Patents Examined by Katherine June Bolek
  • Patent number: 11952112
    Abstract: A wing for an aircraft is disclosed having a main wing, a high lift body, and a connection assembly movably connecting the high lift body to the main wing, such that the high lift body can be moved between a retracted position and at least one extended position. The connection assembly includes a drive system having a first drive unit and a second drive unit, wherein the first drive unit has a first input section coupled to a drive shaft, a first gear unit and a first output section drivingly coupled to the high lift body. The second drive unit has a second input section coupled to the drive shaft, a second gear unit, and a second output section drivingly coupled to the high lift body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Schreck, Bernhard Schlipf
  • Patent number: 11945570
    Abstract: A piloting device for piloting an aircraft comprises a first and a second control stick mounted movable on a support. The device comprises a priority selection module configured to switch the first and second control sticks between a piloting configuration and a non-piloting configuration. The device further comprises a detection system for detecting the positions of the first and second control sticks; a first and second actuation system configured to generate respective first and second forces on the respective first and second control stick; and a control module configured to control the actuation system of the control stick which is in a non-piloting configuration such that the positions of the control sticks are identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventors: Fabien Cockenpot, François Pineau, Jérôme Le Borloch
  • Patent number: 11946727
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a system and a method for launching a projectile towards a target, wherein the system comprises a control circuitry, a booster engine, and one or more thrusters adapted to be connected to the projectile and capable of being spun during launch around a longitudinal axis of the projectile, the control circuitry being operatively connected to the one or more thrusters; wherein responsive to ignition of propellant stowed in a combustion chamber of the booster engine, the booster engine causes the projectile to launch from its cell; following launch of the projectile, cause the projectile to turn at a certain rate and a certain azimuth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Jacob Rovinsky
  • Patent number: 11932388
    Abstract: A leading edge structure (1) for a flow control system of an aircraft (101) including a double-walled leading edge panel (3) with a first side portion (11) extending to a first attachment end (17), a second side portion (13) extending to a second attachment end (19), an inner wall element (21) facing a plenum (7), an outer wall element (23) facing ambient flow (25), and a core assembly (97). The outer wall element (23) includes micro pores (31) and the inner wall element (21) includes openings (33) which form a fluid connection from ambient flow, through the core assembly (97) and to the plenum (7). The thickness of the outer wall element is reduced due to the first attachment end (17) and/or at the second attachment end (19) attached to the inner wall element (21) by both bonding and fasteners (85, 87, 89, 91).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ivano Bertolini, Stefano Giaquinto, Sebastian Welz, Nina Düren, Jeff Wee Hong Yap, Michael Höft, Nicole Jordan, Frank Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11905022
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a helicopter flight support for use in case of emergencies. The helicopter flight support comprises a motor which causes a threaded shaft to turn which is coupled to an underside of the helicopter. This causes outer supports and inner supports to be deployed until they reach a wing-like configuration. The interior of the wing comprises a plurality of support cables for tensioning the wing. The helicopter flight support further comprises upper and lower support cables mounted to the tips of the wing to provide horizontal stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Schain Lolatchy
  • Patent number: 11897602
    Abstract: A support structure to mount landing gear to a wing spar of an aircraft. The support structure includes a trunnion assembly having a first trunnion and a second trunnion that are connected together with the first trunnion positioned on a first side of the wing spar and a second trunnion positioned on an opposing second side of the wing spar. The trunnion assembly is configured to support a first section of the landing gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Muhammad Mustajab Malik, Waeil M. Ashmawi
  • Patent number: 11884387
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly connectable to a rotor hub configured to rotate about a center axis includes a torsional pitch member coupled to the rotor hub, a torque tube coupled to the torsional pitch member, wherein the torsional pitch member extends away from the center axis through a portion of the torque tube, a blade coupled to the torque tube, and a pitch control member coupled to the torque tube and configured to control a pitch angle of the blade, wherein the torsional pitch member includes a first curvilinear channel and a second curvilinear channel each having a front side and a back side, wherein the first curvilinear channel and the second curvilinear channel are disposed adjacent to each other, such that the back side of the first curvilinear channel faces the back side of the second curvilinear channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pedro L Cabrera, David H. Hunter, David N. Schmaling
