Patents by Inventor Calvin Kao

Calvin Kao 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: 11056962
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an aircraft includes a wing operable to fold along a wing fold gap. The wing comprises an inboard edge flap and an outboard edge flap, wherein the wing fold gap is between the inboard edge flap and the outboard edge flap. The aircraft further includes an input shaft operably coupled to the inboard edge flap, the input shaft mechanically coupled to a first magnetic torque coupler assembly at a first end of the input shaft. The wing further includes an output shaft operably coupled to the outboard edge flap, the output shaft mechanically coupled to a second magnetic torque coupler assembly at a first end of the output shaft. The first magnetic torque coupler assembly may magnetically couple to the second magnetic torque coupler assembly across the fold gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Calvin Kao
  • Patent number: 10633078
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a methodology for designing spoilers or droop panels and aerodynamic systems including the designed spoilers or the designed droop panels. The spoilers and the droop panels can be deployed on a wing with a flap system, which provides for trailing edge variable camber (TEVC) system. During flight, the fixed portions of the wing, the flaps, the spoilers and droop panels can all deform. The spoilers or the droop panels can each be pre-deformed to a first shape on the ground such that in flight the spoilers or the droop panels deform to a second shape under aerodynamic loads. In the second shape, the spoilers or the droop panels are configured to seal better against the flaps. The spoilers or the droop panels can be configured to seal to the flaps during all of the positions the flaps take as part of the TEVC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jan A. Kordel, Emily Georgia Rayner, Calvin Kao, Adam Charles Jones
  • Publication number: 20190238043
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an aircraft includes a wing operable to fold along a wing fold gap, The wing comprises an inboard edge flap and an outboard edge flap, wherein the wing fold gap is between the inboard edge flap and the outboard edge flap. The aircraft further includes an input shaft operably coupled to the inboard edge flap, the input shaft mechanically coupled to a first magnetic torque coupler assembly at a first end of the input shaft. The wing further includes an output shaft operably coupled to the outboard edge flap, the output shaft mechanically coupled to a second magnetic torque coupler assembly at a first end of the output shaft. The first magnetic torque coupler assembly may magnetically couple to the second magnetic torque coupler assembly across the fold gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventor: Calvin Kao
  • Publication number: 20190176962
    Abstract: A methodology for designing spoilers or droop panels and aerodynamic systems including the designed spoilers or the designed droop panels are described. In one embodiment, the spoilers and the droop panels can be deployed on a wing with a flap system which provides for trailing edge variable camber (TEVC) system. During flight, the fixed portions of the wing, the flaps, the spoilers and droop panels can all deform. The spoilers or the droop panels can each be pre-deformed to a first shape on the ground such that in flight the spoilers or the droop panels deform to a second shape under aerodynamic loads. In the second shape, the spoilers or the droop panels are configured to seal better against the flaps. The spoilers or the droop panels can be configured to seal to the flaps during all of the positions the flaps take as part of the TEVC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jan A. Kordel, Emily Georgia Rayner, Calvin Kao, Adam Charles Jones