Patents Examined by Timothy D. Collins
  • Patent number: 11753177
    Abstract: An assembly having a pylon with an upper spar and two lateral scoops, a wing with a skin and a front spar, port-side/starboard-side front/rear brackets, each with a recess for a nut. The front spar has front/intermediate/rear pleats. Each front bracket is positioned against the front pleat and the intermediate pleat. Each rear bracket is positioned against the intermediate pleat and the skin. For each recess, the associated bracket has an open bore passing through it that opens into the recess. For each recess, the assembly has a fastening bolt having the nut and a screw of which the threaded shank passes through coaxial bores in the front pleat, in the skin, in the upper spar and in the associated lateral scoop, and the open bore, and is screwed into the nut, and of which the head bears against the lateral scoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Pautis, Michael Berjot
  • Patent number: 11744237
    Abstract: An ice fishing container and an organizer system that is useable with the ice fishing container to organize the contents within the ice fishing container. The organizer system is disposed within the interior space of the ice fishing container and is configured to neatly organize ice fishing gear and equipment within the interior space of the ice fishing container. The organizer system has a plurality of divider panels that are configured to fit within the interior space, where the divider panels of the organizer system include a plurality of longitudinal divider panels that are parallel to the side walls of the ice fishing container, and a plurality of lateral divider panels that are parallel to the front and rear end walls of the ice fishing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: F&H Design, LLC.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Halberg, Martin T. Feil
  • Patent number: 11745897
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover a UAV during flight includes a tether line, a tensioner operatively coupled to the tether line, and a kite operatively coupled to the tether line to support the tether line for recovery of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice Fockele, Kelly A. Comstock, John Wong, Jacob Allen, Daniel L. Shaw, Jesse D. Kiewit
  • Patent number: 11745888
    Abstract: An aircraft hybrid propulsion system comprises an internal combustion engine, an electric motor a propulsor and a combining gearbox. The internal combustion engine is coupled to a first input of the combining gearbox, the electric motor is coupled to a second input of the combining gearbox, and the propulsor is coupled to an output of the combining gearbox, such that the propulsor is driveable in use by either or both of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. Each of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is coupled to its respective input by a respective clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce plc, Rolls-Royce Deutschland, Ltd & Co.
    Inventors: Giles E. Harvey, Gideon Daniel Venter
  • Patent number: 11738855
    Abstract: An electronic control system for a turbopropeller engine having a gas turbine and a propeller assembly coupled to the gas turbine is provided. The control system implements a propeller control unit to control propeller operation using an actuation assembly designed to adjust a pitch angle of propeller blades. The control unit engages a mechanical lock determining a minimum flight value for the pitch angle during a flight operating mode, and disengages the mechanical lock and controls the pitch angle below the minimum flight value, up to a minimum ground value lower than the minimum flight value, during a ground operating mode. The propeller control unit, during a transition from the ground operating mode to the flight operating mode, engages the mechanical lock. The control unit anticipates the increase of the pitch angle before the mechanical lock engagement when transitioning from the ground operating mode to the flight operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: GE Avio S.r.l.
