Patents Examined by D Collins
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Patent number: 11970264Abstract: An electrically-powered VTOL aircraft has a fuselage with a cabin flexibly connected to a powerplane assembly that includes a plurality of electrically-powered rotors and booms. The powerplane assembly can pitch and roll relative to and independently of the cabin, thereby generating efficient fore, aft and lateral thrust while the cabin attitude remains unchanged. This provides a stable passenger experience and enhanced performance and controllability with reduced cost and complexity. In some embodiments, the fuselage is vertically elongated and the powerplane assembly mounts above the fuselage such that a person may walk beneath the rotors completely erect without the fear of being struck by any of the rotors. Using a vertically elongated cabin in conjunction with a relatively high powerplane provides various performance benefits that improve controllability and maneuverability particularly in congested environments, reduce complexity and costs, and enhance passenger safety and experience.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Inventor: William Swindt Butterfield
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Patent number: 11970275Abstract: An air vehicle is provided including: a main lift generating wing arrangement having a port wing and a starboard wing, empennage and main propulsion system. The air vehicle further includes a distributed electrical propulsion (DEP) system having secondary electrical propulsion units coupled to each one of the port wing and the starboard wing. The main propulsion system is configured for providing sufficient thrust such as to enable powered aerodynamic flight of the air vehicle including at least: powered aerodynamic take off absent operation of the DEP system; and powered aerodynamic landing absent operation of the DEP system. The DEP system is configured for selectively providing at least augmented lift to the main lift generating wing arrangement in at least landing. A method for landing an air vehicle on a moving platform under separated wake conditions is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.Inventors: Danny Abramov, Shay Hemo
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Patent number: 11964771Abstract: A method of operating an electrically powered rotorcraft of the type having a fuselage and a set of N rotors driven by a set of electric motors and coupled to the fuselage, N?4, under a failure condition preventing ordinary operation of the rotorcraft. The method includes entering a failsafe mode of operation wherein autorotation of at least four of the rotors is enabled. The method also includes using electrical braking associated with a selected group of the rotors to control pitch, roll and yaw of the rotorcraft.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2023Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: SiFly Aviation, Inc.Inventors: Brian L. Hinman, Jeffrey G. Bernstein, Muhammad Mubeen Javaid
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Patent number: 11950568Abstract: A pet comb includes a handle, a mounting head and a comb body. The comb body includes a row of striped comb teeth; a blade side of the striped comb teeth includes a combing portion disposed at an outer section and a blade portion disposed at an inner section; the striped comb teeth are provided with a blade blocking portion extending in the same direction as the striped comb teeth on the side of the blade side; at least part of the combing portion exceeds the free end of the blade blocking portion, and the blade blocking portion blocks at least part of the blade portion; the combing portion is configured to provide a combing function for the comb, and the blade portion is configured to provide a function of cutting hair for the comb so as to disentangle or thin the hair.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: NINGBO HONGDU MODEL PLASTICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jinchun Zhang, Xin Di
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Patent number: 11944066Abstract: Provided is a pet cat excrement screening device. The pet cat excrement screening device includes a support base; a drum rotatably mounted on the support base; and a drum driving device mounted on the support base. The drum is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position under drive of the drum driving device, where the rotation angle of the drum is less than 360 degrees. A side wall of the drum body of the drum is provided with a pet inlet. The pet inlet is exposed out of the support base during a rolling process of the drum. A screening mechanism is mounted in the drum. The rear end of the drum is provided with a waste discharge port.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: PETKIT NETWORK TECHNOLOGY(SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.Inventors: Yunxin Ma, Xiaoqing Ma, Xin Shi, Weike Guo, Weixue Guo, Junchao Zhang
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Patent number: 11939048Abstract: A linear electromechanical servocontrol comprising a power rod that is able to move in translation. The servocontrol comprises a single linear electrical actuator provided with at least one electric motor connected by a mechanical link to the power rod, the servocontrol comprising an anchor secured to the electrical actuator, the at least one electric motor being controlled by a computer, the anchor having an anchoring rod that is able to move in translation, the anchor having an anchoring brake that is configured to immobilize the anchoring rod with respect to the electrical actuator in a normal operating mode or to allow the electrical actuator to move in relation to the anchoring rod in a safe operating mode at the request of the computer.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERSInventor: Laurent Ruet
