Calvin W Lee

US Patent:

6669146, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

May 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/867246

Inventors:

Calvin K. Lee - Needham MA
John E. Buckley - Marlboro MA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B64D 1702

US Classification:

244145, 244142

Abstract:

A parachute cluster assembly includes a first round parachute having a first canopy of radially extending first gores, and a second round parachute having a second canopy of radially extending second gores. Adjacent ones of the first gores are joined along a line to adjacent ones of the second gores to fix the first canopy to the second canopy along the line. The first canopy defines a first slot spaced from but neighboring the first gores joined along the line, and the second canopy defines a second slot spaced from but neighboring the second gores joined along the line. The first and second slots are disposed on a same side of the cluster assembly.

US Patent:

7195205, Mar 27, 2007

Filed:

Oct 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/243888

Inventors:

Calvin K. Lee - Needham MA, US

Assignee:

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B64D 17/52

US Classification:

244149, 244142

Abstract:

A parachute system has a canopy, suspension lines that extend from the canopy skirt to a confluence point, and a center line that is attached to and between the apex of the canopy and the confluence point. A single reefing line cutter is attached to the center line and is activated after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed. A first reefing line extends through a first group of reefing rings wherein one end of the first reefing line is attached to the single reefing line cutter and the opposite end is attached to the canopy skirt at a first predetermined location. A second reefing line extends through a second group of reefing rings that is opposite the first group of reefing rings. The second reefing line has one end attached to the single reefing line cutter and an opposite end attached to the canopy skirt at a second predetermined location that is across from the first predetermined location. The canopy opens to an initial circumference that is determined by the summation of the lengths of the first and second reefing lines. When the reefing line cutter is activated, the reefing line cutter releases the first and second reefing lines so as to allow full inflation of the canopy.

US Patent:

7419122, Sep 2, 2008

Filed:

Nov 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/269918

Inventors:

Calvin Lee - Needham MA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B64D 17/58

US Classification:

244147

Abstract:

A parachute system having a parachute canopy having a skirt, and a plurality of gores spaced about the skirt. The plurality of gores is defined by first and second groups of gores. The parachute system includes a slider having a plurality of through-holes, a line loop attached to the slider, a first reefing line extending through the first group of gores and having a pair of ends attached to the line loop, and a second reefing line extending through the second group of gores and having a pair of ends attached to the line loop. A corresponding group of suspension lines passes through a corresponding through-hole in the slider. Each suspension line in each group of suspension lines is attached to a corresponding gore. A single reefing line cutter is engaged with the line loop and configured to cut the line loop after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed so as to release the reefing lines and allow the slider to slide down the suspension lines.

US Patent:

7494946, Feb 24, 2009

Filed:

Oct 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/242266

Inventors:

Phillip W. Gibson - Holliston MA, US
Calvin K. Lee - Needham MA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

D04H 1/00
B32B 5/18

US Classification:

442354, 442341, 442373, 442189

Abstract:

A thermal insulation material for articles of clothing, the material including fibers for providing thermal insulation and fibers for providing a stable structure for the material.

US Patent:

62991043, Oct 9, 2001

Filed:

Aug 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/631541

Inventors:

Mahmoud A. El-Sherif - Narbeth PA
Dina M. El-Sherif - Narbeth PA
Calvin K. Lee - Needham MA

Assignee:

Photonics Laboratories, Inc. - Narberth PA

International Classification:

B64D 1700

US Classification:

244142

Abstract:

A system and method for evaluating flexible structures such as textiles under load generally. A specific embodiment is shown for parachutes. A plurality of first sensors and second sensors are attached to the parachute on its canopy and suspension lines. Preferred first sensors are fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) type sensors, and preferred second sensors are modal power distribution (MPD) type sensors. A fiber optic network interconnects the pluralities of first and second sensors to provide sensor outputs which are converted to electronic signals, modulated and transmitted to a receiving station for receiving and processing the transmitted modulated electronic signals. The preferred fiber optic network includes a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned at one end of each fibers and a photodiode array positioned to receive light from each of the fibers. The transmitter acquires the output as data, processes and RF modulates the signal to enhance the signal to noise ratio and prepares it for wireless transmission. The signal may be recorded or read-out before modulation.

US Patent:

49555634, Sep 11, 1990

Filed:

Aug 25, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/401192

Inventors:

Calvin K. Lee - Needham MA
James E. Sadeck - East Freetown MA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B64D 1736

US Classification:

244152

Abstract:

A parachute assembly and method for the controlled airdrop of a payload is isclosed. The parachute assembly includes a cluster of parachutes and a control means. Each parachute in the cluster includes a canopy, a plurality of reefing rings attached to the skirt portion of the canopy and a plurality of suspension lines that are attached to the skirt portion at their one end and attachable to a payload at their other end. The control means comprises a common member disposed between and intermediate to each parachute, a plurality of control lines that are threaded through a plurality of the reefing rings on confronting skirt portions of each of two parachutes, and at least one control loop for each control line, which control loop is breakable under tension forces generated at the skirt portion during canopy opening. The method for controlling canopy release and opening of clustered parachutes comprises releasing the clustered parachutes from a single deployment bag. Each control loop breaks substantially simultaneously with all other control loops during opening.

US Patent:

52094367, May 11, 1993

Filed:

Mar 30, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/860653

Inventors:

Calvin K. Lee - Needham MA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B64D 1736

US Classification:

244152

Abstract:

A parachute having radial reefing means for use in packing and opening the parachute canopy in a controlled manner. The parachute includes a circular canopy having a peripheral skirt and a plurality of evenly spaced radials. Suspension lines are attached at one end to the skirt at each radial and are bound together at the opposite end in a bundle. Identical sets of at least three reefing rings are attached to each of selected, non-adjacent radials, i. e. , reefing radials, which are evenly spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to 25% to 40% of the length of a radial. The outermost reefing ring of each set is attached to its respective reefing radial at the skirt, and the remaining reefing rings of each set are evenly spaced apart by not more than about 2 feet over about 25% to 40% of the length of the reefing radial. A reefing line is attached to each reefing radial at the skirt, is threaded through its respective set of reefing rings, and is bound to the other reefing lines in a bundle which is suspended over the bundle of suspension lines. To reef the parachute canopy, the bundle of reefing lines is pulled downwardly and tied together with the bundle of suspension lines.

US Patent:

45005923, Feb 19, 1985

Filed:

Jun 22, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/623755

Inventors:

Calvin K. Lee - Needham MA
Deirdre T. Rapacz - Natick MA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B32B 700

US Classification:

428251

Abstract:

A tent insulation liner which functions to both retain heat within the tent uring the winter heating season and reduce the external heat load during the summer air conditioning season. The liner is positioned on the interior side of an outer tent shell and is formed by alternating plies of fibrous flame retardant (FR) polyester batting, metallic reflective film and fibrous FR polyester batting and having fiberglass fabric as external cover layers. Optimum insulative properties were found to occur when a three-ply quilting arrangement was employed in which each fiberglass fabric layer was quilted to the adjacent FR batting layer and the two metallic film layers were quilted together with a FR batting layer between.