Patents Examined by Nicholas McFall
  • Method and apparatus for controlling a droop panel
    Patent number: 11465732
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a control surface. An apparatus comprises an arm, first link, and second link. The arm has first and second ends, the first end of the arm rotatably coupled to a wing structure to define a first pivot point. The first link has first and second ends, the first end being rotatably coupled to the second end of the arm. The second link has first and second ends, the first end rotatably coupled to the first end of the arm. When the second end of the first link is rotatably coupled to a first control surface and the second end of the second link is rotatably coupled to a second control surface, movement of the first control surface away from the wing structure rotates the arm about the first pivot point such that the second control surface moves in coordination with the first control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Tsai, Lisa Schleuter
  • Deicing boot utilizing electromagnetism and magnetic for boot inflation
    Patent number: 11459111
    Abstract: An aircraft flight surface deicing system includes an electromagnetic field generator and a deicing boot configured for attachment to an aircraft flight surface. The boot includes: one or more inflation regions including a first inflation region; one or more magnetic fluid reservoirs in fluid communication with the first inflation region, the one or more fluid reservoirs including a first fluid reservoir; a magnetic fluid contained in a combination of the first inflation regions and the one or more magnetic fluid reservoirs. In a first state, the magnetic fluid is contained in the first fluid reservoir and, in a deicing state, the electromagnetic field generator generates one or more fields that cause the magnetic fluid to exit the first fluid reservoir and travels along a length of the inflation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sugumaran Selvaraj
  • Multimodal aircraft recovery system
    Patent number: 11459113
    Abstract: A multi-modal aircraft recovery system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a first aircraft recovery parachute having a first set of physical attributes optimized for a first set of conditions and a second aircraft recovery parachute having a second set of physical attributes optimized for a second set of conditions different from the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Cameron Robertson, Joseph Roop, Todd Reichert, Damon Vander Lind
  • Aircraft with a fuselage, luggage holder for an aircraft, and air cargo container having a luggage holder
    Patent number: 11459082
    Abstract: A cargo hold comprises at least one luggage holder having at least one luggage compartment, wherein, when the hatch is in the closed state, the luggage holder is arranged in the cargo hold, and wherein, when the hatch is in the opened state, the luggage holder can be brought out of the cargo hold and can be introduced therein again by means of a guide mechanism in such a manner that the luggage holder, when it is brought out of the cargo hold, is arranged substantially radially to the substantially elliptical cross section of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Leopold Pirklbauer, Peter Sander, Uwe Panzram, Jan Reh, Michael Sillus
  • Vertical takeoff and landing aerial vehicle
    Patent number: 11453489
    Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aerial vehicle, including a plurality of lift propellers. A rotating shaft of each lift propeller from among the multiple lift propellers outwards forms an angle of 5 degrees to 15 degrees relative to a vertical plane of the aerial vehicle perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle of the present disclosure improves the heading axis control capacity of the aerial vehicle and reduces the restriction to the design size of the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Yu Tian
  • Aircraft wing and flight control surface
    Patent number: 11447234
    Abstract: A flight control surface with an actuator with an aerodynamic fairing for a swept aircraft wing. The swept aircraft wing includes a movable flight control surface with a hinge line non-perpendicular to the line of flight of the aircraft, and an actuator arm configured to actuate the flight control surface. The actuator arm includes a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the line of flight, the actuator arm extending at least partially from an outer surface of the aircraft wing, and a fairing arranged on the outer surface of the aircraft wing to at least partially cover the actuator arm. Aligning the actuator arm with the line of flight of the aircraft may allow for an improved fairing to be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Daren Healy, Laurence Queeney
  • Aircraft with distributed hydraulic system
    Patent number: 11440639
    Abstract: An aircraft comprises an aircraft structure, a flight control surface attached to the aircraft structure, and a local hydraulic power pack disposed proximal to the flight control surface. The local hydraulic power pack is configured to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating the flight control surface. The local hydraulic power pack comprises a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid and two hydraulic pumps for pressurizing the hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventors: Gustave Nfonguem, Vlad Iliescu, Avraham Ardman
  • Vented leading-edge assembly and method for manufacturing a vented leading-edge assembly
    Patent number: 11440665
    Abstract: A vented leading-edge assembly is provided, the assembly including: a slat having a bay and a top skin delimiting a portion of the bay; a spar being arranged in the slat, the spar dividing the bay in a front bay and an aft bay; and a plurality of channel sidewalls being arranged between the top skin and the spar, the plurality of channel sidewalls defining a plurality of channels between the front bay and the aft bay, wherein at least a portion of the spar defines lower channel walls for the plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Bensmann, Marcus Erban
  • Lavatory with stowage compartment
    Patent number: 11434008
    Abstract: An aircraft lavatory comprising an enclosure having a door, a first side wall, a rear wall, a ceiling, and a second side wall, wherein the second side wall includes a sink, the second side wall defining a plane and wherein the sink is inwardly disposed from said plane. To create space for a stowage compartment, an additional side wall parallel to, and adjacent to, said second side wall is formed. This space houses a stowage compartment accessible from outside said lavatory, the stowage compartment formed between said second side wall and said additional wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: James C. Grieve, William J. Banfield, Frank E. Hashberger
  • Fixed wing UAV
    Patent number: 11433998
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a fixed wing UAV, with two propulsion propellers arranged parallel to each other and providing thrust for the UAV, or two traction propellers arranged parallel to each other and providing thrust for the UAV; A plurality of motors configured to drive the two propulsion propellers or the two traction propellers respectively, wherein the thrust ratio provided by the two propulsion propellers or the thrust ratio provided by the two traction propellers is changed to generate asymmetric thrust which controls the active yaw of the UAV. The fixed wing UAV provided by the disclosure improves the reliability of the thrust system and active yaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Yu Tian
