Patents Examined by Philip J Bonzell
  • Systems and methods for modular aircraft
    Patent number: 11738851
    Abstract: A system for modular aircraft includes at least a common component, wherein the at least a common component includes at least a flight component. The system includes at least a modular component, wherein the at least modular component includes at least a fuselage component and a collar component. The system includes at least an interface component, wherein the at least an interface component is configured to connect the at least a common component at a first end to the at least a modular component at a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allan Page
  • Hybrid airship and related assembly and/or maintenance method
    Patent number: 11731789
    Abstract: The present invention concerns hybrid airship comprising at least one buoyancy enclosure containing a gas lighter than air, a gondola attached below the buoyancy enclosure, the gondola extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one propeller configured to propel the hybrid airship, the at least one propeller being attached to the buoyancy enclosure, at least one generator, configured to provide power to the propeller, the generator being connected to the gondola. The hybrid airship comprises an arm protruding from the gondola and connecting the generator to the gondola.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: TOTAL SA, FLYING WHALES
    Inventor: Hervé Kuhlmann
  • Fishing lure with optic fiber simulator
    Patent number: 11723351
    Abstract: A fishing lure with optic fiber simulator for simulating the bioluminescence characteristics of sea animals typically used as bait. A housing (20) partially receiving a fiber optic casing (60) with a battery with switch assembly (40) and connected light source (50) emits light to fiber optic members (80) with photophore elements. A hook assembly (90) is hidden inside the optic members and skirt strap members. An alternate embodiment uses a cable gland to hold the fiber optic members (180) and hook assembly (190).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Nestor Gomez
  • Methods and systems for retaining lateral control of an unmanned aerial vehicle during landing with leveled inboard propellers
    Patent number: 11724793
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); one or more inner wing panels of the UAV; one or more outer wing panels of the UAV; at least one inboard propeller attached to at least one engine disposed on the one or more inner wing panels; at least one tip propeller attached to at least one engine disposed on the one or more outer wing panels; at least one microcontroller configured to: determine an angular position of the at least one inboard propeller; and send a signal to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground upon landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Bart Dean Hibbs
  • Magnetic shield system for spacecraft
    Patent number: 11724832
    Abstract: A system to create a magnetic field around the outside of a spacecraft to afford human occupants and electronic equipment with protection from cosmic and solar radiation. Using electromagnets to generate magnetic fields placed on the outer surface of the spacecraft, cosmic and solar radiation may be deflected from entering the main body of the spacecraft. In addition, the magnetic field lines are kept away from the human occupants and interior electronic equipment. Side electromagnets are placed on the side outer surface of the spacecraft and separate electromagnetics are positioned in a cross shaped configuration at the front and rear of the spacecraft in alignment with the side electromagnets. Magnetic field lines are channeled around the outside of the spacecraft or centered on the center of quadrupole magnets placed either at the front of rear of the spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Eamonn Patrick Trainor
  • Electrically controlled vertical takeoff and landing aircraft system and method
    Patent number: 11718395
    Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft system includes a gas turbine engine coupled to a variable pitch propeller. The gas turbine engine is also coupled to a power split device including a first motor generator, a second motor generator, and a planetary module therebetween. The planetary module includes a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planet carrier. The motor generators are coupled to inverters, a DC bus and a battery. The battery is configured to power balance fans disposed on wings and horizontal stabilizers of the aircraft system. The balance fans can be closed off after vertical lift has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Donald Klemen
  • Spacecraft systems airlock for international space station access and interface and methods of operation
    Patent number: 11718425
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a spacecraft airlock system. Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for attaching space exposed payloads to a space station. The spacecraft airlock system provides a defined volume of space payload to the international space station. The airlock further includes a means of attaching to a space station, a closed structure attached to said means, said means of attaching is capable of robotic manipulation, and a cooling system for cooling payload components within said closed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: NANORACKS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael David Johnson, Mark David Rowley, Michael Desmond Lewis, J. Brockton Howe
