Patents Assigned to Blended Wing Aircraft Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240025536
    Abstract: A non-coupled landing gear for an aircraft includes at least a nose gear and at least a main gear. The at least a nose gear disposed forward of a neutral point of an aircraft by a first distance and the at least a main gear disposed aft of the neutral point of the aircraft by a second distance. The at least a nose gear and the at least a main gear are uncoupled from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allan Page
  • Publication number: 20240025556
    Abstract: Methods and systems for venting a fuel tank includes a fuel tank on a blended wing body aircraft. A fuel tank may include a vent. A vent line is connected to the vent. The vent line is heated. The vent line is attached to an external fuel tank configured to store the collected boil-off gaseous fuel from the aircraft fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Knight Rawdon, Ronald Tatsuji Kawai
  • Publication number: 20230406526
    Abstract: In another aspect, a method for fueling an aircraft, the method including storing liquified gas fuel using a fuel tank, wherein the fuel tank is configured to store liquified gas fuel, fueling an aircraft using a fuel line. Fueling the aircraft may additionally include the fuel tank with liquified gas fuel to a desired level, wherein a desired level comprises fuel for a plurality of flights plus reserves. Filling may also include removing the fuel line as a function of the desired level. The method may additionally include venting the fuel tank using a vent line in fluid connection to the fuel tank. The fuel tank may then be prepared for flight as a function of a desired level. Finally, the method includes flying a plurality of flights using the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: John Vassberg
  • Publication number: 20230390969
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing modular aircraft includes at least at least a common tooling component, including at least one or more of a first component in a shape of a nose and a second component in a shape of a wing. The system further including at least a modular tooling component in a shape of a main body, wherein connecting the at least a common tooling components to the at least modular component forms a mold in a shape of at least a portion of a blended wing body (BWB) aircraft with no clear demarcation between the shape of the wing and a shape of a main body along an edge of the shape of the BWB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allan Page
  • Publication number: 20230348090
    Abstract: Aircraft with fuel tanks stored aft of the main body and method of manufacturing an aircraft with fuel tanks stored aft of the main body. Aircraft includes a blended wing body, wherein the blended wing body includes a main body and a cabin at least partially located within the main body. The aircraft further including a plurality of fuel tanks located at least partially aft of the cabin within the main body and configured to store liquified gas fuel. The fuel tanks may include a multi-lobe geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas James O'Leary, Terrence Kevin O'Leary, JR., Blaine Knight Rawdon, Ronald Tatsuji Kawai
  • Publication number: 20230348057
    Abstract: A system for a blended wing body aircraft with a combustion engine is illustrated. The aircraft comprises a blended wing body, at least a fuel source located within the blended wing body and configured to store a fuel, wherein the fuel includes liquid hydrogen, and at least a propulsor configured to propel the blended wing body aircraft. The at least a propulsor comprises a combustion engine configured to burn the fuel from the fuel source and produce mechanical work to power the at least a propulsor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Tatsuji Kawai, Shailesh Atreya
  • Publication number: 20230348089
    Abstract: A system and method for a blended wing body aircraft with permanent tanks is presented. The aircraft comprises a blended wing body and at least a tank permanently attached the blended wing body. The at least a tank is configured to store liquified gas fuel and further comprises at least a vent configured to vent gaseous fuel from the at least a tank and an insulation to reduce thermal transfer to the liquified gas fuel inside of the at least a tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Knight Rawdon, Ronald Tatsuji Kawai, Thomas James O'Leary, Terrence Kevin O'Leary, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230348101
    Abstract: In an aspect, an aircraft fueling apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least a container comprising a fuel tank configured to store liquified gas fuel. The apparatus may also include a translocation device configured to carry the at least a container. An orientation guidance track may also be included in the apparatus. The orientation guidance track may be configured to direct a movement of the translocation device to a first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Tatsuji Kawai, Shailesh Atreya
  • Patent number: 11738851
    Abstract: A system for modular aircraft includes at least a common component, wherein the at least a common component includes at least a flight component. The system includes at least a modular component, wherein the at least modular component includes at least a fuselage component and a collar component. The system includes at least an interface component, wherein the at least an interface component is configured to connect the at least a common component at a first end to the at least a modular component at a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allan Page
  • Publication number: 20230257108
    Abstract: Aspects relate to aircraft and methods of use for aerodynamic control with winglet surfaces. In an aspect an exemplary aircraft includes a first wing having a first winglet at a distal end of the wing, wherein the first winglet comprises at least a first control surface at a first trailing edge of the first winglet and a second wing having a second winglet at a distal end of the wing, wherein the second winglet comprises at least a second control surface at a second trailing edge of the second winglet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Allen Page, Blaine Knight Rawdon
  • Publication number: 20230257134
    Abstract: Aspects relate to blended wing body tankers and methods of use. An exemplary blended wing body tanker includes a blended wing body, a first fuel store located within the blended wing body and configured to store a first fuel, a fuel offloading system operatively connected to the first fuel store and configured to offload the first fuel to another aircraft in flight, a second fuel store located within the blended wing body and configured to store a second fuel different from the first fuel, and a propulsion system powered by the second fuel and configured to propel the blended wing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas James O'Leary, Mark Allen Page
