Patents Examined by Rodney A Bonnette
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Patent number: 11738853Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including a wing panel; a spar disposed in the wing panel, where the spar comprises: an upper cap; a lower cap; a honeycomb core connected between at least a portion of the upper cap and the lower cap; an inner face sheet; and an outer face sheet, where at least a portion of the honeycomb core is disposed between the inner face sheet and the outer face sheet.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: HAPSMobile Inc.Inventor: Greg T. Kendall
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Patent number: 11738854Abstract: An aircraft with wing tip devices, for example, folding wing tips, is disclosed. The folding wing tip may have a flight configuration for use during flight, and a ground configuration for use in ground-based operations. The ground configuration creates a shorter wing span than when the aircraft is in the flight configuration. A hinge arrangement protrudes beyond an outer surface of the fixed wing and wing tip device. In order to reduce the aerodynamic effect of the protruding hinge a fairing may be provided. In the flight configuration the fairing comprises a rear portion with a concave surface, such that the fairing acts as a lift-generating surface when the aircraft is in flight.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Richard Lowry, Neil John Lyons
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Patent number: 11738868Abstract: An aircraft is provided which includes a fuselage having a first wing with curved wingtips positioned above a second wing having curved wingtips. Rotor assemblies located in between the curved wingtips of the first and second wing, are employable to both provide vertical thrust for vertical take off of the aircraft and auto rotation to generate electric energy to recharge an onboard electric power supply. The first wing may be formed in a V-shape, and additional rotor assemblies to provide forward and vertical thrust to the airplane can be included on rotatable canards.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Inventor: Jonathan Christian Russ
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Patent number: 11738852Abstract: A door assembly for a seat unit provided within a vehicle cabin, in particular an aircraft cabin, the door assembly comprising at least a fixed base structure, a door element movably mounted on the base structure and which is movable between a fully retracted position and at least one deployed position, and a door slide device provided between the base structure and the door element to movably support the door element on the base structure. Further, the door slide device comprises at least a slide carrier bracket fixed to the base structure or the door element, at least one slide unit which is coupled to the slide carrier bracket in a normal operation mode, and at least one separate auxiliary slide arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: ADIENT AEROSPACE, LLCInventors: Timothy Scotford, Kyle Bettenhausen, Paul Morgan, Matthew Vu Hoang
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Patent number: 11724794Abstract: An aircraft inceptor system includes an inceptor member arranged to be operated by a user to cause a corresponding movement of a moveable aircraft surface. The system also includes means for detecting the operation of the inceptor member by the user and for providing a movement signal, associated with the detected operation, to a flight control computer, the flight control computer providing a control signal to an actuator to move the aircraft surface according to the movement signal. The means for detecting the operation of the inceptor member by the user comprises a force sensor configured to sense the force applied by the user to the inceptor member, the movement signal being derived based on the sensed force.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SASInventors: Bruno Seminel, Arnaud Delpeuch, Cedric Antraygue
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Patent number: 11718382Abstract: Aircraft door (1) having: an opening panel (2) provided with engagement abutments (26); a frame (3) intended to be attached to the fuselage (4) of the aircraft and including engagement counter-abutments (27); a hinge arm (5); a lifting lever (10); and a rotary control lever (20) which can be operated in a disengagement direction in order to unlock the opening panel (2). The door includes a one-way operating rod (18) which connects the control lever (20) to the lifting lever (10) and is designed to drive the lifting lever (10) only when the control lever (20) is actuated in the direction of disengagement.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: LATECOEREInventor: Martin Gildas
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Patent number: 11718385Abstract: Apparatus for improving flow characteristics around aircraft wings by obstructing air flow through an aperture formed in a wing skin for a movable duct or track are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a substantially rigid panel movable at least partially across the aperture for at least partially occluding the aperture and for accommodating movement of a slat track extending through the aperture. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hinged panel configured to swing outwardly from an outer side of the wing skin toward an open position to accommodate movement of an anti-icing duct extending through the aperture and to swing toward a closed position at least partially occluding the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.Inventors: Matthew Poloni, Julien Lardy, Jeffrey Massey, Faris Jasem
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Patent number: 11718420Abstract: Spacecraft servicing systems include a spacecraft servicing device and at least one mission extension pod comprising at least one spacecraft servicing component. The spacecraft servicing device is configured to transfer the at least pod to a target spacecraft in order to service the target spacecraft with the at least one spacecraft servicing component of the at least one pod. Spacecraft servicing pods configured to be supplied to a spacecraft with a spacecraft servicing device include at least one spacecraft servicing component.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: James Garret Nicholson, Daniel Carl Treachler, Oliver Benjamin Ortiz, Robert Bryan Sullivan, Carlos Guillermo Niederstrasser, Michael Joseph Glogowski, William A. Llorens, Kenneth Siu-Kin Chow, Peter Michael Cipollo
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Patent number: 11718397Abstract: Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
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Patent number: 11713108Abstract: A hinge-line actuator has: a drive shaft; first and second ground gears spaced apart along the drive shaft, wherein the first and second output gears include first and second contoured outer gear surfaces; and an output gear disposed on the drive shaft and disposed between the first and second ground gears, wherein the output gear includes a third contoured outer gear surface; an actuator housing that includes: contoured first, second and third gear seats that, respectively, seat the first, second and third outer gear surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Derick S. Balsiger, Keith Bloxham
