Patents by Inventor William Randall McDonnell

William Randall McDonnell 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).

  • Publication number: 20210147081
    Abstract: An asymmetric aircraft and an aircraft that can operate from small ships and be stored in high density with three aircraft or more in one helicopter hangar without needing a landing gear or wing fold. These aircraft slide into and out of the hangar on dollies like circuit boards in a computer and are launched and recovered using a large towed parafoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Patent number: 10919627
    Abstract: An asymmetric aircraft (1) and an aircraft (1) that can operate from small ships (8) and be stored in high density with three aircraft or more in one helicopter hangar (107) without needing a landing gear or wing fold. These aircraft slide into and out of the hangar on dollies (90) like circuit boards in a computer and are launched and recovered using a large towed parafoil (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Patent number: 10800545
    Abstract: A generally vertical rocket (2) flies generally horizontally into recovery line, cable or chain (3) suspended between towers (5, 7) of a catamaran landing ship (9). High speed winches (11, 13), preferably located near or at the tops of the towers (5, 7) can rapidly reel in or out the recovery line (3) to effectively raise or lower the recovery line (3). The fixture engages a capture device on the rocket located usually above the rocket center of gravity. This invention provides a more reliable means of landing a rocket and also eliminates rocket weight, cost and complexity associated with previous means of landing a rocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Product Development, LLC
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Patent number: 10661884
    Abstract: An oblique wing aircraft designed for reduced surface area to volume ratio. The aircraft has an oblique wing comprising a forward swept wing segment and an aft swept wing segment. A center oblique airfoil section connects the forward and aft swept wing segments. The center oblique airfoil section has a larger chord near its centerline than the chords of either of the forward or aft swept wing segments. The chord of the center oblique airfoil section tapers down more rapidly than the forward or aft wing segments as the center oblique airfoil section extends outboard toward the forward and aft swept wings. Preferably, the aircraft is an all-wing aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Product Development, LLC
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Publication number: 20190382098
    Abstract: An oblique wing aircraft designed for reduced surface area to volume ratio. The aircraft has an oblique wing comprising a forward swept wing segment and an aft swept wing segment. A center oblique airfoil section connects the forward and aft swept wing segments. The center oblique airfoil section has a larger chord near its centerline than the chords of either of the forward or aft swept wing segments. The chord of the center oblique airfoil section tapers down more rapidly than the forward or aft wing segments as the center oblique airfoil section extends outboard toward the forward and aft swept wings. Preferably, the aircraft is an all-wing aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Patent number: 10435137
    Abstract: An oblique wing aircraft designed for reduced surface area to volume ratio. The aircraft has an oblique wing comprising a forward swept wing segment and an aft swept wing segment. A center oblique airfoil section connects the forward and aft swept wing segments. The center oblique airfoil section has a larger chord near its centerline than the chords of either of the forward or aft swept wing segments. The chord of the center oblique airfoil section tapers down more rapidly than the forward or aft wing segments as the center oblique airfoil section extends outboard toward the forward and aft swept wings. Preferably, the aircraft is an all-wing aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Advanced Product Development, LLC
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Publication number: 20180044035
    Abstract: A generally vertical rocket (2) flies generally horizontally into recovery line, cable or chain (3) suspended between towers (5, 7) of a catamaran landing ship (9). High speed winches (11, 13), preferably located near or at the tops of the towers (5, 7) can rapidly reel in or out the recovery line (3) to effectively raise or lower the recovery line (3). The fixture engages a capture device on the rocket located usually above the rocket center of gravity. This invention provides a more reliable means of landing a rocket and also eliminates rocket weight, cost and complexity associated with previous means of landing a rocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: William Randall MCDONNELL
  • Publication number: 20170158309
    Abstract: An oblique wing aircraft designed for reduced surface area to volume ratio. The aircraft has an oblique wing comprising a forward swept wing segment and an aft swept wing segment. A center oblique airfoil section connects the forward and aft swept wing segments. The center oblique airfoil section has a larger chord near its centerline than the chords of either of the forward or aft swept wing segments. The chord of the center oblique airfoil section tapers down more rapidly than the forward or aft wing segments as the center oblique airfoil section extends outboard toward the forward and aft swept wings. Preferably, the aircraft is an all-wing aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Publication number: 20160375981
    Abstract: An asymmetric aircraft (1) and an aircraft (1) that can operate from small ships (8) and be stored in high density with three aircraft or more in one helicopter hangar (107) without needing a landing gear or wing fold. These aircraft slide into and out of the hangar on dollies (90) like circuit boards in a computer and are launched and recovered using a large towed parafoil (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Advanced Product Development, LLC
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Patent number: 9440740
    Abstract: An oblique wing aircraft designed for reduced surface area to volume ratio. The aircraft has an oblique wing comprising a forward swept wing segment and an aft swept wing segment. A center oblique airfoil section connects the forward and aft swept wing segments. The center oblique airfoil section has a larger chord near its centerline than the chords of either of the forward or aft swept wing segments. The chord of the center oblique airfoil section tapers down more rapidly than the forward or aft wing segments as the center oblique airfoil section extends outboard toward the forward and aft swept wings. Preferably, the aircraft is an all-wing aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Product Development, LLC
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell
  • Patent number: 8567718
    Abstract: A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Aerospace Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Randall McDonnell