Patents by Inventor Robert J. Englar
Robert J. Englar 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).
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Publication number: 20120020803Abstract: A blade for use in a wind turbine comprises a pressure side and suction side meeting at a trailing edge and leading edge, the pressure side having a pressure side surface and the suction side having a suction side surface, the pressure side surface and suction side surface for providing lift to the turbine blade upon the flow of air from the leading edge to the trailing edge and over the pressure side and suction side surfaces, the pressure side and suction side extending from a root portion to a tip portion of the turbine blade. In some situations, the root portion is non-aerodynamic. The aerodynamics of such a blade is improved with the aid of pneumatic blowing through one or more blown passages for providing pressurized air (or other fluid) to a suction side and/or pressure side of the blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Inventors: Paul Lees, Robert J. Englar, Graham M. Blaylock
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Patent number: 7104498Abstract: An aircraft comprising a Channel Wing having blown channel circulation control wings (CCW) for various functions. The blown channel CCW includes a channel that has a rounded or near-round trailing edge. The channel further has a trailing-edge slot that is adjacent to the rounded trailing edge of the channel. The trailing-edge slot has an inlet connected to a source of pressurized air and is capable of tangentially discharging pressurized air over the rounded trailing edge. The aircraft further has a propeller that is located in the channel and ahead of the rounded trailing edge of the channel. The propeller provides a propeller thrust exhaust stream across the channel wing to propel the aircraft through the air and to provide high lift.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.Inventors: Robert J. Englar, Dennis M. Bushnell
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Vehicle heat exchanger system and method for a vehicle that augments and modifies aerodynamic forces
Patent number: 6179077Abstract: A high density heat exchanging system is provided for a vehicle. The system essentially comprises an aerodynamic member, a porous device (including a radiator core), and a force augmentation device. The aerodynamic member is arranged and configured on the vehicle to produce forces and loads on the vehicle generally desirable for improving traction and handling. The porous device with radiator core, including an inlet and an outlet, is embedded in the aerodynamic member. The inlet of the porous device and radiator core is disposed on a high pressure surface of the aerodynamic member and the outlet is disposed on a low pressure surface of the aerodynamic member, thereby allowing fluid to flow through the porous device and the radiator core. The force augmentation device is disposed on the aerodynamic member.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: Georgia Tech Research CorporationInventors: Kenneth P. Burdges, Robert J. Englar -
Patent number: 5908217Abstract: A blowing system for controlling the aerodynamics of a ground vehicle comprises a source of compressed air, a valve for regulating the flow of the compressed air, and a plenum for discharging the air at a rear portion of the vehicle. The air discharged through the plenum prevents flow separation and consequently reduces the drag on the vehicle. It may also increase lift, reducing effective weight and thus rolling resistance of the tires, or decrease lift to improve tire traction and handling. The blowing system may have separate plenums for the left and right sides of the vehicle whereby vortex roll-up and flow separation which occur on only one side of the vehicle may be eliminated. Asymmetrical blowing of only one plenum will produce rolling and yawing moments to restore the vehicle's lateral/directional stability when exposed to a side wind.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1995Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: Georgia Tech Research CorporationInventor: Robert J. Englar
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Patent number: 5863090Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention, a blowing system for high performance vehicles, comprises a source of compressed air and a mechanism for regulating and controlling the flow of air from the source. Referring to FIG. 2, the compressed air is routed from its source through the regulating mechanism and to an aerodynamic surface (17) attached to the automobile in any appropriate manner. Although not required, the present system could be augmented by placing a plenum (21) inside the aerodynamic surface (17) for collecting the compressed air. This aerodynamic surface (17) preferably has a rounded trailing edge (19) or edges. The compressed air will be discharged from the aerodynamic surface (17) through a slot (22) in an outer surface of the aerodynamic surface (17). Preferably, the slot (22) would be on an under-side of a rear portion of the aerodynamic surface (17). However, the presence of a second slot on an upper-side of a rear portion of the aerodynamic surface (17) may also be desirable.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1997Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Georgia Tech Research CorporationInventor: Robert J. Englar
