Patents by Inventor William J. Washburn

William J. Washburn 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: 20030030186
    Abstract: A hydrostatic injection molding apparatus and process are provided for thermoplastic materials, especially thermoplastic elastomers. The apparatus includes a hot pot plate with a transfer chamber for receiving a thermoplastic material. The hot pot plate is heated to maintain the thermoplastic material in the transfer chamber in a molten state. A cavity plate is positioned adjacent the transfer pot plate, the cavity plate is formed with a plurality of cavities extending therein. Gates are formed in the hot pot plate and the cavity plate. The gates in the respective plates register with one another to provide communication between the transfer chamber and the cavities. The cavity plate is cooled to enable a rapid curing of the thermoplastic material therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Matthew T. Riiska, William J. Washburn, Don Ernst, Andrew G. Summerville, C. Robin Hwang, Frank E. Martin
  • Patent number: 4803927
    Abstract: An improved telescoped ammunition round having a projectile comprising an aft recess to receive a booster tube that is affixed to the cartridge case and which remains stationary relative to the cartridge case throughout the firing sequence. The booster tube is provided with a primer to ignite the booster charge and is positioned within the projectile recess to initially propel the projectile and subsequently ignite the main propellant within the cartridge case after the projectile has been forced at least partially into the gun barrel.An improved method of manufacturing such an ammunition round utilizes an aluminum alloy seamless tube as a cartridge case and at least one case end seal. The seal is configured to have a unique angled slot and the case end is conically shaped by a mandrel to be press fit into the seal slot. Once mated in this fashion, the cartridge case and seal are firmly secured to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Washburn
  • Patent number: 4782758
    Abstract: An improved telescoped ammunition round having a projectile comprising an aft recess to receive a booster tube that is affixed to the cartridge case and which remains stationary relative to the cartridge case throughout the firing sequence. The booster tube is provided with a primer to ignite the booster charge and is positioned within the projectile recess to initially propel the projectile and subsequently ignite the main propellant within the cartridge case after the projectile has been forced at least partially into the gun barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: AeroJet-General Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Washburn
  • Patent number: 4681038
    Abstract: An ammunition round cartridge case having a stress riser in the form of at least one elongated recess adapted for preserving the seal of ignition gases within the cartridge case during initial stages of ignition and also adapted for allowing a splitting of the cartridge case wall surface at peak gas pressure within the cartridge case during firing whereby to permit easy extraction or push-through ejection of the cartridge case from the gun chamber subsequent to firing of the round. A preferred embodiment utilizes a unitary recess that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge case, longer than one-half of the length of the cartridge case and which has a triangular cross-section the apex of which extends more than halfway into the wall surface of the cartridge case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Washburn
  • Patent number: 4373422
    Abstract: A two-barreled machine gun has two fixed firing chambers, a conveyor, and a feed system mounted within a housing. The feed system transfers ammunition from the conveyor to the firing chamber. The feed system includes a sprocket barrel pivotably mounted about its central longitudinal axis. The sprocket barrel has two receptacle slots and two discharge slots circumferentially spaced thereabout. The sprocket barrel is rotatable between a first and second position. The receptacle slots each have a first position aligned with the conveyor to receive a round of ammunition and a second position aligned with a respective firing chamber. One receptacle slot is in its first position when the other is in its second position. The discharge slots also have a first position aligned with the firing chambers and a second position aligned with an outlet in the housing. One discharge slot is in its first position when the other is in its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: William J. Washburn, Hugh B. Thompson, Clifford E. La Fever
  • Patent number: 4253376
    Abstract: A termination accumulator for a machine gun has a handling conveyor passing through a supply channel, a bypass channel, and a return channel. The supply channel leads to a feed system of a machine gun. The bypass channel has its other end connected to a return conveyor leading from the feed system. A gate is mounted at the junction of the bypass channel and supply channel operably between two positions, one position directs ammunition on the handling conveyor onto a supply conveyor leading to the feed system and a second position directs ammunition on the handling conveyor through the bypass channel. Upon release of a trigger mechanism operably connected to the gun, the gate moves from its first position to a second position such that the feed system continues its forward operation to clear itself of any live ammunition therein. The handling conveyor maintains a forward mode directing ammunition in to the bypass channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: William J. Washburn, Clifford E. LaFever, Hugh B. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4197801
    Abstract: This specification discloses an ammunition round and a method of firing the ammunition round. Consecutive and reproducible firing of a primer charge and a main propellant charge is accomplished as a result of the physical movement of a divider physically separating the primer charge from the main charge. Firing of the primer charge causes movement of the divider, initiates movement of a projectile within the ammunition round, and, when the combustion gases of the primer charge are in communication with the main propellant charge, causes firing of the main propellant charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Assignee: Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Clifford E. LaFever, William J. Washburn