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Robert W. Kearns Papers

Creator:
Brown, Brian Ivan  Search this
Kearns, Robert W.  Search this
Kearns, Timothy  Search this
Quan, John  Search this
Names:
Kearns and Law  Search this
Tann Company  Search this
United States. Bureau of Standards.  Search this
Extent:
8.5 Cubic feet (24 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Reports
Trade literature
Patents
Photographs
Drawings
Notebooks
Correspondence
Memorandums
Date:
1963 - 1999
Summary:
The collection documents the inventive career of physicist and engineer Robert W. Kearns. Kearns invented and patented in 1967 the windshield wiper system with intermittent operation (US 3,351,836), among other inventions. The papers include notebooks, correspondence, reports, memoranda, photographs, patents, drawings, and trade literature.
Scope and Contents:
The collection includes notebooks, correspondence, reports, memoranda, photographs, patents, drawings, and trade literature. Kearns held patents related to circuitry which are integral to electronic intermittent windshield wipers. The windshield wiper documentation consists of patents, correspondence, and a set of drawings from November 16, 1967 for Tann Company. Other documentation includes Kearns's work with the engineering firm Kearns and Law (brochures, shop orders, agreements); his National Bureau of Standards work, which consists of his personnel file and notebooks detailing his highway skid resistance research; and subject files that cover a range of topics that interested Kearns, such as radar, speed control, and electric cars. At the heart of the collection are 32 invention notebooks (1963-1986) belonging to Kearns as well as engineers he worked with including John Quan, Brian Ivan Brown, and Timothy Kearns, son of Robert Kearns. Bound, paginated, and dated, the notebooks contain sketches, schematics, calculations, data, telephone numbers, and details about materials, costs, testing data, and descriptions for many of Kearns's projects. The notebooks present a comprehensive overview of his ideas and are significant to understanding his creative process and how his ideas changed or did not change over time. The majority of the notebooks are arranged in chronological order and therefore researchers can see Kearns's work unfold. Many of the notebooks are stamped with a "PO" to indicate a "protective order" followed by a number, and many of the notebooks were used during court proceedings. The protective order restricted access to notebooks which were filed with the court, or to be filed with the court at a future date.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into ten series.

Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1957-1991

Series 2: Notebooks, 1954-1994

Series 3: Patents, 1957-1985

Series 4: Kearns and Law Engineers, 1957-1962

Series 5: Kearns Engineers, 1967-1985

Series 6: National Bureau of Standards, 1967-1972

Series 7: Ford Motor Company (Engineering Technical Education Program), 1964-1966

Series 8: Windshield Wiper Materials (Kearns vs. Ford Motor Company), 1962-1993

Series 9: Subject Files, 1965-1999

Series 10: Correspondence, 1989-1999
Biographical / Historical:
Robert William Kearns was born in Gary, Indiana on March 10, 1927 to Martin W. Kearns and Mary E. Kearns. One of three children, Kearns grewup in the Detroit area, graduating from the University of Detroit, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (1952); Wayne State University, Masters of Science in Engineering Mechanics (1957); and Case Western Reserve University, Ph.D. in engineering (1964). Kearns also earned certificates in nuclear reactor control from Argonne National Laboratories (1958 and 1959). He was a Corporal in the United States Army, assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the Strategic Services Unit (SSU); the Central Intelligence Group (CIG), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA.) from July 31, 1945 to November 29, 1946.

