Patents by Inventor Brendan P. Lanigan

Brendan P. Lanigan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10611460
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vertical stabilizer comprises an airfoil structure configured to be mounted to an aircraft at a vertical orientation. The airfoil structure comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the trailing edge is configured to form a blunt shaped edge. The airfoil structure further comprises a root end and a tip end, wherein the airfoil structure is tapered from the root end to the tip end. The airfoil structure is also cambered. Finally, the airfoil structure is further configured to be mounted with a rotor, and is also further configured to house one or more internal components associated with the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Brendan P. Lanigan, Joshua R. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 10604234
    Abstract: In a first aspect, there is a method for improving a lift to drag ratio of a rotor blade, including providing a blade member having a leading edge and a trailing edge; providing a leading edge extension member; and coupling the leading edge extension member to a portion of the leading edge of the blade member to form the rotor blade. In a second aspect, there is a rotor blade including a blade member having a leading edge, and a trailing edge; and a leading edge extension member disposed on the leading edge of the blade member, wherein the leading edge extension member is configured to extend the chord length of at least a portion of the rotor blade. In a third aspect, there is a leading edge extension member for a rotor blade including a convex exterior surface configured to extend at least a portion of the chord length of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Foskey, Brendan P. Lanigan
  • Patent number: 10518865
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a horizontal stabilizer comprises an airfoil structure configured to be mounted to an aircraft at a horizontal orientation. The airfoil structure comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface. Moreover, the airfoil structure is cambered, wherein a camber of the airfoil structure forms a concave slope on the top surface and a convex slope on the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Brendan P. Lanigan, Joshua R. O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20180362145
    Abstract: In a first aspect, there is a method for improving a lift to drag ratio of a rotor blade, including providing a blade member having a leading edge and a trailing edge; providing a leading edge extension member; and coupling the leading edge extension member to a portion of the leading edge of the blade member to form the rotor blade. In a second aspect, there is a rotor blade including a blade member having a leading edge, and a trailing edge; and a leading edge extension member disposed on the leading edge of the blade member, wherein the leading edge extension member is configured to extend the chord length of at least a portion of the rotor blade. In a third aspect, there is a leading edge extension member for a rotor blade including a convex exterior surface configured to extend at least a portion of the chord length of the rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Foskey, Brendan P. Lanigan
  • Publication number: 20180327079
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vertical stabilizer comprises an airfoil structure configured to be mounted to an aircraft at a vertical orientation. The airfoil structure comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the trailing edge is configured to form a blunt shaped edge. The airfoil structure further comprises a root end and a tip end, wherein the airfoil structure is tapered from the root end to the tip end. The airfoil structure is also cambered. Finally, the airfoil structure is further configured to be mounted with a rotor, and is also further configured to house one or more internal components associated with the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Brendan P. Lanigan, Joshua R. O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20180327078
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a horizontal stabilizer comprises an airfoil structure configured to be mounted to an aircraft at a horizontal orientation. The airfoil structure comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface. Moreover, the airfoil structure is cambered, wherein a camber of the airfoil structure forms a concave slope on the top surface and a convex slope on the bottom surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Brendan P. Lanigan, Joshua R. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 8840058
    Abstract: A system and method to control fuselage torque of an aircraft. The system includes a tail boom having a first surface that creates a high-pressure region in a downward rotorwash and a second surface that creates a low-pressure region in the downward rotorwash. The difference in pressure regions creates a lateral force that opposes the fuselage torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Albert G. Brand, Jimmy Narramore, James H. Harse, Brendan P. Lanigan
  • Patent number: 8814078
    Abstract: A tail boom adapted for counteracting a fuselage torque created by an engine carried by a fuselage of a rotary aircraft. The tail boom is positioned within the rotorwash from the rotary and includes a first side surface contoured to create a low-pressure region of an airfoil and a second opposing side surface contoured to create a high-pressure region of an airfoil. The pressure difference between the high-pressure region and the low-pressure region causes the tail boom to move towards the low-pressure region, resulting in a lateral force opposing the torque on the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Albert G. Brand, Jimmy Narramore, James H. Harse, Brendan P. Lanigan
  • Publication number: 20130087653
    Abstract: A tail boom adapted for counteracting a fuselage torque created by an engine carried by a fuselage of a rotary aircraft. The tail boom is positioned within the rotorwash from the rotary and includes a first side surface contoured to create a low-pressure region of an airfoil and a second opposing side surface contoured to create a high-pressure region of an airfoil. The pressure difference between the high-pressure region and the low-pressure region causes the tail boom to move towards the low-pressure region, resulting in a lateral force opposing the torque on the fuselage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Albert G. Brand, Jimmy Narramore, James H. Harse, Brendan P. Lanigan
  • Publication number: 20120280079
    Abstract: A system and method to control fuselage torque of an aircraft. The system includes a tail boom having a first surface that creates a high-pressure region in a downward rotorwash and a second surface that creates a low-pressure region in the downward rotorwash. The difference in pressure regions creates a lateral force that opposes the fuselage torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Albert G. Brand, Jimmy Narramore, James H. Harse, Brendan P. Lanigan
  • Patent number: D891351
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Foskey, Brendan P. Lanigan
  • Patent number: D907559
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Foskey, Brendan P. Lanigan