Patents by Inventor Pieter S. Penhall

Pieter S. Penhall 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).

  • Method and apparatus for installing and actuating movable airfoils, including canards
    Patent number: 6929216
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for installing and actuating movable airfoils, such as canards. A canard in one embodiment of the invention includes an airfoil positioned external to an aircraft fuselage. The airfoil can include a first portion and a second portion (such as a flight control surface) movable relative to the first portion. A connecting portion depends from the airfoil portion and has an attachment portion configured to attach to an aircraft internal to the aircraft fuselage. A connecting portion can include first and second load paths to carry corresponding first and second load portions between the airfoil portion and the attachment portion. The connecting portion can be rotatable about a rotation axis positioned between the first and second loads paths. Accordingly, the connecting portion can be relatively compact so as to reduce the impact of the connecting portion and the volume of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David L. Bath, Salvatore Carta, Kelly T. Jones, Brian J. Kramer, Chester P. Nelson, Pieter S. Penhall, Joseph R. Pineda, Andrew Sheppard
  • Method and apparatus for installing and actuating movable airfoils, including canards
    Publication number: 20040140394
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for installing and actuating movable airfoils, such as canards. A canard in one embodiment of the invention includes an airfoil positioned external to an aircraft fuselage. The airfoil can include a first portion and a second portion (such as a flight control surface) movable relative to the first portion. A connecting portion depends from the airfoil portion and has an attachment portion configured to attach to an aircraft internal to the aircraft fuselage. A connecting portion can include first and second load paths to carry corresponding first and second load portions between the airfoil portion and the attachment portion. The connecting portion can be rotatable about a rotation axis positioned between the first and second loads paths. Accordingly, the connecting portion can be relatively compact so as to reduce the impact of the connecting portion and the volume of the fuselage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: David L. Bath, Salvatore Carta, Kelly T. Jones, Brian J. Kramer, Chester P. Nelson, Pieter S. Penhall, Joseph R. Pineda, Andrew Sheppard