Patents by Inventor Thomas I. Linehan

Thomas I. Linehan 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).

  • Sliding, canted, control surfaces for control augmentation of lifting surfaces at high angles of attack
    Patent number: 11332245
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a micro-aerial vehicle or underwater vehicle, includes at least one lift structure, such as a low-aspect-ratio wing or a fin, respectively. The at least one lift structure comprises one or more alulas. A leading surface of each alula is (a) flush with a leading surface of the lift structure or (b) offset from the leading edge of the lift surface by up to approximately 10% of the chord length of the lift structure. The length of each alula is no more than approximately 20% of a lift structure length corresponding to the lift structure. In various embodiments, the alula is deflected or canted with respect to a plane defined by the lift structure. In an example embodiment, the alulas may be slid or translated along at least a portion of the span of the lift structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kamran Mohseni, Thomas I. Linehan
  • SLIDING, CANTED, CONTROL SURFACES FOR CONTROL AUGMENTATION OF LIFTING SURFACES AT HIGH ANGLES OF ATTACK
    Publication number: 20200247538
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a micro-aerial vehicle or underwater vehicle, includes at least one lift structure, such as a low-aspect-ratio wing or a fin, respectively. The at least one lift structure comprises one or more alulas. A leading surface of each alula is (a) flush with a leading surface of the lift structure or (b) offset from the leading edge of the lift surface by up to approximately 10% of the chord length of the lift structure. The length of each alula is no more than approximately 20% of a lift structure length corresponding to the lift structure. In various embodiments, the alula is deflected or canted with respect to a plane defined by the lift structure. In an example embodiment, the alulas may be slid or translated along at least a portion of the span of the lift structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kamran Mohseni, Thomas I. Linehan