Kenneth David Ball

US Patent:

39737462, Aug 10, 1976

Filed:

May 2, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/573847

Inventors:

Kenneth H. Ball - Tarzana CA

Assignee:

Walt Disney Productions - Burbank CA

International Classification:

B61L 310
B61L 320

US Classification:

246187B

Abstract:

A collision avoidance system adapted for railroad use comprising a track having connected thereto a plurality of first signal transmitters exciting the track by a first control signal within a first frequency bandpass range and a plurality of second signal transmitters interspaced between the first signal transmitters in an alternating arrangement, such second transmitters exciting the track by a second control signal within a second frequency bandpass range. While the first and second control signals are respectively within the first and second bandpass range, individual ones thereof are separated by frequency increments from the other control signals within the corresponding bandpass range such that any beats therebetween are of a relatively high frequency. A train riding the track includes a front and rear pickup selectively connected to a dual frequency amplifier across a two-position switch where the amplifier, at its output, connects to a first and second bandpass filter respectively centered at the first and second frequency bandpass. The outputs of the respective filters are rectified and fed to corresponding comparators wherein the signals are compared against a preselected level.

US Patent:

52482413, Sep 28, 1993

Filed:

Oct 21, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/779922

Inventors:

Ralph J. Ortolano - Rancho Palo Verdes CA
Kenneth A. Ball - Huntington Beach CA
Richard E. Serpa - Chino CA
John P. Pepe - Cypress CA
Patrick O. Smith - Etiwanda CA

Assignee:

Southern California Edison Co. - Rosemead CA

International Classification:

F01D 522
F01D 524
F01D 528

US Classification:

416193R

Abstract:

A component is provided with a relative undersize in an area to be subjected to increased stress, for instance, through temperature. The component is made of a hardenable steel. The undersize is overlaid with a non-hardenable steel thereby to provide the full size. A second layer on top of the first layer can be provided. When the second layer is metallurgically bonded in a manner that generates heat, it does not cause a heat affected zone in the base hardenable steel. Blades for steam turbines benefit from this procedure.

US Patent:

39477410, Mar 30, 1976

Filed:

Jan 15, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/433505

Inventors:

Kenneth H. Ball - Tarzana CA
Arthur L. Cole - Saugus CA

Assignee:

Walt Disney Productions - Burbank CA

International Classification:

B63H 2502
G05D 100
B64C 1318

US Classification:

318588

Abstract:

A guidance system for controlling the path of a boat comprising a first conductor disposed below the surface of water in a first elongated loop and connecting at the terminals thereof across an A. C. source of electrical signal and a second conductor driven in a quadrature with the first conductor and disposed in a second loop partly superposed over the first loop. A first and second orthogonal inductive coil, mounted in the boat along a plane parallel to the loop and a plane normal to the loop plane and substantially parallel to the centerline thereof sense the vertical and horizontal components of the electromagnetic field generated about the conductor loops to produce corresponding induced signals respectively varying in amplitude and phase according to the amplitude of the electromagnetic field and the position thereof. Such induced signal of the first and second coils are then clipped by signal limiters and connected to a common phase detector to produce a phase angle signal indicative of the amplitude of deviation of the coils relative the loops. The phase detector output signal is then connected to control a steering apparatus.