Patents Examined by Madison Elizabeth Dittner
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Patent number: 11840327Abstract: A Coanda system for controlling directions of an aircraft. The system includes a fluid passage defined in part by a casing wall having an inner surface facing the fluid passage. The fluid passage is configured to pass fluid from a first end inlet to a second end outlet. A fluid control element including a Coanda surface is disposed at the second end outlet. The fluid control element is moveable within the second end outlet to direct the fluid exiting the fluid passage between an upper gap and a lower gap, around the Coanda surface. A contour element is disposed on the inner surface of the casing wall upstream of the fluid control element, and further assists in directing the fluid to the open gap.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: David R. Williams, William C. Nicholson
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Patent number: 11827362Abstract: A deployable ottoman extension fills the gap between the ottoman and fully reclined oblique aircraft seat. The deployable ottoman extension can pivot out from the ottoman about a pivot point and/or slide out along a rail. Alternatively, the ottoman extension may be hinged to the ottoman to deploy by flipping down. The deployable ottoman extension may include deployable support features that extend to the aircraft floor when deployed.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.Inventor: Mark B. Dowty
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Patent number: 11780553Abstract: A latch assembly for a decompression panel in an aircraft includes a base and a swing arm hinged to the base and pivotable relative to the base about a hinge axis between a latched position and an unlatched position. A load pin fixed to the swing arm has a pin axis a fixed distance from the hinge axis. A spring secured to the base is positioned to exert a spring force against the swing arm when the swing arm pivots from the latched position to the unlatched position. A bracket securable to the decompression panel defines a slot retaining the load pin when the swing arm is in the latched position. The load pin is movable in the slot under relative motion of the bracket and the base with the swing arm in the latched position, and exits the slot when the swing arm pivots to the unlatched position.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Peter J. Zarkowskyj
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Patent number: 11766030Abstract: Techniques and systems for robotic aquaculture are described. In one embodiment, for example, a mariculture system may include an aquatic animal containment system operative to hold a population of aquatic animals, the aquatic animal containment system comprising an enclosed hull having a receptacle configured to receive a mechanical core, the mechanical core configured to store at least one sub-system to implement at least one function of mariculture system, and a position management system operative to maintain the enclosed hull at a depth below a surface of a body of water. Other embodiments are described.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2019Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Northeastern UniversityInventors: Joseph Ayers, Mark Patterson, Jerome F. Hajjar, Milica Stojanovic, Amy Mueller, Marc Meyer, Scott Sagalow
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Patent number: 11760245Abstract: An armrest assembly for a passenger seat may include an armrest and an attendant step assembly. The armrest may include a top side and a bottom side, and the attendant step assembly may be connected to the bottom of the armrest. The attendant step assembly is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bottom side of the armrest.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLCInventor: Baris Uygun
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Patent number: 11753167Abstract: An embodiment is a system including an external passenger seating unit comprising at least one seat; and a translation mechanism for translating the external passenger seating unit between a first position in which the external passenger seating unit is stowed in a payload bay of an aircraft and a second position in which the external passenger seating unit is deployed external to the aircraft for accommodating at least one passenger.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventor: Christopher Edward Foskey
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Patent number: 11745849Abstract: An aircraft portion includes a fuselage oriented in a longitudinal direction, an airfoil made up of at least one pair of wings arranged on either side of the fuselage in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and an airfoil-fuselage junction fairing at the interface between the airfoil and the fuselage. The junction fairing has, in a vertical plane, a lower profile and, in a horizontal plane, a horizontal profile at the junction of the outer surface of the junction fairing with the convex side of each wing. The horizontal profile and/or the lower profile successively has, in the longitudinal direction, a convex front segment, a concave intermediate segment, and a convex rear segment.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATIONInventors: Aurélien Merlet, Zdenek Johan, Ximun Loyatho, Gilbert Roge
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Patent number: 11731760Abstract: The aircraft (10) comprises a fuselage (11) and a rhombohedral wing structure (12) comprising front wings (13, 14) mounted on a front wing-root support (17) and rear wings (15, 16) mounted on a rear wing-root support (18). At least two wings (13, 14) support an engine (24, 26) provided with a propeller (25, 27). The rear end of the fuselage supports an engine (21) provided with a propeller (22). The aircraft comprises means (28 to 35) for tilting said engines, the rotary shaft of each of the propellers being tilted between an orientation parallel to the main axis of the fuselage and an orientation perpendicular to the main axis of the fuselage and to an axis extending through the ends of the front wings.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Inventor: François Varigas
