Patents Issued in June 16, 2016
  • Publication number: 20160167737
    Abstract: A multiple bicycle sprocket assembly is basically provided that is capable of creating a gear ratio in a wide range. The multiple bicycle sprocket assembly includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket includes a first tooth number that is less than or equal to ten. The second sprocket includes a second tooth number that is more than or equal to forty-four.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Koji TOKUYAMA, Kenji OSE, Toshinari OISHI, Kenji KAMADA, Sota YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160167738
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission apparatus comprises a controller configured to control at least one transmission device in accordance with a transmission route in response to a shift signal. The controller is configured to adjust the transmission route based on bicycle information relating to a running condition of a bicycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazutaka FUKAO, Souta YAMAGUCHI, Yoshimitsu MIKI, Hideki IKEMOTO, Masahiko FUKUDA
  • Publication number: 20160167739
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member, a coupling structure and an attachment member. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The base member has an inner wire guide. The inner wire guide has an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The movable member supports a chain guide. The coupling structure movably couples the movable member to the base member so that the movable member is selectively movable relative to the base member. The attachment member is detachably and/or rotatably attached to the outlet portion of the inner wire guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi WATARAI, Naohiko YAMADA, Souta YAMAGUCHI, Kenji OSE, Satoshi SHAHANA
  • Publication number: 20160167740
    Abstract: A derailleur system is provided that moves the derailleur cage in a substantially rectilinear path. The derailleur is mounted to a frame having a gear cassette mounted thereon. The gear cassette includes an axis of rotation. The derailleur includes a drive member engaging the gear cassette. The derailleur is positioned on the frame adjacent the gear cassette, and including a spatial linkage having a stationary link, a floating link, and a cage assembly having two pulleys each defining an axis of rotation. The drive member engages each of the pulleys. The path of the floating link is substantially linear through substantially its entire range of motion and variously aligns at least one of the pulleys with the gear cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Peter ZAWISTOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20160167741
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur includes a mounting member, a chain guide, and a linkage assembly that pivotally couples the mounting member to the chain guide. The mounting member is configured to be mounted to a first frame member of a bicycle frame. The first frame member is pivotally connected to a second frame member of the bicycle frame about a pivot axis. The mounting member includes an attachment portion through which a fixing bolt for fixing the mounting member to the first frame member passes and includes an abutment configured to restrict rotation of the mounting member around the fixing bolt. The attachment portion is located on a front side of the pivot axis when the mounting member is mounted to the first frame member. The bicycle frame includes a structure for engaging and supporting the mounting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20160167742
    Abstract: A support assembly for supporting a front derailleur at a bicycle frame is provided. The bicycle frame includes a longitudinal axis, a support portion arranged lengthwise about the longitudinal axis and a mounting portion projecting outwardly from the support portion. The front derailleur includes a base member attachable to the mounting portion of the bicycle frame at a derailleur mounting axis. The base includes a support mounting surface facing the bicycle frame. The support assembly includes a support member and a support member mount. The support member is displaceable relative to the base member along the support mounting surface of the base member. The support member includes a contact surface configured to contact the support portion of the bicycle frame. The support member mount is configured to attach the support member to the support mounting surface of the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Santurbane, Brian Jordan
  • Publication number: 20160167743
    Abstract: A snowmobile has a suspension with a spring. The spring has a central loop portion and an elastomeric bushing disposed in the central loop portion. A limiting cable is disposed adjacent to the spring. The snowmobile also has a rear snowmobile suspension with a torsion link structure. A control arm is pivotally connected to a first end of the torsion link structure. A wheel assembly is pivotally connected to a second end of the torsion link structure. A first slide rail is attached to the wheel assembly with a sliding mechanism. A track around the rear snowmobile suspension has a paddle oriented substantially perpendicular to the track. A first gripping element is disposed on the face of the paddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas W. Melcher
  • Publication number: 20160167744
