Patents by Inventor Simon WAY

Simon WAY 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: 12606294
    Abstract: A method for reducing aerodynamic loads on an aircraft located on the ground includes moving a wing tip relative to a fixed wing to an on-ground configuration in which the span of the wing is reduced. The wing tip includes an airflow channel, which is in an open configuration in which airflow through the channel between upper and lower surfaces of the wing tip is enabled, when the wing tip is in the on-ground configuration. This has been found to reduce aerodynamic loads on the wing tip and/or parts of the aircraft connected thereto during this phase of the aircraft's use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Simon Way
  • Publication number: 20250074576
    Abstract: A method for reducing aerodynamic loads on an aircraft located on the ground includes moving a wing tip relative to a fixed wing to an on-ground configuration in which the span of the wing is reduced. The wing tip includes an airflow channel, which is in an open configuration in which airflow through the channel between upper and lower surfaces of the wing tip is enabled, when the wing tip is in the on-ground configuration. This has been found to reduce aerodynamic loads on the wing tip and/or parts of the aircraft connected thereto during this phase of the aircraft's use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventor: Simon Way
  • Patent number: 11225315
    Abstract: An aircraft wing having a fixed root part hingedly connected to a moveable tip part is disclosed. The tip part is configured to pivot relative to the root part about a substantially horizontal axis, between a load-alleviating configuration in which the tip part is oriented relative to the root part such that at least one of the upper and lower surface of the tip part is positioned away from the respective surface of the root part and a flight configuration in which the upper and lower surfaces of the tip part are continuations of the upper and lower surfaces of the root part. The shape of the tip part is controllably switchable between a cruise shape in which the tip part has positive camber and a recovery shape in which the tip part has negative camber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Simon Way
  • Publication number: 20200172227
    Abstract: An aircraft wing having a fixed root part hingedly connected to a moveable tip part is disclosed. The tip part is configured to pivot relative to the root part about a substantially horizontal axis, between a load-alleviating configuration in which the tip part is oriented relative to the root part such that at least one of the upper and lower surface of the tip part is positioned away from the respective surface of the root part and a flight configuration in which the upper and lower surfaces of the tip part are continuations of the upper and lower surfaces of the root part. The shape of the tip part is controllably switchable between a cruise shape in which the tip part has positive camber and a recovery shape in which the tip part has negative camber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Simon WAY
  • Patent number: 8967535
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program enable asymmetric deployment or retraction of aircraft landing gear. The landing gear includes landing gear doors which, when open extend over the aircraft centerline in order to provide room for deployment of the respective landing gear. To avoid interference between adjacent landing gear doors, the sequence of opening and/or closing of the landing gear doors is staggered. One gear door is opened and that landing gear is deployed, but prior to the adjacent door being opened, the first opened door is at least partially closed so as to not interfere with the fully opened position of the second door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Simon Way
  • Publication number: 20130026291
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and software are disclosed for enabling asymmetric deployment or retraction of aircraft landing gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Simon WAY