Patents by Inventor Henry J. Groen

Henry J. Groen 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: 5544844
    Abstract: An autogyro has a teetering semi-rigid rotary wing with rigid rotor blades. The angle of attack (blade pitch) of the rotor blades is fully adjustable in flight continuously over an operational range, and varies along the blade length. A prerotator rotates the rotor blades up to takeoff speed at minimum drag, no lift and optimum engine efficiency. Engine power is disconnected from the rotor blades and their angle of attack is changed for optimum lift to facilitate smooth vertical takeoff. Rotor blade pitch is likewise adjusted during vertical landing. In flight, rotor blade angle of attack is varied to adjust autorotation, lift and drag at any flight airspeed. On the ground, the rotary wing is braked to prevent rotation.The autogyro may roll, pitch, or yaw, with complete independence of blade pitch with respect to all other relative motions. The pedals have disproportionate forward and backward motions. The autogyro has retractable gear capable of fail-safe gear-up landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Inventors: Henry J. Groen, David L. Groen
  • Patent number: 5304036
    Abstract: An autogyro aircraft has freewheeling rotor blades that provide lift. A separate pusher propeller provides forward thrust. The rotor system (20) has a collective arm (30) as a control for selectively setting and maintaining a tension force on a collective cable to regulate the rotor blade angle of attack or pitch angle between a no-lift attitude and a positive lift angle. The collective arm (30) sets a tension on collective cable against a coil spring biasing. The collective arm is connected to pivot or tilt a pitch change horn assembly and, in turn, connected rotor blades. The collective arm can be selectively set and maintained and released and reset both on the ground and in flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Sego Tool, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry J. Groen, David L. Groen
  • Patent number: 5301900
    Abstract: An autogyro has a teetering semi-rigid rotary wing with rigid rotor blades. The angle of attack (blade pitch) of the rotor blades is fully adjustable in flight continuously over an operational range, and varies along the blade length. A prerotator rotates the rotor blades up to takeoff speed at minimum drag, no lift and optimum engine efficiency. Engine power is disconnected from the rotor blades and their angle of attack is changed for optimum lift to facilitate smooth vertical takeoff. Rotor blade pitch is likewise adjusted during vertical landing. In flight, rotor blade angle of attack is varied to adjust autorotation, lift and drag at any flight airspeed. On the ground, the rotary wing is braked to prevent rotation.The autogyro may roll, pitch, or yaw, with complete independence of blade pitch with respect to all other relative motions. The pedals have disproportionate forward and backward motions. The autogyro has retractable gear capable of fail-safe gear-up landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventors: Henry J. Groen, David L. Groen
  • Patent number: 4361111
    Abstract: A disassemblable pallet or dry rack for supporting spherical objects, such as golf balls, during painting or coating. The rack includes a base, having a series of radially aligned perforations, and at least three elongate prongs having horizontal leg portions extensible through the perforations in the base and shank portions extending vertically above the base, so as to present at least three prongs engageable with the spherical surface. The rack may be used, also, for suspending the golf ball in an inverted position during "dip" painting or coating and in an upright position for drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Inventor: Henry J. Groen