  • Patent number: 11866192
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for reconnectably coupling an aft vehicle to a forward vehicle in flight. A docking structure is affixed to the forward vehicle. A coupler has a line connection portion, a probe receiver port, and a plurality of aerodynamic controls. The probe receiving port receives and releasably retains a probe portion of the aft vehicle. A tow line has a proximal end, a distal end, and a line extension length. The proximal end may be attached to the tow actuation element. The distal end is connectable to the coupler. The tow actuation element is configured to adjust the line extension length. The aerodynamic control elements are configured to adjust lateral and vertical positioning of the coupler with respect to the probe portion when the system is in flight. Movement of the coupler is restrained with respect to the docking structure when docked thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sky Launch Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald D. Budd, Thomas Milton McNicholas, Angela Monheim
  • Patent number: 11858658
    Abstract: Examples include an apparatus for restraining an aircraft during engine acceleration, the apparatus including: a collet shaft that is configured to attach to the aircraft, a rod that is configured to attach to a runway, and a release mechanism that is configured to restrain the collet shaft to the release mechanism and configured to release the collet shaft in response to the release mechanism receiving an electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Tim Bower, Donald R. Burns, Mellyssa Mulero, John P. Schnieders, Roger W. Bedell
  • Patent number: 11834149
    Abstract: An aircraft may include a body structure, a tail section articulatably coupled to the body structure and including a tail structure, a propulsion system coupled to the tail structure and configured to produce thrust for the aircraft, and a stabilizer coupled to the tail structure, and an actuation system configured to articulate the tail section relative to the body structure to change a thrust vector of the propulsion system and an angle of attack of the stabilizer during flight. The actuation system may be configured to articulate the tail section about at least two perpendicular rotational axes. The propulsion system may be configured to produce the thrust in a first thrust direction in a first flight mode (e.g., a rotor-borne flight mode) and to produce the thrust in a second thrust direction in a second flight mode (e.g., a wing-borne flight mode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Baxter Aerospace LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Baxter, Michael Baxter
  • Patent number: 11820524
    Abstract: A tow cable system and method of use wherein, in the context of towed flight of a glider behind an aircraft, positive load or tension of the cable therebetween is achieved through one or more of cable design and material selection, cable pre-tensioning, in-flight cable tensioning, and/or load dampening device(s), and the related interplay of such various components or sub-systems of the overall tow cable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Fenix Space, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Gallo
  • Patent number: 11807401
    Abstract: An emergency deorbit device provided in a satellite flying on an orbit around the earth includes a propulsion module generating thrust for separating the satellite from the orbit, a reception unit receiving a repeat signal repeatedly sent at an interval from an sending unit of a satellite bus in the satellite, a detection unit outputting a detection signal when the reception unit does not receive the repeat signal in a set time period or when the reception unit receives a deorbit command from the sending unit or from an outside of the satellite, an activation device performing, in response to the detection signal, processing for activating the propulsion module, and a power supply device provided separately from a power supply device of the satellite bus and supplying electric power to the reception unit, the detection unit, and the activation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: IHI AEROSPACE CO., LTD., PATCHEDCONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Kengo Yamamoto, Junichiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11807353
    Abstract: A system and method for sending signals at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. A window system in a hypersonic aircraft is provided. The window system comprises a transmissive window in an aeroshell of the hypersonic aircraft, a thermal seal, a sensor, and a sensor housing assembly enclosing the sensor. The transmissive window comprises a facesheet and insulating material adjacent to the facesheet. The thermal seal surrounds a perimeter of the facesheet and seals the facesheet to the aeroshell. The window system is radio-frequency transparent at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. The window system is configured to operate at an insertion loss of less than one decibel at the hypersonic speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael John Best, Sangvavann Heng, Tai Anh Lam, Peter Shaw, Jonathan David Embler
