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).

  • Patent number: 10836515
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINSTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20190009932
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 9896200
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20170057631
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 9475579
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20160244158
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: 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