Prior to joining the military in 1945, Kearns worked at Mercury Engineering Company (1943-1945) in Detroit as a draftsman preparing engineering shop drawings. After the war, Kearns joined the H & A Tool and Die Company (1946-1947), also in Detroit, as a draftsman preparing engineering shop drawings for the manufacture of the individual parts for machinery and special dies. Through the University of Detroit Cooperative Program with the National Bureau of Standards, he participated in an engineer in training program (1949-1952) where he executed a variety of standardized tests on engineering materials. He held a variety of engineering positions: designer/draftsman with Peerless Design Company, Detroit (1952); junior engineer with Burroughs Corporation Research Laboratories, Philadelphia (1952-1953); and engineer with Bendix Aviation Corporation, Detroit (1953-1957) where Kearns supervised and directed of a group of engineers responsible for the design of computer components, servomechanisms, control systems and related devices. Other duties included planning, liaison with other Bendix divisions, establishing test equipment requirements, as well as technical specifications and reports. In 1957, Kearns joined the faculty of Wayne State University, Department of Engineering Mechanics, as an assistant professor (1957-1963), later becoming an associate professor (1963-1967).

Kearns also established two independent businesses, the engineering firms of Kearns and Law (1963-1976) and Computer Central (1965-1976). Founded with partner Kenneth J. Law, an electrical engineer, Kearns and Law provided industry with consultation, research, design, and development services in the fields of computers, automatic controls and instrumentation. Computer Central manufactured a series of control components such as the Linear Range Comparator, Sign or Equality Binary Comparator, Identity Comparator, Dual Brush V-Scan Encoder Electronics, Gray Code to Binary Code Encoder Electronics, and Digital Difference to Analog Converters. Kearns served as Detroit's Commissioner of Buildings and Safety Engineering (1967-1971), where he acted as an administrator, overseeing professional engineering activities such as building inspections. Kearns moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland in 1971 to become principal investigator for the highway skid resistance program at the National Bureau of Standards, now the National Institute of Standards and Technology (1971-1976).

In 1967, Kearns invented and patented an electronic windshield wiper system with intermittent operation (US 3,351,836). Previous wiper systems were controlled by vacuum tubes. He installed his device on his 1962 Ford Galaxy and met with Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation in 1963 with the goal of manufacturing his idea and being a supplier to the auto industry. Kearns tried to commercialize the wiper through the Tann Corporation. In 1969, Kearns's intermittent windshield wiper was installed on Ford cars without his knowledge. He ultimately filed suit against Ford for patent infringement in 1978 (representing himself as Kearns Associates), seeking $141 million in damages (a figure eventually raised to $325 million). Kearns's purpose in pursuing litigation was not a cash award. Rather, he wanted the rightful ownership. In all, he filed lawsuits against 26 car manufacturers and other companies concerning the same patent (US 3,351,836). In July 1990, a federal jury ruled that Ford had unintentionally infringed on Kearns's patent and awarded him $10.2 million. In June 1992, Kearns was awarded $11 million from Chrysler. Kearns held over 30 patents, with the majority relating to windshield wipers.

Kearns died in 2005. He married Phyllis Hall (1932-2013) in 1953, divorcing in 1989. The couple had six children: Dennis Kearns (b.1954); Timothy Kearns (b.1956); Patrick Kearns (b.1958); Kathleen Corsetty (b. 1961); Maureen Kearns (b. 1964); and Bob Kearns (b. 1967).
Provenance:
Collection donated by the Estate of Robert W. Kearns, through Dennis Kearns and Maureen Kearns, 2016.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Occupation:
Inventors  Search this
Topic:
Inventions -- 20th century  Search this
Windshield wipers  Search this
Automobiles -- Design and construction  Search this
Genre/Form:
Reports -- 20th century
Trade literature -- 20th century
Patents -- 20th century
Photographs -- 20th century
Drawings -- 20th century
Notebooks -- 20th century
Correspondence -- 20th century
Memorandums -- 20th century
Citation:
Robert W. Kearns Papers, 1963-1992, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.1406
See more items in:
Robert W. Kearns Papers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep83c37ebc7-5f04-40bc-bd53-98f10a2b4809
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1406
Online Media:

Dunmore "First Double Modulation Beacon Visual Receiver"

Maker:
Dunmore, Francis W.  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 5 in x 13 1/2 in x 17 1/4 in; 12.7 cm x 34.29 cm x 43.815 cm
Object Name:
radio receiver
Date made:
1926-04-06
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313596
Catalog number:
313596
Accession number:
188571
Collector/donor number:
X33
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-b2e5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1352332

