Patents by Inventor Timothy Barrows

Timothy Barrows 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).

  • Trimming device for controlling the glide slope and descent speed of a parafoil
    Patent number: 10427799
    Abstract: A parafoil system having an adjustable trim angle during flight to control glide slope and descent speed of a parafoil is provided. The parafoil system may include a pulley cluster comprising first and second variable trim pulleys, each having a different diameter. The pulley cluster may be coupled to forward and aft suspension lines of a parafoil canopy such that the pulley cluster may rotate to retract or extend the forward and aft suspension lines to adjust the trim angle during flight. The parafoil system may further include a motor for rotating the pulley cluster to extend or retract the suspension lines to adjust the trim angle during flight. By adjusting the trim angle of the canopy during flight, the glide slope and descent speed of the parafoil system may be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Barrows
  • TRIMMING DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE GLIDE SLOPE AND DESCENT SPEED OF A PARAFOIL
    Publication number: 20170210479
    Abstract: A parafoil system having an adjustable trim angle during flight to control glide slope and descent speed of a parafoil is provided. The parafoil system may include a pulley cluster comprising first and second variable trim pulleys, each having a different diameter. The pulley cluster may be coupled to forward and aft suspension lines of a parafoil canopy such that the pulley cluster may rotate to retract or extend the forward and aft suspension lines to adjust the trim angle during flight. The parafoil system may further include a motor for rotating the pulley cluster to extend or retract the suspension lines to adjust the trim angle during flight. By adjusting the trim angle of the canopy during flight, the glide slope and descent speed of the parafoil system may be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventor: Timothy Barrows