Patents by Inventor Hin-Fan M. Lau

Hin-Fan M. Lau 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).

  • Thrust Reverser System and Method with Flow Separation-Inhibiting Blades
    Publication number: 20160341150
    Abstract: An aircraft thrust reverser system including a fan duct including a bullnose, a cascade positioned to direct air outward from the fan duct to generate reverse thrust with respect to a direction of travel, and a flow separation-inhibiting blade positioned within the fan duct proximate the bullnose, wherein the flow separation-inhibiting blade directs the air toward the cascade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Chen Chuck, Hin-Fan M. Lau
  • Thrust-reverser assemblies that utilize active flow-control and systems and methods including the same
    Patent number: 9371799
    Abstract: Thrust-reverser assemblies that utilize active flow-control and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The thrust-reverser assemblies define a forward-thrust configuration and a reverse-thrust configuration. The thrust-reverser assemblies include a bullnose fairing that defines a portion of a reverser duct and an active flow-control device. The active flow-control device is located to energize a boundary layer fluid flow within a boundary layer that is adjacent to the bullnose fairing to resist separation of the boundary layer from the bullnose fairing when the thrust-reverser assembly is in the reverse-thrust configuration. The methods include flowing a thrust-reverser fluid stream through the reverser duct to generate the boundary layer and energizing a boundary layer fluid flow within the boundary layer with an active flow-control device to resist separation of the boundary layer from the bullnose fairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nathan Owen Packard, Daniel Paul Brzozowski, Zachariah B. Vandemark, Hin-Fan M. Lau, Michael L. Sangwin, Frederick W. Roos
  • THRUST-REVERSER ASSEMBLIES THAT UTILIZE ACTIVE FLOW-CONTROL AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS INCLUDING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20150308377
    Abstract: Thrust-reverser assemblies that utilize active flow-control and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The thrust-reverser assemblies define a forward-thrust configuration and a reverse-thrust configuration. The thrust-reverser assemblies include a bullnose fairing that defines a portion of a reverser duct and an active flow-control device. The active flow-control device is located to energize a boundary layer fluid flow within a boundary layer that is adjacent to the bullnose fairing to resist separation of the boundary layer from the bullnose fairing when the thrust-reverser assembly is in the reverse-thrust configuration. The methods include flowing a thrust-reverser fluid stream through the reverser duct to generate the boundary layer and energizing a boundary layer fluid flow within the boundary layer with an active flow-control device to resist separation of the boundary layer from the bullnose fairing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nathan Owen Packard, Daniel Paul Brzozowski, Zachariah B. Vandemark, Hin-Fan M. Lau, Michael L. Sangwin, Frederick W. Roos