Patents by Inventor Bart Dean Hibbs
Bart Dean Hibbs 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).
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Patent number: 9067287Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heat transfer system is provided that includes, in one form, preparing a heat conducting array by perforating at least a portion of the heat conducting array, placing the heat conducting array around foam elements, placing a heat conducting spreader along one surface area of the foam elements, placing a lower skin over the heat conducting spreader, placing an upper skin over an opposite surface area of the foam elements to create a structural assembly, and curing the structural assembly. A material of the foam elements flows through the perforated portion of the heat conducting array during the curing step.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2011Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.Inventors: Uchenna Ofoma, Bart Dean Hibbs, Ronald Olch, Justin B. McAllister
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Patent number: 9035526Abstract: In one possible implementation, a method for forming a motor winding is provided which includes compressing a Litz wire to form a compacted Litz wire and forming the winding with the compacted Litz wire. In one possible embodiment, a motor winding is provided that has a high density multi-conductor wire bundle comprises of compacted Litz wire.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Wally Ewald Rippel, Zaher Abdallah Daboussi, Bradford M. Hori, Scott Garret Berman, Bart Dean Hibbs, Sr.
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Publication number: 20150115097Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan
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Patent number: 8995131Abstract: A heat transfer system is provided by the present disclosure that includes, in one form, a structural member having an upper skin, a lower skin, and a foam core disposed between the upper skin and the lower skin. At least one heat conducting array extends through the foam core and between the upper skin and the lower skin, the heat conducting array defining at least one upper cap, at least one lower cap, and a wall portion extending between the upper cap and the lower cap, the upper cap being disposed proximate a heat source. A heat conducting spreader is disposed between the lower cap of the heat conducting array and the lower skin of the structural member.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Uchenna Ofoma, Bart Dean Hibbs, Ronald Olch, Justin B. McAllister
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Patent number: 8960482Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen fueled aircraft. The tank has a wall made of layers of aerogel sections around a hard shell layer, sealed within a flexible outer layer, and having the air removed to form a vacuum. The periphery of each layer section abuts other sections of that layer, but only overlies the periphery of the sections of other layers at individual points. The wall is characterized by a thermal conductivity that is lower near its gravitational top than its gravitational bottom. The tank has two exit passageways, one being direct, and the other passing through a vapor shield that extends through the wall between two layers of aerogel. A control system controls the relative flow through the two passages to regulate the boil-off rate of the tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: AeroVironment Inc.Inventors: Alexander Nelson Brooks, Bart Dean Hibbs, David Robert Thompson
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Publication number: 20150014475Abstract: A flight control apparatus for fixed-wing aircraft includes a first port wing and first starboard wing, a first port swash plate coupled between a first port rotor and first port electric motor, the first port electric motor coupled to the first port wing, and a first starboard swash plate coupled between a first starboard rotor and first starboard electric motor, the first starboard electric motor coupled to the first starboard wing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Dana J. Taylor, Phillip T. Tokumaro, Bart Dean Hibbs, William Martin Parks, David Wayne Ganzer, Christopher Eugene Fisher, Jason Sidharthadev Mukherjee, Joseph Frederick King
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Publication number: 20150008279Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2014Publication date: January 8, 2015Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan
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Publication number: 20150001971Abstract: In one possible implementation, a motor is provided including a rotor and a stator. Front cooling fins are thermally coupled to a front of the stator, and rear cooling fins are thermally coupled to a rear portion of the stator. The winding is between the front and rear cooling fins.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Zaher Abdallah DABOUSSI, Lindsay Aspinwall SHEPPARD, Bart Dean HIBBS, Wally Ewald RIPPEL
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Publication number: 20140145529Abstract: In one possible embodiment, an aircraft electric motor cooling system is provided having an airflow path through a spinner which includes a first airflow path between an inner rotor and a stator, a second airflow path between an outer rotor the stator and a third airflow path along an outer surface of the outer rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.Inventors: Lindsay Aspinwall SHEPPARD, Bart Dean HIBBS
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Patent number: 8723378Abstract: In one possible implementation, a motor is provided including a rotor and a stator. Front cooling fins are thermally coupled to a front of the stator, and rear cooling fins are thermally coupled to a rear portion of the stator. The winding is between the front and rear cooling fins.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Zaher Abdallah Daboussi, Lindsay Aspinwall Sheppard, Bart Dean Hibbs, Wally Ewald Rippel
