Patents by Inventor William A. Waters, Jr.

William A. Waters, Jr. 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).

  • Internally damped, self-arresting vertical drop-weight impact test apparatus
    Patent number: 5497649
    Abstract: A vertical dropped-weight impact test machine has a dropped-weight barrel vertically supported on upper and lower support brackets. The dropped-weight barrel is chambered to receive a dropped-weight assembly having a latch pin at its upper end, a damping unit in the middle, and a tup at its lower end. The tup is adapted for gathering data during impact testing. The latch pin releasably engages a latch pin coupling assembly. The latch pin coupling assembly is attached to a winch via a halyard for raising and lowering the dropped-weight assembly. The lower end of the dropped-weight barrel is provided with a bounce-back arresting mechanism which is activated by the descending passage of the dropped-weight assembly. After striking the specimen, the dropped-weight assembly rebounds vertically and is caught by the bounce-back arresting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Damodar R. Ambur, Chunchu B. Prasad, William A. Waters, Jr., Robert W. Stockum, Manfred A. Walter
  • Internally damped, self-arresting vertical drop-weight impact test apparatus
    Patent number: 5457984
    Abstract: A vertical dropped-weight impact test machine has a dropped-weight barrel vertically supported on upper and lower support brackets. The dropped-weight barrel is chambered to receive a dropped-weight assembly having a latch pin at its upper end, a damping unit in the middle, and a tup at its lower end. The tup is adapted for gathering data during impact testing. The latch pin releasably engages a latch pin coupling assembly. The latch pin coupling assembly is attached to a winch via a halyard for raising and lowering the dropped-weight assembly. The lower end of the dropped-weight barrel is provided with a bounce-back arresting mechanism which is activated by the descending passage of the dropped-weight assembly. After striking the specimen, the dropped-weight assembly rebounds vertically and is caught by the bounce-back arresting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of Americas as represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Damodar R. Ambur, Chunchu B. Prasad, William A. Waters, Jr., Robert W. Stockum, Manfred A. Water