Patents by Inventor Richard D. Vandervoort

Richard D. Vandervoort 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).

  • Systems and methods for braking aircraft, including braking intermediate main gears and differential braking
    Patent number: 7300020
    Abstract: Systems and methods for braking aircraft are disclosed. These systems and methods can be employed on multi-main gear aircraft to reduce the radius with which the aircraft makes low speed, pivot turns. Further systems and methods can be used to correct the braking behavior of the aircraft during a turn when the actual or measured braking behavior of the aircraft deviates from the commanded turning behavior. For example, one system includes a controller operatively coupleable amongst a leftmost landing gear, a rightmost landing gear, and an intermediate landing gear of an aircraft. The controller can be configured to direct the application of brakes on wheels of the leftmost landing gear during a left turn, and direct the release of brakes on all wheels of the intermediate landing gear during the left turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David S. Steiner, Richard D. Vandervoort
  • Systems and methods for braking aircraft, including braking intermediate main gears and differential braking
    Patent number: 7281684
    Abstract: Systems and methods for braking aircraft are disclosed. These systems and methods can be employed on multi-main gear aircraft to reduce the radius with which the aircraft makes low speed, pivot turns. Further systems and methods can be used to correct the braking behavior of the aircraft during a turn when the actual or measured braking behavior of the aircraft deviates from the commanded turning behavior. For example, one system includes a controller operatively coupleable amongst a leftmost landing gear, a rightmost landing gear, and an intermediate landing gear of an aircraft. The controller can be configured to direct the application of brakes on wheels of the leftmost landing gear during a left turn, and direct the release of brakes on all wheels of the intermediate landing gear during the left turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David S. Steiner, Richard D. Vandervoort