Francis C Wessling

US Patent:

6718776, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Jul 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/192371

Inventors:

Francis C. Wessling - Huntsville AL
James M. Blackwood - Huntsville AL
Gabrial A. Elliott - Huntsville AL
Susan K. OBrien - Gurley AL

Assignee:

University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

F25D 308

US Classification:

62 60, 624572

Abstract:

A passive thermal control enclosure for transporting and storing payloads in earth orbit includes an inner box-like enclosure surrounded by an outer box-like enclosure with insulation in the space between the enclosures. The walls of the inner enclosure are fiber-matrix composite skins with honeycomb sandwiched therebetween. Each enclosure has its own door latched closed by releasable latches formed in opposed pairs that can be operated without any net force on the operator. Packs of phase change material (PCM) are placed into the inner enclosure with the payload. The PCM is contained in flexible packages. The packs of PCM are removed when they melt and replaced with fresh packs, and the melted packs preferably are re-frozen on-board the orbiting spacecraft. Freezing preferably is carried out such that the freeze front moves substantially in only one direction from one end of the pack to the other.

US Patent:

20050042416, Feb 24, 2005

Filed:

Aug 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/645110

Inventors:

James Blackmon - Brownsboro AL, US
Francis Wessling - Huntsville AL, US

International Classification:

B32B003/12

US Classification:

428116000

Abstract:

An insulation system comprising layers of honeycomb cores where each core is enclosed in a sealed container made of radiation barrier material. The container is evacuated and becomes a vacuum enclosure for the honeycomb cores. To reduce the heat transfer between the honeycomb cores, the cores are placed in an offset arrangement.

US Patent:

53349636, Aug 2, 1994

Filed:

Oct 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/964932

Inventors:

Francis C. Wessling - Huntsville AL

Assignee:

The University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

H01H 3500
G01P 1500

US Classification:

335 2

Abstract:

A switch device which includes a magnet movable within a passageway. A wire coil is provided about the passageway such that, as the magnet moves into the coil, a current is induced, thereby providing a signal pulse. The switch can be utilized for sensing changes in inertia, with a stopper opposing movement of the magnet unless the magnet imparts sufficient force against the spring biased stopper to allow the magnet to move along the passageway. The biasing force of the stopper can be adjusted to adjust the amount of force, acceleration or deceleration required for actuating the switch. The switch may also be utilized without the spring-biased stopper, with the magnet preloaded with a spring or weight, such that the switch automatically operates upon removal of a safety pin.

US Patent:

61146749, Sep 5, 2000

Filed:

Oct 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/943948

Inventors:

Walter Thomas Baugh - Knoxville TN
Stephen Mark Kusek - Owens Cross Roads AL
Francis Wessling - Madison AL

Assignee:

McDonnell Douglas Corporation - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

H05B 316
H05B 100
H05K 100
H01C 1012

US Classification:

219543

Abstract:

A multilayer circuit board and an associated heating apparatus is provided for heating electrical components. The multilayer circuit board includes a trace layer having at least one electrical trace terminating with a contact pad that is positioned to electrically contact a respective lead of an electrical component mounted upon the multilayer circuit board. The multilayer circuit board also includes a heating layer disposed in thermal contact with the electrical component mounted upon the multilayer circuit board. The heating layer includes a first electrically resistive heating element disposed upon an insulating substrate in general alignment with the electrical component mounted upon the multilayer circuit board. The electrically resistive heating element provides heat to maintain the operating temperature of the electrical component within a desired range. By increasing the operating temperature of the electrical component, the multilayer circuit board allows less expensive, commercial grade electronics to be utilized which would otherwise have been susceptible to failure at lower temperatures.

US Patent:

57743380, Jun 30, 1998

Filed:

Sep 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/717410

Inventors:

Francis Christopher Wessling - Madison AL

Assignee:

McDonnell Douglas Corporation - Huntington Beach CA

International Classification:

H05K 500
A45F 502
G06F 116

US Classification:

361730

Abstract:

A body integral electronics package housing is formed of cloth material that simulates a person's garment, such as a poncho or vest. The housing contains various pockets to confine various electronic modules, including a front pocket of such size as to overlie the breast and midriff portions of the person's torso. The front pocket confines a plurality of rigid electronic modules that are supported within the pocket in a row and column array. The user may twist or turn his torso and bend forward or back and the foregoing array, and the modules do not restrict that movement. Instead, the position of the individual modules independently adjusts to the torso's position.

US Patent:

58155538, Sep 29, 1998

Filed:

Oct 2, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/720859

Inventors:

Walter T. Baugh - Ellisville MS
Desmond Morris - Huntsville AL
Francis C. Wessling - Madison AL

Assignee:

McDonnell Douglas Corporation - Huntington Beach CA

International Classification:

H04M 164

US Classification:

379 88

Abstract:

An apparatus for transmitting and receiving spoken utterances over a local area network (LAN) in near-real-time. The type of LANs include both wireless LANs (e. g. , radio frequency LANs) and wired LANs (e. g. , a Novell network). A User depresses computer mouse buttons to initiate or terminate speaking into a computer which contains a sound card, microphone and speakers. The computer mouse buttons generate messages which are monitored by a hibernating process. Upon receiving the appropriate messages, the hibernating process awakens to transmit to one or more selected users. With only a slight time delay, one or more selected remote users receive the recorded message. Two buffers provide an efficient transfer mechanism of the recorded message between the transmitting and the receiving computers. Also, encryption techniques provide security measures for the transmitted recorded measures and compression techniques assist in the transfer of the recorded message.