Patents Examined by Eric Acosta
  • Patent number: 11597497
    Abstract: A leading edge structure for an aerodynamic surface of an aircraft with an outer wall part curved in a streamlined manner around an interior compartment and having an inner surface pointing toward the interior compartment and an outer surface provided for contact with the external surrounding flow. The outer wall part has a first outer wall section extending from a leading edge point in an incident flow direction in a convexly curved manner in the direction of a first side. The outer wall part has a second outer wall section which extends from the leading edge point in the incident flow direction in a convexly curved in the direction of a second side. An inner wall part is arranged in the interior compartment opposite the inner surface of the outer wall part and extends from the first outer wall section to the second outer wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Guido Kuhlmann, Hubert Temmen, René Schröder, Wilhelm Rombs
  • Patent number: 11584524
    Abstract: A hybrid aerial vehicle (HAV) comprising: a fuselage of the HAV; a first mechanism within the fuselage for accepting a plurality of wings of the HAV, the first mechanism allowing coordinated contraction of the plurality of wings essentially into the fuselage such that tips of the wings are position in proximity of the fuselage and coordinated extension of the wings such that tips of each wing are positioned away from the fuselage; a first wing extending from the port side of the fuselage and connected to the first mechanism; a second wing extending from the starboard side of the fuselage and connected to the first mechanism; a second mechanism placed within the fuselage in proximity to its front end, the second mechanism allowing motion of propellers of the HAV affixed there to between a first plain and a second plain; a first set of propellers affixed at the port side of the fuselage to the second mechanism; a second set of propellers affixed at the starboard side of the fuselage to the second mechanism; a t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: GADFIN LTD.
    Inventor: Eyal Regev
  • Patent number: 11577819
    Abstract: A wing for an aircraft includes: a main wing having an outer skin defining an interior space of the main wing, a slat, and a connection assembly for movably connecting the slat to the main wing, such that the slat is movable in a predefined motion between a retracted position and at least one extended position. The connection assembly includes an elongate and curved slat track, wherein a first end section of the slat track is connected to the slat, a first bearing at least partly arranged outside the interior space of the main wing, a second bearing spaced apart from the first bearing and arranged within the interior space of the main wing. The slat track is movably and rotatably supported on the main wing by the first and second bearing, such that the first and second bearing support the predefined motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Stefan Bensmann
  • Patent number: 11572152
    Abstract: Structural composite airfoils include a primary structural element and a secondary structural element defining the trailing edge of the structural composite airfoil. The primary structural element includes an upper skin panel, a lower skin panel, and a middle C-channel spar that is coupled to the upper skin panel and the lower skin panel. The upper skin panel extends from an upper leading edge end to an upper trailing edge end, and the lower skin panel extends from a lower leading edge end to a lower trailing edge end. The lower leading edge end of the lower skin panel is coupled to the upper leading edge end of the upper skin panel within the leading edge region of the primary structural element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Donald Drew Reinhart, Ross Westermeier, Bryan Gruner, Jan A. Kordel
  • Patent number: 11572950
    Abstract: Seal plates are typically mounted over stringer-receiving openings in aircraft ribs. A sealing tool for sealing a stringer-receiving opening in an aircraft rib is disclosed. The sealing tool includes a seal member arranged to seal a gap formed by the opening between the stringer and the rib. An intermediate member is configured to be adjustably mounted on the rib. The adjustable member receives and aligns the seal member over the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Antony Peacock, Paul Edwards
  • Patent number: 11565823
    Abstract: A system and method of converting engines on a turboprop aircraft, including removing an existing engine and associated propeller from an aircraft fuselage, installing an engine mount adapter assembly to the fuselage, and installing a replacement engine to the engine mount adapter assembly, whereby at least some portions of the replacement engine are attached to the engine mount adapter assembly for structural support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Aero Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: James M. Mills
  • Patent number: 11542024
