Patents by Inventor Vincent M. Walton

Vincent M. Walton 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).

  • Vertical gust suppression system for transport aircraft
    Patent number: 8774987
    Abstract: A method for vertical gust suppression due to turbulence for an aircraft having at least one of direct lift control surfaces or pitch control surfaces. The method includes sensing atmospheric turbulence, measuring the sensed atmospheric turbulence to generate turbulence data, generating a command based on the turbulence data, and applying the command to aircraft controls to actuate the direct lift control surfaces or the pitch control surfaces based on the turbulence data. Therefore, an aircraft response to the actuation of the direct lift control surfaces or the pitch control surfaces reduces a vertical acceleration, a pitch acceleration, a pitch rate, a pitch attitude or a structural load of the aircraft due to the turbulence. Thus, the method reduces the effects of vertical gusts of wind on the aircraft, improves the comfort level for aircraft passengers and crew, and reduces diversions the aircraft may take to avoid the turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Vincent M. Walton, Christopher J. Borland, Tze L. Siu, Kioumars Najmabadi, Edward E. Coleman, David P. Marquis, Dianne L. McMullin, Kevin H. Milligan
  • Vertical Gust Suppression System for Transport Aircraft
    Publication number: 20090157239
    Abstract: A method for vertical gust suppression due to turbulence for an aircraft having at least one of direct lift control surfaces or pitch control surfaces. The method includes sensing atmospheric turbulence, measuring the sensed atmospheric turbulence to generate turbulence data, generating a command based on the turbulence data, and applying the command to aircraft controls to actuate the direct lift control surfaces or the pitch control surfaces based on the turbulence data. Therefore, an aircraft response to the actuation of the direct lift control surfaces or the pitch control surfaces reduces a vertical acceleration, a pitch acceleration, a pitch rate, a pitch attitude or a structural load of the aircraft due to the turbulence. Thus, the method reduces the effects of vertical gusts of wind on the aircraft, improves the comfort level for aircraft passengers and crew, and reduces diversions the aircraft may take to avoid the turbulence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Vincent M. Walton, Christopher J. Borland, Tze L. Siu, Kioumars Najmabadi, Edward E. Coleman, David P. Marquis, Dianne L. McMullin