Patents by Inventor Kenneth Merle Dorsett

Kenneth Merle Dorsett 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: 10486793
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first deflector configured to couple to a shaft of a wing of an aircraft and form part of a top surface of the wing when in a first closed position, and a second deflector configured to couple to the shaft and form part of a bottom surface of the wing when in a second closed position. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to be positioned proximate to the tip of the wing. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to simultaneously pivot from the closed positions to respective first and second open positions upon actuation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Merle Dorsett, Robert Carl Storrie
  • Patent number: 10370085
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first deflector configured to couple to a shaft of an aircraft. The first deflector may form part of a top surface of the aircraft when in a first closed position. The apparatus may further include a second deflector configured to couple to the shaft and form part of a bottom surface of the aircraft when in a second closed position. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to be positioned at a junction of a body of the aircraft and a wing of the aircraft. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to simultaneously pivot from the closed positions to respective first and second open positions upon actuation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Merle Dorsett
  • Publication number: 20170341730
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first deflector configured to couple to a shaft of an aircraft. The first deflector may form part of a top surface of the aircraft when in a first closed position. The apparatus may further include a second deflector configured to couple to the shaft and form part of a bottom surface of the aircraft when in a second closed position. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to be positioned at a junction of a body of the aircraft and a wing of the aircraft. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to simultaneously pivot from the closed positions to respective first and second open positions upon actuation of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth Merle Dorsett
  • Publication number: 20170341731
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first deflector configured to couple to a shaft of a wing of an aircraft and form part of a top surface of the wing when in a first closed position, and a second deflector configured to couple to the shaft and form part of a bottom surface of the wing when in a second closed position. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to be positioned proximate to the tip of the wing. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to simultaneously pivot from the closed positions to respective first and second open positions upon actuation of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth Merle Dorsett, Robert Carl Storrie
  • Patent number: 6015115
    Abstract: An inflatable structure to control aircraft and a method of modifying the shape of an aircraft airfoil before and during flight, which includes inflating or deflating at least one inflatable bladder positioned on an aircraft wing. The inflatable structures to control aircraft include an aircraft wing structure, at least one inflatable section positioned on an aircraft wing structure in at least one location selected from the group of an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge of the aircraft wing structure. The inflatable section is provided for modifying the shape of the aircraft wing before or during flight for causing desired flight characteristics. An elastic wing skin is provided to cover the wing structure and the inflatable structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Merle Dorsett, Christopher Sean Stewart