    Abstract: A load-bearing structure is configured to be mounted on an engine core of a turbofan engine. The load-bearing structure comprises two longitudinal beams and a transverse connection connecting them. Each of the longitudinal beams comprises a forward mounting interface and a rear mounting interface for mounting the structure on the engine core while allowing at least the longitudinal travel of the engine core. Each longitudinal beam also comprises a lateral suspension point for transmitting longitudinal and vertical forces between the load-bearing structure and a suspension structure. The load-bearing structure further comprises a transverse connection comprising a central suspension point for transmitting lateral and vertical forces between the load-bearing structure and the suspension structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Antoine Elie Hellegouarch, Marc Patrick Tesniere
  • Patent number: 11541985
    Abstract: An aircraft duct assembly comprising at least two ducts extending along a general direction of rectilinear extent, each duct being an electrical, hydraulic or aeraulic duct connected to a duct support. The duct support comprises a first slideway element configured to cooperate with a second slideway element to form a slideway in the general direction of extent of the ducts. The duct assembly can thus be inserted, after mounting, by translation along the direction of the slideway into an aircraft fuselage portion. The mounting of the duct assembly and installation thereof in a fuselage are simplified, and the duct assembly is more reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Feuillerac, Patrick Salgues, Vincent Auriac
  • Patent number: 11541982
    Abstract: A stiffened structural component for an aircraft includes a first material sheet with a first surface, and at least one elongate bulge that bulges out in a direction transverse to the first surface in order to stiffen the structural component, wherein each of the at least one bulge comprises two edges that extend along the first surface, wherein a continuous bulging surface extends between the edges, and wherein the bulges are formed integrally into the first material sheet through pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Chinnarajan Periyasamy, Akshay Srinivasamurthy, Wolfgang Entelmann, Wolfgang Schulze, Jens Rohde
  • Patent number: 11535388
    Abstract: An aircraft engine mounting system to retrofit an aircraft engine from one aircraft type to another in a manner suitable for approved flight. The system includes a circular member having longitudinal securement members extending therefrom to attach the circular member to an inner surface of the fuselage of an aircraft. The circular member in turn has mounting members configured to receive an aircraft engine to retrofit the engine from a first aircraft to a second aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Aero Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: James M. Mills
  • Patent number: 11518548
    Abstract: A spacecraft is disclosed, comprising a deployable spacecraft body (110) comprising a plurality of sub-systems (321-324) for controlling operations of the spacecraft, and a plurality of panels (101, 102) and a plurality of hinges (112-115) each connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of panels, the hinges being arranged to permit the plurality of panels to be folded into a stowed configuration and unfolded into a deployed configuration, wherein the plurality of sub-systems are fixed to and supported by one or more of the plurality of panels. By forming the body of the spacecraft from a deployable structure, the overall size of the spacecraft can be significantly reduced in the stowed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Oxford Space Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael David Lawton, Zhong You, Deborah Fellows
  • Patent number: 11518534
    Abstract: A front engine attachment system for an engine of an aircraft, the front engine attachment system having an engine pylon having, in its front part, a frontal part having an attachment wall with a front face, and a front engine attachment having a beam, which is fastened to the front face and to which a link rod is fastened on either side of a median plane. Each link rod is fastened to the beam in an articulated manner by at least one first connection point and is configured to be fastened to the engine in an articulated manner by at least one second connection point. The beam is made up of front, intermediate and rear plates. The rear plate is pressed against the front face. The front plate is disposed in front of the rear plate. The intermediate plate is disposed between the front plate and the rear plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Deforet, Rémi Lansiaux, Olivier Dubois, Anthony Mertes, Jacky Puech
  • Patent number: 11511865
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a system that includes an auxiliary power unit (APU), an APU throttle valve, and an environmental control system (ECS) bypass valve. The APU is configured to receive cabin discharge air from an aircraft cabin and receive ECS supply air from an air pressurization system (APS). The APU throttle valve is configured to control flow of cabin discharge air from the cabin to the APU. The ECS bypass valve configured to control flow of ECS supply air from the APS to the APU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Zug
  • Patent number: 11505301
