Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Kennedy, Jr.

Thomas W. Kennedy, Jr. 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: 5382954
    Abstract: An aircraft indicating system for displaying a resolution advisory signal from a Traffic Advisory and Collision Avoidance System provides an indicating pitch attitude symbol to the pilot engendering an instinctive response to avoid a collision. A driving circuit converts a TCAS signal in the form of a vertical speed command to a pitch command for energizing the indicating symbol by effecting a vertical displacement thereof in accordance with the guidance resolution advisory. The display signal is generated in accordance with the relationship: ##EQU1## where: .PHI.=aircraft roll attitude, limited to + or - 30.degree..THETA..sub.CMD =commanded pitch attitude defining the upper and lower pitch limits of the resolution advisory symbology.THETA..sub.EXIST =current pitch angleV.sub.ZTCAS =TCAS vertical speed commandV.sub.ZEXIST =current vertical speedV.sub.T =true airspeedK=conversion constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Kennedy, Jr., Donald F. Fenstermaker
  • Patent number: 4094479
    Abstract: A yaw axis stability and command augmentation system (SCAS) particularly applicable to STOL type aircraft includes three primary control terms proportional to side slip angle, side slip angle rate and rudder pedal force, wherein side slip angle rate is synthesized from measures of yaw rate, bank angle and lateral acceleration. These primary system feedback terms are supplied to the rudder electro-hydraulic secondary actuator which is positioned in accordance with their sum. The system serves to provide improved automatic damping of the Dutch roll modes, to suppress aircraft motion transients in yaw and roll under engine failure situations, to provide automatic turn-coordination in maneuvering flight, and to provide a side slip angle command capability to improve manual control precision in approach and landing under crosswind and lateral wind shear conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Kennedy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3945590
    Abstract: A semi-automatic takeoff flight control system for automatically capturing a predetermined takeoff pitch attitude at a predetermined pitch rate during the aircraft takeoff rotation maneuver. In response to the manual rotation command from the pilot, control circuitry generates a pitch rate command to the elevator, limited to the predetermined pitch rate. As the craft rotates to an intermediate pitch attitude less than the desired predetermined takeoff climb attitude, circuitry is included to provide a pitch attitude command with regard to the predetermined reference attitude, which by virtue of rate, displacement, and integral control provides asymptotic capture of the predetermined reference attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Kennedy, Jr., Harry D. Smith