Patents by Inventor Joseph J. Cox
Joseph J. Cox 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).
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Patent number: 11891191Abstract: A system and a method are provided for safely and efficiently transferring cargo and freight packed in ULD containers directly between an airport freight terminal and freight aircraft. An enclosed freightway is designed to provide a direct connection between the freight terminal and aircraft cargo doors. The enclosed freightway is structured and sized to move ULD containers automatically or manually between freight aircraft and freight terminals. Different freightway configurations enable direct connection between the freight terminal and freight aircraft main cargo door when freight aircraft are driven by electric taxi drive systems or aircraft engines and parked in nose-in orientations and when freight aircraft are driven by electric taxi drive systems and parked in parallel orientations at the freight terminal. An alternative embodiment provides direct connections between freight aircraft cargo doors and interior loading docks for aircraft driven with electric taxi drive systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Stuart Mark Ferrell, William T. Reed, Joseph J. Cox
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Patent number: 11869375Abstract: A monitoring system and method are provided to monitor ground movement of aircraft driven with electric taxi drive systems and movement of ground service vehicles and equipment and personnel within airport ramp areas. Monitor and sensor devices, including those that are intelligent and employ scanning technology to generate image, positional, and other data may be mounted in locations on aircraft, ground service vehicles and equipment, passenger loading bridges, an airport terminal, and other ramp locations to generate a constant stream of data as the aircraft moves into, within, and out of an airport ramp area. The data stream is transmitted to an artificial intelligence-based processing system to identify and communicate possible safety hazards to multiple locations so that the aircraft's ground travel or a ground vehicle's travel may be altered to avoid identified safety hazards and to avoid collisions.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2019Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Jan Vana, Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox
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Patent number: 11858656Abstract: A system is provided that guides aircraft driven with landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi drive systems without reliance on airport ground personnel to park the aircraft parallel to an airport terminal with connections to multiple passenger loading bridges, automatically docks the aircraft, and connects the multiple loading bridges to multiple forward and rear doors. Cooperative on-aircraft monitoring systems, airport docking systems, loading bridge and terminal monitoring systems, and processors are integrated to use real time information and guide the aircraft to safely maneuver into and automatically dock in a parallel orientation at a parking location with multiple aircraft forward and rear doors connected to multiple loading bridges. The system may automatically undock the aircraft and retract the loading bridges and guide the electric taxi drive system-driven aircraft out of the parking location without reliance on airport ground personnel.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: BOREALIS TECHNICAL LIMITEDInventors: Jan Vana, Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox
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Patent number: 11735059Abstract: A system and method are provided that direct a real time global view with images of an aircraft's entire exterior environment from an external monitoring system located on an aircraft equipped with landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi drive systems powering ground travel to an integrated head-up display worn by a pilot driving the aircraft with the electric taxi drive systems within an airport ramp area. The real time global view and images produced by the monitoring system are communicated to the integrated head-up display in the form of an actual picture of the ramp area environment exterior to the aircraft viewable by the pilot with the head-up display in real time as the pilot maneuvers the aircraft within the ramp area with the electric taxi systems. The pilot can change the images viewed in the head-up display by changing head position.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Inventors: Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox, Jan Vana, Tomas Vana
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Publication number: 20220242556Abstract: A method for increasing airport airside parking locations without adding infrastructure to the airport is provided. Aircraft equipped with pilot-controllable landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi drive systems for ground travel are maneuvered forward into remote tarmac stands or non-standard parking locations with the electric taxi drive systems, turned 180 degrees through tight turns, and parked in a nose-out orientation that enables the aircraft to efficiently unload and load passengers. The electric taxi drive systems drive the departing aircraft forward out of the parking locations. Remote tarmac parking locations may be located in areas that do not interfere with arrival and departure of aircraft parking at existing terminal stands. The present method may increase aircraft parking capacity at an airport, provide better utilization of existing tarmac space at the airport, reduce requirements for ground personnel on a per-flight basis, and improve airport ground operations efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Applicant: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Joseph J. Cox, Isaiah W. Cox, Jan Vana
