Patents by Inventor Dale E. Clay

Dale E. Clay 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: 6036141
    Abstract: An improved jet thruster system for use in a helicopter without a tail rotor. A non-rotating outer thruster assembly is attached to the rear of the tail boom which, within it, has a source of low pressure air. The outer thruster assembly has a window on each side. Nested within the outer thruster assembly is an inner thruster assembly with a single window which rotates within the outer thruster assembly in response to commands from the helicopter control system. As the single window in the inner assembly is rotated around to where it overlaps with one or the other of the side windows in the outer assembly, an exit opening is created for the low pressure air which in turn creates a desired side force on the tail boom to counteract the torque created by the main rotor and also to provide yaw control for the helicopter. The interior of the inner thruster assembly contains vanes and an air ramp to efficiently redirect the air flow from axial flow to lateral flow within the inner thruster assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Dale E. Clay