Patents by Inventor Neil John Lyons

Neil John Lyons 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: 11981422
    Abstract: An aircraft wing is disclosed having a root end, a tip end, a span extending between the root end and the tip end, a leading edge, a trailing edge and a chord extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and including a main fixed wing portion having an inboard portion adjacent the root end, and an outboard portion adjacent the tip end. A wing tip device attached to the tip end of the wing; and a movable flight control surface connected at the outboard portion of the main fixed wing portion and having a leading edge, a trailing edge and a chord extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. A ratio of the local chord length of the movable flight control surface to the local chord length of the wing varies in the spanwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil John Lyons, Ben Commis
  • Patent number: 11738854
    Abstract: An aircraft with wing tip devices, for example, folding wing tips, is disclosed. The folding wing tip may have a flight configuration for use during flight, and a ground configuration for use in ground-based operations. The ground configuration creates a shorter wing span than when the aircraft is in the flight configuration. A hinge arrangement protrudes beyond an outer surface of the fixed wing and wing tip device. In order to reduce the aerodynamic effect of the protruding hinge a fairing may be provided. In the flight configuration the fairing comprises a rear portion with a concave surface, such that the fairing acts as a lift-generating surface when the aircraft is in flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Lowry, Neil John Lyons
  • Patent number: 11447239
    Abstract: An aircraft wing (2) including a main wing (3) and a wing tip device (4) at the tip of the main wing (3), wherein the wing tip device (4) has a variation of leading edge droop with respect to unrolled span-wise position such that flow separation on the wing tip device (4) first occurs in an outboard region (O) of the wing tip device (4). The leading edge droop of the wing tip device (4) may be a maximum in an outboard region (O) of the wing tip device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Ben Commis, Neil John Lyons
  • Publication number: 20220089277
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting a wing of a fixed wing aircraft is disclosed including the steps of providing an existing aircraft wing with a main fixed wing portion, and the main fixed wing portion having a tip end and an existing movable flight control surface connected adjacent the tip end. The existing movable flight control surface is then removed from the main fixed wing portion, and a wing tip device and movable flight control surface are selected as a pair to replace the existing movable flight control surface, with the selected movable flight control surface having an aerodynamic surface of different shape to the shape of the flight control surface removed from the wing. The selected wing tip device and movable flight control surface are then fitted to the main fixed wing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Neil John LYONS, Ben COMMIS
  • Patent number: 11247769
    Abstract: An aerodynamic structure for use on an upper surface of an aircraft wing is disclosed. The wing includes a slat operable between a stowed configuration in which the slat is stowed in a slat recess of the wing, and a deployed configuration in which the slat extends out of the slat recess. When the slat is in the deployed configuration, an end face of the slat recess is exposed, the end face intersecting with the upper surface of the wing at a recess edge. The aerodynamic structure, adjacent to the recess edge, has a volume shaped to encourage air flowing over the recess edge onto the upper surface during flight, to remain attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Ching-Yu Hui, Neil John Lyons
  • Publication number: 20220017206
    Abstract: An aircraft with wing tip devices, for example, folding wing tips, is disclosed. The folding wing tip may have a flight configuration for use during flight, and a ground configuration for use in ground-based operations. The ground configuration creates a shorter wing span than when the aircraft is in the flight configuration. A hinge arrangement protrudes beyond an outer surface of the fixed wing and wing tip device. In order to reduce the aerodynamic effect of the protruding hinge a fairing may be provided. In the flight configuration the fairing comprises a rear portion with a concave surface, such that the fairing acts as a lift-generating surface when the aircraft is in flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Richard LOWRY, Neil John LYONS
  • Patent number: 11174008
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting a wing of a fixed wing aircraft is disclosed including the steps of providing an existing aircraft wing with a main fixed wing portion, and the main fixed wing portion having a tip end and an existing movable flight control surface connected adjacent the tip end. The existing movable flight control surface is then removed from the main fixed wing portion, and a wing tip device and movable flight control surface are selected as a pair to replace the existing movable flight control surface, with the selected movable flight control surface having an aerodynamic surface of different shape to the shape of the flight control surface removed from the wing. The selected wing tip device and movable flight control surface are then fitted to the main fixed wing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil John Lyons, Ben Commis
  • Publication number: 20200140065
    Abstract: An aerodynamic structure for use on an upper surface of an aircraft wing is disclosed. The wing includes a slat operable between a stowed configuration in which the slat is stowed in a slat recess of the wing, and a deployed configuration in which the slat extends out of the slat recess. When the slat is in the deployed configuration, an end face of the slat recess is exposed, the end face intersecting with the upper surface of the wing at a recess edge. The aerodynamic structure, adjacent to the recess edge, has a volume shaped to encourage air flowing over the recess edge onto the upper surface during flight, to remain attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ching-Yu HUI, Neil John LYONS
  • Publication number: 20190329874
    Abstract: An aircraft wing (2) including a main wing (3) and a wing tip device (4) at the tip of the main wing (3), wherein the wing tip device (4) has a variation of leading edge droop with respect to unrolled span-wise position such that flow separation on the wing tip device (4) first occurs in an outboard region (O) of the wing tip device (4). The leading edge droop of the wing tip device (4) may be a maximum in an outboard region (O) of the wing tip device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ben COMMIS, Neil John LYONS
  • Publication number: 20190161174
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting a wing of a fixed wing aircraft is disclosed including the steps of providing an existing aircraft wing with a main fixed wing portion, and the main fixed wing portion having a tip end and an existing movable flight control surface connected adjacent the tip end. The existing movable flight control surface is then removed from the main fixed wing portion, and a wing tip device and movable flight control surface are selected as a pair to replace the existing movable flight control surface, with the selected movable flight control surface having an aerodynamic surface of different shape to the shape of the flight control surface removed from the wing. The selected wing tip device and movable flight control surface are then fitted to the main fixed wing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Neil John Lyons, Ben Commis
  • Patent number: 9027883
    Abstract: A shock control fairing for mounting a junction between adjoining aircraft surfaces. The fairing has a cross-sectional profile which varies along the length of the fairing. The cross-sectional profile of the fairing has a maximum area at a location which, when mounted to an aircraft, is substantially proximal to a location on the surface of the aircraft at which a shock would be expected to develop without the fairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Neil John Lyons
  • Publication number: 20110204185
    Abstract: A shock control fairing for mounting a junction between adjoining aircraft surfaces. The fairing has a cross-sectional profile which varies along the length of the fairing. The cross-sectional profile of the fairing has a maximum area at a location which, when mounted to an aircraft, is substantially proximal to a location on the surface of the aircraft at which a shock would be expected to develop without the fairing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Neil John Lyons