Patents by Inventor Gerald L. Merrill

Gerald L. Merrill 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).

  • Publication number: 20080023590
    Abstract: An aerodynamic body comprising at least one power plant inlet positioned in proximity to, and in fluid communication with, a boundary layer transition location associated with a boundary layer fluid flow over a surface of said aerodynamic body, the one or more power plant inlets operable for extracting at least a portion of said boundary layer fluid flow, thereby reducing drag on said aerodynamic body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Gerald L. Merrill, Shahid Siddiqi
  • Patent number: 5341782
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes four generally oval-shaped rotors which rotate in the same angular direction at the same angular speed. The peripheries of adjacent rotors rotate past one another to confine a working volume therebetween. Two of such rotors have a truncated end to periodically open the working volume to exhaust combusted gases and to intake fresh air. A fuel injector mixes fuel with fresh air trapped in the working volume to form a combustible mixture. The four rotors are surrounded by a shroud having strakes for creating directed vorticity within the shroud. Turning vanes direct incoming air from an intake manifold into the working volume and also direct exhaust gases toward an exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: W. Biswell McCall
    Inventors: W. Biswell McCall, Gerald L. Merrill