Patents Examined by Charles Ducker
  • Patent number: 6070829
    Abstract: A flight control limiting system for a rotary-wing aircraft which generates servo-commands for at least one of a main rotor and a tail rotor. A set of first commands represents the position of at least one flight control which is movable between extreme positions, and may be controlled by the pilot. A set of second commands are generated by a flying aid system. The flight control limiting system limits the values of the set of second commands when the position of any of the flight controls is close to an extreme position, so that the servo-commands for that particular flight control corresponds to the set of first commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Jacques Serge Louis Bellera, Serge Joseph Mezan
  • Patent number: 6019311
    Abstract: An airship includes a relatively rigid framework that is meant to resemble a sailing ship having an inclined bow, a rounded bottom, a vertical stern, vertical sides and a flat upper deck. A plurality of lifting bladders carrying helium or the like are enclosed within the framework to make it lighter than air. Front and rear masts extend upwardly from the deck and carry front and rear sails on pivotal booms. A passenger and crew compartment is located on the deck behind the front and rear masts. The masts are pivotally supported on the framework to pivot laterally to one side or the other in the y-z plane to open up a gap there-between if so desired. A spinnaker or jib can be set forwardly of the masts in this gap to be fully exposed to wind from above the framework. Thus, the use of the sails for primary or supplementary propulsion of the framework is enhanced, and the deck enables passengers or crew to leave the compartment and be supported and carried by the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Christopher D. Thyen