  • Patent number: 11724799
    Abstract: Aspects relate to an aircraft having a controllable center of gravity and methods of controlling the center of gravity. An exemplary aircraft having a controllable center of gravity includes a first tank configured to store a first portion of a ballast, a second tank configured to store a second portion of the ballast disposed substantially aft of the first tank, at least a pipe configured to provide fluidic communication between the first tank and the second tank, at least a pump configured to pump the ballast bidirectionally between the first tank and the second tank by way of the at least a pipe, and a controller in communication with the at least a pump and configured to control a ballast ratio of the first portion of the ballast relative the second portion of the ballast and affect an aircraft center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Blaine Knight Rawdon
  • Publication number: 20230242246
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanically rotating an aircraft about its center-of-gravity (CG) are disclosed. The system can enable the rear, or main, landing gear to squat, while the nose landing gear raises to generate a positive angle of attack for the aircraft for takeoff or landing. The system can also enable the nose gear and main gear to return to a relatively level fuselage attitude for ground operations. The system can include one or more hydraulically linked hydraulic cylinders to control the overall height of the nose gear and the main gear. Because the hydraulic cylinders are linked, a change on the length of the nose cylinder generates a proportional, and opposite, change in the length of the main cylinder, and vice-versa. A method and control system for monitoring and controlling the relative positions of the nose gear and main gear is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc
    Inventors: Mark A. Page, Jay Fletcher Kempf, Blaine Knight Rawdon, Myles Leonard Baker, Brent Tyler Scheneman, Daniel Sean Stuewe, Daniel Tran
  • Publication number: 20230242254
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a blended wing body aircraft including a blended wing body, wherein the blended wing body is characterized by having no clear dividing line between wings and a main body along a leading edge of the aircraft, at least a rib, wherein the at least a rib runs longitudinally from fore to aft of the main body, and a plurality of transparent panels located in the top surface of the main body, wherein the plurality of transparent panels are located in channels, wherein the channels are separated by the at least a rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allan Page
  • Patent number: 11713110
    Abstract: Aspects relate to systems and methods for controlling landing gear of an aircraft. An exemplary system includes a nose gear located at a nose of the aircraft, where the nose gear includes a nose piston configured to allow for displacement of a nose wheel relative the aircraft, a main gear located aft of the nose gear, where the main gear includes a main piston configured to allow for displacement of a main wheel relative the aircraft, a hydraulic circuit in fluidic communication with each of the nose piston and the main piston, and a compliant element in fluidic communication with the hydraulic circuit and configured to provide a compliant response at one or both of the nose piston and the main piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Blaine Knight Rawdon
  • Patent number: 11697500
    Abstract: Technologies for providing emergency egress routes for a blended wing body aircraft are described herein. In some examples, the emergency egress routes are through a side cabin bulkhead and aft one or more cargo holds. In some examples, the blended wing body aircraft has wings that are high geometry wings. In these examples, the emergency egress routes do not penetrate an aft spar, reducing weight and increasing the integrity of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Whitlock, Brendan Kennelly, Mark A. Page
  • Patent number: 11697507
    Abstract: An aircraft with a multi-walled fuel tank and method of manufacturing is presented. The aircraft includes a blended wing body and a fuel tank attached to the blended wing body configured to store liquified gas fuel. The fuel tank includes an inner wall, outer wall, and interstitial volume in between that is filled with insulation. The interstitial volume includes a reflective film layer and a structural insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Tatsuji Kawai, Blaine Knight Rawdon
  • Publication number: 20230138789
    Abstract: Aspects relate to systems and methods for folding wings on an aircraft. An exemplary system includes a blended wing body, where the blended wing body includes a main body and at least a wing, a hinge located on the at least a wing and configured to allow folding of the at least a wing, an actuation system configured to fold the at least a wing, and a controller configured to control the at least an actuation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Blaine Knight Rawdon
  • Publication number: 20230120312
    Abstract: Aspects relate to systems and methods for controlling landing gear of an aircraft. An exemplary system includes a nose gear located at a nose of the aircraft, where the nose gear includes a nose piston configured to allow for displacement of a nose wheel relative the aircraft, a main gear located aft of the nose gear, where the main gear includes a main piston configured to allow for displacement of a main wheel relative the aircraft, a hydraulic circuit in fluidic communication with each of the nose piston and the main piston, and a compliant element in fluidic communication with the hydraulic circuit and configured to provide a compliant response at one or both of the nose piston and the main piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Blaine Knight Rawdon
  • Publication number: 20230092281
    Abstract: Aspects relate to an aircraft having a controllable center of gravity and methods of controlling the center of gravity. An exemplary aircraft having a controllable center of gravity includes a first tank configured to store a first portion of a ballast, a second tank configured to store a second portion of the ballast disposed substantially aft of the first tank, at least a pipe configured to provide fluidic communication between the first tank and the second tank, at least a pump configured to pump the ballast bidirectionally between the first tank and the second tank by way of the at least a pipe, and a controller in communication with the at least a pump and configured to control a ballast ratio of the first portion of the ballast relative the second portion of the ballast and affect an aircraft center of gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Blaine Knight Rawdon