Patents Examined by Brendan Kroger Schneider
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Patent number: 11845536Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for an aerodynamic surface actuation system, including: a middle track connected to an aerodynamic surface and configured to move along a plurality of intermediate tracks, wherein one or more inner surfaces of the middle track are configured to interface with one or more outer surfaces of the plurality of intermediate tracks; a plurality of outer tracks, each including a flange and configured to interface with one or more inner surfaces of the plurality of intermediate tracks; and an actuator configured to control a position of the middle track and a position of the plurality of intermediate tracks via a plurality of linkages.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew Edmunds, Robert Hoffenberg, Gregory M. Santini, Steven P Walker
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Patent number: 11834171Abstract: An aircraft wing section assembly is disclosed having a structural spine, a movement mechanism including a support rod extending through the structural spine, a first lever, for connection to and for moving a first moveable control surface, pivotally mounted to the support rod, a second similar lever for connection to and for moving a second moveable control surface, and a connection mechanism for connecting the first and second levers such that pivotal movement of the first lever causes pivotal movement of the second lever, and an actuation mechanism for actuating pivotal movement of the first lever, such that, in use, when the actuation mechanism actuates pivotal movement of the first lever, the second lever also pivotally moves, thus causing movement of both the first and second moveable control surfaces. Also disclosed is an aircraft wing assembly, an aircraft and a method of operating an aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Mark Shaun Kelly, Peter Kelly, Stuart Strachan Alexander
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Patent number: 11787529Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is disclosed having a landing gear leg attachable at a first end to an aircraft, and an axle beam, both the landing gear leg and the axle beam being rotatably mounted. The axle beam is rotatable between a first position, in which a first end of the axle beam is a first (shorter) distance from the first end of the landing gear leg, and a second position, in which said first end of the axle beam is a second (longer) distance from the first end of the landing gear leg. A biasing member is configured to be able to bias the axle beam towards the second position. An aircraft, a blended wing body aircraft, and a method of operating an aircraft are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventor: Fraser Wilson
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Patent number: 11780598Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a wing disposed above the fuselage, a pylon connecting the wing to the fuselage, and a plurality of internal combustion engines housed in the fuselage. The pylon vertically traverses the fuselage and is fixed to an upper portion and a lower portion of the fuselage. Among the plurality of internal combustion engines, a first internal combustion engine and a second internal combustion engine are disposed bilaterally symmetrically about the pylon and are fixed to the pylon.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Yuji Ishitsuka
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Patent number: 11772830Abstract: This aeronautical equipment for an aircraft, comprising a part configured to be positioned at the level of a skin of the aircraft and means for reheating this part comprising a closed-circuit thermodynamic loop in which a phase-change heat transfer fluid circulates, is wherein it includes means for monitoring the fluid pressure in the loop in order to detect and report a malfunction of the equipment.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: THALESInventors: Claude Sarno, Romain Hodot, Philippe Oconte
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Patent number: 11767100Abstract: An aircraft wing with a wing structure and a spoiler movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration are disclosed. The spoiler includes an actuator configurable between an engaged mode and a disengaged mode. When the actuator is in the engaged mode, the actuator can restrict movement of the spoiler and move the spoiler between the stowed configuration and deployed configuration. In the disengaged mode, the actuator allows free movement of the spoiler, such that the spoiler may pop up due to reduced air pressure on the aircraft wing.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Benjamin Bishop, Anthony Bryant
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Patent number: 11767104Abstract: A vortex generator, includes a vane, mountable on an aerodynamic surface of an aircraft, and an actuator that rotates the vane between a stowed position and a deployed position. The actuator includes a linear actuator, composed at least in part of a shape memory alloy (SMA), that when thermally activated facilitates rotation of the vane between the stowed position to the deployed position. Thermal activation of the SMA is caused via one or more of joule heating, conduction, and induction in response to one or more of an electronic command signal and a wireless command signal. The electronic command signal and the wireless command signal may be transmitted in response to ambient conditions, aircraft flight conditions, and aircraft mission.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Frederick T. Calkins, Paul M. Vijgen, Douglas E. Nicholson, Andrew Walter Fassmann
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Patent number: 11753145Abstract: A system and method for preventing back-drive in a braking system for a rotary actuator. The braking system comprises a housing and split cam design. A driving cam located within the housing is associated with an upstream side of the braking system. The driving cam is configured to rotate when a torque is applied to the upstream side. The braking system has a wedging cam and a plurality of cylindrical rollers. The wedging cam located within the housing and is associated with a downstream side of the braking system. The wedging cam is configured to react and prevent back-drive motion when torque is applied to the downstream side. The plurality of cylindrical rollers is positioned between the wedging cam and the housing. The plurality of cylindrical rollers is configured to wedge between a surface of the wedging cam and the housing when the torque is applied to the downstream side.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Maria Nicole Clouser