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatuses and methods for the underwater removal and insertion of thrusters using a transfer system. Embodiments include a transfer system having a deck fitting assembly configured to be mounted to a hull of a marine vessel, a tension rod assembly secured to the deck fitting assembly, a track system secured to the tension rod assembly, a transfer frame movably secured to the track system via a hoist system, and a cradle removably secured to the transfer frame. Cradle and transfer frame are vertically movable and horizontally traversable along a portion of the hull via the hoist system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: Subsea Global Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Allen, Kevin Pracon
  • Publication number: 20160167745
    Abstract: A boat has at least one portion (3, 4) of the freeboard in the region of the stem of the boat arranged movable from a closed position, in which it seals the space (6) inside the freeboard with respect to the exterior of the boat, and an open position, in which it provides an opening (21) between the exterior of the boat and the space so as to enable to pick up objects from the water in which the boat floats through said opening. The freeboard portion is arranged to be displaceable along the floor (11) of said space for moving the freeboard portion from the closed to the open position and then gradually in-crease the width of said opening (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Lars Hillbohm
  • Publication number: 20160167746
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for attaching a first watercraft to another structure such as another watercraft or a fixed structure. The apparatus comprises a spacing member and attachment members. The spacing member has two ends and outer edges that define a width of the spacing member. An attachment member is connected to each end of the spacing member at the outer edges. The attachment members are releasably attachable to the watercraft and the attachment members are freely rotatable about each end of the spacing member. Another example of the apparatus provides two spacing members, first and second attaching loops and a tension system. The first attaching loop extends from a first end of the two spacing members. The second attaching loop extends from a second end of the spacing members. The attaching loops are releasably attachable to the watercraft and it is freely rotatable about the ends of each of the spacing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: GLENN WARREN WRIGHT, DARRYN RAGNAR EYJOLFSON
  • Publication number: 20160167747
    Abstract: A portable, lightweight, and low relief profile turntable is equipped for the universal mounting of different winches and winch-type apparatus suitable for use on the deck of a ship or other surface. The turntable is capable of mounting to an increased number of potential locations on deck where it may be easily manipulated to achieve a useful direction and an optical fleet angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua A. Eaton, James A. Haley
  • Publication number: 20160167748
    Abstract: The present invention is a collapsible rack and methods of using the collapsible rack for storing boardsport equipment. The collapsible rack has an upper portion and a lower portion connected by at least one lockable hinge. The upper portion has a rotatable top bar having three or more rails extending parallel to each other and a locking arm to maintain the rails perpendicular to the upper portion when in use. The lower portion has a rotatable platform base and a locking arm to maintain the base perpendicular to the lower portion when in use. The lower or upper portion may also have a handle about the middle of one of its sides and a closure mechanism to maintain the rack in collapsed configuration for easy transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Rodolpho B. Dias
  • Publication number: 20160167749
    Abstract: This product is a set of decals designed to transform a light source into a set of navigation lights. This allows water craft to travel safely after dark. It is good for emergency replacement of existing navigation lighting. It can also be used to add navigation lights to craft with no power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Randy Urfer
  • Publication number: 20160167750
    Abstract: A system and a method for the navigation of a mobile vehicle, suitable for determining and displaying a safe navigation zone for the mobile vehicle. The navigation system includes a dead reckoning navigation system (10), a calculator (50), a storage memory (60), an embedded sensor (20), and an electronic mapping system (70). The calculator (50) is suitable for calculating an estimated position of the mobile vehicle from speed and/or acceleration measurements and a comparison of the measurement of an environmental parameter with a geographical database. The calculator (50) is suitable for calculating the probability density of the presence of the mobile vehicle around each point on the map in order to deduce a safety zone (12) corresponding to a presence probability higher than, or equal to, a pre-determined threshold p.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Fabien NAPOLITANO
  • Publication number: 20160167751
