Patents by Inventor Earl Schneider

Earl Schneider 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).

  • Method of fabricating a helicopter rotor system
    Patent number: 4868962
    Abstract: A rotor hub system for a helicopter is fabricated predominately of composite material. The flap hinge, pitch hinge and lead-lag hinge contain elastomeric bearings and one step blade folding in either the forward or aft direction using the same drive system is employed. The rotor hub includes closed loop straps which define generally opposed lugs of the flap hinge, and the pitch housing includes a pair of closed loop straps which define the lugs of the lead-lag hinge and a lug of the flap hinge. The use of composite materials as the predominant material of the rotor hub and the pitch housing results in a highly load redundant structure permitting a reduction in size and number of parts, a reduction in drag, and an increase in reliability and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Francis H. McArdle, Earl Schneider
  • Helicopter rotor system and method
    Patent number: 4795310
    Abstract: A rotor hub system for a helicopter in which the rotor hub and pitch housing are fabricated predominately of composite material, the flap hinge, pitch hinge and lead-lag hinge contain elastomeric bearings and one step blade folding in either the forward or aft direction using the same drive system. The rotor hub includes closed loop straps which define generally opposed lugs of the flap hinge, and the pitch housing includes a pair of closed loop straps which define the lugs of the lead-lag hinge and a lug of the flap hinge. The use of composite materials as the predominant material of the rotor hub and the pitch housing results in a highly load redundant structure permitting a reduction in size and number of parts, a reduction in drag, and an increase in reliability and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Francis H. McArdle, Earl Schneider, Richard T. DeRosa
  • Method of fabricating a helicopter rotor hub
    Patent number: 4542567
    Abstract: A rotor hub system for a helicopter in which the rotor hub and pitch housing are fabricated predominately of composite material, the flap hinge, pitch hinge and lead-lag hinge contain elastomeric bearings and one step blade folding in either the forward or aft direction using the same drive system. The rotor hub includes closed loop straps which define generally opposed lugs of the flap hinge, and the pitch housing includes a pair of closed loop straps which define the lugs of the lead-lag hinge and a lug of the flap hinge. The use of composite materials as the predominant material of the rotor hub and the pitch housing results in a highly load redundant structure permitting a reduction in size and number of parts, a reduction in drag, and an increase in reliability and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Francis H. McArdle, Earl Schneider
  • Helicopter rotor system
    Patent number: 4543040
    Abstract: A rotor hub system for a helicopter in which the rotor hub and pitch housing are fabricated predominately of composite material, the flap hinge, pitch hinge and lead-lag hinge contain elastomeric bearings and one step blade folding in either the forward or aft direction using the same drive system. The rotor hub includes closed loop straps which define generally opposed lugs of the flap hinge, and the pitch housing includes a pair of closed loop straps which define the lugs of the lead-lag hinge and a lug of the flap hinge. The use of composite materials as the predominant material of the rotor hub and the pitch housing results in a highly load redundant structure permitting a reduction in size and number of parts, a reduction in drag, and an increase in reliability and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Francis H. McArdle, Earl Schneider