...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6843159 | Mobile artillery system The invention provides a self-propelled mobile system that is characterized by a lightweight space frame chassis on which is mounted a large caliber artillery piece. The weight of the system is preferably less than 8,000 kg and the artillery piece preferably has a c... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6742435 | High-mobility artillery cannon system A high-mobility artillery cannon system transportable with the cargo envelop of a transport aircraft, includes a lightweight field howitzer, a medium tactical vehicle, and a bed disposable on the vehicle, the bed for receiving and supporting the howitzer such that t... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6178866 | Field howitzers Improvements in or relating to field howitzers A light weight field howitzer includes a barrel which is supported by a cradle constructed from hollow members and which is pivotally mounted about a trunnion bearing secured to a chassis. The trunnion bearin... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6024007 | Field howitzers A light weight field howitzer includes a barrel (101) which is supported by a cradle constructed from hollow members (119,119A) and which is pivotally mounted about a trunnion bearing (113) secured to a chassis (117). The trunnion bearing (113) lies on th... | 02/15/2000 |
| 5210370 | Lightweight weapon stabilizing system A gun system comprising a recoiling cannon assembly, a stationary carriage having a cradle, and a campath and cam follower mechanism for moveably mounting the cannon assembly on the cradle for travel along a two-stage curvilinear recoil path. The first st... | 05/11/1993 |