Patents by Inventor Thomas Pijaca

Thomas Pijaca 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).

  • Extendable and controllable flight vehicle wing/control surface assembly
    Patent number: 6581871
    Abstract: The apparatus of the invention allows flight vehicle and/or guided munition wings and control surfaces to be secured in a retracted and locked position prior to the launch by a control surface retainer. An electro-mechanical differential control system preferably releases the control surface retainer, extends the control surfaces, and servo controls the control surfaces subsequent to launch. The invention also provides a method for guiding a flight vehicle and/or guided munition by releasing the flight vehicle's and/or guided munition's control surface from a control surface retainer, extending the flight vehicle's and/or guided munition's wing/control surface assembly using a wing/control surface actuation system, and controlling the flight vehicle's and/or guided munition's control surfaces using a wing/control surface actuation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Smiths Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pijaca, William J. Schellens
  • Extendable and controllable flight vehicle wing/control surface assembly
    Publication number: 20020179778
    Abstract: The apparatus of the invention allows flight vehicle and/or guided munition wings and control surfaces to be secured in a retracted and locked position prior to the launch by a control surface retainer. An electro-mechanical differential control system preferably releases the control surface retainer, extends the control surfaces, and servo controls the control surfaces subsequent to launch. The invention also provides a method for guiding a flight vehicle and/or guided munition by releasing the flight vehicle's and/or guided munition's control surface from a control surface retainer, extending the flight vehicle's and/or guided munition's wing/control surface assembly using a wing/control surface actuation system, and controlling the flight vehicle's and/or guided munition's control surfaces using a wing/control surface actuation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Pijaca, William J. Schellens