Patents by Inventor Howard Ian SMITH

Howard Ian SMITH 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: 11964766
    Abstract: Trailing edge assemblies, couplers and methods for deploying a trailing edge flap of an aircraft wing are disclosed. An exemplary method disclosed herein comprises guiding an aft portion of the trailing edge flap along an elongated track member as the trailing edge flap moves toward the deployed position; guiding a forward portion of the trailing edge flap along the elongated track member as the trailing edge flap moves toward the deployed position; and accommodating transverse movement of the forward portion of the trailing edge flap relative to the elongated track member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventors: Dmitry Budnitsky, Howard Ian Smith, Thomas Hanson
  • Publication number: 20230128350
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying adjacent trailing edge flaps that are part of different flap assemblies of different stiffnesses are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first flap of a first flap assembly having a first stiffness by a first deployment amount and deploying a second flap adjacent the first flap by a second deployment amount where the deployment amount of the first flap part of the flap assembly of lower stiffness is greater than the second deployment amount of the second flap part of the flap assembly of higher stiffness. The difference in deployment amounts may be adapted to improve continuity between the first flap and the second flap when the first and second flaps are deployed and subjected to an aerodynamic load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Iyad AKEL, Dmitry BUDNITSKY, Howard Ian SMITH, Thomas HANSON
  • Patent number: 11565792
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying adjacent trailing edge flaps that are part of different flap assemblies of different stiffnesses are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first flap of a first flap assembly having a first stiffness by a first deployment amount and deploying a second flap adjacent the first flap by a second deployment amount where the deployment amount of the first flap part of the flap assembly of lower stiffness is greater than the second deployment amount of the second flap part of the flap assembly of higher stiffness. The difference in deployment amounts may be adapted to improve continuity between the first flap and the second flap when the first and second flaps are deployed and subjected to an aerodynamic load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventors: Iyad Akel, Dmitry Budnitsky, Howard Ian Smith, Thomas Hanson
  • Publication number: 20220242553
    Abstract: Trailing edge assemblies, couplers and methods for deploying a trailing edge flap of an aircraft wing are disclosed. An exemplary method disclosed herein comprises guiding an aft portion of the trailing edge flap along an elongated track member as the trailing edge flap moves toward the deployed position; guiding a forward portion of the trailing edge flap along the elongated track member as the trailing edge flap moves toward the deployed position; and accommodating transverse movement of the forward portion of the trailing edge flap relative to the elongated track member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Dmitry BUDNITSKY, Howard Ian SMITH, Thomas HANSON
  • Patent number: 11292582
    Abstract: Trailing edge assemblies, couplers and methods for deploying a trailing edge flap of an aircraft wing are disclosed. An exemplary method disclosed herein comprises guiding an aft portion of the trailing edge flap (28) along an elongated track member (36C) as the trailing edge flap (28) moves toward the deployed position; guiding a forward portion of the trailing edge flap (28) along the elongated track member (36C) as the trailing edge flap (28) moves toward the deployed position; and accommodating transverse movement of the forward portion of the trailing edge flap (28) relative to the elongated track member (36C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventors: Dmitry Budnitsky, Howard Ian Smith, Thomas Hanson
  • Publication number: 20210237855
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying adjacent trailing edge flaps that are part of different flap assemblies of different stiffnesses are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first flap of a first flap assembly having a first stiffness by a first deployment amount and deploying a second flap adjacent the first flap by a second deployment amount where the deployment amount of the first flap part of the flap assembly of lower stiffness is greater than the second deployment amount of the second flap part of the flap assembly of higher stiffness. The difference in deployment amounts may be adapted to improve continuity between the first flap and the second flap when the first and second flaps are deployed and subjected to an aerodynamic load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Iyad AKEL, Dmitry BUDNITSKY, Howard Ian SMITH, Thomas HANSON
  • Patent number: 11014649
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying adjacent trailing edge flaps that are part of different flap assemblies of different stiffnesses are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first flap of a first flap assembly having a first stiffness by a first deployment amount and deploying a second flap adjacent the first flap by a second deployment amount where the deployment amount of the first flap part of the flap assembly of lower stiffness is greater than the second deployment amount of the second flap part of the flap assembly of higher stiffness. The difference in deployment amounts may be adapted to improve continuity between the first flap and the second flap when the first and second flaps are deployed and subjected to an aerodynamic load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventors: Iyad Akel, Dmitry Budnitsky, Howard Ian Smith, Thomas Hanson
  • Publication number: 20190233085
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying adjacent trailing edge flaps that are part of different flap assemblies of different stiffnesses are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first flap of a first flap assembly having a first stiffness by a first deployment amount and deploying a second flap adjacent the first flap by a second deployment amount where the deployment amount of the first flap part of the flap assembly of lower stiffness is greater than the second deployment amount of the second flap part of the flap assembly of higher stiffness. The difference in deployment amounts may be adapted to improve continuity between the first flap and the second flap when the first and second flaps are deployed and subjected to an aerodynamic load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Iyad AKEL, Dmitry BUDNITSKY, Howard Ian SMITH, Thomas HANSON
  • Publication number: 20190233081
    Abstract: Trailing edge assemblies, couplers and methods for deploying a trailing edge flap of an aircraft wing are disclosed. An exemplary method disclosed herein comprises guiding an aft portion of the trailing edge flap (28) along an elongated track member (36C) as the trailing edge flap (28) moves toward the deployed position; guiding a forward portion of the trailing edge flap (28) along the elongated track member (36C) as the trailing edge flap (28) moves toward the deployed position; and accommodating transverse movement of the forward portion of the trailing edge flap (28) relative to the elongated track member (36C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Dmitry BUDNITSKY, Howard Ian SMITH, Thomas HANSON