Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Cagle

Christopher M. Cagle 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).

  • Distributed Electric Propulsion Modular Wing Aircraft with Blown Wing and Extreme Flaps for VTOL and/or STOL Flight
    Publication number: 20210331791
    Abstract: An aircraft wing configuration for a vertical or a short take-off and landing aircraft having a plurality of propeller-blown wings mounted at different longitudinal locations along a fuselage of the vertical take-off and landing aircraft, producing two or more lifting surfaces, fixed at a predetermined acute wing angle greater than 0° and substantially less than 90° relative to a horizontal plane, and having a plurality of flaps disposed behind the wings. The configuration has a plurality of propellers distributed in front of the plurality of wings producing two or more lifting surfaces and mounted such that the wings are externally blown by forced airstreams from the propellers. The propellers produce distributed thrust components, and the plurality of flaps are in the forced airstreams of the propellers when one or more of the flaps is in an extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Steven C. Geuther, David D. North, Robert G. McSwain, Michael D. Patterson, Gregory Howland, Jared S. Fell, Christopher M. Cagle, Xiaofan Fei, Siena K.S. Whiteside, David A. Hare
  • Flexible volumetric structure
    Patent number: 8899563
    Abstract: A flexible volumetric structure has a first spring that defines a three-dimensional volume and includes a serpentine structure elongatable and compressible along a length thereof. A second spring is coupled to at least one outboard edge region of the first spring. The second spring is a sheet-like structure capable of elongation along an in-plane dimension thereof. The second spring is oriented such that its in-plane dimension is aligned with the length of the first spring's serpentine structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Christopher M. Cagle, Robin W. Schlecht
  • Jet engine exhaust nozzle flow effector
    Patent number: 8683807
    Abstract: A jet engine exhaust nozzle flow effector is a chevron formed with a radius of curvature with surfaces of the flow effector being defined and opposing one another. At least one shape memory alloy (SMA) member is embedded in the chevron closer to one of the chevron's opposing surfaces and substantially spanning from at least a portion of the chevron's root to the chevron's tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Roberto J. Cano, Richard J. Silox, Ralph D. Buehrle, Christopher M. Cagle, Randolph H. Cabell, George C. Hilton
  • Jet Engine Exhaust Nozzle Flow Effector
    Publication number: 20110203288
    Abstract: A jet engine exhaust nozzle flow effector is a chevron formed with a radius of curvature with surfaces of the flow effector being defined and opposing one another. At least one shape memory alloy (SMA) member is embedded in the chevron closer to one of the chevron's opposing surfaces and substantially spanning from at least a portion of the chevron's root to the chevron's tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: U. S. A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Roberto J. Cano, Richard J. Silox, Ralph D. Buehrle, Christopher M. Cagle, Randolph H. Cabell, George C. Hilton
  • Jet engine exhaust nozzle flow effector
    Patent number: 7958733
    Abstract: A jet engine exhaust nozzle flow effector is a chevron formed with a radius of curvature with surfaces of the flow effector being defined and opposing one another. At least one shape memory alloy (SMA) member is embedded in the chevron closer to one of the chevron's opposing surfaces and substantially spanning from at least a portion of the chevron's root to the chevron's tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Roberto J. Cano, Richard J. Silcox, Ralph D. Buehrle, Christopher M. Cagle, Randolph H. Cabell, George C. Hilton
  • Flexible Volumetric Structure
    Publication number: 20100314810
    Abstract: A flexible volumetric structure has a first spring that defines a three-dimensional volume and includes a serpentine structure elongatable and compressible along a length thereof. A second spring is coupled to at least one outboard edge region of the first spring. The second spring is a sheet-like structure capable of elongation along an in-plane dimension thereof. The second spring is oriented such that its in-plane dimension is aligned with the length of the first spring's serpentine structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: USA as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Christopher M. Cagle, Robin W. Schlecht
  • Jet Engine Exhaust Nozzle Flow Effector
    Publication number: 20080272232
    Abstract: A jet engine exhaust nozzle flow effector is a chevron formed with a radius of curvature with surfaces of the flow effector being defined and opposing one another. At least one shape memory alloy (SMA) member is embedded in the chevron closer to one of the chevron's opposing surfaces and substantially spanning from at least a portion of the chevron's root to the chevron's tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Administrator of the National Aeronautics and and Space Administration
    Inventors: Christopher M. Cagle, Randolph H. Cabell, Travis L. Turner, Roberto J. Cano, Richard J. Silcox, Ralph D. Buehrle, George C. Hilton