Patents by Inventor William M. Langford
William M. Langford 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).
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Patent number: 10836515Abstract: An inflatable pressure structure includes an airtight flexible membrane having collapsed and inflated configurations. The inflatable pressure structure includes an elongated pressure-assisted seal that is configured to selectively seal an opening in the airtight flexible membrane. The pressure-assisted seal includes first and second seal components that sealingly engage one another and prevent escape of gas from inside the airtight flexible membrane. The airtight flexible membrane, when inflated, generates a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal tending to pull the first and second seal components apart. Pressurized gas inside the airtight flexible membrane causes the first and second seal components to more securely engage one another whereby a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal does not disengage the first and second seal components.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINSTRATOR OF NASAInventors: William R. Doggett, Timothy S. Roach, Jerry E. Warren, Judith J. Watson, Thomas C. Jones, Richard K Bird, Vincenzo M. Le Boffe, William M. Langford, Lana P. Hicks-Olson, Samuel James, Clarence E. Stanfield, Alberto Makino, Bryan C. Yount, Khadijah I. Shariff, Molly M. Selig, Douglas A. Litteken, Winfred S. Kenner, David F. Moore, Danny J. Lovaglio, Laura A. Leybold, Earl T. Hall, James E. Phelps, Arlon B. Sullivan, Fred M. Whitehead
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Publication number: 20190009932Abstract: An inflatable pressure structure includes an airtight flexible membrane having collapsed and inflated configurations. The inflatable pressure structure includes an elongated pressure-assisted seal that is configured to selectively seal an opening in the airtight flexible membrane. The pressure-assisted seal includes first and second seal components that sealingly engage one another and prevent escape of gas from inside the airtight flexible membrane. The airtight flexible membrane, when inflated, generates a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal tending to pull the first and second seal components apart. Pressurized gas inside the airtight flexible membrane causes the first and second seal components to more securely engage one another whereby a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal does not disengage the first and second seal components.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: William R. DOGGETT, Timothy S. ROACH, Jerry E. WARREN, Judith J. WATSON, Thomas C. JONES, Richard K. BIRD, Vincenzo M. LE BOFFE, William M. LANGFORD, Lana P. HICKS-OLSON, Samuel JAMES, Clarence E. STANFIELD, Alberto MAKINO, Bryan C. YOUNT, Khadijah I. SHARIFF, Molly M. SELIG, Douglas A. LITIEKEN, Winfred S. KENNER, David F. MOORE, Danny J. LOVAGLIO, Laura A. LEYBOLD, Earl T. HALL, James E. PHELPS, Arlon B. SULLIVAN, Fred M. WHITEHEAD
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Patent number: 9896200Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided that combine an advance vehicle configuration, such as an advanced aircraft configuration, with the infusion of electric propulsion, thereby enabling a four times increase in range and endurance while maintaining a full vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) and hover capability for the vehicle. Embodiments may provide vehicles with both VTOL and cruise efficient capabilities without the use of ground infrastructure. An embodiment vehicle may comprise a wing configured to tilt through a range of motion, a first series of electric motors coupled to the wing and each configured to drive an associated wing propeller, a tail configured to tilt through the range of motion, a second series of electric motors coupled to the tail and each configured to drive an associated tail propeller, and an electric propulsion system connected to the first series of electric motors and the second series of electric motors.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASAInventors: William J. Fredericks, Mark D. Moore, Ronald C. Busan, Paul M. Rothhaar, David D. North, William M. Langford, Christopher T. Laws, William T. Hodges, Zachary R. Johns, Sandy R. Webb
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Publication number: 20170057631Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided that combine an advance vehicle configuration, such as an advanced aircraft configuration, with the infusion of electric propulsion, thereby enabling a four times increase in range and endurance while maintaining a full vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) and hover capability for the vehicle. Embodiments may provide vehicles with both VTOL and cruise efficient capabilities without the use of ground infrastructure. An embodiment vehicle may comprise a wing configured to tilt through a range of motion, a first series of electric motors coupled to the wing and each configured to drive an associated wing propeller, a tail configured to tilt through the range of motion, a second series of electric motors coupled to the tail and each configured to drive an associated tail propeller, and an electric propulsion system connected to the first series of electric motors and the second series of electric motors.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: William J. FREDERICKS, Mark D. MOORE, Ronald C. BUSAN, Paul M. ROTHHAAR, David D. NORTH, William M. LANGFORD, Christopher T. LAWS, William T HODGES, Zachary R. JOHNS, Sandy R. WEBB
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Patent number: 9475579Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided that combine an advance vehicle configuration, such as an advanced aircraft configuration, with the infusion of electric propulsion, thereby enabling a four times increase in range and endurance while maintaining a full vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) and hover capability for the vehicle. Embodiments may provide vehicles with both VTOL and cruise efficient capabilities without the use of ground infrastructure. An embodiment vehicle may comprise a wing configured to tilt through a range of motion, a first series of electric motors coupled to the wing and each configured to drive an associated wing propeller, a tail configured to tilt through the range of motion, a second series of electric motors coupled to the tail and each configured to drive an associated tail propeller, and an electric propulsion system connected to the first series of electric motors and the second series of electric motors.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: William J. Fredericks, Mark D. Moore, Ronald C. Busan, Paul M. Rothhaar, David D. North, William M. Langford, Christopher T. Laws, William T. Hodges, Zachary R. Johns, Sandy R. Webb
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Publication number: 20160244158Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided that combine an advance vehicle configuration, such as an advanced aircraft configuration, with the infusion of electric propulsion, thereby enabling a four times increase in range and endurance while maintaining a full vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) and hover capability for the vehicle. Embodiments may provide vehicles with both VTOL and cruise efficient capabilities without the use of ground infrastructure. An embodiment vehicle may comprise a wing configured to tilt through a range of motion, a first series of electric motors coupled to the wing and each configured to drive an associated wing propeller, a tail configured to tilt through the range of motion, a second series of electric motors coupled to the tail and each configured to drive an associated tail propeller, and an electric propulsion system connected to the first series of electric motors and the second series of electric motors.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2014Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: WILLIAM J. FREDERICKS, Mark D. Moore, Ronald C. Busan, Paul M. Rothhaar, David D. North, William M. Langford, Christopher T. Laws, William T. Hodges, Zachary R. Johns, Sandy R. Webb