Patents Issued in April 10, 2018
  • Patent number: 9939207
    Abstract: A process is for the pre-conditioning of one or more latent heat storage elements in the case of which the temperature or the narrow temperature range of the phase transition defines a target temperature and the latent heat storage elements are heated up to the target temperature. The latent heat, storage elements are cooled to an initial temperature below the target temperature and this initial temperature is determined. The latent heat storage elements at the initial temperature are introduced into a thermally insulated container and the container is then closed. The interior of the closed container is, or has been, connected to a heating device of which the thermal output which takes effect in the interior of the closed container is known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: VA-Q-TEC AG
    Inventors: Joachim Kuhn, Fabian Eschenbach, Martin Heinemann
  • Patent number: 9939208
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: stacked tubes through which a refrigerant flows; and a fin joined to the tube to increase a heat exchange area with air flowing around the tube. A cross-section of the fin perpendicular to a flow direction of the air is shaped in a wave shape that has: planar sections substantially parallel to the flow direction of the air; and a top for connecting between the adjacent planar sections. A clearance is defined in the planar section of the fin. When a portion of the fin where the shortest distance from a center line between the adjacent planar sections becomes the maximum is set as a furthest section in a cross-section perpendicular to a stacking direction of the tubes, the clearance is defined in one furthest section or at least one of a plurality of furthest sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryohei Sugimura, Mitsuharu Inagaki, Mitsuyoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 9939209
    Abstract: A gas cooler (10) which is provided with a heat exchanger (6), cools a gas to be cooled, which is introduced from the outside, by performing heat exchange between the gas to be cooled and the heat exchanger, and discharges the cooled gas to the outside. The heat exchanger includes: a plurality of heat transfer fins (8) which are placed side by side via a prescribed gap therebetween, the gas to be cooled flowing through the gaps; and heat transfer tubes (7) which pierce through the plurality of heat transfer fins and are provided in a plurality of rows along the direction in which the gas to be cooled flows. The outside diameter do of the heat transfer tubes is 20 to 30 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Yokoo, Shigenari Horie, Masashi Yoshikawa, Tomoaki Takeda, Koichi Mizushita, Kazunari Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9939210
    Abstract: Heat sinks and methods of using the same include a top and bottom plate, at least one of which has a plurality of pin contacts flexibly connected to one another, where the plurality of pin contacts have vertical and lateral flexibility with respect to one another; and pin slice layers, each having multiple pin slices, arranged vertically between the top and bottom plates such that the plurality of pin slices form substantially vertical pins connecting the top and bottom plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark D. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9939211
    Abstract: A flow-plate is dividable in mid plane. The flow-plate includes two parts, each part includes a channel side and a utility side, and the two parts of the flow plate are counter parts and complementing each other. When the flow-plate is connected the two parts form a channel between the two counter parting channel sides. The channel includes curved obstacles, sidewalls and channel floors. The curved obstacles are lined up in parallel rows separated by sidewalls, the backside of the rows of curved obstacles have deep machined grooves making the obstacles hollow for heat transfer fluids on utility sides. A flow-plate section and a flow module are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventor: Kasper Höglund
  • Patent number: 9939212
    Abstract: A channel forming body for mounting semiconductor power modules or a heat sink for power modules has a heat-transfer portion having a very complicated construction in order to increase the heat-transfer coefficient, leading to need for extremely high techniques and high cost for manufacturing. By arranging an expanded metal 13 in a channel 12 formed to lie between two planes 11 and 11 placed face-to-face, local fluid flows 16 guided by the expanded metal 13 are allowed to act on various boundary layers 15 formed between these two planes 11 and 11 and a fluid so as to improve fluid flow characteristics concerning heat transfer and/or mass transfer through a local turbulent flow acceleration effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Takahiro Agata
  • Patent number: 9939213
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising a bundle for the exchange of heat between fluids, an endplate of said bundle provided with orifices for the distribution of fluid through the bundle, and an adapter unit with an external fluid circuit having one or more fluid-distribution ducts corresponding with one of said or with said distribution orifices of the endplate and being fixed by one face to the endplate, characterized in that the endplate comprises at least one semi-cutout held by crimping in a housing formed in the face of the unit in contact with the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Christophe Denoual, Alain Pourmarin, Frédéric Tison
  • Patent number: 9939214
    Abstract: Provided is an inexpensive scrape-off type heat exchanger that is simple in construction, eliminating the need for using a pump for forcibly feeding the process fluid. With the scrape-off type heat exchanger (1), when a suction delivery element (30) which is rotated, while making a reciprocating motion, being closely contacted with an inner wall (200) of the heat transfer tube (20), is traveled from the process fluid inlet part (21) side toward a process fluid outlet part (22), the process fluid is sucked from a process fluid inlet part (21) into the inside of the heat transfer tube (20), and at the same time, the process fluid, which has already been sucked in, passed through the suction delivery element (30), and discharged to the process fluid outlet part (22) side, through the check valves 310, 320, is forced out to the process fluid outlet part (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: NOA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tojo Kamino
  • Patent number: 9939215
    Abstract: An automated cleaning system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an X-Y positioning system configured to position a lance guide relative to an element to be cleaned. The X-Y positioning system is remotely operated. The system further includes a lance in communication with the lance guide, a drive system configured to drive the lance relative to the element to be cleaned, and a reel configured to manage a slack in the lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: NLB CORP.
