Patents by Inventor Burton Matthew Knapp

Burton Matthew Knapp 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: 11866184
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton Matthew Knapp, Ashish Andrew Kumar
  • Publication number: 20230182908
    Abstract: Hybrid-electric aircraft and a series hybrid powertrain configured to power the aircraft for a medium-haul flight. The series hybrid power train includes a plurality of energy storage units, at least one range extending generator, and a plurality of electric propulsors, each coupled to a distribution bus. The electric propulsors can produce a maximum thrust of at least 15 MW. During a cruise regime, the hybrid-electric aircraft can have an airspeed of at least 0.7 Mach at an altitude of less than 32000 feet, and the plurality of electric propulsors can have a fan pressure ratio of between 1.15 and 1.19. The hybrid-electric aircraft can have a degree of hybridization of at least 25% for the medium-haul flight and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) well-to-wake greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions less than 0.25 lbs/Available Seat Mile (ASM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Andrew KUMAR, Burton Matthew KNAPP
  • Patent number: 11465763
    Abstract: Hybrid-electric aircraft and a series hybrid powertrain configured to power the aircraft for a medium-haul flight. The series hybrid power train includes a plurality of energy storage units, at least one range extending generator, and a plurality of electric propulsors, each coupled to a distribution bus. The electric propulsors can produce a maximum thrust of at least 15 MW. During a cruise regime, the hybrid-electric aircraft can have an airspeed of at least 0.7 Mach at an altitude of less than 32000 feet, and the plurality of electric propulsors can have a fan pressure ratio of between 1.15 and 1.19. The hybrid-electric aircraft can have a degree of hybridization of at least 25% for the medium-haul flight and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) well-to-wake greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions less than 0.25 lbs/Available Seat Mile (ASM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Andrew Kumar, Burton Matthew Knapp
  • Publication number: 20220219827
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton Matthew KNAPP, Ashish Andrew KUMAR
  • Patent number: 11104444
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton Matthew Knapp, Ashish Andrew Kumar
  • Publication number: 20200346769
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton Matthew KNAPP, Ashish Andrew KUMAR
  • Publication number: 20200290742
    Abstract: This invention relates to electrically-driven propulsors for regional aircraft. These combine fans optimized for quiet regional operations with rotating variable pitch mechanisms contained within the hubs and highly efficient ring electric motors. The ring motors are used to drive annular fans at the inner or outer radius, or a conventional fan at the inner radius. The assembly combines a single fan, fixed or variable pitch, with a row of stators, or multiple counter-rotating fans without stators. Our focus is on propulsors optimized for quiet and efficient regional flights, but many elements apply to long-haul air and several other applications referred to herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Andrew KUMAR, Burton Matthew KNAPP
  • Publication number: 20200182637
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for implementing multi-modal transport transform generalized transport objectives for a segment of a journey from an origin to destination (e.g., as specified by a traveler or shipper) into generalized and specific transport requests to various sources/providers of transport services (e.g. operators, platforms and marketplaces) across different modes of transport. In one example, generalized and specific itineraries received from various sources/providers of transport services are managed to meet objectives, and are requested iteratively over time, up to the day of transport, to seek improvements toward meeting transport objectives. In another example, real-time monitoring of different legs of a journey across a transport segment leverages flexibility and addresses changeability options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Andrew KUMAR, Burton Matthew KNAPP
  • Patent number: 10501194
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton Matthew Knapp, Ashish Andrew Kumar
  • Publication number: 20180134400
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Burton Matthew Knapp, Ashish Andrew Kumar
  • Patent number: 9561860
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Tzunum, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton Matthew Knapp, Ashish Andrew Kumar
  • Publication number: 20160236790
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Burton Matthew Knapp, Ashish Andrew Kumar