Patents Examined by Jamie S Stehle
  • Patent number: 8070106
    Abstract: An aircraft wing including: a main wing element; and a flap connected to the main wing element by a deployment system which can deploy the flap from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the wing has a trailing edge which is swept, at least in the region of the flap, when the flap is in its retracted position, and wherein the deployment system is arranged such that the flap reduces the degree of sweep of the trailing edge of the wing in the region of the flap as it is deployed. The deployment system includes a first actuator configured to rotate the flap horizontally so as to change the sweep angle of the flap and a second actuator configured to rotate the flap vertically so as to increase the camber of the wing, and the first and second actuators are operable independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Thomas H Engelbrecht, Robert I Thompson, Nicholas J White
  • Patent number: 8070101
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a locking system (20) for a movable lateral cowl (8) of a turbine engine nacelle intended to be connected to a pylon (4) of an aircraft, comprising, on the one hand, a clevis (21) intended to be connected to the pylon, and, on the other hand, a rod (22) intended to be mounted on the movable cowl and capable of engaging with the clevis when the movable cowl is in the closed position, characterized in that the rod is mounted so that it can move translationally along a substantially longitudinal axis of the movable cowl so as to form a slider which can shift between a locked position, in which it is engaged with the clevis and provides a structural connection between the pylon and the movable cowl, and an unlocked position, in which it is disengaged from the clevis and allows the movable cowl to be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Aircelle
    Inventors: Guy Bernard Vauchel, Georges Alain Bouret
  • Patent number: 8070089
    Abstract: A hybrid helicopter (1) includes a central fuselage (2) defining a front end (3) and a rear end (4), the hybrid helicopter (1) having a main lift rotor (10), an additional lift surface (20), a mechanical interconnection system (40), and at least one turbine engine (61, 62) for continuously driving the main rotor (10) in rotation. Furthermore, the main rotor (10) is mechanically connected to the mechanical interconnection system (40) by rotary rotor mast (12), and the additional lift surface (20) is arranged at the rear of the hybrid helicopter (1) between the rotor mast (12) and the rear end (4) of the fuselage (2), each end zone (21?, 22?) of the wings (21, 22) of the additional lift surface (20) being provided with a vertical element (23, 24) fitted with a rudder (23?, 24?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques Ferrier
  • Patent number: 8070091
    Abstract: Electromechanical actuation systems and methods are provided. The electromechanical actuation system includes first, second, and third linear actuators having respective first, second, and third ranges of motion and an output member coupled to the first, second, and third linear actuators such that a position of a selected portion of the output member is based on actuation of the first, second, and third linear actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne M. Benson, Casey Hanlon, Dean Wilkens
  • Patent number: 8058597
    Abstract: A deployment system is provided for utilization onboard an airborne object including a deployable element. In one embodiment, the deployment system includes a circumferential restraint and a release mechanism mounted to the airborne object. The circumferential restraint is disposed at least partially around the airborne object in a constraining position wherein the circumferential restraint prevents deployment of the deployable element. The release mechanism normally resides in a first position in which the release mechanism maintains the circumferential restraint in the constraining position. The release mechanism is movable to a second position to release the circumferential restraint from the constraining position and permit deployment of the deployable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Chris E. Geswender
  • Patent number: 8052093
    Abstract: The gyrodyne includes an inertial wheel mounted, via a wheel support, on the moving part or rotor of a cardan assembly. The cardan assembly is provided with a stator and the rotor is rotatable with respect to the stator about a first axis of rotation, it being possible for the spinner of the inertial wheel to be set in rotation about a second axis of rotation not aligned with the first axis of rotation. The stator of the cardan is mounted on a block and fixed to this block via an arrangement of vibration attenuators or insulators. The mechanism for setting the rotor in rotation is at least partially housed in the interior volume of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Astrium SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Faucheux, Stéphane Chupin
  • Patent number: 8052081
    Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft apparatus includes a body and a rotor pair connected to the body by an arm. The rotor pair has an upper rotor driven by an upper motor and rotating about an upper rotor axis and a lower rotor driven by a lower motor and rotating about a lower rotor axis. The upper and lower rotor axes are tilted with respect to each other. Tilting the axes away from the arm increases the distance from the rotor blades to the arm, and decreases the risk of the blades of the rotor contacting the arm. In an aircraft with a plurality of arms extending from the body, and a rotor assembly connected to each arm, the arms can be pivoted from a flying position, where the arms extend laterally outward to a folded position where the arms are positioned substantially parallel and adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Draganfly Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Orville Olm, Greg Wood, Zenon Dragan
  • Patent number: 8047470
    Abstract: According to the invention, a scaled articulation device is mounted on at least one of the branches of a hot-air circulation circuit in the form of a bracket so as to provide a bracket with capabilities of deforming about the articulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Alain Porte
  • Patent number: 8033508
    Abstract: In a space shuttle with a device for docking to a satellite, especially a communication or navigation satellite, at least two spreading elements in the form of lever spreaders are pivotally disposed at a retaining part of the docking device, which is concentric to a linkage. The lever spreaders have their proximal ends—relative to the space shuttle—provided with inward projections projecting inward towards the linkage, which inward projections engage in a recess formed in the linkage when the lever spreaders, spread apart to a defined opening angle by the cone of the linkage. When the linkage is retracted further, a pressure spring is compressed. At the same time, the lever spreader caught in the recess are retracted so far that the ends of the lever spreaders, spread apart in a defined manner, positively abut the inner wall of the nozzle neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Baumann, Bertram Willberg