  • Fishing lure
    Patent number: 11716979
    Abstract: A fishing lure includes a main body portion with a cavity provided inside of the main body portion; a plurality of elastic members with end portions attached to the main body portion; a swing member that swings and is attached to the elastic members and swings, wherein the swing member is visible from the outside of the main body portion and at least two points of the swing members are supported by the elastic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GLOBERIDE, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yagi
  • Constant tension tether management system for a tethered aircraft
    Patent number: 11713118
    Abstract: A constant tension tether management system for tethered aircraft includes a ground station for operatively coupling to an unmanned aerial vehicle. The ground station includes a spool rotatably disposed within the ground station and adapted to support a tether thereon. A first pulley is rotatably mounted within the ground station along a tether travel path. A second pulley is rotatably disposed within the ground station and moves in translation along the tether travel path. The first pulley is disposed along the tether travel path between the spool and the second pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hoverfly Technologies. Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas Colt Whitaker, Alfred D. Ducharme
  • Aircraft with right and left propulsion unit support beams extending between main and aft wings
    Patent number: 11708158
    Abstract: A VTOL aircraft (1), including: a fuselage (2) for transporting passengers and/or load; a front wing (3) attached to the fuselage (2); an aft wing (4) attached to the fuselage (2), behind the front wing (3) in a direction of forward flight (FF); a right connecting beam (5a) and a left connecting beam (5b), which connecting beams (5a, 5b) structurally connect the front wing (3) and the aft wing (4), which connecting beams (5a, 5b) are spaced apart from the fuselage (2); and at least two propulsion units (6) on each one of the connecting beams (5a, 5b). The propulsion units (6) include at least one propeller (6b, 6b?) and at least one motor (6a) driving the propeller (6b, 6b?), preferably an electric motor, and are arranged with their respective propeller axis in an essentially vertical orientation (z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Mores, Tobias Vermeulen, Ulrich Schaferlein
  • Methods and apparatus for performing propulsion operations using electric propulsion systems
    Patent number: 11708181
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to methods and apparatus for performing propulsion operations using electric propulsion system are disclosed. An example launch vehicle includes a first space vehicle including a first core structure and a first electric propulsion system, and a second space vehicle including a second core structure and a second electric propulsion system, the second core structure releasably attached to the first space vehicle in a stacked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James J. Peterka, III, Glenn N. Caplin, Richard W. Aston
  • Aircraft anti-icing system
    Patent number: 11708166
    Abstract: An aircraft anti-icing system is disclosed. A tube having a plurality of outlet ports is disposed within an interior of an outer housing in spaced relation to a closed end of this outer housing. The exterior of the outer housing includes a leading edge at its closed end. The tube is anchored relative to the outer housing by one or more brackets that extend from the tube to the outer housing. An open end of the outer housing may be closed by an aft wall that encloses the tube within an interior compartment of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Shetzer
  • Hybrid main landing gear fitting with detachable drag arm
    Patent number: 11708150
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly includes a main fitting comprising having a main barrel and a cross beam fixedly positioned relative to the main barrel and extending radially from the main barrel. The main fitting further includes a drag arm with a first end pivotally coupled to the cross beam by a first pivotal connection and a second end pivotally coupled to the main barrel by a second pivotal connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Landing Systems Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Lee, Zoran Pasic, Charles Borchert, Adam Lucci
  • Rail arrangement for an inner space of an aircraft
    Patent number: 11708165
    Abstract: A rail arrangement for an inner space of an aircraft has a first portion having first rails for receiving passenger seats and having second rails which extend transversely relative to the first rails for receiving fittings. The rails are secured to a floor structure which is arranged in the inner space. The securing of the fittings is consequently decoupled from the floor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Christian Seibt