Type 2-D tuned-reed aircraft navigational indicator

Measurements:
overall: 4 in x 1 1/2 in x 2 1/4 in; 10.16 cm x 3.81 cm x 5.715 cm
Object Name:
Course Indicator
aircraft instrument
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313607
Accession number:
188571
Catalog number:
313607
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a1-38e1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_334916

Tuned reed runway localizer

Measurements:
overall: 3 1/4 in x 3 1/4 in; 8.255 cm x 8.255 cm
Object Name:
Runway Localizer
aircraft instrument
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313612
Accession number:
188571
Catalog number:
313612
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a1-38b3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_334917

Radio loading coil

Associated user:
unknown  Search this
Associated institution:
Bureau of Standards  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 8 1/4 in x 5 1/2 in; 20.955 cm x 13.97 cm
Object Name:
radio
inductance
Other Terms:
radio; Components; Radio and Television; Radio and Television
Associated date:
1922
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313525
Catalog number:
313525
Accession number:
188571
Collector/donor number:
R-1997
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-8380-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_705802

experimental radio tube

Maker:
De Forest Radio Telephone & Telegraph Co.  Search this
Physical Description:
glass (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements:
electron tube, triode: 15 cm x 2.5 cm; 5 7/8 in x in
overall: 6 in x 1 1/4 in x 1 in; 15.24 cm x 3.175 cm x 2.54 cm
Object Name:
Electron Tube, Triode
triode
Other Terms:
Electron Tube, Triode; Electron Tubes
Date made:
ca 1917
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.188571.01
Accession number:
188571
Catalog number:
188571.01
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-26a9-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_707449

International Radio type SCR-73 aircraft variometer

Maker:
International Radio Telegraph Company  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 5 1/4 in x 15 1/4 in x 9 in; 13.335 cm x 38.735 cm x 22.86 cm
Object Name:
Variable Inductor
inductance
Other Terms:
Variable Inductor; Components; Radio and Television; Radio and Television
Date made:
1917
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313603
Catalog number:
313603
Accession number:
188571
Collector/donor number:
R-1992
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-1b59-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_709024

Aircraft radio antenna reel

Associated user:
unknown  Search this
Associated institution:
Bureau of Standards  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 5 1/2 in x 10 5/8 in; 13.97 cm x 26.9875 cm
Object Name:
Reel, Radio Antenna
antenna reel
Other Terms:
Reel, Radio Antenna; Components; Radio and Television; Radio and Television
Date made:
1917
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313604
Catalog number:
313604
Accession number:
188571
Collector/donor number:
R-1968-A
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-176d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_709891

Fair lead for aircraft antenna

Associated user:
unknown  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 9 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in; 24.13 cm x 6.35 cm
Object Name:
antenna
Other Terms:
Radio
Date made:
1917
Associated date:
1917
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313605
Catalog number:
313605
Accession number:
188571
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-530f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_713023

cat's whisker crystal radio detector

Measurements:
overall: 1 1/8 in x 1 3/4 in x 2 1/8 in; 2.8575 cm x 4.445 cm x 5.3975 cm
Object Name:
radio receiver
crystal radio
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313625
Accession number:
188571
Catalog number:
313625
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-9538-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1343561

Philmore fixed cystal radio frequency detector

Maker:
Wireless Specialty Apparatus Co.  Search this
Philmore Manufacturing Co., Inc.  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 1 1/4 in x 1 in; 3.175 cm x 2.54 cm
Object Name:
Detector
radio receiver
crystal holder
Other Terms:
Detector; Radio
Place made:
United States: New York, New York City
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313610
Accession number:
188571
Catalog number:
313610
Collector/donor number:
120
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-25a6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_705672