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Publication number: 20220206495Abstract: A method is provided that reduces time to dock an electric taxi drive system-driven aircraft parking in a parallel orientation at an airport terminal. Passenger loading bridges are pre-positioned to substantially align with forward and rear doors of the aircraft. Pre-positioned passenger loading bridges extend from the terminal to locations that align with terminal-facing forward and rear doors when electric taxi systems maneuver the aircraft into the parallel parking orientation. The passenger loading bridge connected to a rear door may be pre-positioned at a height above the ramp surface above or below the height of the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer or below the height of the wing to enhance safety and further reduce connection and passenger transfer time. Connection of the pre-positioned passenger loading bridges with the aircraft doors should require only minimal adjustment before passenger transfer between the aircraft and terminal may begin.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Thomas O. Martel, Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox
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Patent number: 11332236Abstract: A force limiting system and method are provided for limiting loads in aircraft nose or main landing gear having wheels powered by taxi drive systems mounted within the landing gear wheels to drive aircraft on the ground. The force limiting system may include mechanical components selected to limit or minimize spin-up mass and to releasably connect the taxi drive system to a landing gear wheel section so that operation of the taxi drive system to drive a landing gear wheel is prevented in the presence of a predetermined maximum load. The load limiting system employs mechanical components engineered to securely connect the taxi drive system to the landing gear wheel during operation and to release the taxi drive system from connection to the wheel when loads applied to system components exceed an established or recommended maximum load.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox, Yonatan Rotenberg
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Publication number: 20220126987Abstract: A method for designing and operating aircraft nose landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi systems to move aircraft during ground travel. Electric taxi system components are engineered and sized to produce optimal ground travel torque to move aircraft during the majority of aircraft ground travel and are operated in conjunction with the aircraft steering to turn the nose wheels to an effective angle that moves the aircraft during pushback and in breakaway situations. The nose landing gear wheels are turned to an effective angle and the electric taxi systems are operated simultaneously to get the aircraft moving. After breaking away, the aircraft is driven with electric taxi systems at the optimal ground travel torque in a forward or reverse direction with the nose wheels parallel or in a desired ground travel direction with the nose wheels steered in the desired direction of ground travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2021Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Isaiah W. Cox, Jan Vana, Joseph J. Cox, Yonatan Rotenberg
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Publication number: 20220063807Abstract: A system and a method are provided for safely and efficiently transferring cargo and freight packed in ULD containers directly between an airport freight terminal and freight aircraft. An enclosed freightway is designed to provide a direct connection between the freight terminal and aircraft cargo doors. The enclosed freightway is structured and sized to move ULD containers automatically or manually between freight aircraft and freight terminals. Different freightway configurations enable direct connection between the freight terminal and freight aircraft main cargo door when freight aircraft are driven by electric taxi drive systems or aircraft engines and parked in nose-in orientations and when freight aircraft are driven by electric taxi drive systems and parked in parallel orientations at the freight terminal. An alternative embodiment provides direct connections between freight aircraft cargo doors and interior loading docks for aircraft driven with electric taxi drive systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Stuart Mark Ferrell, William T. Reed, Joseph J. Cox
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Patent number: 11235865Abstract: A method for designing and operating an aircraft nose landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi system to move aircraft with optimal torque during a broad range of ground travel conditions. Electric taxi system components may be sized to produce optimal ground travel torque to move aircraft during the majority of aircraft ground travel conditions and operated to produce a maximum or breakaway torque to move the aircraft with the electric taxi system when a higher level of torque is required. Turning the nose landing gear wheels to a selected angle or through a range of angles simultaneously as the electric taxi system is operated produces the breakaway torque required to get the aircraft moving. When lower torque is needed, the aircraft may be driven with the nose landing gear wheels parallel to the longitudinal axis to produce optimal torque for electric taxi system-powered aircraft ground travel.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Isaiah W. Cox, Jan Vana, Joseph J. Cox, Yonatan Rotenberg