    Abstract: A marker and recovery device comprising: an enclosure secured to a torso of a wearer; a bladder configured to fit within the enclosure in an uninflated state, the bladder including an elongate tube being physically connected at a first end to the enclosure; a first upper tube fluidly connected to the elongate tube at a distal end of the elongate tube; and a second upper tube fluidly connected to the elongate tube at the distal end of the elongate tube; and an inflation mechanism to inflate the bladder to extend the bladder from the uninflated state to a deployed state in which said elongate tube extends from said enclosure and where the first upper tube and second upper tube form a handle portion at the end of the elongate tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Neil John Darroch
  • Publication number: 20160167752
    Abstract: A vent valve for a buoyancy control device suitable for divers, where the valve may be opened by any combination of over-pressure, manual pressure relief or a powered means, where a force to a valve plug is applied by means of a spring that is constrained to prevent entirely lateral and angular movement but in which movement of the plug in the axis of the seat is unconstrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew Sinclair, Christopher Webb
  • Publication number: 20160167753
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention relate to emergency breathing devices and more particularly relate to air containments for use while under water. In a typical water and underwater recreational activity, a user may find himself in need of air. Air Bubble is an air- and water-impermeable reservoir intended for use under water. Similar ideas have been contrived in an attempt to extend the breathing time of a fully buried avalanche victim by extracting the oxygen out of the snow. Other devices employ oxygen tanks in order to provide additional oxygen to the user; however, these devices do not contain a reservoir with stored air. Similar ideas can be found for the purpose of drinking water or other liquids while exercising outdoors, but those bags serve a different purpose than the Air Bubble; they are for drinking liquids, while the Air Bubble is for accessing stored breathable air while under water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Felipe Kelly de Rivero
  • Publication number: 20160167754
    Abstract: A device for winding and unwinding a cable including a winch comprises a chassis, an electric motor for driving a drum in rotation in relation to the chassis, locking/unlocking means comprising a first induction coil and configured such as to immobilize the drum in relation to the chassis when the first coil is not being powered electrically, the device including a second induction coil that is powered electrically, dimensioned and arranged such that the magnetic field generated by the assembly formed by the first and second coils, when the first coil is powered electrically, is less than the magnetic field generated by the first coil at a point located at a distance from the winch that is greater than a predetermined threshold, the electrical energizing and de-energizing of the second coil being synchronized with the electrical energizing and respectively de-energizing of the first coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Paul PENVEN, Jean-Jacques LOSSEC, David HERVOUET
  • Publication number: 20160167755
    Abstract: A method deploys an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) configured to sense a property of an ice floe includes defining a sector of an ocean region having a potential for an ice floe where the sector has a first predicted path selected from a first plurality of predicted paths as determined by a first probability function. The method also includes placing a docking station for the UUV at a location in the sector where the location is determined to intersect with the first predicted path. The method further includes sending instructions having an estimated location of the ice floe to the UUV at the docking station instructing the UUV to sail to a second predicted path that is selected from a second plurality of predicted paths that are determined by a second probability function using the estimated location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Khalid A. SOOFI, Dominique P. BERTA
  • Publication number: 20160167756
    Abstract: A submersible ROV is provided with four independently controllable swivel thruster assemblies that allow the submersible ROV to simulate the movement of a person equipped with scuba gear. The submersible ROV receives control signals from a controller located on the surface of the water or on land. The submersible ROV senses and transmits audio and visual images and transmits those signals to a base receiver located on the surface of the water or on land. Signals are transmitted to and from the submersible ROV via a tether. The tether may be connected either directly to the controller/base receiver or may be connected to an intermediate floating ROV with a power supply and wireless communication relay station. A person can vicariously experience scuba diving via the submersible ROV while remaining dry and safe on land or on a surface vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: DANIEL WOLFENBARGER
  • Publication number: 20160167757