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Patent number: 11713109Abstract: In an aspect a system for fly-by-wire flight control configured for use in electric aircraft including at least a sensor, wherein the sensor is communicatively connected a pilot control and configured to detect a pilot input from the pilot control and generate, as a function of the pilot input, command datum. A system includes a flight controller, the flight controller including a computing device and configured to perform a voting algorithm, wherein performing the voting algorithm includes determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor, wherein determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor includes determining that the command datum is an active datum, determining the command datum is an admissible datum, generating, as a function of the command datum and the allowed sensor, a control surface datum wherein the control surface datum is correlated to the pilot input.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: BETA AIR, LLCInventors: Chris Townsend, Joshua E Auerbach, Andrew Giroux
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Patent number: 11713141Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein include innovative engagement devices. Exemplary engagement devices may include on or more tape spring systems. The tape spring system may include a continuous or segmented bi-stable tape spring. The tape spring can be stowed in a rolled up configuration, extended to a deployed configuration, and then triggered to return to a retracted configuration.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: L'Garde, Inc.Inventor: Nathaniel C. Barnes
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Patent number: 11708162Abstract: An aircraft seat module includes an enclosure unit which delimits a flight passenger seating region at least partially, and includes a door unit which at least closes a passage region to the flight passenger seating region in one or more operation states. The aircraft seat module further includes a bearing device which supports the door unit movably relative to the enclosure unit and has for this purpose a bearing module having a first bearing element and a second bearing element which are supported such that they are movable relative to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Pavel Ivanov, Andreas Ohm, Felix Maier
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Patent number: 11708159Abstract: According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for an aircraft may be shown and described. An exemplary embodiment may be an autonomous aircraft which can vertically takeoff and land (VTOL). The VTOL aircraft may have a modular pod which carries a removable payload. The entire VTOL aircraft may be portable. An exemplary embodiment may fit into a standard sized freight container. A propulsion system may be based on distributed electric propulsion. An exemplary embodiment may implement variable pitch propellers and collective pitch variation.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Urbineer IncInventors: Stuart Marshall, Arakel Melidonian, Sean Kirkhuff, Eric Marc-Aurele
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Patent number: 11708149Abstract: The present invention relates to the auxiliary spare landing equipment for the aircraft to be used in the events of emergency landings. Each spare landing set consists of relatively small sized wheels; these sets are located at the bottom of the Aircraft, specifically in the centers of gravity on which the aircraft rests on the ground. The wheels are fully covered and concealed by airfoil casings to ensure efficient airflow and maintain optimal ratios during flights. The uniqueness of the present invention is in the casing of the gear which is designed in a manner of shatters and scatters upon impact with the ground while landing, whenever malfunction on the main landing system. In case of such malfunction, the aircraft initiates the landing process, resulting in casings to break upon hitting the runway, while the spare wheels appear and carry the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Inventor: Ibrahim Alfallaj
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Patent number: 11708145Abstract: A hinge assembly 8a for an aircraft component including first and second hinge plates 9, 10, having an aerodynamic surface. A first seal assembly 28 to 32 is provided and arranged to seal between the aerodynamic surfaces of the hinge plates. A second seal assembly 38 to 42 is arranged to seal between the undersides of the hinge plates in order to reduce pressure leakage between voids under the hinge. The provision of two seal assemblies, each having a dedicated function, addresses the competing demands made on the sealing arrangement of an aircraft hinge assembly in use.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)Inventors: Russell Older, Paul Morrell, Ryan Holland, Oliver Marks, Pierre-Antoine Combes, Guillaume De Almeida
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Patent number: 11697495Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a transition between flight modes of an electric aircraft is illustrated. The apparatus comprises at least a sensor configured to detect a movement datum of the electric aircraft and a flight controller communicatively connected to the at least sensor, wherein the flight controller is configured to receive the movement datum from the at least a sensor, determine a current flight mode of the electric aircraft as a function of a pilot input and the movement datum, generate a guidance datum as a function of a change in flight mode and the movement datum, and communicate the guidance datum to a pilot indicator in communication with the at least a sensor and flight controller communicatively connected to the at least a sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: BETA AIR, LLCInventors: Thomas Henck, Richard Donnelly
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Patent number: 11691721Abstract: In an aspect, a system for propeller parking control for an electric aircraft. The system include at least a sensor and a computing device. A sensor may be configured to generate angular datum. The computing device may be configured to generate a trajectory command as a function of angular datum. The computing device may also be configured to initiate the transition from hover to fixed-wing flight as a function of a trajectory command.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: BETA AIR, LLCInventor: Collin Freiheit
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Patent number: 11685533Abstract: A selectively deployable heated propulsor system which may be integrated into vehicles, airplanes, or any other machinery configured for flight. The system includes a structural feature that includes a mounted propulsor including a rotor and a motor mechanically coupled to the rotor allowing the rotor to rotate when in an activated mode. The mounted propulsor includes a chamber configured to support a first configuration where the propulsor and the rotor are stowed and heated in an enclosed environment, and a second configuration where the rotor is deployed.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: BETA AIR, LLCInventors: Kyle B. Clark, Riley Griffin, Augustus Brightman, Steven Arms, Herman Wiegman
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Patent number: 11685516Abstract: A passive gust load alleviation device for an aerodynamic panel includes a free-floating aerodynamic control surface connected to the panel via a revolute joint. A counterweight is connected to the control surface. Relative to a direction of ambient airflow, the counterweight has a center of gravity forward of the axis of rotation. The counterweight is configured to passively deflect the control surface about the axis to alleviate a gust load. A vehicle includes an aerodynamic panel connected to a body and extending into ambient airflow, and the control surface and counterweight. A method for alleviating the gust load on an aircraft panel includes connecting the control panel, via the revolute joint, along a trailing edge of the panel, and during a flight of an aircraft having the panel, passively deflecting the control panel about the axis in response to an incident wind gust.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASAInventors: Thomas G. Ivanco, Patrick S. Heaney, Charles Chiou