    Inventors: Cam Gzym, Donald Anthony Wojciechowski, III
  • Patent number: 9939216
    Abstract: A rotary ammunition magazine for a rifle has a follower that is spring biased and rotates about an axis to move cartridges for feeding to the rifle's chamber. The follower has a surface portion which engages the last cartridge in the stack. The surface portion has one or more characteristics including a transverse orientation angle, a longitudinal orientation angle and an arcuate shape which determine the direction of the force vector and the lengthwise load distribution on the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventor: Simon M. Muska
  • Patent number: 9939217
    Abstract: A rotary ammunition magazine for a rifle has a follower that is spring biased and rotates about an axis to move cartridges for feeding to the rifle's chamber. The follower has a surface portion which engages the last cartridge in the stack. The surface portion has one or more characteristics including a transverse orientation angle, a longitudinal orientation angle and an arcuate shape which determine the direction of the force vector and the lengthwise load distribution on the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventor: Simon M. Muska
  • Patent number: 9939218
    Abstract: The present invention is an automatic firearm magazine loader that has an elevated hopper system, a loading system, and a mechanism for compressing a firearm magazine comprising a spring mechanism. The firearm magazine is compressible upon compression of the spring mechanism. The loading system facilitates the loading of a firearm ammunition into the firearm magazine upon the compression of the firearm magazine, and the compression of the firearm magazine is motor driven. The device is an automatic firearm magazine loader for a designated number of rounds of ammunition. The design consists of a user interface used to select the preferred number of rounds of ammunition to load, a hopper system which feeds individual rounds of ammunition in a set orientation, and a loading system which loads the individual rounds of ammunition into a firearm magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Richard Mokuolu
  • Patent number: 9939219
    Abstract: A loading device and method of using same with a rifle having a fixed magazine are disclosed. The loading device may comprise a housing having a channel, a plunger slideably disposed within the channel, and a spout extending away from the housing. The spout is configured to fit within an ejection port of the rifle. The plunger may include an articulating arm extending away from one end of the plunger, wherein the arm includes a plug disposed about one end for pushing ammunition cartridges into the fixed magazine. The loading device advantageously permits efficient and rapid reloading of ammunition into the fixed magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ulbrich Schroeder Design Corp
    Inventors: Mason Ulbrich, Kevin Schroeder, Jeff Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9939220
    Abstract: A firearm safety device having a barrel safety device embodiment for use with a firearm that has a chamber, ejection port and barrel. The barrel safety device having a stem adapted to enter the barrel of the firearm. The barrel safety device having a chamber plug adapted to enter and fit into the chamber of the firearm. The barrel safety device having a transition section between the stem and the chamber plug. Where the transition section is flexible under pressure to allow for installation of the chamber plug in the chamber through the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Jason Patrick Speller
  • Patent number: 9939221
    Abstract: A trigger activated arm may use engagement of an integrated gun bolt cam with an integrated trigger cam to reposition the trigger as the gun bolt reciprocates. The gun bolt trigger engagement may be used to reset the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas Allen Graves
  • Patent number: 9939222
    Abstract: A lightweight mortar tube is presented herein having at least three layers: (1) a first inner bore facing layer comprised of a metal having a melting point greater than 800° C.; (2) a second thermal barrier layer comprised of a ceramic material attached to the first layer, and (3) a third outer shell layer attached to the second layer comprising of fiber reinforced composite material where the composite material is either a polymer, metal or ceramic. All of the layers are cohesively integrated with each other into a seamless wall. The improved multi-layered mortar tube described herein is lighter, yet maintains the same performance standards as comparable steel-based mortar tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Christopher P. Mulligan, Andrew Littlefield, Joshua Root
  • Patent number: 9939223