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Patent number: 11724808Abstract: A system for restraining a cargo container in a cabin of an aircraft is disclosed. The system may include a guide rail, a rail and a plurality of rollers. The guide rail spans a length of a seat track and is releasably coupled to the seat track at one or more locations on a bottom surface of the guide rail. The rail is attached to a surface of the cargo container. The rail engages with the guide rail. The plurality of roller are coupled to the guide rail. The rollers engage a surface of the rail. The rail has two side surfaces that partially enclose two side surfaces of the rollers. When the cargo container deviates from a path defined by the guide rail, one of the side surfaces of the rollers abuts one of the side surfaces of the rail.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: INFLIGHT INVESTMENTS INC.Inventor: George R. Smallhorn
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Patent number: 11722123Abstract: Provided are various spacecraft propulsion systems, and associated methods of operation. A spacecraft comprises an ion propulsion system and an ion blocker suspended from the spacecraft via one or more electrically insulated tethers. The ion propulsion system is configured to generate a first propulsive force by emitting a charged ion beam in a direction with an ion velocity vector comprising an ion vector component that is perpendicular to a magnetic field of a planet, such as Earth. The magnetic field causes the ion beam to curve toward the ion blocker at a trajectory such that ions within the ion beam are blocked by the ion blocker to generate a second propulsive force on the ion blocker. The ion blocker blocks the ions by contacting or deflecting the ions. The ion blocker is positioned approximately twice the gyroradius of the ion beam trajectory.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Brian Tillotson, Bailey Keakulina Eaton
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Patent number: 11685530Abstract: A seat base includes a plurality of linear actuators each having a first end pivotally mounted to a base member and a second end pivotally mounted to a seat member. A controller is adapted for controlling an extension length of each of the plurality of linear actuators in a coordinated manner for adjusting a position of the seat member with six degrees-of-freedom and for damping vibration of the seat member. An active vibration mitigation method for reducing vibrations of an aircraft seat includes receiving vibration data from one or more accelerometers mounted to the aircraft seat and determining a vibration profile based on the vibration data. When vibration mitigation is warranted, control signals for damping vibration are determined and transmitted to a plurality of linear actuators adapted to support the aircraft seat.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Howard Fagan, Paul Stokholm Warren, Emily O'Kelley Pearson, Jeremy Joseph Kneuper, Phillip Anthony Kendrick
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Patent number: 11678643Abstract: The present application discloses an interactive intelligent pet feeding device which belongs to the technical field of pet feeding devices, including a feeding device body, the feeding device body including a pet food feeding control device and a shake detection module, the pet food feeding control device being configured to realize quantitative feeding of pet food and prevent jamming of the pet food, the shake detection module being configured to detect the motion state of the feeding device body, the shake detection module being connected to a control module to implement data communication, and the control module implementing data communication with a mobile terminal through a wireless transmission module.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2018Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: JIANGSU YOUMOTA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Jie Ji, Fengyuan Yang, Fan Liu, Hao Li, Chuandong Zhang, Huali Ding, Zhipeng Hu, Chen Chen
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Patent number: 11679881Abstract: An arrangement of individual seats for installation in an aeroplane cabin having a first set of two seats and a second set of two seats, each seat having an axis and being convertible between a sitting position and an extended position, said arrangement having a longitudinal axis. The arrangement also includes (i) a first central console having a first foot area and a second foot area open in two opposite directions relative to each other and respectively associated with the first seat of the first set and the first seat of the second set and (ii) a second central console having a first foot area and a second foot area open in two opposite directions relative to each other and respectively associated with the second seat of the first set and the second seat of the second set.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Safran SeatsInventors: Jeremy White, Nicholas Sandham, Richard Seale, Omar Chraibi
