Patents Examined by Nicholas A McFall
  • Adaptive wing for an aircraft
    Patent number: 9469391
    Abstract: An adaptive wing for an aircraft includes a first wing portion, a second wing portion, and a third wing portion. The second wing portion is telescopically attached to the first wing portion to selectively change an overall length of the wing based on real-time flight conditions or airport space constraints. The third wing portion is rotate-ably attached to one end of the second wing portion, and a dihedral angle between the second wing portion and the third wing portion is changeable based on real-time flight conditions or airport space constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jian Dong
  • Clip attachment system connecting aircraft structures to each other
    Patent number: 9463535
    Abstract: In one advantageous embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus and method for supporting a load is provided. The apparatus comprises a structure having an inner surface with a shape configured to substantially conform to an outer surface of a stringer. A number of pins extends from the inner surface of the structure such that the number of pins are configured to engage holes in the outer surface of the stringer when the structure is placed over the outer surface of the stringer. The pins support the structure with respect to the stringer when a load is applied to the structure. A number of members extends from the outer surface of the structure such that the number of members is configured to connect to a part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Eduard Oyzerskiy
  • Direction controlled service apparatus
    Patent number: 9457907
    Abstract: A direction controlled service apparatus may include a mounting assembly, a housing assembly configured to operably connect to the mounting assembly, the housing assembly being movable with respect to the mounting assembly, and a plurality of actuators connected between the mounting assembly and the housing assembly, each actuator of the plurality of actuators being configured to contract upon a current being applied to the actuator to rotate the housing assembly with respect to the mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Douglas A. Brown, Kwun-Wing W. Cheung
  • Resistive-inductive de-icing of aircraft flight control surfaces
    Patent number: 9457909
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a de-icing system for an aircraft. The de-icing system includes a plurality of resistive-inductive heating elements inserted adjacent to a flight control surface and a controller configured to provide a supply current to each of the plurality of resistive-inductive heating elements. Each of the plurality of resistive-inductive heating elements produces an electromagnetic field normal to the flight control surfaces and resistive heat in response to the supply current. The electromagnetic field induces an eddy current in the flight control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lubomir A. Ribarov, Jacek F. Gieras
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle
    Patent number: 9452820
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle 2 comprising: a fuselage 4; and a wing 6 comprising a central wing section 12 pivotably mounted to the fuselage 4 and a pair of outer wing sections 14a, 14b pivotably mounted to the central wing section 12; wherein the wing 6 has a folded configuration in which the central wing section 12 and the outer wing sections 14a, 14b are stacked on top of one another and are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the fuselage 4; and a deployed configuration in which the central wing section 12 is substantially perpendicular to the fuselage 4 and the outer wing sections 14a, 14b extend from the central wing section 12 away from the fuselage 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Wirth Research Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas J. P. Wirth
  • System and apparatus for deploying a satellite
    Patent number: 9434486
    Abstract: A frictionless satellite constraint system is provided. The constraint system includes at least one clamp bar configured to restrain a satellite within the constraint system in an axial direction. The constraint system also includes a plurality of pins configured to restrain the satellite within the constraint system in a lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Luis H. Santos, John D. Hudeck
  • Multi-stage drive mechanisms
    Patent number: 9429402
    Abstract: A multi-stage drive includes a linear actuator configured for linear movement along an actuation axis, and a control surface. The control surface is operatively connected to the linear actuator for rotation about a deployment axis in a deployment stage, and for rotation in a control stage about a control axis that is different from the deployment axis, so that movement of the linear actuator along the actuation axis drives rotation of the control surface in both the deployment stage and in the control stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Plumer, Randy Buker
  • Nose for supersonic flying object
    Patent number: 9428264
    Abstract: Provided is a nose for a supersonic flying object, which has a natural laminar flow nose shape capable of suppressing laminar-turbulent transition and drastically reducing a frictional drag. The nose for a supersonic flying object has a low resistive body shape symmetrical about a central axis as a base shape, wherein the base shape is approximately a cone shape having a linear, simple convex curve, or simple concave curve generatrix and a deformation element having a wavy shape is added to the base shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventors: Naoko Tokugawa, Taro Kawai, Ayako Tozuka, Yoshine Ueda, Hiroaki Ishikawa
  • Bonded and tailorable composite assembly
    Patent number: 9415858
    Abstract: An all-composite assembly such as a composite laminate aircraft empennage has vertical and horizontal stabilizers with differing sets of interlaminar fracture toughnesses and differing stiffnesses to improve flight characteristics. Composite laminate skins are bonded to unitized and stiffened understructure to reduce weight and improve damage containment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Eugene A. Dan-Jumbo
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle and operations thereof
    Patent number: 9394048
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with improved reliability. According to one aspect of the invention, interference experienced by onboard sensors from onboard electrical components is reduced. According to another aspect of the invention, user-configuration or assembly of electrical components is minimized to reduce user errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Tao Zhao, Shaojie Chen, Zhigang Ou
  • Method and a rotary wing aircraft having three engines
    Patent number: 9387934
