Patents by Inventor David A. Cylinder

David A. Cylinder 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).

  • Method for stacking thermal actuators with liquid crystal elastomer
    Patent number: 8040443
    Abstract: A method comprising arranging a first heating element on a first liquid crystal elastomer, arranging a first layer of thermal paste on the first heating element, and arranging a second liquid crystal elastomer on the first layer of thermal paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Christopher M Spillmann, David A Cylinder, Banahalli R Ratna, Jawad Naciri, Brett D. Martin
  • Method for Stacking Thermal Actuators
    Publication number: 20110185557
    Abstract: A method comprising arranging a first heating element on a first liquid crystal elastomer, arranging a first layer of thermal paste on the first heating element, and arranging a second liquid crystal elastomer on the first layer of thermal paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher M. Spillmann, David Cylinder, Banahalli R. Ratna, Jawad Naciri, Brett D. Martin
  • Method for stacking thermal actuators with liquid crystal elastomer
    Patent number: 7936404
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first liquid crystal elastomer, a first heating element, a first layer of thermal paste, and a second liquid crystal elastomer. The apparatus further comprising a second heating element, a second layer of thermal paste, and a third liquid crystal elastomer. The heating element can be a nickel-chromium heating element. A method comprising arranging a first heating element on a first liquid crystal elastomer, arranging a first layer of thermal paste on the first heating element, and arranging a second liquid crystal elastomer on the first layer of thermal paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Christopher M. Spillmann, David Cylinder, Banahalli R. Ratna, Jawad Naciri, Brett D. Martin
  • Convertible aerial vehicle with contra-rotating wing/rotors and twin tilting wing and propeller units
    Patent number: 7665688
    Abstract: A micro aerial vehicle can be converted during flight between a fixed wing flight mode and a rotary wing flight mode. The canard design micro aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, two tiltable propellers and airfoils arranged at a forward portion of fuselage, a pair of coaxial drive shafts positioned aft of the tiltable propeller and airfoil arranged for contra-rotation, a stop rotor mechanism, and a pair of wing panels, each of the wing panels attached to one of the coaxial drive shafts. The wing panels act as contra-rotating rotor blades in the rotary wing flight mode, and act as fixed wing panels in the fixed wing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David A Cylinder, James C Kellogg
  • Convertible aerial vehicle with contra-rotating wing/rotors and twin tilting wing and propeller units
    Publication number: 20090014599
    Abstract: A micro aerial vehicle can be converted during flight between a fixed wing flight mode and a rotary wing flight mode. The canard design micro aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, two tiltable propellers and airfoils arranged at a forward portion of fuselage, a pair of coaxial drive shafts positioned aft of the tiltable propeller and airfoil arranged for contra-rotation, a stop rotor mechanism, and a pair of wing panels, each of the wing panels attached to one of the coaxial drive shafts. The wing panels act as contra-rotating rotor blades in the rotary wing flight mode, and act as fixed wing panels in the fixed wing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David A Cylinder, James C. Kellogg
  • Method for stacking thermal actuators
    Publication number: 20080079858
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first liquid crystal elastomer, a first heating element, a first layer of thermal paste, and a second liquid crystal elastomer. The apparatus further comprising a second heating element, a second layer of thermal paste, and a third liquid crystal elastomer. The heating element can be a nickel-chromium heating element. A method comprising arranging a first heating element on a first liquid crystal elastomer, arranging a first layer of thermal paste on the first heating element, and arranging a second liquid crystal elastomer on the first layer of thermal paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher M. Spillmann, David Cylinder, Banahalli R. Ratna, Jawad Naciri, Brett D. Martin
  • Dual wing-pair air vehicle
    Patent number: 6959895
    Abstract: A vehicle for flying and having a forward portion and a rearward portion opposite the forward. The vehicle includes a first pair of wings arranged at the forward portion of the vehicle, a second pair of wings arranged at the rearward portion of the vehicle, and a support structure. The support structure is connected to the forward pair of wings and connected to the rearward pair of wings, the support structure being arranged to drive the forward pair of wings alternately toward each other and apart and drives the second pair of wings alternately toward each other and apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: David A. Cylinder
  • Dual wing-pair air vehicle
    Publication number: 20050178896
    Abstract: A vehicle for flying and having a forward portion and a rearward portion opposite the forward. The vehicle includes a first pair of wings arranged at the forward portion of the vehicle, a second pair of wings arranged at the rearward portion of the vehicle, and a support structure. The support structure is connected to the forward pair of wings and connected to the rearward pair of wings, the support structure being arranged to drive the forward pair of wings alternately toward each other and apart and drives the second pair of wings alternately toward each other and apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventor: David Cylinder