Patents by Inventor Edwin J. Zapel

Edwin J. Zapel 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: 4171787
    Abstract: An airfoil having a support frame, a rigid nose section, and upper and lower variable camber skin sections extending from the nose section rearwardly to the support frame. The frame has a rigid mounting arm which extends forwardly into the variable camber section, and a pivot link is connected from that mounting arm to a lower portion of the nose section so that is is able to swing downwardly and rearwardly to its cambered position. A toggle linkage connects an upper portion of the nose section to the frame just beneath the upper variable camber skin section. Flexure of the toggle linkage during downward movement of the nose section reduces the chord length of the arc of the variable camber upper skin section so that a proper continuous curve is formed by the upper variable camber skin section from the nose section back to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1979
    Inventor: Edwin J. Zapel
  • Patent number: 4131253
    Abstract: An airfoil having a support frame, a trailing edge end section, and upper and lower variable camber skin sections extending rearwardly from the support frame to the trailing edge end section. A walking beam is positioned between the upper and lower variable camber skin sections, and comprises a forward positioning section and a rearwardly extending locating arm. The positioning section is connected to the lower swing ends of two pivot links which extend upwardly and convergently toward one another to connect to the pivot frame at spaced locations so that forward or rearward movement of the positioning section causes the locating arm of the walking beam to rotate, respectively, downwardly or upwardly. A trailing edge beam is connected by its forward end to the support frame and by its rear end to the trailing edge end section, with the trailing edge beam being connected at an intermediate portion thereof to the rear end of the locating arm of the walking beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Edwin J. Zapel