    Abstract: An improved composite stiffener and methods and tooling used to form the same. The stiffener includes one or more base flanges, a composite rod extending in an axial direction, a bulb cap surrounding the composite rod, and an upright web extending from the one or more base flanges to the base cap. The upright web includes a non-linear profile in the axial direction providing the improved lateral stiffness. The method includes providing tooling including a first compression tool extending in the axial direction and including a first web portion having a non-linear profile, and a second compression tool extending in the axial direction and including a second web portion having a non-linear profile. Plies are placed within the tooling and compressed such that at least a portion of plurality of plies are compressed in the web forming portion thereby forming a web of the bulb stiffener having a non-linear profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Wadsworth
  • Patent number: 11504641
    Abstract: A lighter-than-air toy drone having at least one balloon that is inflated with a lift gas. The drone has a first conduit progresses along a first axis and a second conduit that progresses along a perpendicular second axis. At least one motorized propeller is provided that can selectively moving air through the first conduit and the second conduit to propel the drone. The motorized propeller can also generate a gyroscopic force that acts to rotate said at least one balloon for directional steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Brian Zima
  • Patent number: 11479351
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle may include a first wing structure. The aerial vehicle may further include a first propeller and a second propeller disposed along the first wing structure. The aerial vehicle may further include a second wing structure disposed to intersect the first wing structure to form a cross configuration. The aerial vehicle may further include a third propeller and a fourth propeller disposed along the second wing structure. In a hovering orientation of the aerial vehicle, respective propeller rotational axes of the first and second propellers may be angled off-vertical in respective planes which may be perpendicular to a transverse axis of the first wing structure, and respective propeller rotational axes of the third and fourth propellers may be angled off-vertical in respective planes which may be perpendicular to a transverse axis of the second wing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ST ENGINEERING AEROSPACE LTD.
    Inventor: Keen Ian Chan
  • Patent number: 11459132
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of constructing a landing pad using a rocket engine while in-flight. Among other benefits, this method can reduce ejecta that otherwise would occur during landing on an unimproved surface. While a spacecraft is hovering over an unimproved surface, the spacecraft can inject particles into its rocket engine, after which the particles absorb heat from the engine and are projected at ballistic speeds toward the unimproved surface to create a landing pad. After constructing the landing pad and waiting for the landing pad to cool, the spacecraft can land on the landing pad. Also described herein are landing pads created from such particles as they impact the surface in a disc splat mode into the unimproved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Masten Space Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Kuhns
  • Patent number: 11459087
    Abstract: A leading-edge device for an aircraft, the device comprising a flow body having a front skin, a back skin, a spar and an air inlet. The front skin is curved around a spanwise axis to form a bottom section and a top section. A leading edge of the flow body is arranged between the bottom section and the top section. The spar extends from the bottom section to the top section. The front skin, the back skin and the spar enclose at least one air chamber that is in fluid communication with the air inlet. An outlet portion is arranged at least directly adjacent to the bottom section of the front skin. The outlet portion comprises a plurality of air outlets for letting air from the at least one air chamber exhaust through the air outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Marcus Erban, Martin Fees, Stefan Bensmann
  • Patent number: 11459086
    Abstract: An aerodynamic laminar flow structure comprises a flow body and a leading edge designed to face a flow circulating in a flow direction, the leading edge being movable and comprising a retracted position in which the edge of each of two flow surfaces of the flow body is joined respectively to an edge of each of two flow surfaces of the leading edge along a parting line having at least one portion inclined at an angle strictly less than 90° relative to the flow direction. The inclination of at least one portion of the parting line makes it possible to reduce drag and thus to retain a laminar flow over a major part of the exterior surfaces of the aerodynamic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventor: Mathias Farouz-Fouquet
  • Patent number: 11453477
    Abstract: A wing leading edge device includes a flow body having a front side, which is delimited by a first spanwise edge and a second spanwise edge, a back side, which is delimited by the first spanwise edge and the second spanwise edge, a front skin arranged on the front side, a back skin arranged on the back side, and at least one stiffening arrangement between the front skin and the back skin in the region of the first spanwise edge, wherein the front skin extends continuously and free from interruptions between the first spanwise edge and the second spanwise edge and covers the at least one stiffening arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Bensmann, Marcus Erban, Martin Fees