    Abstract: An aircraft (1) having a rotary wing (2) and at least one main gearbox (5) for driving rotation of said rotary wing (2), said aircraft (1) having a first main engine (11) and a second main engine (12) driving said main gearbox (5), said aircraft (1) being provided with a main regulation system (15) regulating the first main engine (11) and the second main engine (12) in application of a setpoint that is variable. A secondary engine (21) is also capable of driving said main gearbox (5), said aircraft (1) having a secondary regulation system (25) that regulates the secondary engine (21) in application of a setpoint that is constant and that is independent of said main regulation system (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Nayibe Gomez
  • Wing tip with optimum loading
    Patent number: 9381999
    Abstract: A wing incorporating a wing tip with a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge to minimize induced drag for a given wing form is disclosed. The curve of the leading and trailing edges of the wing tip may be described generally as parabolic, elliptic, or super elliptic. A finite tip segment may be included with a sweep angle between the end of the curved leading edge and the end of the curved trailing edge. The wing tip may also include a spanwise camber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis B. Gratzer
  • Device for mechanical connection of a control surface to a fixed structural element of an aircraft and aircraft wing element equipped with said device
    Patent number: 9376203
    Abstract: A device for mechanically connecting a control surface to a fixed structural element of an aircraft, including a rotary actuator for driving an element that is securely connected to the control surface in rotation in relation to an element securely connected to the fixed structural element, around an articulation axis, as well as articulation elements for articulating this control surface around this axis. These articulation elements are able to support the control surface independently of the rotary actuator. This arrangement permits taking benefit from the advantageous properties of rotary actuators while allowing removal of the rotary actuator without having first to remove the control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Pierre Tieys, Alain Sagansan, Laurent Andrieu
  • Systems and methods for attenuation of noise and wakes produced by aircraft
    Patent number: 9371132
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the trailing vortices and lowering the noise produced by the side edges of aircraft flight control surfaces, tips of wings and winglets, and tips of rotor blades. A noise-reducing, wake-alleviating device is disclosed which incorporates an actuator and one or more air-ejecting slot-shaped openings coupled to that actuator and located on the upper and/or lower surfaces and/or the side edges of an aircraft flight control surface or the tip of a wing, winglet or blade. The actuation mechanism produces sets of small and fast-moving air jets that traverse the openings in the general streamwise direction. The actuation destabilizes the flap vortex structure, resulting in reduced intensity of trailing vortices and lower airplane noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arvin Shmilovich, Abdollah Khodadoust
  • Aircraft galley
    Patent number: 9352838
    Abstract: An aircraft galley is disclosed having a stand-alone beverage station and a stand-alone food preparation station. Each station is equipped with extendable work decks and integrated equipment for plug and play exchange. The beverage station is equipped with brewing stations and a top loading refuse compartment, and the food preparation station is configured with multiple ovens and refrigeration units. The galley further includes a side refrigeration unit which can be used as a self-service beverage area for passengers, and both stations may further be configured with LED displays for communicating with passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Peter John Leslie Burd, William D. Aronson, Nicolaas J. van Zwieten, Sebastian Petry, Christopher I. Pirie, Mike Kemery, Aaron Hawkins, Erik Nilsen, Eddie Goh
  • Aircraft with protective nanocoating
    Patent number: 9352829
    Abstract: An aircraft component has an exterior surface and a protective nanocoating carried by the exterior surface. An aircraft has an engine, a fuselage, and a component having an exterior surface and a protective nano coating carried by the exterior surface. A method of protecting an aircraft component includes selecting at least one harmful environmental component and applying a protective nanocoating to the aircraft component, wherein the protective nanocoating is configured to protect the aircraft component from the selected harmful environmental component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Sottiaux, Frank Bradley Stamps
  • Toilet arrangement for a vehicle
    Patent number: 9346548
    Abstract: A toilet arrangement for a vehicle includes a first toilet compartment, an adjacent second toilet compartment and a partition wall situated between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment, wherein the partition wall is movably supported and designed for being transferred into an open position, in which the partition between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment is removed. This makes it possible to convert two relatively small toilet compartments into a larger toilet compartment that is suitable for use by persons with limited mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Andreas Barber, Maria Strasdas
  • Solar powered space weapon
    Patent number: 9346563
    Abstract: A plurality of orbiting solar generators stay in constant touch. They can be congregated rapidly in space at any desired secret location. Once congregated they all discharge their energy to a death star. This death star could be a newly launched ICBM. A laser generator uses this newly acquired energy on the death star to project a non-nuclear laser ray to a target. The target could be a city, a ship or a satellite. In the event of an asteroid approaching earth, this system could destroy an asteroid. In peacetime the orbiting solar generators could supply electric power to an earth based power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Rick Martin
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle and operations thereof
    Patent number: 9321530
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with improved reliability. According to one aspect of the invention, interference experienced by onboard sensors from onboard electrical components is reduced. According to another aspect of the invention, user-configuration or assembly of electrical components is minimized to reduce user errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Tao Zhao, Shaojie Chen, Zhigang Ou
  • Lavatory with stowage compartment
    Patent number: 9321534
    Abstract: An aircraft lavatory comprising an enclosure having a door, a first side wall, a rear wall, a ceiling, and a second side wall, wherein the second side wall includes a sink, the second side wall defining a plane and wherein the sink is inwardly disposed from said plane. To create space for a stowage compartment, an additional side wall parallel to, and adjacent to, said second side wall is formed. This space houses a stowage compartment accessible from outside said lavatory, the stowage compartment formed between said second side wall and said additional wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Grieve, William J. Banfield, Frank E. Hashberger