    Abstract: A barrel has a barrel body that extends a barrel length and a bore extending through the barrel body. The bore has a cartridge chamber section and a rifled section with a bore diameter. A cartridge shell fits within the cartridge chamber section and the projectile extends from the cartridge chamber section into the rifled section. The cartridge shell with the projectile has a shell length within the bore, the barrel length is less than twice the shell length. The rifled section has rifling grooves between rifling lands, and each of the rifling lands has a land width. The groove diameter is greater than the land diameter by an amount that is more than one half of the land width. The barrel body has an extractor assembly with an arm retractably extending from a cavity. The arm can rotate in the cavity when extended and does not rotate when retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Heizer Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Charles K. Heizer, Thomas C. Heizer, Hedy H. Gahn
  • Patent number: 9939224
    Abstract: A silencer for a firearm, in particular a handgun, is provided, comprising a silencer housing with a rear end wall, which is facing the barrel of the firearm, and a front end wall, which is remote from the rear end wall, and comprising an attachment rail, arranged on the silencer housing, for attaching the silencer to the firearm. The attachment rail is arranged on a lower side wall of the silencer housing. The silencer may also be used as a duel simulator. Also provided is a firearm with a silencer or a duel simulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Andreas Steindl
  • Patent number: 9939225
    Abstract: A firearm stock with a support such as a bipod, tripod, monopod, or aiming stick is described. The support includes support legs and a mounting structure which mounts the support legs onto the stock. The support legs may be detached from the mounting structure when the support is not in use. After removal from the mounting structure, the support legs may be stored in one or more channels in the stock, by sliding them through one or more apertures in the end of the butt of the stock. The mounting structure may include a swivel mechanism which allows the aiming of the rifle to be adjusted while the support legs remain engaged with the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Brent J. Ravnaas
  • Patent number: 9939226
    Abstract: This application is directed to a firearm that is functional, but is not fully functional as it is incapable of discharging ammunition, e.g., causing ammunition to ignite and discharge a bullet. Related methods, techniques, and approaches are also discussed. In embodiments, the firearm is functional, but not fully functional and it is impractical and/or irreversible to alter the firearm to make it fully functional through replacement of interchangeable parts that correspond to that particular firearm model. In embodiments, the firearm is also identifiable as being less than fully functional, e.g., it is incapable of discharging ammunition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security
    Inventors: Jody Seymore, Jason Edwards, Jeffrey Browder, Brian Marks
  • Patent number: 9939227
    Abstract: An improved bug killing gun includes a compressed gas source fluidly connected to a chamber connected to a barrel. A compressed gas release mechanism is connected to the compressed gas source. A projectile storage magazine stores particulate projectiles and is located adjacent the chamber. A projectile loading mechanism moves the projectiles into the chamber from the magazine. A cocking mechanism is mechanically connected to the compressed gas source, the compressed gas release mechanism, and the projectile loading mechanism. When the gun is cocked, the projectile loading mechanism loads a quantity of the particulate projectiles into the chamber. When the compressed gas release mechanism is activated the projectiles are ejected from the chamber into the barrel and expelled from the gun. The gun optionally includes a laser sighting mechanism. The battery operated laser sighting mechanism may be removably attached to the barrel or permanently attached with an integral, trigger operated switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Loren Maggiore
  • Patent number: 9939228
    Abstract: A free float handguard for a firearm having a barrel includes a handguard body and a locking arrangement. The locking arrangement includes a barrel locker and a handguard locker. The barrel locker includes a first tubular locker adapted for coaxially coupling at a fixed end of the barrel, and a second tubular locker coaxially and rotatably coupled at the first tubular locker. The handguard locker has a rear portion coaxially coupled at the first tubular locker to prevent the handguard locker from being rotated therearound, and a front portion engaged with the second tubular locker to prevent the second tubular locker from being rotated around the first tubular locker, wherein a first end portion of the handguard body is coupled at the handguard locker for locking up the handguard body around the barrel in a free float manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: NcSTAR, Inc.
