Patents Examined by Christopher D Hutchens
  • Patent number: 11220852
    Abstract: A versatile door system for an aircraft includes forward and aft door assemblies. The forward door assembly includes a forward hingeable door hingeably coupled to the airframe proximate a forward location of an aircraft opening and a forward slidable door slidably coupled to the forward hingeable door. The aft door assembly includes an aft hingeable door hingeably coupled to the airframe proximate an aft location of the aircraft opening and an aft slidable door slidably coupled to the aft hingeable door. In a closed configuration, the forward hingeable door, the forward slidable door, the aft hingeable door and the aft slidable door are securably disposed within the aircraft opening. In operation, the forward hingeable door, the forward slidable door, the aft hingeable door and the aft slidable door are individually operable to collectively provide access to a selectable width of the aircraft opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Landon Groninga, Daniel Bryan Robertson
  • Patent number: 11220321
    Abstract: A fastener includes a head that is configured to be engaged by a tool, and a shaft extending from the head. The shaft includes a distal end that is opposite from the head. At least one optical component is coupled to one or both of the head or the shaft. The optical component(s) is configured to allow light to pass through the fastener. A window system includes a panel that includes an exterior surface and an interior surface, and the fastener extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface of the panel. A screen is coupled to the interior surface. The screen receives light from the optical component(s) of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Andrew Bolton, Keith Daniel Humfeld
  • Patent number: 11214380
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided, comprising receiving one or more mission objectives for an aircraft mission, and condition data at a mission execution module; generating, via the mission execution module, a mission plan executable to address at least one of the one or more mission objectives via manipulation of a power-thermal management system (PTMS); receiving the generated mission plan at the PTMS directly from the mission execution module; and automatically executing the generated mission plan to operate an aircraft. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Matthew Robert Cerny, Gary Quackenbush, Eric Westervelt, William Gerstler
  • Patent number: 11208191
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to flight termination systems for tethered aerial vehicles having envelopes. For instance, a flight termination system may include a wire heating element arranged in a loop around the balloon envelope and connected to a strain relief connector, the strain relief connector, and an electrical cable connected to the strain relief connector. The electrical cable is configured to provide current to the wire in order to melt envelope material of the envelope and terminate a flight of the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Aerostar International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Kennan
  • Patent number: 11203437
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for conditioning engine-heated air onboard an aircraft including a heat exchanger (140) at least partially disposed in a pylon structure (118) for supporting an engine (134) of the aircraft. The pylon heat exchanger (140) extracts heat from a flow (156) of engine-heated air. A flow (142) of ambient air is provided to the pylon heat exchanger (140) from a ram air inlet (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventors: Duane Epp, Ignatius Tsui
  • Patent number: 11191260
    Abstract: An apparatus and the associated method which includes means for controlling an invasive organism. The means including a trolling apparatus, for attachment to an associated vehicle. The trolling apparatus is pulled through a body of water in response to movement of the associated vehicle. The housing carries a plurality of UV-C light sources for producing UV-C light at a wavelength of substantially 254 nm, whereby invasive organisms proximate to light emanating from at least one of said UV-C light source whereby invasive organisms are exposed to UV-C light at a wavelength of substantially 254 nm resulting in controlling an invasive organism. Other embodiments, attract organisms such as mosquitos and then expose them to UV-C light. The invention facilitates reduced use of herbicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: John J Paoluccio, John A Paoluccio
  • Patent number: 11192651
    Abstract: A group of seats for a passenger aircraft, which is configured as a rotating group of seats and by rotating the group of seats about the rotation axis a relocation of the position of the group of seats in relation to the initial position in the aircraft cabin is simultaneously achieved. The group of seats has a seat frame and at least one seat element. A support plate for fastening the group of seats to the aircraft structure is furthermore provided, the support plate having a rotating element which rotatably connects the support plate and the aircraft structure, the rotation axis of the rotating element being positioned in the region of the front half of the seat element, wherein the support plate is capable of being fastened to the aircraft structure by way of quick-release locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Ehlers, Stefan Behrens
  • Patent number: 11186353
    Abstract: A mobile platform with a passenger door system having stairs with one or more deployable lower steps and associated methods for deployment and/or stowing of such lower steps are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises using movement of the door to drive a movement of a handrail associated with the stairs, and using the movement of the handrail to drive a movement of the one or more lower steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventor: John Richard Savidge
  • Patent number: 11186354
    Abstract: A drain mast is provided that includes a unitary structure having a first housing, a second housing, and a plurality of tubes extending between the first housing and the second housing. The unitary structure is configured to provide a plurality of fluid paths through the drain mast, each fluid path extending through the first housing, one of the plurality of tubes, and the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Hedges, Alberto E. Perez, Vijay V. Pujar, Tayelor B. McKay, Arun Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 11185606
    Abstract: An odor treatment dispenser is disclosed for an odor. The device comprises a housing having a canister channel. An aperture traverses the housing. A canister contains an odor treatment substance positioned within the canister channel. An actuator engages the canister for dispensing the odor treatment substance through the aperture for treating the odor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Jeffrey E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 11186185
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for slowing the rotation of a rotor using, for example, rotor brake system for a rotorcraft comprising: one or more generators connected to a main rotor gearbox; an electric distributed anti-torque system mounted on a tail boom of the rotorcraft comprising two or more electric motors connected to the one or more generators, wherein the two or more electric motors are connected to one or more blades; and wherein a rotation of the rotor is slowed by placing a drive load on the main rotor gearbox with the one or more generators to bleed the mechanical power from rotor into electrical power via the two or more electric motors, wherein the electric distributed anti-torque system generates thrust in opposing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Haldeman, Eric Sinusas, Frank Bradley Stamps
