Patents by Inventor William B Witherspoon

William B Witherspoon 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).

  • Composite enclosure for explosive reactive armor and methods of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 11953295
    Abstract: An explosive reactive armor (ERA) enclosure for an ERA tile includes a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the bottom, where the plurality of sidewalls are continuous with each other and with the bottom so as to define an internal volume. The plurality of sidewalls are formed from a fiber-reinforced composite material having a plurality of plies of fiber sheet material. Additionally, a sidewall seam defined by abutting edges of the first ply is offset from a sidewall seam defined by abutting edges of the second ply. Methods of manufacturing ERA enclosures, including applying wrap layers and forming attachment structures for securing the fiber-reinforced composite ERA enclosure to an armor element, are also described. The composite enclosure is inexpensive and lightweight and improves the dynamic capabilities of armored vehicles using such ERA tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Shawn C. Klann, Frederick C. Rickert, II, David B. Witherspoon, William T. Hoffman
  • Double-isolated, symmetric, high-damped mount system
    Patent number: 6708793
    Abstract: A system for mounting a vehicle power train, such as a transversely mounted engine and transmission, to a motor vehicle such that vibrations from the power train are isolated from the vehicle frame. The system comprises a power train mounting cradle for mounting to the vehicle frame by a vibration-isolating mounts, and vibration-isolating mounts for connecting the power train to the cradle, at least one of the power train to cradle mounts adapted to damp torque-related vibrations, and further comprising a friction damper to attenuate low-frequency torque-related vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William B Witherspoon, Brian J Koepele, William L Hendrickson
  • Double-isolated, symmetric, high-damped mount system
    Publication number: 20020166711
    Abstract: A system for mounting a vehicle power train, such as a transversely mounted engine and transmission, to a motor vehicle such that vibrations from the power train are isolated from the vehicle frame. The system comprises a power train mounting cradle for mounting to the vehicle frame by a vibration-isolating mounts, and vibration-isolating mounts for connecting the power train to the cradle, at least one of the power train to cradle mounts adapted to damp torque-related vibrations, and further comprising a friction damper to attenuate low-frequency torque-related vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: William B. Witherspoon, Brian J. Koepele, William L. Hendrickson