    Inventors: Carson Cheng, Jason Michael Cheng, Richard Thomas
  • Patent number: 9939229
    Abstract: A gun scope is provided having a battery compartment. The battery compartment may be configured to house one or more batteries to provide electronic power to one or more electronic components associated with the gun scope. The battery compartment is associated with a rotatable component, such as a magnifying ring, and configured to rotate with the rotatable component about an axis. In one embodiment, the battery component may be integrally formed with the rotatable component. In another embodiment, the battery component may be formed as a separate component and coupled with the rotatable component. The battery compartment extends radially outward from the rotatable component and provides a lever for rotation of the rotatable component about its axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Revic, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Davidson, Andreas G. Schaefer, Christopher R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9939230
    Abstract: A teaching device for training shooters to choose the best place to shoot a clay target is provided, whereby the teaching device greatly simplifies the decision making process and increases the students' awareness of target lines, directions and break zones. The teaching device may include a plurality of pointers rotatably connected to a clock face by a pivot fastener. The teaching device may include a target holder centrally disposed along the clock face, wherein the target holder is understood to represent a clay target. The plurality of pointers may independently rotate relative to each other so that each pointer may be positioned at a different relationship to the target holder so as to physically represent different choices, predictions and outcomes regarding the targeting thereof, including chosen target lines, predicted break lines and the outcomes of their chosen target lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventors: John Higgins, Rhonda Young
  • Patent number: 9939231
    Abstract: A dual-band semi-active laser (SAL) sensing system incorporating a dual-passband filter. According to one example, a semi-active laser sensing system includes a detector assembly and an aperture lens. The SAL sensing system further comprises a dual-passband filter having a stopband, a first passband and a second passband, the first and second passbands being distinct and non-overlapping and spectrally separated from one another by a portion of the stopband, the filter being configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the aperture lens and to filter the electromagnetic radiation to pass a first wavelength range within the first passband and a second wavelength range within the second passband. The SAL sensing system further includes a lens assembly configured to receive the first and second wavelength ranges from the filter and to focus the first and second wavelength ranges onto the detector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald L. Roncone, Raymond S. Lickson, Eric X. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9939232
    Abstract: A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) launches wire-tethered electrodes from multiple cartridges to provide a current through a human or animal target to impede locomotion of the target. The CEW may detect when the electrodes launched from the cartridges may provide the current through more than one target. The CEW may detect when electrodes launched from the cartridges may provide the current through the same target. The CEW may set the pulse rate of the current based on detecting the launch of electrodes from more than one cartridge, detecting that electrodes may provide the current through two or more targets, and/or detecting that two or more pairs of electrodes may deliver the current through the same target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Magne H. Nerheim
  • Patent number: 9939233
    Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with some embodiments presented provide methods for denying visual access to a first area from a target area. In some embodiments, methods for denying visual access from a target area may include generating a structured light pattern and projecting the structured light pattern from onto the target area. Reflections and retroreflections from the target area can indicate the presence of sensors. Characterization of one or more sensors in the target area based on the reflections and retroreflections can be performed. Parameters of the structured light pattern, such as color content, amplitude, pattern, and movement of the pattern, can be adjusted based on the type of sensor detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: DOUBLESHOT, INC.
