion, and the wire is connected to a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brian J Granger, William A Chambers, Kelly G Krueger, John E Hoopes
  • Patent number: 10232761
    Abstract: An unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) transport cart comprising: a wheeled frame including vertical posts, a front end, and a rear end; a UUV cradle adjustably clamped to the vertical posts such that the UUV cradle is vertically adjustable with respect to the frame; a U-shaped handle pivotally attached to the front end of the frame such that the U-shaped handle pivots up and down around a first axis, wherein the U-shaped handle includes a handle spring that acts between the U-shaped handle and the frame so as to bias the U-shaped handle toward an upward orientation; side handles pivotally attached to the UUV cradle such that the side handles pivot up and down around side axes that are perpendicular to the first axis; and a hand brake affixed to the U-shaped handle and configured to provide active brake control of the wheeled frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, William A. Chambers, Jeffery Towns Gilchrist
  • Patent number: 10220916
    Abstract: An open water transport system for payloads and a method for transporting payloads. The system includes two sponsons substantially parallel to the other. The sponsons are spaced apart from each other and extending in a forward direction. A deck plate module is detachably mounted on top of each sponson. A superstructure may be detachably mounted to the deck plate modules. The superstructure may bear a weight of one or more payloads. The carriage assembly couples to the payload(s). The carriage assembly has an adjustment mechanism that permits an operator to redistribute the weight of a payload. The open water transport system is towed by another vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph D. Hooper, William A. Chambers, Jeffery T. Gilchrist
  • Publication number: 20180370373
    Abstract: A vehicle charging station comprising: a container comprising an upper portion having an air duct, and a lower portion comprising a support structure, a smoke detector, a fire-suppressant inlet, and a charging/communications junction, wherein the upper portion is configured to mate with the lower portion to form a weather-tight enclosure around a vehicle, and wherein removal of the upper portion allows for loading/unloading of the vehicle into/out of the lower portion; and a resource control unit (RCU) comprising a processor, an environmental control unit (ECU), a fire-suppressant control manifold, and a charger, wherein the ECU is operatively coupled to the air duct, the fire-suppressant control manifold is operatively coupled to the fire-suppressant inlet, the charger is electrically coupled to the charging/communications junction, and the processor is communicatively coupled to the smoke detector, the charging/communications junction, the ECU, the charger, and the fire-suppressant control manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, Jeffery Towns Gilchrist, William A. Chambers, Bradley Joseph Easterwood, Brett Paul Lassus, Paul Michael Collins, Samuel Thomas Edwards, Terry Lance Silas, Marc Ludwig Roth, Harry Lynn Barker, Steven Dustin Bennett
  • Publication number: 20180362117
    Abstract: An open water transport system for payloads and a method for transporting payloads. The system includes two sponsons substantially parallel to the other. The sponsons are spaced apart from each other and extending in a forward direction. A deck plate module is detachably mounted on top of each sponson. A superstructure may be detachably mounted to the deck plate modules. The superstructure may bear a weight of one or more payloads. The carriage assembly couples to the payload(s). The carriage assembly has an adjustment mechanism that permits an operator to redistribute the weight of a payload. The open water transport system is towed by another vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph D. Hooper, William A. Chambers, Jeffery T. Gilchrist
  • Publication number: 20180265113
    Abstract: An unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) transport cart comprising: a wheeled frame including vertical posts, a front end, and a rear end; a UUV cradle adjustably clamped to the vertical posts such that the UUV cradle is vertically adjustable with respect to the frame; a U-shaped handle pivotally attached to the front end of the frame such that the U-shaped handle pivots up and down around a first axis, wherein the U-shaped handle includes a handle spring that acts between the U-shaped handle and the frame so as to bias the U-shaped handle toward an upward orientation; side handles pivotally attached to the UUV cradle such that the side handles pivot up and down around side axes that are perpendicular to the first axis; and a hand brake affixed to the U-shaped handle and configured to provide active brake control of the wheeled frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, William A. Chambers, Jeffery Towns Gilchrist
  • Publication number: 20180264986
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing and/or installing a side guide of a trailer-mounted boat capture system for guiding a boat onto the trailer, the apparatus comprising: an outboard post pivotally attached to an upper support rail of the side guide; two inboard posts, each pivotally attached to the side guide proximal to where the side guide is attached to the trailer via first pins, wherein each inboard post includes a manual leveling jack; an attachment point on the side guide suitable for attaching a winch cable from a boat held in the boat capture system; and second pins attaching the side guide to the trailer such that when the first pins are removed the side guide is free to pivot around the second pins from an upright position towards a support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, William A. Chambers
  • Patent number: 9994430
    Abstract: A snap-hook comprising: a hook-shaped body having a throat opening and a shank end, wherein the hook-shaped body includes a primary aperture located at the shank end suitable for attaching a primary line and a secondary aperture located approximately opposite the throat opening suitable for attaching a secondary line; and a dual-direction latch pivotally attached to the hook-shaped body such that the dual-direction latch spans the throat opening when in a neutral position and is capable of pivoting into and out of the throat of the hook-shaped body, wherein the dual-direction latch comprises a bent wire having two free ends, each end inserted in a different hole of two holes in the hook-shaped body that are non-axially-aligned resulting in a spring force that biases the dual-direction latch toward the neutral position and resists pivotal movement of the dual-direction latch both into and out of the throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, Jeffery Towns Gilchrist, William A. Chambers, James Benjamin Penney
  • Patent number: 4050036
    Abstract: A laser configuration is disclosed wherein the active region is of annular cylindrical form. Zero mode azimuth coupling which produces an output beam of low obscuration ratio in the near field, thereby providing a single lobe in the far field, is achieved by the use of an unstable optical resonator characterized by an annular mirror defining one end of the resonator and a two stage axiconic reflector disposed optically between the opposite ends of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Chambers, Franklin B. Bossler, Warren F. Brandkamp
  • Patent number: 3950611
    Abstract: A video tracking system that produces voltages representative of the location of a designated target relative to the tracking axis of a transducer. An error detector unit compares the position of a target, of selected intensity contrast, to that of a tracking gate and updates the gate position to track the target. The error detector unit includes a combination of two integrators coupled in series with two or more gate circuits that are synchronized with the tracking gate. The tracking response characteristic may be selected for optimum performance with expected target profiles by variation of the relative signal gain and timing of the gate circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1966
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: James W. Callis, William A. Chambers