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Patent number: 11731761Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a secondary airfoil apparatus, system and method for improving lift, takeoff, landing and aerodynamic performance of a floatplane. The secondary airfoil can be integrated into the floatplane during manufacture, or retrofitted to an existing floatplane after manufacture. The secondary airfoil is itself of sufficient structural rigidity to withstand any and all forces added by the airfoil during floatplane operation. The secondary airfoil is fixedly attached between the floats of the floatplane, and are purposefully not attached to spreader bars that can exist typically between the floats. The secondary airfoil can be arranged at an optimal angle of incidence and vertical lift position relative to the primary airfoil, or wing of the aircraft, and relative to the floats center of gravity and drag for optimal maneuverability of the floatplane.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Comp Air Solutions, LLCInventors: Ronald A. Lueck, Michael Ryan
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Patent number: 11708163Abstract: A static aircraft seat privacy panel may include a body. At least a portion of a surface of the body may be shaped to at least partially conform with at least a portion of an aircraft seat. A lower edge of the body may be configured to couple to a floor via a set of floor-mounted components. The set of floor-mounted components may be within the floor separate from a set of seat tracks of an aircraft seat compliant with 16G force requirements for aviation transport. An upper edge of the body may be configured to be offset a selected distance from a surface of one or more overhead structures of the aircraft cabin when the body is coupled to one or more structures positioned proximate to a ceiling of the aircraft cabin. The static aircraft seat privacy panel may be compliant with 9G force requirements for aviation transport.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.Inventors: Glenn A. Johnson, Mark B. Dowty, Jefferey M. McKee, Tracy Pence, Michael M. Princip
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Patent number: 11679884Abstract: An aircraft seating module (20) includes a seating mount (26) having a horizontal mounting rail (28) integrally joined to a vertical mounting post (30) at an adjoining elbow (32). The rail (28) includes a mounting boss (34) longitudinally spaced from the post (30) for attachment to an aircraft cabin seat track (18). Both the rail (28) and post (30) include mounting holes (38) for attaching a passenger seat (22) and appended furniture (24) directly to the seating mount (26) and in turn indirectly to the seat track (18) in the cabin floor (12).Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: The NORDAM Group LLCInventors: Mark Robert Hacker, Carlos Roberto Flores, Christopher Ervin Erickson
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Patent number: 11618577Abstract: A drogue bridle attachment assembly may comprise a housing, a lock pin, jackscrew gear pin, and a drive gear pin. The housing may define a bridle opening. The lock pin may be configured to translate into the bridle opening. The jackscrew gear pin may include a threaded portion and a gear portion. The threaded portion may engage a threaded opening in the lock pin. The drive gear pin may include a drive gear portion intermeshed with the gear portion of the jackscrew gear pin.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dustin J. Wimmer, Glen Shaw
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Patent number: 11554864Abstract: One embodiment described herein is a damper for a rotor system, the damper comprising a cylindrical housing having a hollow interior; a piston disposed within the hollow interior and extending along a central axis of the housing; a first attachment member disposed on a first end of the damper and connected to the housing; a second attachment member disposed on a second end of the damper and connected to the piston; and a conductive cover wrapped around a portion of an exterior surface of the housing between the first attachment member and the second attachment member.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: TEXTRON INNOATIONS INC.Inventors: Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Gary Miller, Diana Tinlin
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Patent number: 11518516Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a Portable Cargo Panel (PCP) for an aircraft, including: detecting a gesture on a display of the PCP; determining that the gesture is a command to view on the display a first cargo compartment; securing a wireless connection with the first control panel therein; receiving, from the first control panel, a health state of each of a plurality of Cargo Handling Units (CHUs) therein; displaying, on the display, the first cargo compartment with the plurality of CHUs and the operational state of the plurality of CHUs; controlling one or more of the CHUs in the first cargo compartment by transmitting, to the first control panel, a command to: run a diagnostic test against the one or more of the plurality of CHUs; or control the plurality of CHUs to move a Unit Load Device (ULD) into, within or out of the first cargo compartment.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventors: Sudhendra Nayak, Rameshkumar Balasubramanian, Shad Kish, Aaron J. Roberts
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Patent number: 11518540Abstract: An aircraft of the type disclosed here includes an aircraft fuselage, a wing assembly, a tail assembly, and a surface structure containing a lightning protection device. The surface structure is arranged on the aircraft fuselage, the wing assembly, and the tail assembly. The lightning protection device has a plurality of electrically conductive elements, which are arranged at least as a group of elements in the surface structure. The electrically conductive elements belonging to a group are arranged parallel to one another, at least in some section or sections, and have different spacings with respect to one another, at least in two regions.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbHInventor: Lutz Weber