    Inventors: Miles L. Scott, Alan Shulman
  • Patent number: 9939234
    Abstract: A real-life target is hit with a virtual bullet or projectile using GPS-enabled or otherwise location aware devices which report their location. Real world information is taken into account, such as the terrain, elevation, weather, and line of sight, to determine if the virtual bullet hits the real-life target. Virtual information is also taken into account, such as which weapon is selected and what its distance and accuracy are. Further, information about the shooter is taken into account, such as his/her accuracy, how tired he/she is (based on recent travel distance and velocity), and how steady the GPS-enabled device is being held. Thus, a simulation which mirrors reality is made, allowing people to play a more realistic type of a virtual action with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Joel Glauber
  • Patent number: 9939235
    Abstract: Initiation devices may include at least one substrate, an initiation element positioned on a first side of the at least one substrate, and a spark gap electrically coupled to the initiation element and positioned on a second side of the at least one substrate. Initiation devices may include a plurality of substrates where at least one substrate of the plurality of substrates is electrically connected to at least one adjacent substrate of the plurality of substrates with at least one via extending through the at least one substrate. Initiation systems may include such initiation devices. Methods of igniting energetic materials include passing a current through a spark gap formed on at least one substrate of the initiation device, passing the current through at least one via formed through the at least one substrate, and passing the current through an explosive bridge wire of the initiation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Daniels, Reston A. Condit, Nikki Rasmussen, Ronald S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 9939236
    Abstract: A casing for use in a cartridge for a firearm comprises a sleeve and attached base. The sleeve is formed with a mouth for holding a bullet and an opposing bulkhead from which extends a nipple. The end of the nipple is flared radially outwardly within a passageway of the base, to form a special configuration lip and first seal. The nipple is shaped to make a second seal when press fitted into the passageway. A bulkhead is formed with a circumferential wave or ridge. A sleeve is preferably made from austenitic stainless steel that is worked to have differential hardness and magnetic properties along the sleeve length, with the nipple being of lesser hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SHELL SHOCK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Volodymyr Drobockyi, Anthony Viggiano
  • Patent number: 9939237
    Abstract: A folding fin system includes a fin root and an upper fin part that is rotatably borne on the fin root. The upper fin part may be moved relative to the fin root between an unfolded and a folded position, and wherein the upper fin part and the fin root may be locked relative to one another using a slot-and-key system when the upper fin part is in the unfolded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: MBDA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Lutzenberger, Wolf-Diether Mast
  • Patent number: 9939238
    Abstract: A projectile incorporates one or more spoiler-tabbed spinning disks to effect flow around the projectile and thus impart steering forces and/or moments. The spoiler tabs may be deployed only during steering phases of travel thus minimizing the drag penalty associated with steering systems. The disks are driven by motors and informed and controlled by sensors and electronic control systems. The spoiler tabs protrude through the surface of the projectile only for certain angles of spin of the spinning disk. For spin-stabilized projectiles, the disks spin at substantially the same rate as the projectile, but the disks may function in fin-stabilized projectiles as well. Any number of such spinning flow effector disks may be incorporated in a projectile, with the manner of functional coordination differing slightly for even and odd numbers of disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Zak Sowle, Srikanth Vasudevan, Matthew C. Birch
  • Patent number: 9939239
    Abstract: A stacked, collaborative engagement ammunition round is presented. The round includes plural stacked miniaturized projectiles where such projectiles separate after launch and then swarm as a group towards a target or targets. At launch, the projectiles may fly in a preselected formation, leader-follower towards the target. Or, the projectiles may deploy propellers, tri-copter or quad-copter vanes, and self steer swarming to the target. Each projectile has its own miniaturized guidance, navigation and control components, autopilot, cameras, transmitter, receiver, antennae, power source, sensors, fuzes and/or flex circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Leon Manole, Mark Young
  • Patent number: 9939240
    Abstract: Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Srikanth Vasudevan, Paul Suchy, Matthew C. Birch
  • Patent number: 9939241
    Abstract: An apparatus, comprising: a substrate configured into a casing, a propellant configured between a projectile positioned/configured within the casing and an end of the casing, the propellant configured to expand upon a firing event and project the projectile from the casing; and a coating comprising a conformal coating layer having a particulate boron nitride dispersed therein, wherein the coating is configured to cover at least one of the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall, such that at least one side of the substrate is covered by the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ARCONIC INC.