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Patent number: 11673668Abstract: A cargo handling system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the cargo handling system includes a first rail defining an upward facing surface and a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction; a platform having a first recessed channel configured to engage an upper portion of the first rail to prevent a movement of the platform in the lateral direction and configured for rolling engagement with the first rail; and a first drive assembly disposed within the platform and configured to propel the platform along the first rail in the longitudinal direction, the first drive assembly having a first drive roller and a first motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventors: Ryan Pfau, Wallace Harold Larson
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Patent number: 11667408Abstract: A metal encapsulated ceramic tile thermal insulation system for rockets and associated methods is disclosed. A representative system includes a launch vehicle having a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end and includes a heat shield positioned at the second end. The heat shield includes a plurality of thermal protection apparatuses, where individual of the thermal protection apparatuses include ceramic tiles encapsulated by inner and outer metal layers, which are positioned on opposing top and bottom surfaces of the ceramic tiles. The plurality of thermal protection apparatuses includes a plurality of pins positioned within corresponding holes drilled through the ceramic tiles and are secured to the metal layers. The outer metal layer can protect the ceramic tile from tool strikes and debris and can also prevent water from reaching and being absorbed by the ceramic tile.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Blue Origin, LLCInventors: John Paul Brendel, Christopher Patrick Hupf, Adam Keith Norman
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Patent number: 11667388Abstract: A method of providing ice protection on a surface of an aircraft using exhaust air from a laminar flow control compressor. An aircraft structure, for example a wing, includes a skin. The skin has an external surface, on an outer face of the skin. The skin has an internal surface, located opposite the external surface on an inner face of the skin. The aircraft structure includes a laminar flow control system including a compressor. The aircraft structure is so arranged that the exhaust air from the compressor is directed onto the internal surface of the skin of the aircraft structure, for example thus providing hot exhaust air which function as an ice protection system (whether by de-icing or anti-icing).Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Airbus Operations LimitedInventor: Henry Edwards
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Patent number: 11661181Abstract: An aircraft having a fuselage having a pressurized upper space above the floor and a lower space beneath the floor, a wing, a hollow support stay fixed between the lower space level of the fuselage and the wing, an electric motor propeller propulsion system fixed beneath each wing, the output shaft of the motor driving a propeller in rotation, a production system having a fuel cell producing electrical energy supplying the electric motor with electricity via electrical conductors, a hydrogen reservoir fixed in the lower space, and a hydrogen inlet pipe feeding hydrogen from a hydrogen reservoir to the production system, wherein the hydrogen inlet pipe extends through the interior of the support stay. The electrical conductors or the hydrogen pipes pass through the stays on the outside of the fuselage and therefore at a distance from the passengers and the electronic systems of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SASInventors: Olivier Ciet, Pascal Pome, Alistair Forbes
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Patent number: 11643200Abstract: An air mobility craft is provided. The air mobility craft includes a fuselage that has a boarding space and a boarding gate and a plurality of wings disposed on the fuselage. A plurality of rotors are disposed on the wings. A first number of the plurality of rotors are tilting rotors configured to tilt upward or downward for lifting or cruising of the fuselage and a remaining number of the rotors are lifting rotors.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Keun Seok Lee, Hyun Woo Jun, Se Hwan Park, Jae Hyung Kim
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Patent number: 11643209Abstract: An aircraft loading system is configured to tether equipment within an aircraft. The loading system has a wedge shaped bracket that has a front plate joined to two side plates and a bottom plate. A middle plate is parallel to the front plate and joins the two side plates. A front opening is arranged through the bottom plate between the front plate and the middle plate. The front opening is configured to accommodate an attachment ring. The attachment ring is used to tether the equipment within the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventor: Brett Kiser
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Patent number: 11635773Abstract: We describe an aircraft design, which is capable of vertical takeoff and landing and also high-speed cruise on a fixed wing. The aircraft comprises a fuselage with a probe-deployment mechanism, which deploys a sample-gathering probe, located at a front end of the fuselage. A main wing is coupled to a middle section of the fuselage, wherein a right motor and right propeller are coupled to a right side of the main wing, and a left motor and left propeller are coupled to a left side of the main wing. The right and left propellers are angled with respect to the fuselage enabling the aircraft to pitch up to a vertical-takeoff mode and pitch down a horizontal-cruising mode. A pitch motor and pitch propeller are located at the rear end of the fuselage, wherein the pitch propeller is angled to provide substantially vertical thrust to control a pitch of the fuselage.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2018Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Ilya M. Anishchenko, Stephen K. Robinson