    Inventors: Pierpaolo Forte, Stefano Ettorre, Giuseppe Donini
  • Patent number: 11738881
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit (APU) system for an aircraft can include a fuel consuming system configured to generate and output electrical energy for use by one or more aircraft systems and a battery system configured to output stored electrical energy for use by the one or more aircraft systems. The fuel consuming system can include a fuel consuming APU, and an APU generator operatively connected to the fuel consuming APU and configured to convert APU motion into APU generator alternating current (AC). The system can include a high voltage AC line operatively connected to the generator. The battery system can include a battery configured to output battery direct current (DC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Kyle Stephen Ives
  • Patent number: 11731761
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a secondary airfoil apparatus, system and method for improving lift, takeoff, landing and aerodynamic performance of a floatplane. The secondary airfoil can be integrated into the floatplane during manufacture, or retrofitted to an existing floatplane after manufacture. The secondary airfoil is itself of sufficient structural rigidity to withstand any and all forces added by the airfoil during floatplane operation. The secondary airfoil is fixedly attached between the floats of the floatplane, and are purposefully not attached to spreader bars that can exist typically between the floats. The secondary airfoil can be arranged at an optimal angle of incidence and vertical lift position relative to the primary airfoil, or wing of the aircraft, and relative to the floats center of gravity and drag for optimal maneuverability of the floatplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Comp Air Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald A. Lueck, Michael Ryan
  • Patent number: 11731754
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for an aerodynamic surface actuation system, including: a plurality of outer tracks, wherein each outer track of the plurality of outer tracks include: an inner roller channel; and an outer roller channel positioned above the inner roller channel; an aerodynamic surface connected to a carrier, wherein the carrier includes: a plurality of rollers configured to move within inner roller channels of the plurality of outer tracks; and a carrier rack; a plurality of fixed rollers mounted to a plurality of longitudinal structural elements in an aerodynamic structure, wherein the plurality of fixed rollers are disposed within outer roller channels of the plurality of outer tracks; and a plurality of fixed racks, wherein each fixed rack of the plurality of fixed racks is mounted to a longitudinal structural element of the plurality of longitudinal structural elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Good, Stephen P. Walker
  • Patent number: 11730157
    Abstract: A fishing rod case is provided for holding a rigged fly (or other) fishing rod. The case includes a sleeve, with distal and proximal sections and a flexible middle section, and, optionally, a reel housing on one end of the proximal section. With the reel housing open, a rigged rod may be inserted into the sleeve. The sleeve is bunched in the middle section and the rod grasped through the sleeve on opposite sides of a ferrule of the rod. The two sections of the rod may then be pulled apart at the ferrule and the sleeve folded so that the distal and proximal sections of the sleeve are adjacent and parallel to each other. One or more straps may be used to hold the two sections of the sleeve together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: David Alan Zieg
  • Patent number: 11724792
    Abstract: An airfoil body is provided for an aircraft which includes a first skin, a second skin, a plurality of first stiffeners and a plurality of second stiffeners. The first stiffeners are configured from or otherwise include first stiffener composite material. The first stiffeners extends widthwise between and are connected to the first skin and the second skin. Each of the first stiffeners has a first stiffener longitudinal centerline that extends spanwise along the first skin and the second skin. The second stiffeners are configured from or otherwise include second stiffener composite material. The second stiffeners extend widthwise between and are connected to the first skin and the second skin. Each of the second stiffeners has a second stiffener longitudinal centerline that extends lengthwise along the first skin and the second skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Davis, Alan K. Cheung, Paul Dsouza, Gerald S. Abille
  • Patent number: 11716967
    Abstract: A dog run assembly for preventing tangling of leads includes a pair of bars, a pair of lines, a pair of connectors, and a pair of fasteners. Each line is engaged to and extends between the bars. Each connector is rotationally engaged to a respective bar and can engage a respective vertical support element of a pair of vertical support elements so that the pair of lines is suspended between the vertical support elements. Each fastener is slidably engaged to a respective line so that the fastener is slidable between the bars. The fastener can engage a respective lead attached to an associated animal. The pair of bars rotates as a pair of animals tethered singly to the lines travel in opposing directions relative to the pair of lines. The lines and the leads attached to the animals remain untangled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Aslan Edge
  • Patent number: 11716978
    Abstract: A live bait and artificial bait lock that can penetrate an external surface of the respective bait and releasable or repeatably secure the bait to a hook or a shaft of a hook, a barbed hook, or a fish hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: John A. Mongold
  • Patent number: 11716982
    Abstract: A fishing tool includes a main body and a holding assembly coupled to the main body. The holding assembly includes a bottom holding jaw and a top holding jaw rotatably coupled to the bottom holding jaw and movable relative to the bottom holding jaw between an open holding position and a closed holding position to selectively hold a fish hook in place. The holding assembly is rotatable relative to the main body and configured to be secured relative to the main body in a fixed number of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: FISKARS BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Hal Hardinge, Keith Langenwalter, Charlie Hartzell, Seth Jaramus
