Patents by Inventor Robert Thodal
Robert Thodal 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: 20250066012Abstract: An extension linkage for a wing flap can include at least one arm that includes two elements connected by a joint. The linkage can include an actuation mechanism, additional arms and/or each arm can include more than two elements, tie rods and/or cross pieces connecting two or more arms, and any other suitable components. The linkage functions to translate and rotate a body attached to one end of the arm relative to a primary structure attached to a second end of the arm. The linkage resides entirely within a space defined by the upper skin and the lower skin of the wing rearward of the mounting when in a retracted configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Gregor Veble Mikic, Joachim Grenestedt, Robert Thodal, Edward Stilson, Baixi Pei, Drew Boggio
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Patent number: 12199305Abstract: An aircraft includes a battery pack mounted inside the aircraft, a vent coupled between the battery pack and a surface of the aircraft to at least partly define a vent path between the battery pack and the surface of the aircraft, and a burst membrane located in the vent path. The vent may be coupled to a rear upper portion of a wing or to an outboard side of a nacelle. The aircraft may also include a flexible coupling between the vent and the surface of the aircraft. The aircraft may also include a fairing over a vent outlet to provide a smooth surface for the vent outlet. The battery pack may include battery modules and an enclosure, the battery modules and the enclosure defining paths along which discharge from a thermal event can flow towards the vent.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.Inventors: Ernest Villanueva, Austin Lawrence Newman, Michael Patrick Tucker, Robert Thodal, Christopher Cochran, Matthew Clyde Cusimano, Edward Stilson, Ahsan Mehmood, Edward Thomas Sweet
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Publication number: 20250002145Abstract: A rotor assembly deployment mechanism configured to deploy a rotor assembly of a vertical take-off and landing aircraft from a horizontal, forward thrust, position to a vertical, hover, position. The rotor assembly deployment mechanism is configured to deploy an electric motor and propeller together. The deployment mechanism provides significant stiffness and strength with the use of torsion box constructions. The deployment mechanism may utilize bar linkages wherein the primary linkage pivot is of a large diameter relative to the span of the pivot in order to provide significant stiffness. The deployment mechanism may utilize rotary actuators to drive the deployment and stowing of the rotor assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2024Publication date: January 2, 2025Inventors: Robert Thodal, Florian Jule, Baixi Pei, Joachim Grenestedt, Jordin Gischler
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Patent number: 11932400Abstract: An extension linkage for a wing flap can include at least one arm that includes two elements connected by a joint. The linkage can include an actuation mechanism, additional arms and/or each arm can include more than two elements, tie rods and/or cross pieces connecting two or more arms, and any other suitable components. The linkage functions to translate and rotate a body attached to one end of the arm relative to a primary structure attached to a second end of the arm. The linkage resides entirely within a space defined by the upper skin and the lower skin of the wing rearward of the mounting when in a retracted configuration.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.Inventors: Joeben Bevirt, Gregor Veble Mikić, Joachim Grenestedt, Robert Thodal, Edward Stilson, Percy Pei, Drew Boggio
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Patent number: 11597528Abstract: An aircraft includes a battery pack, an internal support structure to support the battery pack in the aircraft, a first bracket rigidly coupling the battery pack to the support structure, and a second bracket rotationally coupling the battery pack to the support structure. The first and second brackets may be located on opposite sides of the battery pack. The internal support structure may be located in a wing of the aircraft and the first and second brackets may be aligned in a fore-aft direction of the aircraft. The internal support structure may be located in a nacelle of the aircraft and the first and second brackets may be aligned along a transverse direction of the aircraft. The second bracket may include two hangers to support a mass of the battery pack in tension.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.Inventors: Ernest Villanueva, Austin Lawrence Newman, Michael Patrick Tucker, Robert Thodal, Christopher Cochran, Matthew Clyde Cusimano, Edward Stilson, Ahsan Mehmood
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Publication number: 20220402622Abstract: An aircraft includes a battery pack, an internal support structure to support the battery pack in the aircraft, a first bracket rigidly coupling the battery pack to the support structure, and a second bracket rotationally coupling the battery pack to the support structure. The first and second brackets may be located on opposite sides of the battery pack. The internal support structure may be located in a wing of the aircraft and the first and second brackets may be aligned in a fore-aft direction of the aircraft. The internal support structure may be located in a nacelle of the aircraft and the first and second brackets may be aligned along a transverse direction of the aircraft. The second bracket may include two hangers to support a mass of the battery pack in tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2021Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Ernest Villanueva, Austin Lawrence Newman, Michael Patrick Tucker, Robert Thodal, Christopher Cochran, Matthew Clyde Cusimano, Edward Stilson, Ahsan Mehmood
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Publication number: 20220219804Abstract: An extension linkage for a wing flap can include at least one arm that includes two elements connected by a joint. The linkage can include an actuation mechanism, additional arms and/or each arm can include more than two elements, tie rods and/or cross pieces connecting two or more arms, and any other suitable components. The linkage functions to translate and rotate a body attached to one end of the arm relative to a primary structure attached to a second end of the arm. The linkage resides entirely within a space defined by the upper skin and the lower skin of the wing rearward of the mounting when in a retracted configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Gregor Veble Mikic, Joachim Grenestedt, Robert Thodal, Edward Stilson, Percy Pei, Drew Boggio
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Patent number: 11292581Abstract: The 3D extension linkage 100 can include at least one arm that includes two elements connected by a joint. The linkage can include an actuation mechanism, additional arms and/or each arm can include more than two elements, tie rods and/or cross pieces connecting two or more arms, and any other suitable components. The linkage 100 functions to translate and rotate a body attached to one end of the arm relative to a primary structure attached to a second end of the arm.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Joby Aero Inc.Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Gregor Veble Mikić, Joachim Grenestedt, Robert Thodal, Edward Stilson, Percy Pei, Drew Boggio
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Publication number: 20210391627Abstract: An aircraft includes a battery pack mounted inside the aircraft, a vent coupled between the battery pack and a surface of the aircraft to at least partly define a vent path between the battery pack and the surface of the aircraft, and a burst membrane located in the vent path. The vent may be coupled to a rear upper portion of a wing or to an outboard side of a nacelle. The aircraft may also include a flexible coupling between the vent and the surface of the aircraft. The aircraft may also include a fairing over a vent outlet to provide a smooth surface for the vent outlet. The battery pack may include battery modules and an enclosure, the battery modules and the enclosure defining paths along which discharge from a thermal event can flow towards the vent.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Ernest Villanueva, Austin Newman, Michael Tucker, Robert Thodal, Christopher Cochran, Matthew Cusimano, Edward Stilson, Ahsan Mehmood, Ted Sweet
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Publication number: 20210214069Abstract: The 3D extension linkage 100 can include at least one arm that includes two elements connected by a joint. The linkage can include an actuation mechanism, additional arms and/or each arm can include more than two elements, tie rods and/or cross pieces connecting two or more arms, and any other suitable components. The linkage 100 functions to translate and rotate a body attached to one end of the arm relative to a primary structure attached to a second end of the arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Gregor Veble Mikic, Joachim Grenestedt, Robert Thodal, Edward Stilson, Percy Pei, Drew Boggio