Patents by Inventor Adam D Nicholl

Adam D Nicholl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9068808
    Abstract: An air vehicle, such as a missile or a steerable submunition released from a missile or another air vehicle, has a bilateral thrust system for steering. The thrust system includes a pair of diametrically-opposed divert thrusters that provide thrust having radial components in opposite radial directions. In order to control the direction of thrust, the air vehicle controls rotation of the divert thrusters and/or timing of the firing of the thrusters. The air vehicle (or some part of the air vehicle that includes the divert thrusters) may be discretely rolled to position the divert thrusters to produce desired steering thrust. Alternatively, the air vehicle or part of the air vehicle may be continuously rolled, with the steering controlled by timing the thrust to the divert thrusters, such as by allocating thrust between the diametrically-opposed thrusters. Pressurized gas may be allocated between the two thrusters by use of pintle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert W Morgan, Eric J Borg, Michael A Leal, Adam D Nicholl