Patents by Inventor Robert J. Desroche

Robert J. Desroche 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: 8991747
    Abstract: A method of modifying a helicopter includes providing a tail boom of the helicopter and modifying a surface profile of the tail boom on at least a first side of the tail boom to improve flow attachment of air flowing over the first side of the modified tail boom during operation of the helicopter. The first side of the tail boom is located on an opposite side of the tail boom from a second side of the tail boom towards which a main rotor blade of the helicopter approaches during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BLR AeroSpace, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Patent number: 8985503
    Abstract: A method of modifying a helicopter includes providing a tail boom of the helicopter. The tail boom includes a first side located on an opposite side of the tail boom from a second side of the tail boom. A main rotor blade of the helicopter approaches the second side of the tail boom during rotation. The first side and the second side of the tail boom include asymmetrical surface profiles about a vertical plane of the tail boom. The method further includes securing a plurality of vortex generators to the first side of the tail boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: BLR AeroSpace, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Publication number: 20140317900
    Abstract: A method of modifying a helicopter includes providing a tail boom of the helicopter. The tail boom includes a first side located on an opposite side of the tail boom from a second side of the tail boom. A main rotor blade of the helicopter approaches the second side of the tail boom during rotation. The first side and the second side of the tail boom include asymmetrical surface profiles about a vertical plane of the tail boom. The method further includes securing a plurality of vortex generators to the first side of the tail boom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: BLR AeroSpace, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Publication number: 20140166804
    Abstract: A method of modifying a helicopter includes providing a tail boom of the helicopter and modifying a surface profile of the tail boom on at least a first side of the tail boom to improve flow attachment of air flowing over the first side of the modified tail boom during operation of the helicopter. The first side of the tail boom is located on an opposite side of the tail boom from a second side of the tail boom towards which a main rotor blade of the helicopter approaches during rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Patent number: 8376265
    Abstract: An aircraft can include a tail section and a stabilizing system coupled to the tail section. The stabilizing system has a vertical stabilizer and at least one strake that cooperate to generate forces that compensate for a reaction torque generated by a main lifting rotor that produces lifting forces when the aircraft is in flight. Methods for improving aircraft performance include installing the at least one strake and retrofitting of a vertical stabilizer to increase thrust forces produced by a tail rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BLR Aerospace, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Publication number: 20120256041
    Abstract: An aircraft can include a tail section and a stabilizing system coupled to the tail section. The stabilizing system has a vertical stabilizer and at least one strake that cooperate to generate forces that compensate for a reaction torque generated by a main lifting rotor that produces lifting forces when the aircraft is in flight. Methods for improving aircraft performance include installing the at least one strake and retrofitting of a vertical stabilizer to increase thrust forces produced by a tail rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: BLR Aerospace, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Patent number: 8210468
    Abstract: An aircraft can include a tail section and a stabilizing system coupled to the tail section. The stabilizing system has a vertical stabilizer and at least one strake that cooperate to generate forces that compensate for a reaction torque generated by a main lifting rotor that produces lifting forces when the aircraft is in flight. Methods for improving aircraft performance include installing the at least one strake and retrofitting of a vertical stabilizer to increase thrust forces produced by a tail rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: BLR Aerospace, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Publication number: 20090302167
    Abstract: An aircraft can include a wing with a leading edge and a trailing edge. The wing has a main body and movable control surfaces coupled to the main body. The wing generates lifting forces when the aircraft is in flight. The movable control surfaces can be used to control the generated lifting forces. A spanwise flow inhibitor extends from the outer wingtip of the wing. At least one gurney flap extends generally downwardly from at least a portion of the trailing edge of the wing. The flap at least partially counteracts a change in center of lift attributable to the spanwise flow inhibitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Publication number: 20090008498
    Abstract: An aircraft can include a tail section and a stabilizing system coupled to the tail section. The stabilizing system has a vertical stabilizer and at least one strake that cooperate to generate forces that compensate for a reaction torque generated by a main lifting rotor that produces lifting forces when the aircraft is in flight. Methods for improving aircraft performance include installing the at least one strake and retrofitting of a vertical stabilizer to increase thrust forces produced by a tail rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Patent number: 7063289
    Abstract: A vertical stabilizer (38) is supported by and projects upwardly and rearwardly from the tail portion (14) of a helicopter fuselage (12). A tail rotor (TSR) is mounted on the vertical stabilizer (38) for rotation about a horizontal axis (C). The tail rotor (TSR) is positioned laterally outwardly from one side of the vertical stabilizer (38). The vertical stabilizer (38) has an upper end, a lower end and a rear edge recess (44) located between the upper end and the lower end. The recess (44) has a laterally convex rear edge (50). The tail portion (14) of fuselage (12) has a rear end extension (40) that extends rearwardly from the vertical stabilizer (38) and narrows in width as it extends rearwardly. The rear end extension (40) of the fuselage (12) provides vertical area to replace vertical area that was removed by placement of the recess (44) in the vertical stabilizer (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche
  • Patent number: 6869045
    Abstract: A vertical stabilizer (38) is supported by and projects upwardly and rearwardly from the tail portion (14) of a helicopter fuselage (12). A tail rotor (TSR) is mounted on the vertical stabilizer (38) for rotation about a horizontal axis (C). The tail rotor (TSR) is positioned laterally outwardly from one side of the vertical stabilizer (38). The vertical stabilizer (38) has an upper end, a lower end and a rear edge recess (44) located between the upper end and the lower end. The recess (44) has a laterally convex rear edge (50). The tail portion (14) of fuselage (12) has a rear end extension (40) that extends rearwardly from the vertical stabilizer (38) and narrows in width as it extends rearwardly. The rear end extension (40) of the fuselage (12) provides vertical area to replace vertical area that was removed by placement of the recess (44) in the vertical stabilizer (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Boudary Layer Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Desroche