Patents by Inventor Stephen Stecko

Stephen Stecko 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).

  • Publication number: 20080054124
    Abstract: Controllable refueling drogues and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a fuel delivery device having a deployable portion configured to be deployed overboard an aircraft during aerial refueling. The deployable portion can include at least a portion of a flexible fuel line, a drogue coupled to the flexible fuel line, and an actuatable device operatively coupled to at least one of the drogue and the fuel line. The deployable portion can further include a guidance system that is operatively coupled to the actuatable device and that includes instructions to direct the operation of the actuatable device and move the drogue during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John Takacs, Stephen Stecko, Gordon Jefferson, Gregory Roberts, Joseph Shoore
  • Publication number: 20060284019
    Abstract: Controllable refueling drogues and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a fuel delivery device having a deployable portion configured to be deployed overboard an aircraft during aerial refueling. The deployable portion can include at least a portion of a flexible fuel line, a drogue coupled to the flexible fuel line, and an actuatable device operatively coupled to at least one of the drogue and the fuel line. The deployable portion can further include a guidance system that is operatively coupled to the actuatable device and that includes instructions to direct the operation of the actuatable device and move the drogue during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: John Takacs, Stephen Stecko, Gordon Jefferson, Gregory Roberts, Joseph Shoore
  • Publication number: 20060060710
    Abstract: An in-flight refueling system, damping device and method are provided for enhancing the stability of an elongate hose extending from a tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation. The various embodiments of the system, device, and method provide a passive, integrated damping device that may generate electrical energy from changes in disposition of the elongate hose and then using the electrical energy generated to impart mechanical damping forces to a portion of the elongate hose. Thus, the embodiments may minimize the occurrence of oscillations in the elongate hose as it extends from the tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: John Takacs, Stephen Stecko
  • Publication number: 20060000950
    Abstract: An in-flight refueling system and method are provided to extend and retract an in-flight refueling device between a stowed position and an extended position relative to a tanker aircraft. The system and method of the present invention provide an induction device configured to extend and retract the in-flight refueling device such that the in-flight refueling system requires less maintenance and may be packaged in a compact, low-profile arrangement so that the in-flight refueling system may be carried by a variety of tanker aircraft in a variety of different configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: German Von Thal, Harry Slusher, Stephen Stecko