    Abstract: A propulsion sail having an aircraft wing profile, comprises a traditional flexible sail and at least one detachable thickness module capable of being assembled in a detachable manner on a face of the flexible sail, wherein each module comprises at least one flexible plate, comprising a leading edge and a leech edge, the plate being assembled by its leading edge along the luff of the flexible sail via first assembly means and being assembled by its leech edge via second assembly means, the propulsion sail comprising at least one pair of modules, the two modules of the pair being disposed substantially symmetrically on either side of the flexible sail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Antoine DEBLED
  • Publication number: 20160167758
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to paddles for use with a watercraft and is particularly adapted for use in a watercraft such as a kayak. Paddles according to the present disclosure include a moveable portion that allows other portions of the paddle to move in relation to one another such that a user can apply force and a smaller range of motion and utilize leverage to translate the force into a larger range of motion. In some embodiments, the paddles comprise a linear center portion that is connected at either end to two handgrip portions, which are in turn connected to two bladed distal ends. By utilizing the handgrip portions, a user can rotate the linear center portion about its central axis and cause the distal ends to also rotate in kind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Alan Frederick COLVIN
  • Publication number: 20160167759
    Abstract: A pump device includes a first pump that includes a first discharge portion and a second discharge portion, a first flow path that connects the first discharge portion and a first chamber of a cylinder, a second flow path that connects the second discharge portion and a second chamber of the cylinder, a second pump that includes a third discharge portion and a fourth discharge portion, a third flow path that connects the third discharge portion and the first chamber, a fourth flow path that connects the fourth discharge portion and the second chamber, a branch path that branches from the third flow path and reaches the tank, and an opening valve that opens the branch path, the opening valve being disposed in the branch path so as to open the branch path when a pressure in the second chamber is higher than a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato TSUTSUI, Takahiko SAITO
  • Publication number: 20160167760
    Abstract: In one example, a free-flying tethered airship system includes an upper airship adapted to tailor its lift and drag, a lower airship adapted to tailor its lift and drag, and a tether connecting the upper airship to the lower airship such that the upper airship is at least one kilometer above the lower airship. The upper airship is configured to be equiliberally buoyant, while carrying the tether, in a first altitude range. The lower airship is configured to be equiliberally buoyant in a second altitude range, the first altitude range being higher than the second altitude range. A method for stationkeeping of a free-flying tethered airship system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Stephen B. Heppe
  • Publication number: 20160167761
    Abstract: A balloon having a balloon envelope formed with a plurality of adjacent envelope sections each formed of a single seamless piece sealed together at their respective edges to form an edge seam between each of the adjacent envelope sections, a tape comprised of fibers applied to a centerline of each of the envelope sections, wherein the envelope sections are constructed such that the edge seam between each of the adjacent envelope sections is longer than the centerline of each of the envelope sections, and wherein a load caused by pressurized lifting gas within the balloon envelope is carried primarily by the fiber tapes on the centerlines of the envelope sections, rather than the edge seams between the adjacent envelope sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Kevin Roach
  • Publication number: 20160167762
    Abstract: A large scale composite structure is fabricated by forming a plurality of composite laminate modules and joining the modules together along their edges using scarf joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrell D. Jones, Arvid J. Berg, Joseph D. Brennan, Travis J. Sherwood
  • Publication number: 20160167763
    Abstract: A composite panel including first and second parallel planar face sheets and a core sandwiched between the first and second face sheets. The core includes a regular array of solid elements bonded to the first and second face sheets. Also, a method of manufacturing the composite panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: David BRAKES
  • Publication number: 20160167764
    Abstract: A light-weight stiffened wing airfoil includes at least one wing segment (52). The wing segment comprises an upper (53b) and a lower skin assembly (53a), wherein each of the upper and lower skin assemblies incorporates a plurality of inwardly facing stringer grooves (74); a first rib (64-1) at a distal end of the wing segment and a second rib (64-2) at a proximal end of the wing segment; a plurality of rib trusses (70) extending from the first and second ribs to the opposing skin assembly (53); and a plurality of support members extending from the inwardly facing stringer grooves to the opposing skin assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Erik Grip, Aaron J. Kutzmann, Blaine Knight Rawdon
  • Publication number: 20160167765
    Abstract: A collapsible wing, methods of producing the collapsible wing, and an unmanned aircraft system that includes the collapsible wing are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: James Emmett Dee Barbieri