  • Monument having attachment system with corner bracket fitting
    Patent number: 11702205
    Abstract: A monument is presented. The monument comprises a floor panel; a left face panel perpendicular to the floor panel; a right face panel perpendicular to the floor panel; and an attachment system connecting the floor panel, the left face panel, and the right face panel. The attachment system comprises a right corner bracket fitting connecting the right face panel to the floor panel; a left corner bracket fitting connecting the left face panel to the floor panel; and a filler panel connected to and extending between the right corner bracket fitting and the left corner bracket fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Stephen M. Young, Saul Ramirez, Joshua Youngmin Baek
  • Rotor system with reconfigurable duct
    Patent number: 11702196
    Abstract: A rotor system includes a rotor assembly and a duct system. The rotor assembly includes rotor blades extending from a mast axis and configured to rotate about the mast axis. The duct assembly includes a moveable duct portion and a stationary duct portion. In a first duct configuration, the moveable duct portion surrounds a first portion of the rotor assembly, the stationary duct portion surrounds a second portion of the rotor assembly, and the moveable duct portion and the stationary duct portion enclose the rotor assembly. In a second duct configuration, the stationary duct portion surrounds the second portion of the rotor assembly, and the moveable duct portion is moved away from the first portion of the rotor assembly, such that the rotor assembly is not enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brad Joseph Passe, Nicholas Ralph Carlson, George Matthew Thompson
  • Rotorcraft engine inlet configuration to optimize performance in both hover and high speed flight
    Patent number: 11702218
    Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as a rotorcraft engine inlet configuration to optimize performance in both hover and high-speed flight. A rotorcraft fuselage with a ram air intake and a side air intake allows airflow into the engine inlet plenum. A door can be operably coupled to the fuselage, wherein the door is in an open position when the airspeed is below a first threshold and is in a closed position when the airspeed exceeds a second threshold. Additionally, control logic, compares the rotorcraft airspeed with a stored airspeed to operate an actuator to open and close the door to modulate the airflow into the engine inlet plenum. The present invention realizes the advantages of eliminating the inlet spillage drag due to inlet ram airflow in forward flight and increasing the available engine power by mitigating the loss of inlet air pressure recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Dewey Parsons
  • Systems and methods for cooling a high voltage cable on an electric aircraft
    Patent number: 11697502
    Abstract: In an aspect of the present disclosure is a system for cooling a high voltage (HV) cable on an electric aircraft, including a fuselage configured to receive the HV cable, including a first side comprising a first venting closure movable between an open position and a closed position. The fuselage may further comprise a second side opposite the first side, the second side comprising a second venting closure movable between an open position and a closed position; wherein the first and second venting closures are configured to create a cooling channel between the first and second venting closures when the first and second venting closures are in the open position, wherein the cooling channel contacts the HV cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Donovan, Sam Wagner, Quinn Perini
  • Aircraft
    Patent number: 11697494
    Abstract: An aircraft in the form of an electrically driven, vertical take-off and landing, preferably people-carrying and/or load-carrying multicopter (1) is provided, in which a multiplicity of rotors are arranged in a common rotor plane (R), in which a tail unit (6), protruding upward or downward with respect to the rotor plane (R), is provided above or below the rotor plane (R), preferably in a rear region of the aircraft (1) with respect to a forward flying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Schaferlein, Manuel Kessler
  • Lightweight structure removable energy-absorbing barrier and aircraft including at least one such removable barrier
    Patent number: 11691711
    Abstract: A removable barrier and an aircraft including such a removable barrier. The barrier including a panel configured to block at least partly an opening delimited by a frame, a plurality of straps each connected to the panel and each having first and second ends, for each strap, a first connection configured to connect the first end of the strap and a first edge of the frame at least temporarily, a second connection configured to connect the second end of the strap and a second edge of the frame at least temporarily, at least one folded overlength at the level of at least one of the first and second ends of the strap, at least one breakable connection keeping the overlength folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS SAS
    Inventors: Thierry Leger, Benoît Salgues