Patents by Inventor Reggie T. Kidd

Reggie T. Kidd 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).

  • Autonomous slat-cove-filler device for reduction of aeroacoustic noise associated with aircraft systems
    Patent number: 10272987
    Abstract: A slat cove filler is utilized to reduce airframe noise resulting from deployment of a leading edge slat of an aircraft wing. The slat cove filler is preferably made of a super elastic shape memory alloy, and the slat cove filler shifts between stowed and deployed shapes as the slat is deployed. The slat cove filler may be configured such that a separate powered actuator is not required to change the shape of the slat cove filler from its deployed shape to its stowed shape and vice-versa. The outer contour of the slat cove filler preferably follows a profile designed to maintain accelerating flow in the gap between the slat cove filler and wing leading edge to provide for noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Reggie T. Kidd, David P Lockard, Mehdi R. Khorrami, Craig L. Streett, Douglas Leo Weber
  • AUTONOMOUS SLAT-COVE-FILLER DEVICE FOR REDUCTION OF AEROACOUSTIC NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20160137284
    Abstract: A slat cove filler is utilized to reduce airframe noise resulting from deployment of a leading edge slat of an aircraft wing. The slat cove filler is preferably made of a super elastic shape memory alloy, and the slat cove filler shifts between stowed and deployed shapes as the slat is deployed. The slat cove filler may be configured such that a separate powered actuator is not required to change the shape of the slat cove filler from its deployed shape to its stowed shape and vice-versa. The outer contour of the slat cove filler preferably follows a profile designed to maintain accelerating flow in the gap between the slat cove filler and wing leading edge to provide for noise reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Reggie T. Kidd, David P. Lockard, Mehdi R. Khorrami, Craig L. Streett, Douglas Leo Weber
  • Autonomous slat-cove-filler device for reduction of aeroacoustic noise associated with aircraft systems
    Patent number: 9242720
    Abstract: A slat cove filler is utilized to reduce airframe noise resulting from deployment of a leading edge slat of an aircraft wing. The slat cove filler is preferably made of a super elastic shape memory alloy, and the slat cove filler shifts between stowed and deployed shapes as the slat is deployed. The slat cove filler may be configured such that a separate powered actuator is not required to change the shape of the slat cove filler from its deployed shape to its stowed shape and vice-versa. The outer contour of the slat cove filler preferably follows a profile designed to maintain accelerating flow in the gap between the slat cove filler and wing leading edge to provide for noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Reggie T. Kidd, David P Lockard, Mehdi R. Khorrami, Craig L. Streett, Douglas Leo Weber
  • Multi-element airfoil system
    Patent number: 8763958
    Abstract: A multi-element airfoil system includes an airfoil element having a leading edge region and a skin element coupled to the airfoil element. A slat deployment system is coupled to the slat and the skin element, and is capable of deploying and retracting the slat and the skin element. The skin element substantially fills the lateral gap formed between the slat and the airfoil element when the slat is deployed. The system further includes an uncoupling device and a sensor to remove the skin element from the gap based on a critical angle-of-attack of the airfoil element. The system can alternatively comprise a trailing edge flap, where a skin element substantially fills the lateral gap between the flap and the trailing edge region of the airfoil element. In each case, the skin element fills a gap between the airfoil element and the deployed flap or slat to reduce airframe noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Mehdi R. Khorrami, David P. Lockard, Martin J. McKenney, Raymond D. Atherley, Reggie T. Kidd
  • Multi-Element Airfoil System
    Publication number: 20120261517
    Abstract: A multi-element airfoil system includes an airfoil element having a leading edge region and a skin element coupled to the airfoil element. A slat deployment system is coupled to the slat and the skin element, and is capable of deploying and retracting the slat and the skin element. The skin element substantially fills the lateral gap formed between the slat and the airfoil element when the slat is deployed. The system further includes an uncoupling device and a sensor to remove the skin element from the gap based on a critical angle-of-attack of the airfoil element. The system can alternatively comprise a trailing edge flap, where a skin element substantially fills the lateral gap between the flap and the trailing edge region of the airfoil element. In each case, the skin element fills a gap between the airfoil element and the deployed flap or slat to reduce airframe noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Mehdi R. Khorrami, David P. Lockard, Martin J. McKenney, Raymond D. Atherley, Reggie T. Kidd
  • Autonomous Slat-Cove-Filler Device for Reduction of Aeroacoustic Noise Associated with Aircraft Systems
    Publication number: 20120097791
    Abstract: A slat cove filler is utilized to reduce airframe noise resulting from deployment of a leading edge slat of an aircraft wing. The slat cove filler is preferably made of a super elastic shape memory alloy, and the slat cove filler shifts between stowed and deployed shapes as the slat is deployed. The slat cove filler may be configured such that a separate powered actuator is not required to change the shape of the slat cove filler from its deployed shape to its stowed shape and vice-versa. The outer contour of the slat cove filler preferably follows a profile designed to maintain accelerating flow in the gap between the slat cove filler and wing leading edge to provide for noise reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: U.S.A as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Travis L. Turner, Reggie T. Kidd, David P. Lockard, Mehdi R. Khorrami, Craig L. Streett, Douglas Leo Weber