Patents by Inventor Christopher Alan BATE

Christopher Alan BATE 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).

  • Publication number: 20260048832
    Abstract: A joint assembly for joining a first aircraft structural component to a second aircraft structural component. The joint assembly has a double eccentric bush for mounting to one of the first and second aircraft structural components, and a spigot mounted on the double eccentric bush. Rotating elements of the double eccentric bush enable adjustment of the spigot relative to the respective aircraft structural component in two orthogonal directions normal to a longitudinal axis of the spigot prior to joining the first aircraft structural component to the second aircraft structural component. A spigot receptacle is provided for mounting to, or is integrally formed with, the other of the first and second aircraft structural components. The spigot receptacle is arranged to receive the spigot. At least one fastener joins the first and second aircraft structural components together when the spigot is received in the spigot receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Inventors: Connor Evans, Christopher Alan Bate
  • Patent number: 12428128
    Abstract: A wing structure is disclosed having a first span portion including a depth that reduces in a spanwise outward direction, and a second span portion outboard of the first span portion and having a substantially uniform spanwise depth D3. The second span portion may be non-tapered, and may include parallel fore and aft spar portions. In some embodiments the non-tapered portion supports a movable wing tip device. A wing assembly and an aircraft are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Bate
  • Patent number: 12397900
    Abstract: A wing assembly for an aircraft has a wing, a moveable wing tip device and an actuation assembly to move the wing tip device. The actuation assembly is disposed externally of the wing assembly. In a further aspect, the actuation assembly has a first connector member connected externally of the wing assembly at the actuator and pivotably connected at a lower portion of the wing or wing tip. This can facilitate the provision of effective internal supporting structure for transferring flight loads across the interface of the wing and wing tip device, especially in wing assemblies having a high aspect ratio. In a still further aspect, the wing assembly has a seal extending chordwise within the wing assembly, for resisting passage of air through an interface region between the wing and the wing tip device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Bate
  • Patent number: 12325518
    Abstract: A wing assembly for an aircraft is disclosed having an actuation assembly configured to move a wing tip device between a flight configuration and a ground configuration. The actuation assembly includes at least two linear actuation devices mounted within the wing assembly. A wing and a wing tip device for the wing assembly, and an aircraft comprising the wing assembly, wing or wing tip, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Bate
  • Patent number: 12286239
    Abstract: Two components of an aircraft structure are joined by providing a threaded opening in one of them and supporting an alignment insert in that opening. The alignment insert is used to guide drilling of the second component such that a hole is produced which is aligned with the threaded opening, for instance using an alignment projection which physically guides a drill. The alignment insert may then be removed. A fastener is then inserted through that hole and into the threaded opening, then tightened to form the completed joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Bate, Tim Jones
  • Publication number: 20240150038
    Abstract: Two components of an aircraft structure are joined by providing a threaded opening in one of them and supporting an alignment insert in that opening. The alignment insert is used to guide drilling of the second component such that a hole is produced which is aligned with the threaded opening, for instance using an alignment projection which physically guides a drill. The alignment insert may then be removed. A fastener is then inserted through that hole and into the threaded opening, then tightened to form the completed joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Alan BATE, Tim JONES
  • Patent number: 11905039
    Abstract: Two components of an aircraft structure are joined by providing a threaded opening in one of them and supporting an alignment insert in that opening. The alignment insert is used to guide drilling of the second component such that a hole is produced which is aligned with the threaded opening, for instance using an alignment projection which physically guides a drill. The alignment insert may then be removed. A fastener is then inserted through that hole and into the threaded opening, then tightened to form the completed joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Bate, Tim Jones
  • Publication number: 20230382512
    Abstract: A wing structure is disclosed having a first span portion including a depth that reduces in a spanwise outward direction, and a second span portion outboard of the first span portion and having a substantially uniform spanwise depth D3. The second span portion may be non-tapered, and may include parallel fore and aft spar portions. In some embodiments the non-tapered portion supports a movable wing tip device. A wing assembly and an aircraft are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher Alan BATE
  • Publication number: 20230382513
    Abstract: A wing assembly for an aircraft is disclosed having an actuation assembly configured to move a wing tip device between a flight configuration and a ground configuration. The actuation assembly includes at least two linear actuation devices mounted within the wing assembly. A wing and a wing tip device for the wing assembly, and an aircraft comprising the wing assembly, wing or wing tip, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher Alan BATE
  • Publication number: 20230192271
    Abstract: A wing assembly for an aircraft has a wing, a moveable wing tip device and an actuation assembly to move the wing tip device. The actuation assembly is disposed externally of the wing assembly. In a further aspect, the actuation assembly has a first connector member connected externally of the wing assembly at the actuator and pivotably connected at a lower portion of the wing or wing tip. This can facilitate the provision of effective internal supporting structure for transferring flight loads across the interface of the wing and wing tip device, especially in wing assemblies having a high aspect ratio. In a still further aspect, the wing assembly has a seal extending chordwise within the wing assembly, for resisting passage of air through an interface region between the wing and the wing tip device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Bate
  • Publication number: 20230143611
    Abstract: Two components of an aircraft structure are joined by providing a threaded opening in one of them and supporting an alignment insert in that opening. The alignment insert is used to guide drilling of the second component such that a hole is produced which is aligned with the threaded opening, for instance using an alignment projection which physically guides a drill. The alignment insert may then be removed. A fastener is then inserted through that hole and into the threaded opening, then tightened to form the completed joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Alan BATE, Tim JONES