  • Publication number: 20160167766
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a track container for receiving the track of a lift device actuator. The track container is elastically deformable from a rest position to a deflected position to accommodate said track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: David BRAKES
  • Publication number: 20160167767
    Abstract: A rotor hub configured to support and rotate a plurality of rotor blades about an axis of rotation is includes a cylindrical body having a central shaft hole including the axis of rotation. The shaft hole has a radius extending from the axis of rotation radially. A plurality of radial spokes extends from the cylindrical body in a spoke direction. A plurality of arcuate segments extends between the distal ends of adjacent spokes to define a plurality of hub apertures. The spoke direction extends at an angle to the radial direction in both the horizontal plane, and a vertical plane, perpendicular to the horizontal plane. A line defined by the spoke direction does not intersect the axis of rotation. The spoke direction extends at an angle in the horizontal plane in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the rotor hub about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Steven M. Capelle, Kwok Chin, Kevin A. White
  • Publication number: 20160167768
    Abstract: An aircraft, a control surface arrangement, and a method of assembling an aircraft are disclosed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft includes, but is not limited to, an airframe, a control surface, and a rotary actuator. The rotary actuator rotatably mounts the control surface to the airframe. The rotary actuator supports the control surface on the airframe and is configured to rotate the control surface with respect to the airframe when the rotary actuator is actuated. The rotary actuator is further configured to deliver torque to the control surface from a longitudinally intermediate portion of the rotary actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Knight, James Grieco
  • Publication number: 20160167769
    Abstract: A high-lift device of a flight vehicle includes: a flap main body provided at a trailing edge portion of a main wing of the flight vehicle so as to be extracted from and be retracted in the trailing edge portion and extending in a wing span direction of the main wing; and a vortex suppressing portion provided at a tip end portion of the flap main body in a wing span direction of the flap main body and configured to suppress a vortex rolling up from a lower surface of a tip end portion of the flap main body to an upper surface of the tip end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicants: THE SOCIETY OF JAPANESE AEROSPACE COMPANIES, KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhide ISOTANI, Kenji HAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160167770
    Abstract: A spring assembly elongate along a longitudinal direction includes a first spring that includes a first spring member and a first elongate member that extends from the first spring member along the longitudinal direction. The spring assembly includes a second spring including a second spring member and a second elongate member that extends from the second spring member along the longitudinal direction. The second elongate member extends through the first spring member, and the first elongate member extends through the second spring member such that the first and second spring members are spaced apart with respect to each other along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Nicholas Toon
  • Publication number: 20160167771
    Abstract: A device for mounting an aircraft tail wheel includes a support plate having, on the one hand, an articulation shaft with an arm and, on the other hand, an articulation shaft with a fork receiving the freely rotating tail wheel, while the articulation shaft of the plate is positioned near a rotation shaft of the tail wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Rémi Beringer
  • Publication number: 20160167772
    Abstract: A method of controlling the motion of a turning aircraft during taxiing on the ground, the aircraft having a steerable landing gear, for example a nose landing gear, operating in a free-to-caster mode, includes (a) ascertaining the rotational position (?) of the steerable landing gear relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the aircraft (b) receiving a control instruction that would, if effected, continue turning of the aircraft in the same direction away from the longitudinal axis, and (c) modifying the control instruction so that the angle between the rotational position of the steerable landing gear and the longitudinal axis will be lower than the angle that would otherwise be observed had the control instruction been effected and not so modified. The risk of damage to the steerable landing gear through over-steering may thus be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: George HOWELL, Louis-Emmanuel ROMANA
  • Publication number: 20160167773
    Abstract: The invention relates to landing gear of an aircraft, the landing gear having skids and cross-members. The landing gear has at least one damper device arranged on at least one of the cross-members referred to as a “damped” cross-member. The damper device includes two stroke-transfer means hinged to the damped cross-member and to a fuselage of the aircraft. Each stroke-transfer means comprises a crank hinged to the damped cross-member and a link rod hinged to the crank and to the fuselage. A damper is hinged to each crank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Paul CRANGA
