Patents by Inventor Robert C. Heminway

Robert C. Heminway 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).

  • Rotary aircraft download alleviation apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 7686245
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for alleviating rotary aircraft downloads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rotary aircraft includes an airframe assembly having a fuselage, at least one rotor assembly operatively coupled to the airframe assembly and configured to provide a downwash over at least a portion of the airframe assembly during operation of the at least one rotor assembly, and at least one download alleviation strake operatively coupled to the fuselage, each download alleviation strake extending at least partially along a length of the fuselage and being configured to reduce a downwash download during operation of the at least one rotor assembly. In some embodiments, the airframe assembly includes at least one fuel tank, and the at least one download alleviation strake is coupled to the at least one fuel tank. The download alleviation strake may be pivotably coupled to the at least one fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert C. Heminway
  • Rotary Aircraft Download Alleviation Apparatus and Methods
    Publication number: 20090236467
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for alleviating rotary aircraft downloads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rotary aircraft includes an airframe assembly having a fuselage, at least one rotor assembly operatively coupled to the airframe assembly and configured to provide a downwash over at least a portion of the airframe assembly during operation of the at least one rotor assembly, and at least one download alleviation strake operatively coupled to the fuselage, each download alleviation strake extending at least partially along a length of the fuselage and being configured to reduce a downwash download during operation of the at least one rotor assembly. In some embodiments, the airframe assembly includes at least one fuel tank, and the at least one download alleviation strake is coupled to the at least one fuel tank. The download alleviation strake may be pivotably coupled to the at least one fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert C. Heminway