    Inventors: Jean Ann Skiles, Charles Warren, Heather Drieling, John McAllister, Tom Murphy, James Wiswall
  • Patent number: 9939242
    Abstract: A method for providing electrical energy to a self-destruct fuze for submunitions in a projectile, the method including: storing mechanical energy in an elastic element attached to a first movable mass at one end of the elastic element upon a firing acceleration of the projectile; engaging a second movable mass with the first movable mass such that movement of the second movable mass upon the acceleration moves the second movable mass which in turn moves the first movable mass; converting the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy upon the acceleration to vibrate the first movable mass and the elastic element to apply a cyclic force to a piezoelectric element attached to another end of the elastic element; and locking the second movable mass in a position where the second movable mass cannot interfere with vibration of the first movable mass upon the second movable mass being subjected to the acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: OMNITEK PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Jahangir S Rastegar, Richard T Murray, Chris Janow, Richard Dratler
  • Patent number: 9939243
    Abstract: An adhesive-backed flexible backing, comprising a measuring tape and a receptacle for holding a writing instrument positioned or disposed on one end of said tape. Another end of the backing has a display surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Harris F Brotman
  • Patent number: 9939244
    Abstract: A molded part made in plastic material that includes a body having a surface and two positioning relief portions formed on the surface while being spaced apart from each other along a measurement direction, each positioning relief portion having a positioning protrusion defining a measurement surface allowing the positioning of a sensor member of a distance measurement instrument along the measurement direction bearing against the measurement surface, in order to measure the distance between the positioning relief portions along the measurement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventor: David Magnier
  • Patent number: 9939245
    Abstract: A gauge for checking tolerances of a bent tube includes a gauge block having a channel in which the tube is placed for checking. Viewing windows in the side of the gauge block permit the bottom of the tube to be viewed within the channel. The viewing windows are sized to match a preselected tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Blair T. McKendrick
  • Patent number: 9939246
    Abstract: The disclosed micro-sensor includes: a substrate including a first portion and a second portion; a third portion and fourth portion provided between the portions and connected to the first portion and the second portion respectively by an elastic member; detection and a counter including: a counting gear, a third beam capable of meshing with the gear, an amplifier for the value of a relative movement between the portions and including: a first beam attached at one end thereof to the third portion and at the other end thereof to a plate, a second beam attached at one end thereof to the fourth portion and at the other end thereof to the plate, the third beam being attached on one side to the plate and including a tooth capable of meshing with the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: ETAT FRANCAIS REPRESENTE PAR LE DELEGUE GENERAL POUR L'ARMEMENT, SILMACH
    Inventors: Pierre-Francois Louvigne, Patrice Minotti, Paul Vescovo, Vianney Sadoulet
  • Patent number: 9939247
    Abstract: A wear monitoring system for measuring incursion depth into an abradable coating includes a layer of abradable coating including a depth. At least one measurement circuit includes a plurality of conductive leads disposed within the abradable coating. The conductive leads are spaced radially apart within a common radial plane corresponding to the depth of the abradable coating. A plurality of resistor elements corresponds with the plurality of conductive leads. Each of the plurality of resistor elements are in electrical communication with one of the plurality of conductive leads disposed within the common radial plane of the corresponding one of the plurality of conductive leads. An electrical characteristic of the circuit varies responsive to cutting of one or more of the plurality of conductive leads by a passing airfoil. A gas turbine engine and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sameh Dardona, Paul Sheedy, Marcin Piech, Daniel Anthony Grande, Wayde R. Schmidt, Cagatay Tokgoz, Thomas D. Kasprow, Lesia V. Protsailo
  • Patent number: 9939248
    Abstract: An alignment apparatus and an alignment detection method, which fall within a field of display technology, are disclosed herein. The alignment apparatus includes: a work table; a plurality of alignment rods provided on the work table, wherein a capacitor element is provided inside the alignment rod, and a capacitance of the capacitor element is changeable as the alignment rod deforms; and an alarm element connected to the capacitor element for giving an alarm when it receives a capacitance change value which exceeds a preset threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Zhang, Zheng Bian, Shuai Xin
  • Patent number: 9939249
    Abstract: A birefringent Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is provided for optically sensing a small fluctuation from an un-polarized light beam. The birefringent MZI includes first and second birefringent crystals arranged coaxially, the first crystal to receive the beam; and first and second 45° polarizers positioned behind respective the first and second crystals. The first crystal divides the beam into first ordinary and extraordinary rays. The first polarizer converts the first rays into first 45° rays. The second crystal divides the first 45° rays into second ordinary, extraordinary and recombination rays. The second polarizer converts the second rays into second 45° rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Scott E. Spence
  • Patent number: 9939250