Wireless Specialty crystal radio frequency detector

Maker:
Wireless Specialty Apparatus Co.  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 1 in x 2 1/2 in x 1 1/8 in; 2.54 cm x 6.35 cm x 2.8575 cm
Object Name:
Detector
radio receiver
crystal radio
Other Terms:
Detector; Radio
Place made:
United States: New York, New York City
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313609
Accession number:
188571
Catalog number:
313609
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-2897-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_705675

Wireless Specialty fixed crystal radio frequency detector

Maker:
Wireless Specialty Apparatus Co.  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 1 1/8 in x 1.125 cm; 2.8575 cm x 7/16 in
Object Name:
Detector
radio receiver
crystal holder
Other Terms:
Detector; Radio
Place made:
United States: New York, New York City
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313611
Accession number:
188571
Catalog number:
313611
Collector/donor number:
121
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-2898-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_705677

Model A tuned-reed aircraft navigational indicator

Associated user:
unknown  Search this
Associated institution:
Bureau of Standards  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 5 in x 10 1/4 in x 7 1/4 in; 12.7 cm x 26.035 cm x 18.415 cm
Object Name:
Indicator, Aircraft Navigation
aircraft instrument
Other Terms:
Indicator, Aircraft Navigation; Components; Radio and Television; Radio and Television
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313608
Catalog number:
313608
Accession number:
188571
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-245e-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_705800

Part of radio receiver for blind flying

Associated user:
unknown  Search this
Associated institution:
Bureau of Standards  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 6 in x 4 1/8 in x 11 3/4 in; 15.24 cm x 10.4775 cm x 29.845 cm
Object Name:
Receiver Part of
radio receiver
Other Terms:
Receiver Part of; Radio
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313591
Catalog number:
313591
Accession number:
188571
Collector/donor number:
X28
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-393c-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_705862

Carborundum stabilizing radio frequency detector

Maker:
Carborundum Company  Search this
General Radio Company  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 4 1/2 in x 2 3/8 in x 2 3/8 in; 11.43 cm x 6.0325 cm x 6.0325 cm
Object Name:
Detector, Stabilizing
radio receiver
Other Terms:
Detector, Stabilizing; Components; Radio and Television; Radio and Television
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313626
Catalog number:
313626
Accession number:
188571
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-52a5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_709829

Aircraft landing beam transmitter set

Associated user:
unknown  Search this
Associated institution:
Bureau of Standards  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 21 in x 17 in x 15 1/2 in; 53.34 cm x 43.18 cm x 39.37 cm
Object Name:
Transmitter
radio transmitter
Other Terms:
Transmitter; Radio
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313590
Catalog number:
313590
Accession number:
188571
Collector/donor number:
X27
BS 38019
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-4e89-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_712501

Tuned-reed aircraft navigational indicator

Associated user:
unknown  Search this
Associated institution:
Bureau of Standards  Search this
Measurements:
overall: 2 3/8 in x 2 in x 4 1/4 in; 6.0325 cm x 5.08 cm x 10.795 cm
Object Name:
Instrument, Aircraft Navigational
aircraft instrument
Other Terms:
Instrument, Aircraft Navigational; Components; Radio and Television; Radio and Television
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313606
Catalog number:
313606
Accession number:
188571
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-245c-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_705798

Tuned reed indicator

Measurements:
overall: 4 1/2 in x 1 3/4 in x 2 3/4 in; 11.43 cm x 4.445 cm x 6.985 cm
Object Name:
Relay, Aircraft Reed
aircraft instrument
Other Terms:
Relay, Aircraft Reed; Radio
Date made:
1930
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313613
Catalog number:
313613
Accession number:
188571
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-403c-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_705880

Set of Tuned reed indicators

Measurements:
overall: 4 in x 2 5/8 in x 3 3/4 in; 10.16 cm x 6.6675 cm x 9.525 cm
Object Name:
Relay, Read
aircraft instrument
Other Terms:
Relay, Read; Components; Telephone and Telegraph; Telephone and Telegraph
Date made:
ca 1933
Credit Line:
from the United States Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce
ID Number:
EM.313614
Catalog number:
313614
Accession number:
188571
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-34d2-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_709744

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