  • Publication number: 20160167774
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator. More specifically, but not exclusively, an aircraft pitch damper which comprises an actuator. The actuator comprises a first chamber charged with gas and a second chamber charged with gas. An intermediate chamber containing liquid is located between the first chamber and second chamber. A piston rod extends towards the first chamber through the second chamber and intermediate chamber. A first piston head is associated with and partially defines the first chamber, and a second piston head is associated with and partially defines the second chamber. The piston rod is arranged to abut and move with the first piston head in a first direction, the piston rod further arranged to abut and move with the second piston head in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Dilip THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20160167775
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drone comprising: two contra-rotating annular propellers (2, 4) defining a plane therebetween which is referred to as an equatorial plane and is assumed to be horizontal, means for driving the propellers, a load arranged below the equatorial plane, and means (20) for moving the load relative to the equatorial plane, an enclosure referred to as an upper enclosure (6) filled with a gas or a gaseous mixture having a density of less than 1 and arranged essentially above the equatorial plane, and an enclosure referred to as a lower enclosure (8) filled with a gas or a gaseous mixture having a density of less than 1 and arranged essentially below the equatorial plane, the load being placed inside the lower enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: RIDENGINEERING
    Inventor: Jaques JONIOT
  • Publication number: 20160167776
    Abstract: The invention is a modular vehicle having an air vehicle that can be coupled to cargo containers, land vehicles, sea vehicles, medical transport modules, etc. In one embodiment the air vehicle has a plurality of propellers positioned around a main airframe, which can provide vertical thrust and/or horizontal thrust depending on the configuration. One or more of the propellers may be configured to tilt forward, backward, and/or side-to-side with respect to the airframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Donald Orval Shaw
  • Publication number: 20160167777
    Abstract: Rotor assembly apparatus are disclosed. An example rotor assembly includes a twist actuator to drive a first rotation of a first shaft about a first axis, the twist actuator positioned at a center of rotation of the rotor assembly; and a first gear assembly to convert the first rotation into a plurality of second rotations of a plurality of second shafts, each of the second shafts to provide torque to a respective blade coupled to the rotor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel M. Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20160167778
    Abstract: An unmanned flying device including a body; a first blade and at least a second blade; a coupling assembly for coupling the first blade and the at least second blade to the body, wherein the coupling assembly urges the collapsing of the first blade and the at least second blade towards the body; and wherein both the first blade and the at least second blade are rotatable about the body, and wherein the first blade and the at least second blade are deployable away from the body via rotation of the first and the at least second blades about the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Meringer, Nathaniel R. Meringer
  • Publication number: 20160167779
    Abstract: A rotorcraft rotor having each of its blades fitted with a lead/lag damper. A connection device between the blade root of a blade under consideration and a lead/lag damper comprises a rod passing through a laminated ball joint secured to a distal endpiece of the lead/lag damper. The rod extends in the general plane in which the blade extends, being prevented from moving firstly in rotation by being embedded in the blade root and secondly in translation along the general transversely-extending direction of the blade by being pinned to a U-shaped yoke fastened to the blade root.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Fabien MASSAL
  • Publication number: 20160167780
    Abstract: A convertiplane has the ability to take off like a helicopter and then fly horizontally like a conventional aircraft. The aircraft includes a variable incidence front wing of variable span located below the fuselage and mounted on a structure in the form of a venturi tube, a rear wing having two propellers for controlling the stability of the vehicle in pitch and roll installed therein, two counter-rotating, pivotally mounted ducted propellers equipped with four flaps orthogonal to each other provided on the sides of the cockpit, engines placed behind the cockpit close to the center of gravity, a static balancing system for controlling the center of gravity of the aircraft consisting of a weight placed in the lower part of the fuselage, self-propelled on the track rack longitudinally to the fuselage, and a digital flight control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: UNIT 1SRL