    Abstract: In scatterometry, a merit function including a regularization parameter is used in an iterative process to find values for the scattering properties of the measured target. An optimal value for the regularization parameter is obtained for each measurement target and in each iteration of the iterative process. Various methods can be used to find the value for the regularization parameter, including the Discrepancy Principle, the chi-squared method and novel modifications of the Discrepancy Principle and the chi-squared method including a merit function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Maxim Pisarenco, Irwan Dani Setija
  • Patent number: 9939251
    Abstract: Stacked imager devices that can determine distance and generate three dimensional representations of a subject and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, an imaging system can include a first imager array having a first light incident surface and a second imager array having a second light incident surface. The second imager array can be coupled to the first imager array at a surface that is opposite the first light incident surface, with the second light incident surface being oriented toward the first imager array and at least substantially uniformly spaced. The system can also include a system lens positioned to direct incident light along an optical pathway onto the first light incident surface. The first imager array is operable to detect a first portion of the light passing along the optical pathway and to pass through a second portion of the light, where the second imager array is operable to detect at least a part of the second portion of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SiOnyx, LLC
    Inventors: Homayoon Haddad, Chen Feng, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 9939252
    Abstract: A target location device has a video camera, a range finder, a self location module and an inertial measurement unit. The device provides a video display including video output of the camera and an object marker such as a cross-hair overlayed on the video output for aiming the camera on a reference point or on a target in the video output. The range finder determines a distance from the device to the target. The self location module identifies the geographic location of the device. The inertial measurement unit includes at least one gyro for providing outputs corresponding to the location of the reference point and the target. Video stabilization may be use to allow accurate placement of the object marker on the target or reference point. Automatic range finder firing and gyroscope error compensation are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dale Jancic, Christopher Rakowski, Donald Spencer, Steven Earnest Morin
  • Patent number: 9939253
    Abstract: Data streams from multiple image sensors may be combined in order to form, for example, an interleaved video stream, which can be used to determine distance to an object. The video stream may be encoded using a motion estimation encoder. Output of the video encoder may be processed (e.g., parsed) in order to extract motion information present in the encoded video. The motion information may be utilized in order to determine a depth of visual scene, such as by using binocular disparity between two or more images by an adaptive controller in order to detect one or more objects salient to a given task. In one variant, depth information is utilized during control and operation of mobile robotic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: BRAIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Micah Richert, Marius Buibas, Vadim Polonichko
  • Patent number: 9939254
    Abstract: The present invention provides the sensor for measuring the relative sliding between two interfaces based on the principle of EFPI. The sensor comprises two optical fibers and two slopes arranged on the reflective slope. Each surface of the slope is disposed with reflecting surface; and the bottom of each optical fiber is arranged with reflecting end surface. The reflecting surfaces are perpendicular to each of an optical axis of the fiber, thus the Fabry-Perot cavity is formed between reflective end surface and emitting surface to measure the sliding of object B relative to object A in a plane. A fiber and a slope can also be further added to measure the sliding of object B relative to object A in a three dimensional space. The sensor does not affected by the temperature and electromagnetic interference; and has the advantages of high accuracy, strong resisting interference capability and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Yizheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9939255
    Abstract: A curvature measuring apparatus includes: a fixing member including: a curvature portion under the display panel, the curvature portion including a bending portion to support the display panel; and a plurality of protrusions at both ends of the curvature portion; a support adjacent to the fixing member to fix the fixing member, the support including a plurality of coupling grooves; and a measuring member above the display panel to measure a curvature of the bending portion of the display panel, wherein one of the protrusions is in one of the coupling grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jongsoo Lee
  • Patent number: 9939257
    Abstract: An inherent pattern image (100, 100F) of a test object (10) is recorded when the test object is illuminated with uniform illumination light, and a projection pattern image (200, 200F) is recorded when the test object is illuminated with a spatially modulated projection pattern. A planar displacement vector field (110, 110F) is calculated from the inherent pattern image, and a shape (210, 210F) is calculated from the projection pattern image. An image of the first type is recorded at time (tT), and images of the second type are recorded at times (tT?; tT+) before and after the time (tT). A representation of the test object at the test time (tT) is estimated by averaging. A spatial displacement vector field (300) is based on the calculated representation of the test object of the first image type and the representation of the test object estimated from the images of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: LaVision GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Wieneke