USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Jeffrey M Lloyd

Brandon J Wiedemeier

Carol A Becker

Brooke Bachmann

Gregory Wayne Anderson

Pamela A Boss

Jack Y Dea

Mark Gillcrist

Rosteslaw M Husar

Alex G Phipps

Robert M Lee

Bret R Thomson

Steve Whiteside

Charles M Ringer

Ronald Allen Skala

Carl E Lostrom

Michael H Tall

Jesse T Caldwell

Steven J Horstman

George T Stevens, Iv

Salvador Serra

N Todd Miller

A pressure locking clamp includes a base, a hook arm, and a clasp arm. An imaginary central plane divides the base into a first and second half. The hook arm pivots on the first half of the base around a first axis parallel to the imaginary central plane. The clasp arm pivots on the second half of the base around a second axis parallel to the imaginary central plane. The hook and clasp arms each includes a lock contact area. In a closed state of the pressure locking clamp, the hook and clasp arms and the base together form an eye enclosure. In the closed state, pressure inside the eye enclosure presses the lock contact area of the clasp arm against the lock contact area of the hook arm, and this inhibits the hook and clasp arms from pivoting away from each other, reinforcing the eye enclosure.

Pressure locking clamp

A system for supplying hydrogen gas to a lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle includes a manifold having multiple vessels. Each vessel has a first chamber that is separated from a second chamber by a barrier. A trigger assembly integrated with the barrier allows a liquid to be combined with a reactant and a catalyst in the second chamber to form a chemical reaction to generate hydrogen gas. A pressure relief valve located on each vessel opens to allow the hydrogen gas to exit when a predetermined pressure is reached, and the hydrogen gas is supplied to the LTA vehicle connected to the manifold.

System and method for supplying a lighter-than-air vehicle with hydrogen gas

On-axis actuator system includes an actuator bracket formed with at least one bracket cavity. Actuator links couple open and close rollers. An actuator member coupled to close roller and disposed within an actuator housing. Moving the actuator member towards the actuator bracket presses the close roller against the bracket to rotate the bracket. A device coupled to the bracket rotates with the bracket.

On-axis actuator for rotating bodies

A valve for delivery of fluid between two chambers. The valve includes a plug, force spring that opens the plug, and a base that joins/mates with the inner surface of a chamber. Plug sealing mechanisms seal the plug to the base. Chamber sealing mechanisms seal an inner surface of a chamber bore or conduit. The valve also includes a trigger arm that holds the plug down until the trigger arm is actuated to cause the plug to move and the valve to open. The valve also includes a remotely-actuatable trigger for releasing the trigger arm. A channel permits the transfer of fluid from one side of the plug to the other.

Low-profile, large-aperture, remotely-triggered valve

This invention is a method and system for addressing structural weaknesses and geometric differentials introduced to a cable when splicing optic fibers. The apparatus and method utilize structurally integrated layers of protective polymers and bonding materials selected for strength and flexibility relative to their thickness. This results in an apparatus having a minimally increased circumference compared to the cable. The method and apparatus include one or more strengthening layers which allow the repaired cable substantially similar flexibility compared to the cable, but prevent formation of sharp bends or kinks. The strengthening layers also allow the repaired cable a resistance to tension similar to the original cable. The method and apparatus further include an outer layer having a geometric configuration which includes sloped terminating ends designed to prevent the reinforced area of the cable from being damaged by the force of objects or substances in contact with cable.

Flexible, low profile kink resistant fiber optic splice tension sleeve

A pressure activated release system and method are disclosed for deployment of surface, aerial and subsea payloads. The system and method include a payload release switch that is activated, without human intervention, by a pressure differential. The system and method also includes a payload release mechanism having an unreleased configuration at pressures below a specified pressure. The release mechanism has a released configuration at pressures above the specified pressure. The switch causes the release mechanism to move from the unreleased configuration to the released configuration.