  • Patent number: 11718411
    Abstract: A fuel containment system for an aircraft is provided. The fuel containment system comprises an upper fuel barrier under a cabin floor, an aft wheel well bulkhead, an aft fuel barrier opposite the aft wheel well bulkhead, a lower fuel barrier associated with a cargo floor, and a lower fuselage skin panel. A fuel tank is created by the upper fuel barrier, the aft wheel well bulkhead, the aft fuel barrier, the lower fuel barrier, and the lower fuselage skin. The fuel tank is integrated into the aircraft and existing structural components are sealed to prevent fuel from leaking out of the integrated fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Lawyer
  • Patent number: 11713140
    Abstract: A de-orbiting system for a space vehicle may include one or more lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries configured to release hot gases to be used for thrusting during de-orbiting of the apparatus. The system may also include one or more heaters surrounding each of the one or more Li-ion batteries, which are configured to send each of the one or more Li-ion batteries into a thermal runaway. The thermal runaway causes the one or more Li-ion batteries to release stored electrochemical energy within each of the one or more Li-ion batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Joseph Nemanick, John H. Schilling, John D. Desain, Andrea G. Hsu, Brian B. Brady, Andrew C. Cortopassi
  • Patent number: 11713105
    Abstract: An aircraft comprising a wing having a spanwise lift distribution extending from a root to a tip, the lift distribution defining an inboard region defining a positive lift contribution, an outboard region defining a negative lift contribution, and an intermediate region defining a neutral lift contribution, the neutral region being spaced from the tip and from the root. A propulsion system is provided, comprising a wing mounted propulsor. The wing mounted propulsor has a rotational axis (x) positioned substantially at a span of the wing where a value of ?Lift/?Span is at a maximum for the span of the wing, and may be located at the intermediate region along the span of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Matthew Moxon
  • Patent number: 11713112
    Abstract: A method of reducing the noise generated in-flight by a vortex wake caused by each first blade of a main rotor of a hybrid helicopter. The hybrid helicopter includes a main rotor, at least two wings and at least one propeller. The method enables a stabilized flight phase on the level or with a non-zero aerodynamic slope to be implemented by determining a first value of the pitch of the second blades of each propeller and an angle of incidence of the main rotor as function of the flight conditions, then by applying the first pitch value to each propeller and by applying the angle of incidence to the main rotor so as to direct the vortex wake to limit the noisy interactions between the vortex wake and the other first blades and/or the second blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Frederic Guntzer, Paul Eglin
  • Patent number: 11708163
    Abstract: A static aircraft seat privacy panel may include a body. At least a portion of a surface of the body may be shaped to at least partially conform with at least a portion of an aircraft seat. A lower edge of the body may be configured to couple to a floor via a set of floor-mounted components. The set of floor-mounted components may be within the floor separate from a set of seat tracks of an aircraft seat compliant with 16G force requirements for aviation transport. An upper edge of the body may be configured to be offset a selected distance from a surface of one or more overhead structures of the aircraft cabin when the body is coupled to one or more structures positioned proximate to a ceiling of the aircraft cabin. The static aircraft seat privacy panel may be compliant with 9G force requirements for aviation transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn A. Johnson, Mark B. Dowty, Jefferey M. McKee, Tracy Pence, Michael M. Princip
  • Patent number: 11708146
    Abstract: A multispar lifting surface including a multispar torsion box having corner reinforcements, a movable control surface, and an axial rod fitting. The movable control surface includes a movable element, a hinged connection joined to the movable element, and an axial rod joining the hinged connection to the rear spar of the multispar torsion box. The axial rod fitting is configured to join the axial rod and the multispar torsion box; and includes a longitudinal profile resting against the rear spar, and a lug joined to the longitudinal profile at one end and to the axial rod at another end; the lug defining a plane including the longitudinal axis of the axial rod. This multispar lifting surface is able to support sideward forces without any additional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.L.U.
    Inventors: Robert Kobierecki, Alberto Balsa-Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11702185
    Abstract: Embodiments for commercial freighter configuration for aircraft with composite wings. One embodiment is cargo floor structure for a wing center section of an aircraft. The cargo floor structure includes over wing floor beams extending longitudinally between a rear spar and a front spar of the aircraft. The over wing floor beams are coupled with an upper skin panel of a composite wing. The cargo floor structure also includes intercostals extending spanwise across the over wing floor beams. The intercostals suspended over the upper skin panel of the composite wing. The cargo floor structure also includes a truss box structure disposed between a middle pair of the over wing floor beams and configured to shear a spanwise load from the intercostals into the upper skin panel of the composite wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Anil A. Mohammed, Colin L. Farr, Kin Yee Cindy Leung-Yuen, Erik A. Phillips, Timothy B. Adams, Jens K. Biemann, Jose Luis Martinez, Michael R. Rush, Daniel H. Fletcher