Patents Examined by Ivy M. Shum
  • Patent number: 4405102
    Abstract: A wing structure for an aircraft designed for both STOL and supersonic flight conditions includes a biplanar wing arrangement in which the lower wing section is staggered behind the upper wing section and the lower wing section is designed for both translational and rotational displacements relative to the upper wing section. For short takeoff and landing capabilities, the lower wing section is rotated and translated relative to the upper wing section so that the leading edge of the lower wing section is adjacent to the trailing edge of the upper wing section. For high speed supersonic flight, the lower wing section is adjacent to the trailing edge of the upper wing section. For high speed supersonic flight, the lower wing section is rotated and translated relative to the upper wing section so that the wing sections are substantially parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4399964
    Abstract: The common problems of nose diving and rolling over of airborne craft are sought to be overcome according to this invention by providing a safety device consisting of collapsible cover atop the fuselage, the cover being adapted to be opened or closed by the pilot of the craft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Inventor: Vellaiappan V. Thangathirupathy
  • Patent number: 4398685
    Abstract: An improved aerial refueling system, suitable for operation under nighttime or other limited visibility conditions, is described, and comprises a tanker aircraft with refueling boom depending rearwardly thereof, a receiver aircraft having a fuel receptacle for interconnection with the boom, means disposed on the tanker for illuminating the receiver aircraft with infrared light during hookup and refueling, infrared sensitive viewing means and an optical imaging device on the tanker through which the boom operator may view the boom and receiver aircraft to guide the boom into position for connection with the receiver aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Harry L. Task, John F. Courtright, Louis V. Genco
  • Patent number: 4395966
    Abstract: A device for scrubbing algae and other marine growth from boat hulls comprising a one-piece belt of fibrous fluorocarbon abrasive material and a plurality of floats mounted along the belt undersurface. A number of the floats are of oval cross section and are mounted to pivot at right angles to the belt longitudinal dimension. As the belt is drawn in the direction of its length back and forth beneath a hull, the floats urge the belt into frictional scrubbing contact with the hull surface. The pivotal floats operate synergistically to combine buoyant forces and water drag forces to provide enhanced scrubbing contact with surface irregularities such as stabilization chimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Inventor: Kent L. Murphy