Patents by Inventor Lee PROUDLER

Lee PROUDLER 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: 12214876
    Abstract: A cover panel for an aircraft including: a first region, a second region for forming an overlap with a second panel, and a ramp, wherein at least a portion of the ramp is between the first and second regions, wherein the ramp includes a tapered region such that a width of the ramp tapers towards a free-edge of the first region, and wherein the free-edge is configured to form a butt-joint with the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Barnett, Lee Proudler
  • Publication number: 20230382061
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aircraft aerofoil such as a winglet. The aircraft aerofoil includes: a first cover, a second cover, an aerofoil leading edge, and an aerofoil trailing edge where the first and second cover are joined at a trailing edge interface. The first cover is formed by: a lay-up step in which a plurality of fibre plies are laid up to obtain a preform, wherein the preform has a thickness and a preform trailing edge, and the preform is laid up during the lay-up step with a ramp of decreasing thickness where the thickness of the preform decreases towards the preform trailing edge; and a curing step in which the preform is cured to form the first cover, wherein the ramp of decreasing thickness cures during the curing step to form a contact surface of the first cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas BARNETT, Lee PROUDLER
  • Publication number: 20230373610
    Abstract: A cover panel for an aircraft including: a first region, a second region for forming an overlap with a second panel, and a ramp, wherein at least a portion of the ramp is between the first and second regions, wherein the ramp includes a tapered region such that a width of the ramp tapers towards a free-edge of the first region, and wherein the free-edge is configured to form a butt-joint with the second panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas BARNETT, Lee PROUDLER
  • Publication number: 20230166833
    Abstract: A winglet is disclosed including first and second covers, a front spar, a rear spar, a rib, and a mid spar between the front spar and the rear spar. The rib and each spar are joined to the first cover and to the second cover. The mid spar has a length and the mid spar curves along all or part of its length. The length of the mid spar extends from an inboard end of the mid spar to an outboard end of the mid spar, and the rib wraps around the inboard or outboard end of the mid spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas BARNETT, Andrew SCAIFE, Lee PROUDLER, Richard HEWSON
  • Patent number: 11643189
    Abstract: A wingtip device to attach to a wing of an aircraft includes an aerofoil portion and a connection spar arranged to be received in a connection spar receiving portion of the wing of an aircraft. The spar includes a first through hole in a first portion of the connection spar and a second through hole in a second rearward portion of the connection spar, the second portion being rearward of the first portion with respect to a direction of flight. The first and second through holes are arranged to receive a retaining pin that is to be inserted through both the first and second through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Barnett, Andrew Scaife, Lee Proudler
  • Publication number: 20210114711
    Abstract: A composite spar is disclosed having a main body and a pair of spaced apart legs. The space between the legs permits access to the mandrel assembly within the spar in order to ease its removal. This arrangement permits a spar of any length and contour to be manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas BARNETT, Lee PROUDLER, Andrew SCAIFE
  • Publication number: 20200331593
    Abstract: A wingtip device to attach to a wing of an aircraft includes an aerofoil portion and a connection spar arranged to be received in a connection spar receiving portion of the wing of an aircraft. The spar includes a first through hole in a first portion of the connection spar and a second through hole in a second rearward portion of the connection spar, the second portion being rearward of the first portion with respect to a direction of flight. The first and second through holes are arranged to receive a retaining pin that is to be inserted through both the first and second through holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas BARNETT, Andrew SCAIFE, Lee PROUDLER
  • Publication number: 20190329873
    Abstract: A winglet 100 configured for attachment to a wing portion 10 for an aircraft 1000. The winglet 100 includes a first outer wall 101, a second outer wall 102, and one or more spars 114, 116 between the first outer wall 101 and the second outer wall 102. The first outer wall 101 is unitary with the second outer wall 102 and/or with the one or more spars 114, 116.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Lee PROUDLER, Andrew SCAIFE, Thomas BARNETT