Patents by Inventor Christopher K. Droney
Christopher K. Droney 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).
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Patent number: 11117647Abstract: Aircraft wing assemblies are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a trailing edge of a wing of an aircraft. The trailing edge has an elastically deformable skin defining a first surface. The trailing edge has a first end to be fixed to the wing and a second end opposite the first end that is to move relative to the first end. A flap is movably coupled to the second end of the trailing edge. The flap is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The trailing edge is to elastically elongate when the flap moves from the stowed position to the deployed position and the trailing edge is to elastically collapse when the flap moves from the deployed position to the stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Christopher K. Droney, Blaine K. Rawdon
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Patent number: 10974808Abstract: Described herein is an aircraft. The aircraft comprises a body. The aircraft also comprises a wing coupled to and extending from the body. The wing comprises a wing inboard end portion, a wing outboard end portion, opposite the wing inboard end portion, and an intermediate portion between the wing inboard end portion and the wing outboard end portion. The aircraft further comprises a strut. The strut comprises a strut inboard end portion coupled to and extending from the body and a strut outboard end portion coupled to and extending from the intermediate portion of the wing. The aircraft additionally comprises at least one aerodynamic control surface movably coupled to the strut.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Neal A. Harrison, Lie-Mine Gea, Anthony J. Sclafani, Eric D. Dickey, Michael D. Beyar, Christopher K. Droney
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Patent number: 10933970Abstract: An aircraft includes a body, a wing coupled to and extending from the body, and a strut. The wing includes a wing thickest region bounded by a wing thickest region leading boundary and a wing thickest region trailing boundary. The strut includes a strut thickest region bounded by a strut thickest region leading boundary and a strut thickest region trailing boundary. In a planform view, the wing thickest region overlaps the strut thickest region at an overlap region, where the overlap region including less than fifteen percent of the strut thickest region.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Neal A. Harrison, Anthony J. Sclafani, Christopher K. Droney, Lie-Mine Gea, David S. Lazzara
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Patent number: 10773786Abstract: An aircraft that comprises a body, a wing, and a strut. The wing is coupled to and extends from the body. The wing comprises a wing inboard end portion, a wing outboard end portion, opposite the wing inboard end portion, and an intermediate portion between the wing inboard end portion and the wing outboard end portion. The strut comprises a strut inboard end portion and a strut outboard end portion. The strut inboard end portion is coupled to and extends from the body and the strut outboard end portion is coupled to and extends from the intermediate portion of the wing. The strut outboard end portion of the strut is configured to generate a download acting on the strut outboard end portion of the strut when the aircraft is in flight.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anthony J. Sclafani, Adam D. Grasch, Christopher K. Droney, Neal A. Harrison
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Patent number: 10556666Abstract: Disclosed herein is an aircraft that comprises a body, a wing, and a strut. The wing is coupled to and extends from the body. A strut inboard end portion is coupled to and extends from the body and a strut outboard end portion is coupled to and extends from an intermediate portion of the wing. The wing further comprises a first thinned portion adjacent the intermediate portion of the wing. An overall thickness of the first thinned portion of the wing decreases and increases in a spanwise direction along the wing. The strut further comprises a second thinned portion adjacent the outboard end portion of the strut. An overall thickness of the second thinned portion of the strut decreases and increases in a spanwise direction along the strut.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anthony J. Sclafani, Adam D. Grasch, Christopher K. Droney, Neal A. Harrison
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Publication number: 20190300143Abstract: An aircraft includes a body, a wing coupled to and extending from the body, and a strut. The wing includes a wing thickest region bounded by a wing thickest region leading boundary and a wing thickest region trailing boundary. The strut includes a strut thickest region bounded by a strut thickest region leading boundary and a strut thickest region trailing boundary. In a planform view, the wing thickest region overlaps the strut thickest region at an overlap region, where the overlap region including less than fifteen percent of the strut thickest region.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Neal A. Harrison, Anthony J. Sclafani, Christopher K. Droney, Lie-Mine Gea, David S. Lazzara
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Publication number: 20190291846Abstract: Described herein is an aircraft. The aircraft comprises a body. The aircraft also comprises a wing coupled to and extending from the body. The wing comprises a wing inboard end portion, a wing outboard end portion, opposite the wing inboard end portion, and an intermediate portion between the wing inboard end portion and the wing outboard end portion. The aircraft further comprises a strut. The strut comprises a strut inboard end portion coupled to and extending from the body and a strut outboard end portion coupled to and extending from the intermediate portion of the wing. The aircraft additionally comprises at least one aerodynamic control surface movably coupled to the strut.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Neal A. Harrison, Lie-Mine Gea, Anthony J. Sclafani, Eric D. Dickey, Michael D. Beyar, Christopher K. Droney
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Publication number: 20180281922Abstract: Disclosed herein is an aircraft that comprises a body, a wing, and a strut. The wing is coupled to and extends from the body. A strut inboard end portion is coupled to and extends from the body and a strut outboard end portion is coupled to and extends from an intermediate portion of the wing. The wing further comprises a first thinned portion adjacent the intermediate portion of the wing. An overall thickness of the first thinned portion of the wing decreases and increases in a spanwise direction along the wing. The strut further comprises a second thinned portion adjacent the outboard end portion of the strut. An overall thickness of the second thinned portion of the strut decreases and increases in a spanwise direction along the strut.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Anthony J. Sclafani, Adam D. Grasch, Christopher K. Droney, Neal A. Harrison