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Patent number: 11142306Abstract: A method is provided for adding available takeoff and landing slots when aircraft designed for long haul flight are moved quietly and efficiently on the ground without operation of aircraft engines at airports with slot controls and airports that are constrained from operation at certain times by curfews that limit operating hours for these long haul aircraft. Long haul aircraft are powered and driven by onboard non-engine drive means or moved manually or automatically by tugs, tow vehicles, or other transfer apparatus to arrive at a runway before expiration of a morning curfew and to be ready for takeoff as soon as curfew is lifted. Long haul aircraft may land immediately before an evening curfew starts and to move without engines to an airport arrival location after evening curfew starts, effectively expanding and increasing the number of available takeoff and landing slots for long haul aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Joseph J. Cox, Isaiah W. Cox, Rodney T. Cox
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Publication number: 20210248914Abstract: A system and method are provided that direct a real time global view with images of an aircraft's entire exterior environment from an external monitoring system located on an aircraft equipped with landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi drive systems powering ground travel to an integrated head-up display worn by a pilot driving the aircraft with the electric taxi drive systems within an airport ramp area. The real time global view and images produced by the monitoring system are communicated to the integrated head-up display in the form of an actual picture of the ramp area environment exterior to the aircraft viewable by the pilot with the head-up display in real time as the pilot maneuvers the aircraft within the ramp area with the electric taxi systems. The pilot can change the images viewed in the head-up display by changing head position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox, Jan Vana, Tomas Vana
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Patent number: 11030559Abstract: A method for maintaining a supply of available aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means for autonomous ground movement is provided that enables an air carrier, particularly a low cost carrier, to operate reliably, efficiently, and economically to provide substantially uninterrupted air transport service. The present method is designed to enable airlines with fleets of older aircraft retrofitted with non-engine drive means for autonomous ground movement to operate economically and efficiently through a cooperative arrangement with a maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider that maintains and ensures an available supply network of spare and backup aircraft. The supply network may be global in geographic scope and may provide spare or backup aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means to one or more airlines.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Inventors: Joseph J. Cox, Rodney T. Cox, Isaiah W. Cox
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Publication number: 20210139165Abstract: A system is provided that guides aircraft driven with landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi drive systems without reliance on airport ground personnel to park the aircraft parallel to an airport terminal with connections to multiple passenger loading bridges, automatically docks the aircraft, and connects the multiple loading bridges to multiple forward and rear doors. Cooperative on-aircraft monitoring systems, airport docking systems, loading bridge and terminal monitoring systems, and processors are integrated to use real time information and guide the aircraft to safely maneuver into and automatically dock in a parallel orientation at a parking location with multiple aircraft forward and rear doors connected to multiple loading bridges. The system may automatically undock the aircraft and retract the loading bridges and guide the electric taxi drive system-driven aircraft out of the parking location without reliance on airport ground personnel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Jan Vana, Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox
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Patent number: 10974820Abstract: A powered clutch assembly is provided for an aircraft landing gear or other vehicle wheel drive system equipped with wheel drive motors controllable to move the aircraft or vehicle during ground travel. Electric power for the clutch assembly is transferred to clutch actuation elements by a rotary power transfer assembly mounted between stationary and rotating elements within the landing gear wheel drive system to clutch actuation elements. Actuation elements are powered to securely lock clutch rotating elements when required to improve the reliability of failsafe operation of the clutch assembly when torque should not be transferred and to unlock clutch rotating elements when torque should be transferred when the landing gear wheel drive system is used to drive the aircraft during ground travel. Power transferred from the rotary power transfer assembly may also be used to operate components associated with the aircraft drive wheel other than the powered clutch assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Inventors: Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox, Jonathan S. Edelson, Yonatan Rotenberg, John Hanson
