William James Kirkwood

US Patent:

6539894, Apr 1, 2003

Filed:

Sep 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/967788

Inventors:

Paul S. Byrne - San Jose CA
William J. Kirkwood - Carmel CA

Assignee:

Eagle Net Sea Farms, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

A01K 6100

US Classification:

119234, 119238, 119240

Abstract:

An aquaculture system for cultivation, containment and rearing of various mollusks, particularly abalone, which includes a habitat which supports a plurality of molded panels including openings for communicating between adjacent panels, whereby food is available throughout the habitat. An outer netting or open structure which allows water to flow through the habitat, but protects the mollusks from predators, while still containing the food and permitting the flow of water therethrough, selected ones of said panels being configured to provide buoyancy for the habitat which is tethered from the bottom of the ocean.

US Patent:

6572422, Jun 3, 2003

Filed:

Jun 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/888396

Inventors:

William J. Kirkwood - Carmel CA
Farley Shane - Prunedale CA
Mark Griese - Santa Barbara CA
Douglas Au - Royal Oaks CA
Ed Mellinger - Monterey CA
Thomas OReilly - Santa Cruz CA
Joseph Andrew Gashler - Pacific Grove CA

Assignee:

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) - Moss Landing CA

International Classification:

B63H 116

US Classification:

440 67, 114312, 114315, 114337

Abstract:

An assembly for an underwater vehicle that includes a motor, a duct assembly, and an actuator. The duct assembly includes a duct and a propeller mounted within the duct, where the propeller is driven by the motor. The actuator is connected to the duct assembly and the vehicle. The actuator pivots the duct assembly with respect to the vehicle. Alternatively, the assembly includes a motor, a duct having a generally cylindrical shape oriented about a longitudinal axis, and a propeller having an axis of rotation. The propeller is mounted within the duct and is driven by the motor. The propeller and the duct are connected such that the axis of rotation and the longitudinal axis have a fixed orientation with respect to one another. The assembly includes a configuration for changing an orientation of the axis of rotation and the longitudinal axis with respect to the vehicle.

US Patent:

20120175969, Jul 12, 2012

Filed:

Mar 20, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/424530

Inventors:

Thomas G. Maughan - Carmel Valley CA, US
William J. Kirkwood - Carmel CA, US

International Classification:

H01F 38/00

US Classification:

307104

Abstract:

A wireless power and data connector includes a socket and a plug. The socket has a power port for connecting to a wired power transmission line, a data port for connecting to a wired data communication line, a wireless power transmitter, and a wireless data transceiver. The plug includes a power port for connecting to a wired instrument power transmission line, a data port for connecting to a wired instrument data communication line, a wireless power receiver, and a wireless data transceiver. The socket has a concave portion and the plug has a convex region shaped such that the convex region of the plug removably fits within the concave region of the socket. The wireless power transmitter and wireless power receiver transmit power from the socket to the plug using magnetically coupled resonant tank circuits.

US Patent:

49731459, Nov 27, 1990

Filed:

Dec 21, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/287242

Inventors:

William J. Kirkwood - Prunedale CA
Russell P. Rhoads - Milpitas CA

Assignee:

Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G02B 718
F16D 300
F16H 2154
G05G 1100

US Classification:

350632

Abstract:

A flexure mechanism, the basic elements of which comprise a foundation plate, and a mounting plate which is desirably mounted generally parallel to the foundation plate and which is secured from the foundation plate by a series of flexible support elements, the support elements being secured to the foundation plate in a generally circular configuration and which incline conically, inwardly, into attachment to the mounting plate, also in a generally circular configuration. If the point of convergence of the support elements lies in the plane of the distal surface of the mounting plate, the foundation plate will move, in two degrees of freedom relative to the foundation plate much as if the two plates are pivotally connected to each other. The support elements may be adjustably mounted to the foundation plates and mounting plates, and means may be provided to move the mounting plate relative to the foundation plate.