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Publication number: 20180281926Abstract: An aircraft that comprises a body, a wing, and a strut. The wing is coupled to and extends from the body. The wing comprises a wing inboard end portion, a wing outboard end portion, opposite the wing inboard end portion, and an intermediate portion between the wing inboard end portion and the wing outboard end portion. The strut comprises a strut inboard end portion and a strut outboard end portion. The strut inboard end portion is coupled to and extends from the body and the strut outboard end portion is coupled to and extends from the intermediate portion of the wing. The strut outboard end portion of the strut is configured to generate a download acting on the strut outboard end portion of the strut when the aircraft is in flight.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Anthony J. Sclafani, Adam D. Grasch, Christopher K. Droney, Neal A. Harrison
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Publication number: 20170088250Abstract: Aircraft wing assemblies are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a trailing edge of a wing of an aircraft. The trailing edge has an elastically deformable skin defining a first surface. The trailing edge has a first end to be fixed to the wing and a second end opposite the first end that is to move relative to the first end. A flap is movably coupled to the second end of the trailing edge. The flap is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The trailing edge is to elastically elongate when the flap moves from the stowed position to the deployed position and the trailing edge is to elastically collapse when the flap moves from the deployed position to the stowed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Christopher K. Droney, Blaine K. Rawdon
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Patent number: 9550559Abstract: Aircraft wing assemblies are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a trailing edge of a wing of an aircraft. The trailing edge has a flexible skin defining a first surface. The example apparatus also includes a flap movably coupled to the trailing edge. The flap defines a second surface. The first surface and the second surface form a substantially continuous surface when the flap is in a stowed position and when the flap is in a deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Christopher K. Droney, Blaine K. Rawdon
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Patent number: 8905353Abstract: An airship comprises a shell having a bi-convex shape, wherein the shell encompasses a volume, and a gas storage system located within the volume.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2008Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Blaine Knight Rawdon, Christopher K. Droney, John Charles Vassberg
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Patent number: 8813430Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a platform. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a set of support members associated with the structure, and a set of adjustment members. An adjustment member in the set of adjustment members is associated with a corresponding support member in the set of support members. The adjustment member is configured to adjust an angle between the corresponding support member and the structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Joseph W. Rees, Robert Erik Grip, Christopher K. Droney, Deborah Ann Beron-Rawdon
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Patent number: 8651431Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved aircraft control through the use of adjustable winglets. The adjustable winglets are located at the terminal ends of an aircraft's wings and may pivot about an axis parallel to the yaw axis of the aircraft. The adjustable winglets may also include outboard ailerons for improved control of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Edward Val White, Blaine Knight Rawdon, Zachary C. Hoisington, Christopher K. Droney
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Publication number: 20140007797Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a platform. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a set of support members associated with the structure, and a set of adjustment members. An adjustment member in the set of adjustment members is associated with a corresponding support member in the set of support members. The adjustment member is configured to adjust an angle between the corresponding support member and the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2012Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Joseph W. Rees, Robert Erik Grip, Christopher K. Droney, Deborah Ann Beron-Rawdon
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Patent number: 8511613Abstract: An aircraft comprises an airframe, an electric propulsion system, a number of battery pods, and an engagement system. The number of battery pods has a physical connector system. The engagement system is attached to the airframe and is capable of engaging the physical connector system to connect the number of battery pods to the airframe.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Christopher K. Droney
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Patent number: 8393580Abstract: An aircraft comprises an airframe, an electric propulsion system, a number of battery pods, and an engagement system. The number of battery pods has a physical connector system. The engagement system is attached to the airframe and is capable of engaging the physical connector system to connect the number of battery pods to the airframe.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Christopher K. Droney
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Publication number: 20120261522Abstract: An aircraft comprises an airframe, an electric propulsion system, a number of battery pods, and an engagement system. The number of battery pods has a physical connector system. The engagement system is attached to the airframe and is capable of engaging the physical connector system to connect the number of battery pods to the airframe.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: Christopher K. Droney
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Patent number: 8019574Abstract: A required payload volume of a Blended Wing Body air vehicle is determined and analyzed for a list of corner points that is passed to a Loft Module as keep-out points to be enclosed by a body portion established using a faceted minimum volume. Trapezoidal wing shape and size are determined, a leading edge of the body portion and trapezoidal wing leading edge are trimmed and a trailing edge of the body portion and trapezoidal wing trailing edge are blended. A leading edge elevation is established and with leading edge radius as an input smoothly encloses the payload volume in a first set of defined aerodynamic sections. A second set of aerodynamic sections and transition sections between the body portion and the trapezoidal wing are defined. The blended wing body is then lofted based on the defined sections.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Thomas Allen Hogan, Christopher K. Droney, Dino Roman
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Publication number: 20100065691Abstract: An aircraft comprises an airframe, an electric propulsion system, a number of battery pods, and an engagement system. The number of battery pods has a physical connector system. The engagement system is attached to the airframe and is capable of engaging the physical connector system to connect the number of battery pods to the airframe.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventor: Christopher K. Droney