  • Patent number: 11794910
    Abstract: An emergency parachute system for rescue of persons or of manned or unmanned aerial vehicles includes a storage unit, which contains at least one cavity with an opening. The emergency parachute system further includes at least two parachutes, each of which contains a canopy, suspension lines, and a riser. The canopies of the at least two parachutes are folded separately and arranged in the cavity or cavities of the storage unit ejectably. The centers of the canopies are mutually interconnected by means of connection cords on the top side in order to stablize the system during flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Milan Babovka
  • Patent number: 11787531
    Abstract: A modular load carrying apparatus for a rotary wing aircraft and to a rotary wing aircraft with such a modular load carrying apparatus. The modular load carrying apparatus may include a tube, first and second caps at first and second axial ends of the tube, a carrier star with docking devices that are adapted for rotatably receiving a seat or a carrier beam that may be folded against the tube in a stowed position or unfolded from the tube in a deployed position. A tension rod may be spanned between the first and second caps and transfer tension loads from the carrier star via the second cap towards the first cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Dominik Vogel, Alexandru Dinca
  • Patent number: 11787524
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and a pair of wings. Each wing is coupled to the fuselage at a wing-fuselage joint, and is supported by a strut coupled to the fuselage at a strut-fuselage joint and coupled to the wing at a strut-wing joint. The strut-fuselage joint is located below and at least partially aft of the wing-fuselage joint. The wing generates a lifting force when air passes over the wing. The lifting force induces a vertical moment about the wing-fuselage joint due to the location of the strut-fuselage joint below and at least partially aft of the wing-fuselage joint. The wing and/or the strut has a structural arrangement configured to counteract the vertical moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Grip, Neal A. Harrison
  • Patent number: 11772780
    Abstract: An airfoil structure for an aircraft includes a spanwise-extending load-carrying member, a leading-edge structure, a trailing-edge structure, an upper cover, and a lower cover. The load-carrying member is configured to react more than half of all flight loads experienced by the airfoil structure during flight and is configured to have selected stiffness properties selected such that the airfoil structure bends and twists in a predefined manner in response to applied flight loads. The leading-edge structure is configured to form a leading-edge part of an aerodynamic surface of the airfoil structure. The trailing-edge structure is configured to form a trailing edge part of the aerodynamic surface. The upper cover is configured to form an upper part of the aerodynamic surface. The lower cover is configured to form a lower part of the aerodynamic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Nicolae Lucian Iorga
  • Patent number: 11768062
    Abstract: A guided missile with a sleeve-shaped missile body, at least one engine for producing forward thrust, at least one flight direction control device, and at least one aerodynamic extension. The least one flight direction control device is rotatably mounted to a top area and/or a bottom area of the sleeve-shaped missile body for adjusting a flight direction of the guided missile. The least one aerodynamic extension comprises an aerodynamic cross-sectional shape that is arranged on a left-hand side and/or a right-hand side of the sleeve-shaped missile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Moritz Buesing
  • Patent number: 11767096
    Abstract: A system for initiating a canopy release signal for a canopy of an aircraft includes a first striker secured to the canopy, and a first initiator assembly secured to a fuselage of the aircraft. The first initiator assembly has a protrusion. The first striker is configured to be rotated against the protrusion of the first initiator assembly. The canopy release signal is output in response to the first striker rotating against the protrusion of the first initiator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Matthew W. Walter
  • Patent number: 11753155
    Abstract: Aircraft propulsion and torque mitigation technologies for aircraft are described. In embodiments, the disclosed technologies enable the provision of rotational torque for rotating the rotor blades of a vertical lift aircraft, while mitigating or even eliminating the need for counter torque methods and apparatuses such as tail rotors and counter rotating blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: THRUST DRIVE LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Kekoa Peoples