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Patent number: 8604652Abstract: In one possible embodiment, an aircraft electric motor cooling system is provided having an airflow path through a spinner which includes a first airflow path between an inner rotor and a stator, a second airflow path between an outer rotor the stator and a third airflow path along an outer surface of the outer rotor.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Lindsay Aspinwall Sheppard, Bart Dean Hibbs
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Patent number: 8490917Abstract: A high-altitude aircraft powerplant including an engine, a two-stage turbocharger having an intercooler and an aftercooler, a cryogenic hydrogen fuel source, and a cooling system including a hydrogen heat exchanger. Aided by a ram-air cooler that cools a coolant to a near-ambient temperature, the heat exchanger is configured to heat the hydrogen using the coolant, and to cool the coolant to a temperature well below the ambient temperature during high-altitude flight. The intercooler and aftercooler use the sub-ambient temperature coolant, as does a separate sensor. The ram-air cooler includes a front portion and a rear portion. The cooling system includes three cooling loops which respectively incorporate only the front portion, only the rear portion, and both portions of the ram-air cooler.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: AeroVironment Inc.Inventors: Alexander Nelson Brooks, James Gallagher Daley, Bart Dean Hibbs
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Publication number: 20130168493Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan
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Publication number: 20130074812Abstract: A high-altitude aircraft powerplant including an engine, a two-stage turbocharger having an intercooler and an aftercooler, a cryogenic hydrogen fuel source, and a cooling system including a hydrogen heat exchanger. Aided by a ram-air cooler that cools a coolant to a near-ambient temperature, the heat exchanger is configured to heat the hydrogen using the coolant, and to cool the coolant to a temperature well below the ambient temperature during high-altitude flight. The intercooler and aftercooler use the sub-ambient temperature coolant, as does a separate sensor. The ram-air cooler includes a front portion and a rear portion. The cooling system includes three cooling loops which respectively incorporate only the front portion, only the rear portion, and both portions of the ram-air cooler.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Inventors: Alexander Nelson Brooks, James Gallagher Daley, Bart Dean Hibbs
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Publication number: 20130048242Abstract: A heat transfer system is provided by the present disclosure that includes, in one form, a structural member having an upper skin, a lower skin, and a foam core disposed between the upper skin and the lower skin. At least one heat conducting array extends through the foam core and between the upper skin and the lower skin, the heat conducting array defining at least one upper cap, at least one lower cap, and a wall portion extending between the upper cap and the lower cap, the upper cap being disposed proximate a heat source. A heat conducting spreader is disposed between the lower cap of the heat conducting array and the lower skin of the structural member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: AeroVironment IncInventors: Uchenna Ofoma, Bart Dean Hibbs, Ronald Olch, Justin B. McAllister
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Publication number: 20130048262Abstract: A system for managing heat transfer is provided by the present disclosure, which in one form includes a cavity having an inner wall portion, at least one heat-generating component disposed within the cavity, and a plurality of heat conducting members disposed adjacent one another. Each heat conducting member includes a resilient core and an outer shell wrapped around at least a portion of the resilient core. The outer shell is made of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, and the plurality of heat conducting members are positioned between the heat-generating component and the inner wall portion of the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: AeroVironment IncInventors: Uchenna Ofoma, Bart Dean Hibbs
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Publication number: 20130047435Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heat transfer system is provided that includes, in one form, preparing a heat conducting array by perforating at least a portion of the heat conducting array, wrapping the heat conducting array around foam elements, placing a heat conducting spreader along one surface area of the foam elements, placing a lower skin over the heat conducting spreader, placing an upper skin over an opposite surface area of the foam elements to create a structural assembly, and curing the structural assembly. A material of the foam elements flows through the perforated portion of the heat conducting array during the curing step.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: AeroVironment IncInventors: Uchenna Ofoma, Bart Dean Hibbs, Ronald Olch, Justin B. McAllister
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Publication number: 20120279971Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen fueled aircraft. The tank has a wall made of layers of aerogel sections around a hard shell layer, sealed within a flexible outer layer, and having the air removed to form a vacuum. The periphery of each layer section abuts other sections of that layer, but only overlies the periphery of the sections of other layers at individual points. The wall is characterized by a thermal conductivity that is lower near its gravitational top than its gravitational bottom. The tank has two exit passageways, one being direct, and the other passing through a vapor shield that extends through the wall between two layers of aerogel. A control system controls the relative flow through the two passages to regulate the boil-off rate of the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: AEROVIRONMENT INC.Inventors: Alexander Nelson BROOKS, Bart Dean HIBBS, David Robert THOMPSON
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Patent number: 8210471Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs
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Patent number: 8205823Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan