Patents Examined by Joseph W. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 12202611
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle safety apparatus includes a safety mechanism, a drive mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a control mechanism. The safety mechanism is used for securing safety of at least one of an aerial vehicle and an object outside the aerial vehicle. The drive mechanism includes at least one drive unit serving as a drive source of the safety mechanism. The ejection mechanism ejects the drive mechanism together with the safety mechanism. The control mechanism controls operations of the drive mechanism for the drive mechanism to drive the safety mechanism after the ejection mechanism starts ejection of the safety mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Yagihashi, Hiroshi Nakamura, Koichi Sasamoto, Dairi Kubo, Takahiro Ooi
  • Patent number: 12202601
    Abstract: There is provided an extendable compression chain system for extending a structure. The system includes a track assembly, a curved guide assembly, an extendable compression chain assembly, an actuation mechanism, and a mechanical power apparatus. The extendable compression chain assembly is configured to travel along the track assembly and to follow the curved portion of the track assembly, to move from a retracted position to an extended position, to extend the structure coupled to the extendable compression chain assembly. The extendable compression chain assembly includes a compression chain structure having a first end, a second end, and modules. The modules are movable between a rigid position and a collapsed position, as the compression chain structure follows the curved portion of the track assembly, and wraps around the curved guide assembly. The extendable compression chain assembly includes an actuation end fitting and a structure interface end fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Grip, John J. Brown
  • Patent number: 12187453
    Abstract: An aircraft (41) including a fuselage (14) having a skin (15) and extending along a longitudinal axis (39) from a front end to a rear end (17) of the aircraft, and an engine (30) including an air intake (31) forming an opening in the skin (15) and an exhaust (32) forming another opening in the skin (15). The engine is in a rear fuselage section, in which the exhaust (32) is situated ahead of the air intake (31) along the longitudinal direction (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS, S.L.U.
    Inventors: Marcos Javier Chiabrando, Pio Fernandez-Lopez, Alvaro Joaquin Rodriguez Hidalgo
  • Patent number: 12187415
    Abstract: An amphibious aircraft has a tricycle landing gear that is fixed. Each member of the landing gear is protected in the forward direction by a hydrodynamic protector, or vane, or shoe, such as may tend to create lift when brought into engagement with water, as during landing. The landing gear protector vanes may be mounted to move with extension and retraction of the landing gear. The landing gear wheels protrude to extend partially downwardly proud of the sole of the shoe. The shoes may include sacrificial wear members for ground engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: E.B. ROBINSON LTD.
    Inventor: Eric Brian Robinson
  • Patent number: 12172777
    Abstract: Resilient unmanned aerial vehicle landing platforms are disclosed herein. An example device includes a base plate having protuberances that are arranged into rows of concentric rings, each of the protuberances being a conical member that extends orthogonally from the base plate, wherein each of the protuberances is resilient and are adapted to arrest and protect the drone during landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Carthew, Nelson Alexander Brock, John Galin, Siddharthan Selvasekar
  • Patent number: 12168509
    Abstract: A wing structure for a vehicle includes a plurality of multi-connecting-rod structures, the multi-connecting-rod structures are arranged along the main body of the vehicle, each of the multi-connecting-rod structure being arranged in a direction extending from a main body of the vehicle to a wingtip, each of the multi-connecting-rod structures comprising a plurality of connecting rods, and the connecting rods that are adjacent to each other being connected by a motor, a plurality of groups of ribs are sleeved onto each of the multi-connecting-rod structures, and each group of the ribs comprises a plurality of rib units, wherein in the same group of the ribs, adjacent rib units are connected by a ball hinge. The present technical solution can perform adjustment on a complex flow field or environment, the motion speed and the motion efficiency are significantly improved, and high maneuvering actions can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: WESTLAKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wei Li, Liping Zhang, Bing Luo, Zhenhua Wang, Weicheng Cui
  • Patent number: 12162620
    Abstract: Hybrid-electric aircraft and a series hybrid powertrain configured to power the aircraft for a medium-haul flight. The series hybrid power train includes a plurality of energy storage units, at least one range extending generator, and a plurality of electric propulsors, each coupled to a distribution bus. The electric propulsors can produce a maximum thrust of at least 15 MW. During a cruise regime, the hybrid-electric aircraft can have an airspeed of at least 0.7 Mach at an altitude of less than 32000 feet, and the plurality of electric propulsors can have a fan pressure ratio of between 1.15 and 1.19. The hybrid-electric aircraft can have a degree of hybridization of at least 25% for the medium-haul flight and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) well-to-wake greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions less than 0.25 lbs/Available Seat Mile (ASM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Andrew Kumar, Burton Matthew Knapp
  • Patent number: 12157576
    Abstract: A shock load attenuation device is provided. The shock load attenuation device includes a crushable material; a first compartment in the crushable material surrounding a first line; and a second compartment in the crushable material surrounding a second line. In response to the first line being acted upon by a first force and the second line being acted upon by a second force, a first loop in the first line is configured to slide along the second line and a first loop in the second line is configured to slide along the first line, crushing the crushable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Thistlethwaite, Andrew Shawver
  • Patent number: 12151813
    Abstract: A system and method for carrying an aeronautical or launch vehicle to altitude for release to flight may involve a multiplicity of mounting elements affixed to a carrier aircraft in distributed fashion along a mounting axis. Each mounting element may include a cradle and a retention strap. Each retention strap may be suspendedly attached to a respective cradle, and actuatable from a retention configuration to a release configuration. The retention configuration allows the retention straps to clampingly secure the vehicle to the respective cradles. The actuation of the retention straps from the retention configuration to the release configuration may disable the clamping securement and thereby release the vehicle to drop away from the cradles. For one or more of the retention straps, the actuation may be by way of detonating at least one corresponding pyrotechnic fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Sky Launch Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald D. Budd, Charles E. Rogers
  • Patent number: 12151829
    Abstract: An aircraft landing platform for a passenger carrying aircraft has a landing module that is moveable between a landing position and a gate position, the landing module has a turntable that orients a door of aircraft to facilitate disembarkment of the passenger(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Overair, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Smith, Peter Lyons
  • Patent number: 12145738
    Abstract: A system is provided for an aircraft. This aircraft system includes a propulsion system, and the propulsion system includes a first thermal engine, a second thermal engine and a first electric machine. The propulsion system is configured to operate the first thermal engine and the second thermal engine, without operating the first electric machine, during a first mode of operation to provide aircraft thrust. The propulsion system is configured to operate the first electric machine and the second thermal engine, without operating the first thermal engine, during a second mode of operation to provide the aircraft thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Pierre Bertrand, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 12122541
    Abstract: An unmanned flying device including a body; a first blade and at least a second blade; a coupling assembly for coupling the first blade and the at least second blade to the body, wherein the coupling assembly urges the collapsing of the first blade and the at least second blade towards the body; and wherein both the first blade and the at least second blade are rotatable about the body, and wherein the first blade and the at least second blade are deployable away from the body via rotation of the first and the at least second blades about the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Ascent Aerosystems Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Meringer, Nathaniel R. Meringer
  • Patent number: 12116144
    Abstract: An anchor for an aircraft. The anchor comprises a jack comprising a housing and a head that is able to move in translation in relation to the housing along an elevation axis, the head having three degrees of rotational freedom respectively about a longitudinal axis as well as a transverse axis and the elevation axis, the anchor comprising a member for taking up forces surrounding the jack and provided with a fastening suitable for being secured to the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Christophe Gaillard, Joel Durantet, Nicolas Raspic
  • Patent number: 12110846
    Abstract: An aircraft with an integrated boundary layer ingesting propulsion having a mechanically-distributed propulsion system. The mechanically-distributed propulsion system may include an engine to generate a mechanical drive power, a drive shaft, a direction-reversing transmission, and a propulsor fan. The drive shaft may be operatively coupled to the engine to receive the mechanical drive power. The direction-reversing transmission may have a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft, the first rotating shaft operatively coupled to the drive shaft to receive the mechanical drive power, which is configured to redirect the mechanical drive power received at the first rotating shaft from a first direction to face a second direction at the second rotating shaft. The propulsor fan may be coupled to the second rotating shaft to convert the mechanical drive power into thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary Richard Papas, Neil Titchener, Brian M. Yutko, Clint Church, Jian Long Tian
  • Patent number: 12110136
