Ricon Corporation

Raytheon Company

Woodward Hrt, Inc.

Sean J Whitmarsh

James H Dupont

Miguel Monge

Jie Tong

Embodiments of a solid propellant rocket motor are provided. In one embodiment, the solid propellant rocket motor includes a pressure vessel having a cavity therein, a solid propellant disposed within the cavity, a nozzle fluidly coupled to the cavity, and a tungsten alloy burst disc positioned proximate the nozzle. The tungsten alloy burst disc is configured to block gas flow through the nozzle when the tungsten alloy burst disc is intact and to fragment at a predetermined burst pressure. Embodiments of a method are further provided for manufacturing a burst disc. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of forming a burst disc from a tungsten alloy. Embodiments of a burst disc are still further provided. In one embodiment, the burst disc includes an outer annular portion, and a central portion comprising a tungsten alloy.

Solid propellant rocket motors employing tungsten alloy burst discs and methods for the manufacture thereof

One embodiment is directed to a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a housing and a rotary actuator carried by the housing. The rotary actuator includes a shaft and armature disposed around at least a portion of the shaft. The armature is configured to rotate the shaft about a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The locking mechanism also has a cam carried by the shaft and a set of locking balls disposed between the cam and the housing. The locking mechanism has a locking assembly carried by the housing, the locking assembly being axially positionable between a locked position relative to the housing and a released position relative to the housing.

Rotary actuator ball-detent locking mechanism

A clutch-driven limited force actuator is disclosed having a motor, a planetary gear mechanism in operative communication with the motor and a clutch plate. The clutch plate includes a contact surface selectively in frictional contact with the planetary gear mechanism to drive an actuator arm. In operation, the frictional force between the planetary gear mechanism and the clutch plate causes the actuator arm to actuate. The actuator arm can be connected to any element that requires actuation. The actuator of the present invention is preferably used in a wheelchair lift to actuate any mechanism that must have a safe limit on the amount of force applied to obstacles and that must have provision for direct manual operation.

Clutch-driven limited force actuator

A ramp assembly for installation in a vehicle includes a ramp platform having a stowed configuration in the vehicle, a deployed configuration extending from the vehicle, and a lift and lock mechanism. The lift and lock mechanism is configured to lock the ramp platform in place when the platform is in a stowed configuration and to facilitate the lifting of the platform when the platform is deployed.

Ramp assembly having a lift and lock mechanism

A method of and apparatus for providing self-learning correction to the error in positioning movement of a platform in a vehicular wheelchair lift or any moving member of machinery or an equipment. The method includes the steps of programming the platform or moving member to stop at a target position, calculating an error between the programmed target position and an actual stop position of the platform or moving member, and deriving a new target position to stop the platform or moving member based on the calculated error to compensate the overshoot or shortcoming of the actual stop position of the platform or moving member. The apparatus implementing this method may include a programmable control mechanism such as a microprocessor having means for performing the programmed sequential operations.

Method of and apparatus for providing self-learning correction to platform positioning movement

A threshold warning system is installed directly on a conventional lift to fully comply with the SAE standard No. J2093. The threshold warning system comprises a sensor device for sensing whether there is an object crossing the boundary of the threshold zone, and a platform position indication device for determining whether the platform is in an unsafe position. The threshold warning system comprises an audible and/or visual warning device for warning a wheelchair user or a passenger when the user or passenger moves into a threshold zone from the vehicle opening while the platform is in an unsafe level for exiting from or boarding into the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Castaic, CA, United States of America

Sean J Whitmarsh