  • Patent number: 11174001
    Abstract: A canopy for an aircraft includes a transparent cover, and a severance cord coupled to the transparent cover. The severance cord includes a fragmenting pattern including a plurality of outer perimeter segments that define an outer perimeter of the fragmenting pattern, and a plurality of inner fragmenting segments that are inside the outer perimeter. The fragmenting pattern is configured to break the transparent cover into numerous fragments when the severance cord is detonated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Steven J. Miener
  • Patent number: 11167853
    Abstract: A passenger seat system) for a transport means has an elongate carrier structure, to be attached, fixedly with respect to a structure, mutually spaced-apart raster openings on the carrier structure top side, and a seat having a seat frame. The seat frame is displaceable and arrestable on the carrier structure, has a bottom side lying on the carrier structure, a top side holding a seat surface, an arresting device on the bottom side and an operating unit coupled to the arresting device, and movable into an arresting position and an unlocking position. The arresting device has an arresting body, mounted so as to be movable perpendicularly with respect to the carrier structure and pushed by a spring device, by a spring force, into an arresting position, and a locking unit for automatically holding the arresting body in the arresting position when the arresting body reaches the arresting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Claus-Peter Gross
  • Patent number: 11167836
    Abstract: A composite core assembly includes a composite core structure having internal material interfaces and an attachment rail coupled to the composite core structure. The attachment rail includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface adjoined with the first planar surface. The first planar surface is arranged parallel to an internal material interface plane of the composite core structure, and the first planar portion is at least partially integrated into the composite core structure in an internal material interface plane. At least a portion of the first planar surface extends beyond a perimeter surface of the composite core structure, and the second planar surface is configured to attach to the surrounding support member. The core material does not have net edge facets or flat edges positioned next to surrounding structure, and/or may not have a structure arranged parallel to the adjacent support structure to attach to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sierra Nevada Corporation
    Inventor: James Donn Hethcock, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11167855
    Abstract: An apparatus for aircraft anti-icing includes a nozzle head including an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall defining a through-hole extending through the nozzle, the outer wall circumscribing the inner wall, wherein a plenum is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a neck extending from the outer wall of the nozzle head, the neck configured to supply a flow of hot gas to the plenum, wherein a maximum width of the inner surface of the neck is less than a maximum width of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M Kestler, Sarah Lohman, Manuel Muñoz, Xiaolan Hu, Jay Francisco, Vijay V Pujar
  • Patent number: 11161599
    Abstract: A landing gear strut assembly including an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, and a latch mechanism including a first mounting bracket coupled to the outer cylinder, a second mounting bracket coupled to the inner cylinder, a first latching member pivotally coupled to the first mounting bracket, the first latching member having a latching position and a released position, and a second latching member coupled to the second mounting bracket, wherein in the latching position the first latching member is positioned relative to the second latching member so as to couple with the second latching member and retain the inner cylinder in a retracted position, and wherein in the released position the first latching member is uncoupled from the second latching member so that the inner cylinder is free to move relative to the outer cylinder in the direction of extension of the inner cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael Patterson Johnson, Allyn Dalton Morris, Ricardo Mendes Da Silva, Gary M. Lindahl
  • Patent number: 11161586
    Abstract: An insulation pack for thermally and acoustically insulating an aircraft has a mat formed from an insulation material, and a casing film which completely encases the mat. The casing film has drying openings, each closable a cover that is connected to the casing film. Each cover has a coating substance, the planar extent of which varying as a function of the relative air humidity of the air in the interior of the insulation pack such that each cover moves relative to the casing film, as a function of air humidity. The associated covers are adapted for assuming an orientation which, below a predetermined relative air humidity, closes the associated drying opening and which, at higher relative air humidity values, at least partially opens the associated drying opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Marc Wesseloh, Rainer Mueller, Markus Kerber
  • Patent number: 11161591
    Abstract: An insulation insert comprises a hollow cylinder formed of a closed cell foam, a first adhesive layer on a first face of the hollow cylinder, a flange of the closed cell foam extending from the hollow cylinder, and a second adhesive layer on a second face of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Trevor M. Laib
  • Patent number: 11155370
    Abstract: A landing inflation system may include a compressed gas source, an airbag assembly fluidly coupled to the compressed gas source and configured to receive compressed gas, and a command processor configured to: (1) generate an inflation initiation command signal in response to an initiation signal, (2) generate an inflation cessation command signal in response to a nominal fill pressure signal, and (3) generate a vent command signal in response to an impact pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Justin G. Albright, John R. McCann
  • Patent number: 11154015
    Abstract: A plant growing system includes an outer shell, the outer shell being biodegradable, a rooting material, the rooting material comprising external ribbing, the external ribbing forming gaps between the outer shell and the rooting material when the rooting material is inserted in the outer shell, and one or more of a fertilizer, a nutrient, or a seed. The outer shell and the rooting material form a water reservoir, the water reservoir in communication with the gaps and, prior to the plant growing system being watered, comprising the fertilizer or nutrient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: OMS Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Gerard Prinster, Bradley Alan Schultz, Kimberly Ann Rygielski, Matthew L. Phillips, Robert H. Bruno, Philip J. Nathan, Tara Marie Zasadzinski, Ashley E. Alexander, Sara Ann Gordon