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Patent number: 11939049Abstract: In an air mobility vehicle, an engine operates as required to provide mechanical driving force or electric energy. A battery is charged with the electric energy from the engine. Main rotors operate using the electric energy of the battery and electric power generated by the engine to perform takeoff, landing, and cruising. Auxiliary rotors are disposed at or adjacent to the center of gravity of a vehicle body and mechanically connected to the engine via a clutch. The auxiliary rotors perform the takeoff, the landing, or the cruising by receiving the mechanical driving force from the engine when the clutch is in an engaged position. A controller monitors the states of the battery and the main rotors and controls the operations of the engine and the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Woo Suk Jung, Hee Kwang Lee, Hyun Seok Hong, Hyun Woo Jun
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Patent number: 11939072Abstract: A method of optimizing the noise generated by a rotorcraft on the ground, said rotorcraft including a hybrid power plant, at least one rotor, and an electrical energy source. Said method makes it possible to monitor whether each engine of said power plant is on or off, and to monitor the state of each electric machine of said hybrid power plant. Said method also makes it possible to monitor whether said rotorcraft is on the ground. Then, each engine that is on is controlled to reach an idling speed, or indeed to be caused to stop by being switched off, and said electric machine Is regulated on a setpoint speed of rotation of a rotor so as to drive each rotor while also limiting the noise generated by said hybrid power plant.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERSInventor: Nayibe Gomez
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Patent number: 11939055Abstract: An aircraft can include a wing. The wing can include a tip. A winglet can be pivotably connected to the wing proximate the tip. A connecting member can be operatively connected to the wing and the winglet. The connecting member can include a flexible material with a super elastic material member operatively connected to the flexible material. Thus, the connecting member can allow passive movement of the winglet responsive to real-time operational forces acting upon the aircraft. In some arrangements, the flexible material can be a fabric, and the super elastic material member can be a wire. In some arrangements, the super elastic material member can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The stiffness profile of the super elastic material member can be selectively varied, such as by controlling a temperature of the super elastic material member.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Rikin Gupta, Shardul Singh Panwar, Taewoo Nam, Ryohei Tsuruta, Yufei Zhu
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Patent number: 11932397Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of taking a measurement using a sensor mounted on an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle having one or more propellers and one or more motors which are selectively operable to drive the one or more propellers to rotate to cause the vehicle to fly, and a sensor mounted on the aerial vehicle, the method comprising the steps of, operating the one or more motors to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly; at a first time instant, slowing down or turning off said one or more motors; while the one or more motors are slowed down or turned off, taking a measurement using said sensor; at a second time instant, which is after the measurement has been taken using the sensor, operating the one or more motors again to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly. There is further provided a corresponding aerial vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Verity AGInventors: Markus Hehn, Luciano Beffa
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Patent number: 11930797Abstract: A fishing lure system includes a first member including a first end and a second end. The first end includes a fishing line connector, and the second end includes a female connector. The fishing lure system further includes a second member including a first end and a second end. The first end includes a male connector that is removably engageable with the female connector of the first member, and the second end includes a fishing hook.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Inventor: Brady Ciotola
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Patent number: 11926409Abstract: A propulsive assembly, in particular for an aircraft, comprising a mast and a propulsion device comprising an engine and a nacelle, the engine comprising a propeller, the propulsive assembly comprising: A standby protection device comprising a first connecting member fixedly mounted to the mast and a second connecting member fixedly mounted to the propulsion device, the second connecting member being rotatably hinged with respect to the first connecting member in at least one degree of freedom, and at least one retaining member keeping the second connecting member fixed with respect to the first connecting member, and configured, in the presence of a predetermined unbalance force on the propeller, to release the standby protection device in order to protect the mast.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: SAFRAN NACELLESInventors: Patrick Gonidec, Loic Chapelain, Xavier Carcenac, Vincent Lefeuvre
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Patent number: 11926417Abstract: A flight vehicle capable of improving the accuracy of the arrival position of baggage. The flight vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a mounting unit that holds a mounted object, holds the mounting unit via a string member, and has a moving means including a rotor blade provided between the upper end and the lower end of the mounting unit, when the mounting unit is viewed from the side.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: AERONEXT INC.Inventor: Yoichi Suzuki
