The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 2006
Filed:
May. 05, 2004
Derek A. Tidman, McLean, VA (US);
Mark L. Kregel, Aberdeen, MD (US);
Derek A. Tidman, McLean, VA (US);
Mark L. Kregel, Aberdeen, MD (US);
Advanced Launch Corporation, McLean, VA (US);
Abstract
A spiral mass launcher for moving a mass including a spindle support assembly; connected to a swing-arm pair module. The spindle support assembly rotates on a motor shaft, allowing the swing-arm pair module to swing on a parallel bearing shaft. A spiral track passes through a radial opening in the bearing shaft. Thus, the swinging motion of the swing-arm pair modules allows the spiral track to move in a gyrating motion. The spiral track has a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to receive a mass or projectile and a second end adapted to launch the mass. A mass can be fed into the spiral mass launcher by either a feed mechanism that feeds the mass into the first end of the spiral. Such feed mechanisms include a feed mechanism that linearly oscillates and picks up the mass at a first amplitude of oscillation and feeds the mass into the first end of the spiral track at a second amplitude of oscillation; or a feed mechanism that includes a continuous tube and 'crank arm' feed. The mass can also be fed into the spiral track by a low jitter gun.