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Patent number: 4844385Abstract: A pneumatic aerodynamic control surface is described for an aircraft having a region of upwash ahead of a powered-lift or high-lift wing, the control surface comprising blown engine nacelles immersed in the upwash region, and capable of generating moments about all three axes of the aircraft without any external moving parts.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1987Date of Patent: July 4, 1989Assignee: Lockheed CorporationInventors: John A. Bennett, Robert J. Englar, Andrew S. W. Thomas
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Patent number: 4736913Abstract: A fluid flow control device controllably maintains attached flow in the region of a body having a contour of rapid curvature utilizing tangential fluid discharge slots, positioned just upstream from the separation line, which issue a thin jet sheet to energize the boundary layer and entrain the surrounding flow. When applied to the aft fuselage of an aircraft, the device reduces separation and vortex drag at cruise and provides control forces and moments during low speed operation of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1986Date of Patent: April 12, 1988Assignee: Lockheed CorporationInventors: John A. Bennett, Robert J. Englar, Andrew S. W. Thomas
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Patent number: 4463920Abstract: A non-moving fluid thrust deflector and force augmentor is disclosed for aerodynamic and hydrodynamic vehicles and devices. When the deflector is utilized in an aerodynamic application and in conjunction with a thrust producer and a plenum, upon pressure initiation within the plenum, a jet sheet issues and remains attached to a specially designed wing having a rounded trailing edge by balancing reduced static pressure with centrifugal force, and thus provides a controlled resultant force or thrust in some direction other than that corresponding to the original flow. Upon application to hydrodynamic vehicles, the deflector is placed in the propulsor stream and provides turning or pitching forces to the vehicle without any deflection of itself. These applications require no mechanical moving components to deflect or augment the thrust or force, and thus yield considerable reductions in weight and complexity.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1982Date of Patent: August 7, 1984Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: James H. Nichols, Jr., Roger J. Furey, Robert J. Englar, David G. Lee
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Patent number: 4457480Abstract: A multi-purpose mono-element airfoil is disclosed for aerodynamic vehicles and devices. The multi-purpose mono-element highlift airfoil when utilized in an aerodynamic application provides a combined no-moving-parts high lift and cruise airfoil which in conjunction with a plenum, upon pressure initiation, causes pressurized air to issue from a slot tanget to the airfoil surface and remains attached to the airfoil's shaped trailing edge, providing a controlled resultant force or thrust. Upon application to hydrodynamic vehicles, the multi-purpose mono-elements airfoil is placed in the freestream and provides turning or pitching forces to the vehicle without any deflection of itself or any mechanical components.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1982Date of Patent: July 3, 1984Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Robert J. Englar, Gregory G. Huson
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Patent number: 4398687Abstract: A non-moving fluid thrust deflector and force augmentor is disclosed for aerodynamic and hydrodynamic vehicles and devices. When the deflector is utilized in an aerodynamic application and in conjunction with a thrust producer and a plenum, upon pressure initiation within the plenum, a jet sheet issues and remains attached to a specially designed wing having a rounded trailing edge by balancing reduced static pressure with centrifugal force, and thus provides a controlled resultant force or thrust in some direction other than that corresponding to the original flow. Upon application to hydrodynamic vehicles, the deflector is placed in the propulsor stream and provides turning or pitching forces to the vehicle without any deflection of itself. These applications require no mechanical moving components to deflect or augment the thrust or force, and thus yield considerable reductions in weight and complexity.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1981Date of Patent: August 16, 1983Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: James H. Nichols, Jr., Roger J. Furey, Robert J. Englar, David G. Lee
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Patent number: 4387869Abstract: A multi-purpose mono-element airfoil is disclosed for aerodynamic and hydrodynamic vehicles and devices. The multipurpose mono-element highlift airfoil when utilized in an aerodynamic application provides a combined no-moving-parts high lift and cruise airfoil which in conjunction with a plenum, upon pressure initiation, causes pressurized air to issue from a slot tangent to the airfoil surface and remains attached to the airfoil's shaped trailing edge, providing a controlled resultant force of thrust. Upon application to hydrodynamic vehicles, the multi-purpose mono-element airfoil is placed in the freestream and provides turning or pitching forces to the vehicle without any deflection of itself or any mechanical components.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1981Date of Patent: June 14, 1983Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Robert J. Englar, Gregory G. Huson