Patents by Inventor John Edward Banks

John Edward Banks 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).

  • Multi-axis unfolding mechanism with rate controlled synchronized movement
    Patent number: 5829715
    Abstract: A mechanism (100) is disclosed for deploying wing air foils about mutually perpendicular axes. Air flow initiates deployment of the wings by causing pivoting motion of a T-joint fitting (112). Meshed gear teeth between the wing (122) and the elevation plate (108) also causes the elevation plate to pivot. The axis of pivotal motion of the elevation plate (108) and the T-joint fitting (112) are offset so that the gear teeth on the elevation plate (108) causes the wing to move from the folded position to the elevated position. A pair of wings are deployed simultaneously by use of a cross shaft (134) that interconnects the elevation plates (108) of each wing deployment apparatus. A hydraulic damper (146) can be operated by the cross shaft (134) to allow control of the rate of deployment of the wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corp.
    Inventor: John Edward Banks