Patents by Inventor Bryan D. Kahara

Bryan D. Kahara 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: 5975466
    Abstract: A variable displacement fuel tank for aircraft is provided. The variable displacement fuel tank may be disposed within an upper medial portion (12) of a fuselage (18) of an aircraft (10). In one embodiment, a variable displacement fuel tank (20) includes a fuel bladder (22) adapted to contain fuel and a plurality of panels (30, 34, and 36) coupled to the fuselage (18) and acting on the fuel bladder (22) to restrain and control the shape of the fuel bladder (22). The variable displacement fuel tank (20) also include a power drive system (26) that operates to move the plurality of panels (30, 34, and 36) through a continuum of positions between fully deployed and stowed in order to maintain substantially zero ullage within the fuel bladder (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan D. Kahara, Richard T. Priestley, Kenneth E. Seho