Patents Assigned to The Aerospace Corporation
  • Publication number: 20240125286
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly includes a sleeve defining a pathway, the sleeve disposed within a nacelle. The pathway and an internal surface of the nacelle guides a mass flow from an engine to an exit of the propulsion system. The sleeve is configured to move between a forward position an aft position within the nacelle aft of the engine. The sleeve has a protruding portion that extends towards a center of the pathway and that defines a smallest internal diameter of the sleeve. The sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve segments that are longitudinally aligned and circumferentially arranged to form the sleeve. The sleeve segments are configured to move circumferentially closer as the sleeve moves in a first direction within the nacelle and to move circumferentially further apart as the sleeve moves in a second direction within the nacelle. An actuator is coupled with, and is configured to move the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Derek Muzychka, Donald Freund, Andrew Clemens, John Louis, Joseph Gavin, Till Gerhardt, William Mcfarland, Benjamin Walke
  • Patent number: 11958626
    Abstract: An aircraft has a first principles takeoff processor (PCE), a predictive flight envelope protection processor (PFEP), and a maximum takeoff weight processor. The PCE is programmed to predict a liftoff location and an energy state of the aircraft at a liftoff on a runway. The PFEP is programmed to assess each of a plurality of potential trajectories for compliance with or violation of a predetermined flight envelope. The maximum weight processor is programmed to: indicate that the aircraft may takeoff at the aircraft weight when any one of the plurality of potential trajectories is in compliance with the predetermined flight envelope; iteratively reduce an input of the aircraft weight to the PCE until the PCE indicates that any one of the plurality of potential trajectories is in compliance with the predetermined flight envelope; and indicate that the input of the aircraft weight as reduced is a maximum allowable takeoff weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas Kershaw, Jeffrey Hausmann
  • Publication number: 20240111027
    Abstract: Analyzing electro-optical imagery from a telescope observing one or more satellites includes capturing one or more images of a plurality of stars and the one or more satellites, and sequentially or randomly selecting each one of a plurality of diagonal lines of pixels in the one or more images. The plurality of diagonal lines of pixels represent one of the plurality of stars in the one or more images. Additionally, a moving average filter is applied to the selected one of the plurality of diagonal lines of pixels to find a location of one of the plurality of start on an x- and y-axis coordinate. Furthermore, the location of the one of the plurality of stars is provided in the one or more captured images to be cross referenced with angular coordinates and radiometric quantities in stellar catalogs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew C. Britton
  • Publication number: 20240099453
    Abstract: A table extension assembly is disclosed herein. The table extension assembly is for use with a table assembly having a first table section having a first upper surface and a cavity situated below the upper surface, the cavity having an internal surface, and an opening to the cavity disposed proximate a first side surface of the first table section. The table extension assembly includes a second table section having a second upper surface. The table extension assembly further includes an engagement feature extending from a side surface of the second table section. The engagement feature is configured to fit within the cavity, to engage the internal surface and to support the second table section adjacent the first table section such that the second upper surface is flush and contiguous with the first upper surface when the engagement feature is disposed within the cavity and engaged with the internal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Telmos
  • Patent number: 11939064
    Abstract: A reclining seat including, but not limited to, a seat bottom; a seat back, a leg support, and an arm support forming a seat assembly. The seat assembly is configured to be supported on a floor surface and to move between an upright configuration and a flat configuration. The seat back and the leg support are transverse to the seat bottom, and the arm support is transverse to the seat back, when the seat assembly is in the upright configuration. The seat back, the seat bottom, the leg support and the arm support are each longitudinally aligned with one another when the seat assembly is in the flat configuration. An upper surface of the seat back, the seat bottom, and the leg support are each coplanar with one another and substantially coplanar with the arm support when the seat assembly is in the flat configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy OHara, Joe Guthrie, Allen Davis
  • Patent number: 11939063
    Abstract: A reclining seat including, but not limited to, a seat bottom. The reclining seat further including, but not limited to, a seat back having an upper segment and a lower segment, the lower segment pivotally coupled with the seat bottom via a first pivotal coupling, and the upper segment pivotally coupled with the lower segment via a second pivotal coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Allen Davis, Kerem Caglayan
  • Patent number: 11939087