  • Enclosure for contacts of aircraft wing heater blanket
    Patent number: 11427335
    Abstract: Briefly, the disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods to enclose electrical contacts for de-icing equipment utilized on fixed-wing aircraft and rotary-wing aircraft, such as helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft. In some implementations, enclosing electrical contacts for a de-ice heater blanket may ensure that high-quality electrical connections are made between conductors of one or more de-icing cables and the electrical contacts of the de-ice heater blanket. Such high-quality electrical connections may be maintained even during aircraft operations conducted in below-freezing ambient environments, rainy and/or wet environments, dusty desert environments, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas Allen Torske
  • System and method for slowing down aircraft
    Patent number: 11427304
    Abstract: Methods and systems for slowing down an aircraft having a propeller. The method comprises operating the propeller at a reference speed with the propeller blades in a first position, applying a load to the propeller to slow down a rotational speed of the propeller when the propeller is in a windmilling state or just before the propeller enters the windmilling state, adjusting the propeller blades to a second position in response to the load being applied, to increase the rotational speed of the propeller back towards the reference speed, and operating the propeller at the reference speed with the propeller blades in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lamarre, Simon Lopez
  • Active laminar flow control plenum panel arrangement
    Patent number: 11414203
    Abstract: An active laminar flow control arrangement may comprise an outer skin having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a perforated area, and a panel coupled to the inner surface. The panel may comprise a longitudinal wall, a sidewall extending from the longitudinal wall, a ridge intersecting the sidewall, a cavity disposed in the panel and at least partially defined by the sidewall and the longitudinal wall, and a division wall disposed in the cavity and extending from the longitudinal wall, wherein the division wall divides the cavity into a first plenum and a second plenum. The longitudinal wall, the sidewall, the ridge, and the division wall may comprise a single, monolithic piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Rohr, INC.
    Inventors: Pablo T. Sanz Martinez, Johann Steven Schrell, Thomas Paolini
  • Electrically driven blade control for rotorcraft
    Patent number: 11414174
    Abstract: Multiple redundant harmonic drive motors on a rotor head actuate the angle of attack of rotor blades at the rotor blade roots, providing collective control that, in combination with a system for providing cyclic control on the rotor blades, eliminates the need for a swashplate, thereby advantageously reducing the weight and maintenance cost of a helicopter, increasing its reliability, and reducing its vulnerability to ballistic attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Birch, Zak Sowie
  • Remotely controlled modular VTOL aircraft and re-configurable system using same
    Patent number: 11414191
    Abstract: A manned/unmanned aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using the same set of engines for takeoff and landing as well as for forward flight. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to takeoff with the wings in a vertical as opposed to horizontal flight attitude which takes off in this vertical attitude and then transitions to a horizontal flight path. A tailless airplane which uses a control system that takes inputs for a traditional tailed airplane and translates those inputs to provide control utilizing non-traditional control methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Delhivery Robotics, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kyle Gibboney, Pranay Sinha
  • Ice protection system and controller
    Patent number: 11414196
    Abstract: An ice protection system and method capable of anti-icing and de-icing aerodynamic structures and surfaces is provided comprising a Resistive Heat Coat (RHC) controller and a heating device. The RHC controller comprises a RHC power circuit topology having a processor and a buck converter. The RHC controller further comprises a RHC control algorithm. The heating device comprises a plurality of resistive heating elements, such as CNT-based resistive heaters. The ice protection systems and methods disclosed can achieve an efficiency of 98% or greater while employing a direct current (DC) power supply and “hard switching” with a switching frequency of at least 500 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Brett Burton, Donald R. Hohe, Matthew E. Huntwork, Gabe J. Stout
  • Parasail-assisted systems and methods for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight
    Patent number: 11414187
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a parasail-assisted system for launching a fixed-wing aircraft into free flight and for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hood Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
  • Vertical takeoff and landing aerial vehicle
    Patent number: 11407508
    Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aerial vehicle, which comprises a plurality of lift propellers respectively arranged at the top sides of a left linear support and a right linear support, and a left additional lift propeller and a right additional lift propeller respectively arranged on the bottom sides of the left linear support and the right linear support. According to the aerial vehicle provided by the disclosure, the takeoff and landing power of the aerial vehicle is effectively improved and the maximum take-off weight and effective load of the aerial vehicle are improved by using multiple groups of lift motors on the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI AUTOFLIGHT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu Tian
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle with collapsible net assembly
    Patent number: 11408712
    Abstract: An example of a drone includes a drone chassis, a plurality of motors attached to the drone chassis and a plurality of propellers coupled to the plurality of motors. The drone further includes a net assembly mounted to the drone chassis. The net assembly extends above the plurality of propellers. The net assembly including a bottom portion and a plurality of upright frame members that are mounted to the bottom portion by a plurality of articulating joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Performance Drone Works LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Gury, Florent Arnoux, Michael Dornisch, Max Tubman, Matthew Hernandez
  • Active laminar flow control structural plenums fastened
    Patent number: 11396366
    Abstract: An active laminar flow control arrangement may comprise a modular arrangement comprising a plurality of frames and cover panels coupled to an outer skin having a plurality of hat stiffeners and stringers. A first cover panel may be coupled between a first frame and a first hat stiffener. A second cover panel may be coupled between a second frame and a second hat stiffener. A third cover panel may be coupled between the first cover panel and the second cover panel. The cover panels may enclose associated plenums whereby a flow of air is pumped into the arrangement for maintaining a laminar flow across an aerodynamic surface of the outer skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo T. Sanz Martinez, Johann Steven Schrell, Thomas Paolini