Patents by Inventor Kevin David Koller

Kevin David Koller 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: 11820531
    Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Allwein, James William Groves, Kevin David Koller, Ryan Bylard, Roy Hultenius
  • Patent number: 11724807
    Abstract: In-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight in order to recover a target UAV that is also in-flight. A reel on the host aircraft may pay out the towline having a fitting thereon. A catch on the target UAV may engage with the fitting on the towline, and the reel may then retract the towline to thereby pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft. The target UAV may then securely attach with the host aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin David Koller, Michael Joseph Allwein, Roy Hultenius, Armen Assatourian, Russell Temple
  • Publication number: 20230150691
    Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Allwein, James William Groves, Kevin David Koller, Ryan Bylard, Roy Hultenius
  • Publication number: 20230150668
    Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Allwein, Kevin David Koller, Ryan Bylard, Roy Hultenius
  • Patent number: 11639223
    Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Allwein, Kevin David Koller, Ryan Bylard, Roy Hultenius
  • Publication number: 20210354825
    Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight in order to recover a target UAV that is also in-flight. A reel on the host aircraft may pay out the towline having a fitting thereon. A catch on the target UAV may engage with the fitting on the towline, and the reel may then retract the towline to thereby pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft. The target UAV may then securely attach with the host aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin David Koller, Michael Joseph Allwein
  • Publication number: 20130215202
    Abstract: In one example, a print substrate web path through a printer includes a first web path through a printing unit and a helical second web path through a dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin David Koller, Thomas J. Tarnacki
  • Patent number: 6857720
    Abstract: An airflow assembly for a fluid-ejection mechanism of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that includes at least one first surface and at least one second surface. The at least one first surface is to at least substantially cause airflow to be deflected around the fluid-ejection mechanism while the fluid-ejection mechanism is moving. The at least one second surface is at least substantially flush with a front surface of the fluid-ejection mechanism, to create airflow drag over the front surface of the fluid-ejection mechanism while the fluid-ejection mechanism is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin David Koller, Dale D Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040257395
    Abstract: An airflow assembly for a fluid-ejection mechanism of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that includes at least one first surface and at least one second surface. The at least one first surface is to at least substantially cause airflow to be deflected around the fluid-ejection mechanism while the fluid-ejection mechanism is moving. The at least one second surface is at least substantially flush with a front surface of the fluid-ejection mechanism, to create airflow drag over the front surface of the fluid-ejection mechanism while the fluid-ejection mechanism is moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin David Koller, Dale D. Johnson