    Abstract: An autonomous compliance controlled generic mooring station includes a pair of mooring systems connected to each other. The pair of mooring systems includes a pair of mooring interfaces, allowing the pair of mooring systems to change between a mooring state and a release state. One of the pair of mooring interfaces includes an electropermanent magnet and the other one of the pair of mooring interfaces includes a ferromagnetic plate. The electropermanent magnet and the ferromagnetic plate are configured to connect the pair of mooring systems together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Donald Wayne Denham
  • Patent number: 11943891
    Abstract: The present application relates to providing mechanical and environmental protection to an electronics rack including a frame configured in a vertical orientation configured to receive an electronics rack, a front cover and a back cover, wherein the front cover and the back cover are configured to enclose the electronics rack when the front cover is attached to the frame and when the back cover is attached to the frame, a first fastener for mechanically coupling a top portion of the electronics rack to a top portion of the frame, a second fastener for coupling a bottom portion of the electronics rack to a bottom portion of the frame and a horizontal base for supporting the frame, the base including a mechanical interface for a material handling device, at least one castor and at least one floor lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jose Antonio Martinez
  • Patent number: 11940266
    Abstract: Processes for rapidly and accurately measuring the coefficient of moisture expansion for materials, such as adhesives, are disclosed. A replication technique may be used to manufacture highly flat and smooth adhesive samples. Moisture is introduced in a controlled humidity atmosphere, distortion is monitored with an accurate laser interferometer (e.g., ˜1 nanometer (nm) accuracy), and measurements are correlated with moisture content change. Such processes decrease sample size by three orders of magnitude as compared with conventional techniques and have a smaller adhesive mass requirement, which enables measurement of expensive microelectronic adhesives that were previously cost-prohibitive to measure. Also, thinner films allow CME measurements of ultraviolet (UV) cured adhesives that would otherwise have depth of penetration issues. Furthermore, saturation occurs quickly, allowing pre-stabilization at room temperature, which enabled parametric studies as a function of processing or cure state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Geena L. Ferrelli, Hyun I. Kim, Rafael J. Zaldivar
  • Publication number: 20240092476
    Abstract: A system onboard a vehicle, an aircraft, and a method of controlling actuation of a moveable control surface of a vehicle are disclosed here. An operating method involves: obtaining a force measurement and a deflection measurement responsive to manipulation of an inceptor for the moveable control surface; determining an issue associated with the inceptor, based on the obtained force and deflection measurements and vehicle data that characterizes expected operating behavior of the vehicle under current operating conditions; and, in response to the determining, activating a temporary backup control mode for the moveable control surface. While the temporary mode is active, control surface actuation signals are generated with an onboard system that disregards deflection measurements and processes force measurements of the inceptor. While the temporary mode is active, generated control surface actuation signals are communicated to an actuation system that is coupled to the moveable control surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Marco Paulo Fonseca
  • Publication number: 20240092485
    Abstract: A method for enhancing movement or autonomy, including movement or flight of vehicles or flight vehicles in communication and or GPS degraded and or denied and or non-optimal environments is presented, where 3D area maps and or area maps may be employed, and 3D area maps and or area maps employed may include embedded position, location or GPS date, where the location or GPS data may be used in the present invention to determine vehicle location through image recognition, and using the GPS coordinates or location from the 3D area map of the image recognized, or measuring distance to other know aspects of a 3D area map in the real world, and context or system level information may also be used to estimate obstacle shapes and optimal routes in a potential route of travel or for understanding an area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: RHOMAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Andrew Youmans, Thomas Bradford Doermer Callen
  • Patent number: 11932875
    Abstract: A method of stimulating and controlling stem cell activity and differentiation on a modified material substrate and a device including the modified material substrate are provided. The method includes providing a material substrate configured for medical use. The material substrate includes at least one surface or interior area available for modification, and the at least one surface or interior area is treated with a plurality of pulsed light beams to obtain a modified material substrate with at least one modified surface or interior area. The at least one modified surface or interior area has a biomimetic architecture with surface and bulk (interior) features, properties, and textures configured to accelerate and control stem cell differentiation when the modified material substrate is contacted with stem cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank Edward Livingston, Timothy Ganey
  • Patent number: 11926104
    Abstract: A build plate may include one or more thermocouples placed on an underside of the build plate. The one or more thermocouples output temperature fluctuation to assist in monitoring for build plate separation of a product located on top of the build plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shant Kenderian, Joseph T. Case
  • Patent number: 11919645