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Patent number: 10964221Abstract: An improved ground collision avoidance system and method is provided for aircraft driven during ground operations by electric taxi drive systems. One or more monitoring devices employing scanning LiDAR technology may be mounted in exterior locations on or near aircraft landing gears or aerodynamically in locations on the aircraft fuselage selected to generate panoramic three-dimensional images from any point of view within or without the aircraft as the aircraft is driven independently within an airport ramp area. The point of view images are transmitted in real time to displays in the aircraft cockpit and may be transmitted to displays outside and remote from the aircraft, allowing the pilot and airport personnel to monitor the aircraft moving within the ramp environment and to respond quickly to control the aircraft's electric taxi drive system-powered ground travel to avoid and prevent a potential collision.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Jan Vana, Joseph J. Cox, Isaiah W. Cox
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Patent number: 10940941Abstract: A method for increasing the effective value and extending the economic life of aircraft is provided. When older or new aircraft are enabled and controlled to move autonomously on the ground without reliance on aircraft engines or external tow vehicles by equipping the aircraft with cost-saving wheel drive systems controllable to move the aircraft autonomously on the ground, substantial reductions in aircraft operating costs can be realized, and the value of aging airline fleets, as well as new aircraft, can be increased significantly. Unexpected reductions in aircraft effective economic age and increases in value can be achieved, particularly when aircraft equipped with cost-saving wheel drive systems experience large numbers of short flights and a large amount of taxi time.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventor: Joseph J. Cox
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Patent number: 10913530Abstract: A cockpit control system and method for efficiently controlling ground travel in an aircraft equipped with engine-free electric taxi drive systems are provided. The cockpit control system is configured with a display that provides a maximum amount of information during aircraft ground movement with a minimal amount of input from and distraction to pilots or cockpit crew to facilitate essentially hands free operation and control of aircraft ground travel. System test and drive procedures ensure safe aircraft ground travel with the engine-free electric taxi system. Constant pilot hand or other input is not required to achieve safe and maximally efficient aircraft ground travel powered by the aircraft's engine-free electric taxi drive systems or, under selected defined conditions, by the aircraft's engines to achieve this maximum efficiency. The system may further be designed to be uninterruptible by unauthorized persons.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Joseph J. Cox, Isaiah W. Cox, Jan Vana, Michael Spillias, Jr., Joseph Goldman
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Publication number: 20200307777Abstract: A system is provided for maximizing efficient ground travel in wide-body and other aircraft equipped with onboard non-engine drive means for autonomous ground travel. Selective operation of the non-engine drive means and selective operation of the aircraft's engines are integrated to power aircraft movement when different ground travel speeds are required between landing and takeoff, optimizing savings and maximizing the cost/benefit ratio for equipping the aircraft with a non-engine drive means. The non-engine drive means may be designed to move a wide-body aircraft at low speeds required for ground maneuvers in a ramp area and to move the aircraft at speeds typically used for pushback, initial forward roll, all start-stop situations, and other low speed ground travel. One or more of the aircraft's engines may be operated to move the aircraft at higher airport taxi speeds.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Joseph J. Cox, Isaiah W. Cox, Jan Vana, Rodney T. Cox
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Patent number: 10773797Abstract: A method is provided that enhances wheel drive assembly acceleration, heat reduction, and energy efficiency performance during ground travel in aircraft equipped with landing gear wheel-mounted drive assemblies to move aircraft on the ground without reliance on the aircraft's engines or external tow vehicles. Inflation pressure levels of tyres on the landing gear wheels are monitored with pressure and/or temperature sensors to determine and maintain an optimum defined high inflation pressure level for the specific kind of aircraft tyre or the aircraft. A clutch-activated drive assembly may be prevented from transferring torque and driving the aircraft when the optimum high inflation pressure levels are not present in the tyres during ground travel. Tyre pressures may be manually or automatically adjusted in response to processed sensor information to maintain the optimum high inflation pressure level in all tyres as the aircraft is driven with the drive assemblies or with engine thrust.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Borealis Technical LimitedInventors: Jan Vana, Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox, Jonathan S. Edelson, Nechama Cox