Patents by Inventor Kunal Thakar

Kunal Thakar 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).

  • Flap support breakaway and fail safety configuration
    Patent number: 11161594
    Abstract: A flap support mounting assembly employs a flap support having at least one laterally-oriented upper coupling and a pair of laterally-oriented lower couplings. A fail-safe pin engages the at least one laterally-oriented upper coupling to an upper rear-spar fitting. A pair of frangible pins engages the lower couplings to a pair of lower rear-spar fittings. The frangible pins are configured to shear and enable the flap support to rotate upwards about the fail-safe pin in response to a load induced on the flap support that creates a moment inducing a sufficient shear force to shear the frangible pins. The fail-safe pin is configured to shear allowing separation of the flap support and associated flap from the wing in a manner that inhibits damage to a rear spar and integral fuel tank in a wing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin R. Tsai, Kunal Thakar
  • FLAP SUPPORT BREAKAWAY AND FAIL SAFETY CONFIGURATION
    Publication number: 20210086904
    Abstract: A flap support mounting assembly employs a flap support having at least one laterally-oriented upper coupling and a pair of laterally-oriented lower couplings. A fail-safe pin engages the at least one laterally-oriented upper coupling to an upper rear-spar fitting. A pair of frangible pins engages the lower couplings to a pair of lower rear-spar fittings. The frangible pins are configured to shear and enable the flap support to rotate upwards about the fail-safe pin in response to a load induced on the flap support that creates a moment inducing a sufficient shear force to shear the frangible pins. The fail-safe pin is configured to shear allowing separation of the flap support and associated flap from the wing in a manner that inhibits damage to a rear spar and integral fuel tank in a wing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin R. Tsai, Kunal Thakar