Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Hager

Thomas R. Hager 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).

  • Apparatus and methods for reducing aircraft lifting surface flutter
    Patent number: 5054715
    Abstract: A device for preventing aircraft wing flutter causes the port and starboard wings of the aircraft to oscillate at different frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, engine nacelles are suspended from the port and starboard wings by strut assemblies in a manner that the port and starboard engine nacelles have different oscillation frequencies when subjected to a displacing force. The port and starboard strut assemblies each include a pair of flexible beams whose dimensions and composition may be adjusted to change its stiffness. In this manner, the oscillation frequency of the attached engine nacelle is adjusted in a known manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hager, Gerald C. Lakin, John T. Rogers
  • Apparatus and methods for reducing aircraft lifting surface flutter
    Patent number: 4917331
    Abstract: A device for preventing aircraft wing flutter causes the port and starboard wings of the aircraft to oscillate at different frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, engine nacelles are suspended from the port and starboard wings by strut assemblies in a manner that the port and starboard engine nacelles have different oscillation frequencies when subjected to a displacing force. The port and starboard strut assemblies each include a pair of flexible beams whose dimensions and composition may be adjusted to change its stiffness. In this manner, the oscillation frequency of the attached engine nacelle is adjusted in a known manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hager, Gerald C. Lakin, John T. Rogers