    Abstract: The present application relates to providing an aircraft storage container including a lower portion having a horizontal bottom and a plurality of vertical sides configured to form a storage volume, an upper portion rotationally coupled to one of the plurality of vertical sides, a gas piston having a locking mechanism wherein the gas piston is coupled between the lower portion and the upper portion, the gas piston being configured to support the upper portion when the locking mechanism is engaged, a rotational member operative to disengage the locking mechanism when rotated and to engage the locking mechanism when released, and a latch mechanism having a rotational lever, wherein the latch mechanism is operative to rotate the rotational member in response to a pressure on the rotational lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Sethapun, Terry Baker
  • Publication number: 20240067327
    Abstract: A roller for a control surface of an aircraft includes a roller shaft, a primary roller coupled to the shaft, and a roller assembly coupled to the shaft. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis, a mounting end that couples with a roller fitting of the control surface, and a roller end. The primary roller can rotate about the longitudinal axis, and can engage and roll along a first surface of a track. The roller assembly includes a secondary roller having a longitudinal roller axis and configured to engage and roll along a second surface of the track. The roller assembly also includes a housing that retains the secondary roller while allowing the secondary roller to rotate about the longitudinal roller axis. The housing is movably coupled to the roller end of the roller shaft with three degrees of rotational freedom relative to the roller end of the roller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony V. Edwards
  • Patent number: 11912429
    Abstract: A display system is provided for a vehicle having a windshield and vehicle structure outside the windshield. The vehicle structure is visible within a field of view defined by the windshield. Certain embodiments of the display system include: a camera to capture image data for a visually obstructed portion of an environment outside the vehicle, wherein the visually obstructed portion of the environment is hidden by the vehicle structure; a controller configured to process the image data captured by the camera into a head-up display (HUD) image that represents the visually obstructed portion of the environment; a HUD element configured to present projected images that are visible to an occupant of the vehicle; and a projector coupled to the controller and configured to project the HUD image toward the HUD element, such that the HUD image is visible overlying the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brian Toler
  • Publication number: 20240059424
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a main entry door with an associated passenger loading zone, an auxiliary power unit (APU) in the fuselage, and an APU inlet assembly. The APU inlet assembly has an inlet duct, and inlet door, and means for redirecting sound waves coupled to or integrated with an interior side of the inlet door. The inlet duct has a first end coupled to the APU, and a second end associated with the inlet door. The inlet door moves between a closed position and an open position. The means for redirecting sound waves is positioned at a particular location on the interior side of the inlet door, and includes certain acoustic features and characteristics. The particular location and the acoustic features and characteristics cooperate to redirect sound waves generated by the APU away from the passenger loading zone when the inlet door is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Lucas
  • Publication number: 20240059421
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle assembly includes, but is not limited to, a nozzle body configured to be fluidly coupled with an engine and to receive a jet produced by the engine. An outer cover covers the nozzle body. A movable component is disposed and configured to have an effect on either the jet or an exhaust plume when the movable component moves. A linkage is coupled to the movable component and adapted for coupling to an actuator. The linkage transmits the force to the moveable component from the actuator. There is a gap between an inner surface of the outer cover and an outer surface of the nozzle body. The linkage is smaller than the actuator. The gap is smaller than a smallest dimension of the actuator and larger than the linkage. The linkage is partially disposed within the gap, and the exhaust nozzle assembly is free of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Freund, Derek Muzychka
  • Patent number: 11900824
    Abstract: The aircraft threat envelope protection system employs a threat envelope data structure in a computer-readable medium that stores at least one trigger condition for each of a plurality of different types of threats associated with the aircraft, and modeled using a common schema. A processor computes plural different projected trajectories representing different possible aircraft paths through spacetime. The processor associates at least some of the plurality of the threats to specific trigger points in spacetime along each of the projected trajectories. The processor will deprecate ones of the projected trajectories when they are deemed not viable to recover from a threat. The processor initiates an aircraft protective response when all projected trajectories but one have been deprecated and the aircraft is within a predetermined proximity to the closest trigger point in spacetime along the non-deprecated trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Prosser, Thomas Landers, Abhishek Vaidya, Alborz Sakhaei, Blake Finlayson
  • Patent number: D1019671
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Poudou, Brendan Moran