    Inventor: Pietro GIOVENGA
  • Publication number: 20160167781
    Abstract: A combined submersible vessel and unmanned aerial vehicle preferably includes a body structure, at least one wing structure, at least one vertical stabilizer structure, and at least one horizontal stabilizer structure. A propulsion system is coupled to the body structure and is configured to propel the flying submarine in both airborne flight and underwater operation. Preferably, the propulsion system includes a motor, a gearbox coupled to the motor and configured to receive power generated by the motor and provide variable output power, a drive shaft coupled to the gearbox and configured to transfer the variable output power provided by the gearbox, and a propeller coupled to the drive shaft and configured to accept power transferred to it from the drive shaft. The propeller is further configured to rotate and propel the flying submarine in both an airborne environment and in an underwater environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: ROBERT PARKS, ADAM WOODWORTH, TOM VANECK, JUSTIN MCCLELLAN
  • Publication number: 20160167782
    Abstract: A cargo unit for storage in a cargo hold of an aircraft including a housing and a storage rack arrangement, the housing enclosing the storage rack arrangement and including a transport opening. The cargo unit is connectable to a transport arrangement operable for removing objects from the storage rack arrangement and placing objects in the storage rack arrangement through the transport opening when the cargo unit is arranged in an operating position. The cargo unit includes a transport cover movable between a closed position where the transport cover closes the transport opening and an opened position where the transport opening is not covered by the transport cover. The transport cover is adapted to be only movable from its closed position to its opened position after engagement with a transport arrangement. A lower deck catering system including a cargo unit and a transport arrangement is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Ingo Roth, Andreas Köhler, Sassa Nadine Boos, Sascha-Jay Salvador, Arne Stoldt
  • Publication number: 20160167783
    Abstract: A lift apparatus for transporting objects between compartments of an aircraft through an aperture in a floor structure separating the compartments and an aircraft in which such lift apparatus is mounted. The lift apparatus includes a conveyor with a retaining portion to selectively retain and release objects to be transported, a guide to which the conveyor is mounted to be linearly movable along a predetermined path of motion defined by the guide, and a moving mechanism for driving the conveyor to linearly move along the predetermined path of motion. The retaining portion and a closing portion of the conveyor are along the path of motion, and the lift apparatus mounts in an aircraft with the path of motion extending through the aperture. The conveyor is selectively movable along the predetermined path of motion between positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Ingo Roth, Sassa Nadine Boos, Arne Stoldt, Sascha-Jay Salvador
  • Publication number: 20160167784
    Abstract: A partition wall for integration into the vehicle cabin of a transportation means comprises a first surface and a second surface, which are arranged parallel to each other. The first surface comprises at least one recess, which may be filled with an at least regionally flat body designed correspondingly thereto, wherein the body is pivoted to the body by means of a swivelling means and may be brought into a stowed position and use position. The body fills out the accompanying recess when in its stowed position. This yields a multifunctional partition wall that may tangibly increase the comfort and available space on board the transportation means without taking up additional installation space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Ralf SCHLIWA, Roland LANGE, Horst BECKER
  • Publication number: 20160167785
    Abstract: A service box for storing in a storage rack arrangement of a cargo container of a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, including a rectangular bottom wall, a rectangular upper wall, side walls and narrow end walls and forms an interior space adapted to receive a trolley for catering goods. The service box is provided with a door at at least one of its narrow ends, the door forming at least the main part of the narrow wall and in the open state permits insertion and removal of the trolley and in the closed state provides for an essentially closed space for the trolley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Ingo Roth, Andreas Köhler, Sassa Nadine Boos, Arne Stoldt, Sascha-Jay Salvador, Engin Özkan, Lasse Jensen
  • Publication number: 20160167786
    Abstract: A header assembly is configured to be secured between an inboard structure and an outboard structure within an internal cabin of an aircraft. The header assembly may include a main body including a first panel connected to an opposed second panel by a base panel. The main body is configured to limit light from passing therethrough. At least three anchoring members are configured to securely connect the main body to at least three reciprocal structures of the inboard and outboard structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: William H. Maclay, Kevan Withers, Peter J. Zarkowskyj, Charles C. Jensen, Mark E. Wentland, Alexandru Iaszfalvi