Patents by Inventor Richard J. Loftis

Richard J. Loftis 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).

  • Publication number: 20210392317
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a first wing coupled to the fuselage and including a first wingtip that is movable relative to the fuselage during flight, and a second wing coupled to the fuselage, opposite the first wing, and including a second wingtip that is movable relative to the fuselage and relative to the first wingtip during flight. The aircraft also includes a first camera mounted to the first wingtip of the first wing and a second camera mounted to the second wingtip of the second wing. The aircraft further includes a processing unit configured to determine a real-time distance between the first camera and the second camera as the first camera and the second camera move relative to each other and relative to the fuselage during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andy Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Gary A. Ray, Tuan A. Nguyen, Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 10137317
    Abstract: A system for delivering oxygen enriched air to a selected location on an aircraft may include: a gas separation system configured to output a flow of the oxygen enriched air; an environmental control system configured to output a flow of conditioned air; and/or first, second, and third ducts. The first duct may be configured to direct the flow of the oxygen enriched air to the third duct. The second duct may be configured to direct the flow of the conditioned air to the third duct. The conditioned air and the oxygen enriched air may be mixed in the third duct. The third duct may be configured to direct the mixed conditioned and oxygen enriched air to at least one dispensing station at the selected location that is configured to dispense the mixed conditioned and oxygen enriched air to users of the at least one dispensing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew L. Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Colin W. Hart, Lisa C. Thomas, Kevin R. Price
  • Patent number: 10040567
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide for a nitrogen generation and oxygen distribution system. According to one aspect, the system includes an NGS and an oxygen distribution processor coupled to the NGS. The NGS creates nitrogen enriched air as the primary product for fuel tank use, and oxygen enriched air as a secondary product. The oxygen distribution processor is operative to determine a number of flight parameters, and from those parameters, provide an oxygen distribution command to an oxygen distribution valve in order to prevent the oxygen enriched air from being distributed, to route the oxygen enriched air to the ambient environment, or to route the oxygen enriched air to an aircraft engine to increase combustion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Loftis, Andrew L. Armatorio, Colin W. Hart
  • Publication number: 20180091797
    Abstract: A method is provided of compensating for variations in distance and orientation between first and second wing-mounted cameras of an aircraft due to flexing of at least one aircraft wing. The method comprises determining a first distance and orientation between the first wing-mounted camera and the second wing-mounted camera during a neutral wing condition of the aircraft. The method further comprises determining a second distance and orientation between the first wing-mounted camera and the second wing-mounted camera during a flexed wing condition of the aircraft. The method also comprises processing the difference between the first and second distances and orientations to provide a real-time varying distance and orientation for use in providing a compensated distance between the first and second wing-mounted cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Andy Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Gary A. Ray, Tuan A. Nguyen, Robert P. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20170088282
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide for a nitrogen generation and oxygen distribution system. According to one aspect, the system includes an NGS and an oxygen distribution processor coupled to the NGS. The NGS creates nitrogen enriched air as the primary product for fuel tank use, and oxygen enriched air as a secondary product. The oxygen distribution processor is operative to determine a number of flight parameters, and from those parameters, provide an oxygen distribution command to an oxygen distribution valve in order to prevent the oxygen enriched air from being distributed, to route the oxygen enriched air to the ambient environment, or to route the oxygen enriched air to an aircraft engine to increase combustion efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Richard J. Loftis, Andrew L. Armatorio, Colin W. Hart
  • Patent number: 9583012
    Abstract: A system for detection and avoidance may include an image capture system configured to be connected to a vehicle, the image capture system being configured to obtain and transmit images, and a detection system configured to communicate with the vehicle and/or an operator of the vehicle, the detection system being configured to receive the images, process the images to identify an object, determine whether the object will potentially strike the vehicle, generate a strike avoidance report including information indicating that a potential strike will occur and an avoidance command to avoid the potential strike in response to a determination that the potential strike will occur, and send the strike avoidance report to a vehicle management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Loftis, Andrew Armatorio, Robert P. Higgins, Tuan Anh Chau Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9493112
    Abstract: A system and method for a customized ambient lighting environment for individuals in vehicles travelling rapidly across multiple time zones, that can be automated and/or based on user input and which allows each user to be exposed to light in accordance to selected preferences and circumstances, in order to begin acclimating the user to a new time zone, or avoid acclimating to a new time zone, and/or otherwise mitigate circadian desynchrony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Lisa C. Thomas, Richard J. Loftis, Andrew L. Armatorio, Colin W. Hart
  • Publication number: 20160159276
    Abstract: A system and method for a customized ambient lighting environment for individuals in vehicles travelling rapidly across multiple time zones, that can be automated and/or based on user input and which allows each user to be exposed to light in accordance to selected preferences and circumstances, in order to begin acclimating the user to a new time zone, or avoid acclimating to a new time zone, and/or otherwise mitigate circadian desynchrony.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Lisa C. Thomas, Richard J. Loftis, Andrew L. Armatorio, Colin W. Hart
  • Patent number: 9253823
    Abstract: A structural substrate for an aircraft structure and methods are presented. A multi-layer hybrid composite material comprises an outermost layer, an intermediate layer, and an innermost layer. The outermost layer comprises an electrically conductive metal matrix composite that conducts electricity to provide electric heating. The intermediate layer comprises an electrical insulator coupled to the outermost layer. The innermost layer comprises a composite coupled to the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer electrically insulates the outermost layer from the innermost layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul S. Nordman, Richard J. Loftis, Andy Armatorio
  • Patent number: 9221544
    Abstract: Systems to apply heat to an aircraft surface are disclosed. In some embodiments, heaters are embedded in a composite structure of an aircraft. In one embodiment, a composite aircraft structure comprises a base comprising a plurality of resin impregnated plies, a heating layer adjacent the base, wherein the heating layer comprises at least one heater, an adhesive layer adjacent the heating layer, a lightning protection layer adjacent the heating layer, and an exterior surface layer adjacent the lightning protection layer. Other embodiments may be described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Daniel A. Burch, Justin Nuyda, Roland J. Olivier, Yared Shenkoru
  • Publication number: 20150157884
    Abstract: A system for providing an oxygen enriched localized environment in a user compartment on an aircraft that can include a gas separation system having an oxygen output channel that outputs a flow of oxygen enriched air, and a duct network coupled to the oxygen output channel and to direct the flow of oxygen enriched air to the user compartment, localized volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew L. Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Colin W. Hart, Lisa C. Thomas, Kevin R. Price
  • Publication number: 20150157883
    Abstract: A system directing oxygen enriched air to locations on an aircraft. A nitrogen generating system may be configured for generating nitrogen enriched air and oxygen enriched air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew L. Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Colin W. Hart, Lisa C. Thomas, Kevin R. Price
  • Publication number: 20130068747
    Abstract: Systems to apply heat to an aircraft surface are disclosed. In some embodiments, heaters are embedded in a composite structure of an aircraft. In one embodiment, a composite aircraft structure comprises a base comprising a plurality of resin impregnated plies, a heating layer adjacent the base, wherein the heating layer comprises at least one heater, an adhesive layer adjacent the heating layer, a lightning protection layer adjacent the heating layer, and an exterior surface layer adjacent the lightning protection layer. Other embodiments may be described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Andrew Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Daniel A. Burch, Justin Nuyda, Roland J. Olivier, Yared Shenkoru