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Patent number: 11919616Abstract: A cabin module for an aircraft comprises a section which has an upward-facing surface in an installed state of the cabin module, wherein the upward-facing surface of the section comprises an integrated drainage channel. An aircraft furthermore comprises at least one such cabin module.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBHInventors: Paolo Cavarero, Michael Mosler, Martin Hentschel
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Patent number: 11917987Abstract: A jig head for fishing, the jig head comprises a head portion comprising a tapered tip and a base, a hook having a point, a shank, and an eye adapted for attachment to a fishing line. A belly weight extending from the base comprises first and second ends defining a space between the shank and the belly weight, the space being adapted to receive a portion of a bait. The belly weight in certain embodiments is flexible such that the belly weight can be bent towards the shank and the belly weight comprises one or more shank facing barbs positioned between the first and second ends of the belly weight. The jig head comprises one or more tapered bells adapted to help secure a plastic bait in place.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Inventor: Steve Parks
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Patent number: 11912416Abstract: Aircraft systems including a pressurized fuel tank containing a pressurized fuel, a turbo expander configured to receive the pressurized fuel from the fuel tank, the turbo expander configured to decrease a pressure of the pressurized fuel to generate low pressure fuel having pressure less than the pressurized fuel, a fuel-to-air heat exchanger configured to receive the low pressure fuel from the turbo expander as a first working fluid and air as a second working fluid, the heat exchanger configured to cool the air and warm the fuel, an aircraft cabin configured to receive the cooled air, and a fuel consumption system configured to consume the fuel to generate power.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Giusi Quartarone, Erica Zavaglio, Federico Mattia Benzi, Ram Ranjan
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Patent number: 11905004Abstract: In an air mobility vehicle, an engine operates as required to provide mechanical driving force or electric energy. A battery is charged with the electric energy from the engine. Main rotors operate using the electric energy of the battery and electric power generated by the engine to perform takeoff, landing, and cruising. Auxiliary rotors are disposed at or adjacent to the center of gravity of a vehicle body and mechanically connected to the engine via a clutch. The auxiliary rotors perform the takeoff, the landing, or the cruising by receiving the mechanical driving force from the engine when the clutch is in an engaged position. A controller monitors the states of the battery and the main rotors and controls the operations of the engine and the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Woo Suk Jung, Hee Kwang Lee, Hyun Seok Hong, Hyun Woo Jun
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Patent number: 11905016Abstract: A roller unit for moving a slat of an aircraft wing is provided. The roller unit is adjustable in height and axial position to adjust a gap between an idle roller and a guide rail integral with the slat. The idle roller is carried by an eccentric pin having a stem portion with a threaded portion and an axially grooved end portion. A threaded annular element cooperates with the threaded portion of the stem portion to define a desired axial position of the idle roller. An anti-rotation annular element, coupled in an axially slidable manner with the grooved end portion of the stem portion, may be coupled with the threaded annular element to prevent rotation thereof on the threaded portion of the stem portion. The threaded annular element and the anti-rotation annular element are tightened together between a pair of nuts.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: LEONARDO S.P.A.Inventor: Angelo Trinchillo
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Patent number: 11895984Abstract: The present invention is a pet training pad comprising a first end of a first conductive wire and a first end of a second conductive wire connected to a main controlling device, while a second end of the first conductive wire and a second end of the second conductive wire remain open. When a pet goes onto the pet training pad, the pet's foot makes contact with the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire at the same time, establishing an electrical circuit via the pet's foot. The main controlling device detects that the electrical circuit and then sends an electric shock current to the first conductive wire, thereby shocking the pet which will guide the pet to form a habit of not going to the position where the pet training pad is located.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Inventor: Jiaquan Hu
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Patent number: 11897598Abstract: An aircraft includes a plurality of takeoff and landing rotors each generating a first airflow below the takeoff and landing rotor, and a cruise rotor generating a second airflow behind the cruise rotor, the plurality of takeoff and landing rotors including a rear rotor disposed behind the cruise rotor. The aircraft further includes an airflow deflection mechanism capable of changing a direction of the second airflow, and a controller for controlling the airflow deflection mechanism to suppress interference between the first airflow generated by the rear rotor and the second airflow.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Masahiko Asanuma