Patents by Inventor James E. Hackett

James E. Hackett 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: 4190219
    Abstract: The vortex system behind an aircraft is responsible for more than half of the aircraft drag in cruise flight and sometimes more in other flight conditions. The purpose of the vortex diffuser is to intercept the wing tip vortex just aft of the wing trailing edge, diffuse the trailing vorticity and thereby achieve a reduction in drag. To do this, an airfoil-shaped device is mounted on a trailing boom situated at or near to the wing tip. The airfoil is mounted above the boom at an angle inboard of the vertical. Its height is a percentage of wing semispan as is also the mean airfoil chord.The aft-mounting feature permits greater drag reduction at high subsonic Mach number and the inboard vane cant provides significant structural relief. In addition to drag reduction by diffusing the wing tip vortex, some reduction in trailing vortex hazard is also obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1980
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Hackett