Pressure activated release for deployment of surface, aerial and subsea payloads

A USB-style data-transfer device employs volatile memory that is connected to an onboard power-storage device for data storage. Through this design, any data stored on the memory can be physically cleared by interrupting the supply of electrical power from the onboard power-storage device to the memory. Enhanced security relative to conventional USB flash devices is provided by the volatile memory-based USB-style data-transfer device as the memory can be physically cleared without being plugged into a computer system either automatically when the onboard power storage device runs out of electrical power to supply to the volatile memory, or by user initiation through either a programmed instruction to interrupt the supply of electric power after a set time period or the operation of a manual switch which interrupts the supply of electric power.

Volatile memory-based data-transfer device with automatic and user-initiated anti-tamper penalties

A portable splicer for an optical fiber can include a first case half and second case half with respective exterior and interior surfaces, which can be hingedly attached to define a case having an interior case surface. At least two clamps for receiving the cable to be spliced and a fuser can be attached to the interior case surface. A deployed configuration for the splice can be established, wherein the first exterior and second exterior surfaces are co-planar. In the deployed configuration, the fuser is located between the two clamps and the fuser and clamps are substantially co-planar. A first channel can be formed in the first exterior surface and a second channel can be formed in the second exterior surface. A bar can be slidably disposed within one of the channels, and can be extended into the other channel to thereby fix the case halves in the deployed configuration.

Portable fiber optic splicer

A variable buoyancy buoy and method for deployment therefor can include a fixed buoyancy portion formed with a cavity and an enclosure. A pressure hull containing instrumentation can be place in the cavity, and a variable buoyancy portion that can be inserted into the enclosure. The fixed buoyancy portion can have a spar buoy configuration or a marker buoy configuration, and can further be formed with at least one opening to establish a path of fluid communication between the exterior of the buoy and the enclosure. The variable buoyancy portion can be a compressible bladder, or compressible foam, which can change form a maximum volume at the water surface to a minimum volume as the buoy descends towards stowage depth. The decrease in buoyancy facilitates retrieval of the buoy by an apparatus on the ocean floor.

Variable buoyancy buoy and deployment methods

A pair of reverse-scissoring arms are configured to be rotatable and reverse-scissorable about a common central axis point. A volume expandable and volume contractible truck is operably disposed at each of the distal ends of the reverse-scissoring arms. Actuation of the arms simultaneously expands one of the trucks, increasing its volume, while contracting the other of the trucks, decreasing its volume. Operably coupled to each of the reverse-scissoring arms is an energy-supplied electric motor-generator. Energization of the motors actuates the arms, whereas actuation of the arms without energization of the motors generates electrical power in the motors. When submersed in liquid, the simultaneous expansion and contraction of the volume in the trucks generates positive and negative buoyancy, respectively, enhancing the dynamics of the truck expansion/contraction motion and the reverse scissorable arm actuation.

Buoyancy assisted motor-generator

The present subject matter provides heat management while generating hydrogen gas from a hydride achieved by coupling a hydride with a hydrate. The present subject matter unexpectedly provides improved methods so that the heat released by the hydride during hydrolysis is accurately balanced by the heat absorbed by the hydrate as the hydrate undergoes a phase transition to a less hydrated or to an anhydrous form. Examples of heat-moderated hydrogen generating systems are provided, and include, among others: NaBH/NaSO.10HO, NaBH/CoSO.7HO, and NaBH/FeSO.7HO. The subject matter provides a methodology for determining the correct proportions of hydride/hydrate to use in preparing a hydrogen generator capable of operating at a nearly constant temperature at or near a phase transition temperature of the hydrate or at a higher temperature that is still within a desired temperature range, such as, for example, 30-90&#xb0; C.

Generation of hydrogen gas from a borohydride at a constant temperature using the phase transition of a hydrate

A lighter than air (LTA) balloon and payload for the LTA balloon are stored on or in an underwater launcher. The launcher provides a source for a supply of a lighter than air gas, which is operatively connected to the LTA balloon until release. On deployment, the lighter than air gas is generated. The LTA balloon is deployed by activating the launcher to fill the LTA balloon and then releases the LTA balloon.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey M Lloyd