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a multiple payload set for a launch vehicle and a stiff and rigid ground support equipment. The multiple payload set comprising a plurality of payloads, wherein the plurality of payloads are interconnected via a non-self-supported connection structure before assembly of the multiple payload set to a dispenser body. Each payload comprises first attachment means attached to the non-self-supported connection structure, wherein the non-self-supported connection structure comprises second attachment means attached to the ground support equipment, for attachment of the multiple payload set to the dispenser body. The ground support equipment is attached to the multiple payload set via the second attachment means to reinforce and secure the multiple payload set to enable transport and maneuverability of the multiple payload set without jeopardizing the non-self-supported connection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: BEYOND GRAVITY SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Magnus Thenander, Johan Öhlin
  • Patent number: 12097950
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is disclosed including a main leg, a foldable stay and a lock link configured to hold the foldable stay in position when the landing gear is extended. The foldable stay includes a first stay member and a second stay member, and the landing gear is configured such that the second stay member rotates in a first direction from a first position to a second position as the landing gear moves from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration. An end stop is arranged such that in the event the lock link fails, the second stay member rotates in the first direction from the second position to a third position in which the stay contacts the end stop thereby preventing further movement of the second stay member in the first direction and wherein the foldable stay goes over centre as the second stay member moves from the first position to the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Robert Venn, Andy Mounty, Matthew Marples, Laurent Tizac
  • Patent number: 12084183
    Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft that extends along an associated roll axis between a nose region and an aft region and that comprises a fuselage with a front section and a rear section, wherein the rear section extends between the front section and the aft region, the rotary wing aircraft comprising: a propeller that is rotatably mounted at the rear section in the aft region, a main rotor that is rotatably mounted at the front section, and a source of asymmetry that is connected to the front section such that the front section comprises at least in sections an asymmetrical cross-sectional profile in direction of the associated roll axis, wherein the source of asymmetry is configured to generate sideward thrust for main rotor anti-torque from main rotor downwash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Rupert Pfaller, Tobias Ries
  • Patent number: 12065233
    Abstract: A method for operating a cargo door of an aircraft includes opening the cargo door inwardly in relation to an opening by pivoting the cargo door to an open position adjacent a ceiling of a cargo space. The cargo door is supported by a door frame during opening of the cargo door. The method further includes moving the cargo door in relation to the door frame to a position wherein the opening is substantially free from the cargo door. The cargo door is supported by a support frame, moveable in relation to the door frame, during this movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: SCANDINAVIAN CARGOLOADING TECHNOLOGIES AB
    Inventors: Anders Wallenås, Hans Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 12024291
    Abstract: A component system for an aircraft, having at least one furnishing component, a plurality of component rails, a plurality of guide elements engageable with and movable relative to the component rails, a plurality of retaining elements connected to the guide elements and configured to be coupled to a hull structure of the aircraft or the at least one furnishing component, and a plurality of locking units arranged on the component rails and/or on the guide elements and configured to lock the guide elements to a particular rail. At least two component rails are arranged on the at least one furnishing component or the hull structure at a distance and parallel to each other such that the furnishing component is retractable via the component rails on guide elements or component rails that are spatially fixed in the aircraft and can be locked in a retracted position by the locking units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Hegenbart, Peter Linde, Hermann Benthien, Alexander Horn, Florian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 12017753
    Abstract: An active wing extension includes a body portion substantially parallel to a wing of an aircraft, as if it were an extension of the wing. The body portion is attachable to an aircraft wing and includes multiple controllable airflow modification devices coupled thereto. By virtue of having multiple controllable airflow modification devices, the wing extension is capable of adjusting control surfaces of the multiple controllable airflow modification devices in response to in-flight conditions, to reduce wing loads, improve wing fatigue characteristics, increase range, reduce torsional loads, alleviate flutter, and/or increase efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Tamarack Aerospace Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas R. Guida