Patents Issued in September 29, 2020
  • Patent number: 10787207
    Abstract: A nose fairing for a cargo enclosure may generally include a nose body configured to extend outwardly from a front wall of the enclosure. The nose body may include an upper nose wall, a lower nose wall and a leading edge region extending between the upper and lower nose walls. The upper nose wall may include a concave region that terminates at the leading edge region such that the nose fairing transitions directly from the concave region of the upper nose wall to the leading edge region. The lower nose wall may include a convex region that terminates at the leading edge region such that the nose fairing transitions directly from the convex region of the lower nose wall to the leading edge region. The leading edge region may define a radius of curvature that differs from a radius of curvature of the convex region of the lower nose wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TRANSTEX LLC
    Inventors: Michael Lorenzo Henderson, Stephen Alfred Wulff
  • Patent number: 10787208
    Abstract: A torsion beam type of rear suspension comprising a pair of right-and-left trailing arms and a torsion beam connecting the trailing arms is provided. A floor under cover for airflow straightening is attached to a portion of a vehicle body in front of the rear suspension so as to cover a vehicle-body lower face. A arm cover is attached to a lower portion of the trailing arm so as to cover a lower face of the trailing arm. The arm cover is provided with an arm-cover enlarged portion which is configured to protrude outwardly, in a vehicle width direction, from the trailing arm in a vehicle bottom-face view. The floor under cover is provided with a floor-under-cover enlarged portion such that a rear end portion of the floor under cover faces closely to a front edge of the arm-cover enlarged portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuhei Nishida, Yoshiatsu Kuga, Masaru Chikita, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10787209
    Abstract: An antijackknife system for a trailer having a trailer hitch with a ball joint and alignment arms, a housing on the underside of the trailer at a front end of the trailer, and a front end of the housing having a ball joint socket. A slide plate is in an interior of the housing and an actuator is on the underside of the trailer. The actuator is operatively coupled to a rear end of the slide plate. Casters are attached to an axle assembly at a rear end of the trailer. The casters each have a locking plate attached thereto with the locking plate having a locking slot. Locking pins are positioned on the axle assembly. The slide plate is placed in a first position by the actuator wherein the ball joint socket rotates freely on the ball joint and the locking pins are placed in the locking slots. Alternatively, the slide plate is placed in a second position by the actuator wherein the ball joint socket does not rotate on the ball joint and the locking pins are pulled out of the locking slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Richard D. Meyer
  • Patent number: 10787210
    Abstract: A clamping master track link includes a body that defines a first bore and a second bore, a first aperture disposed between the first bore and the second bore, a second aperture disposed between the first aperture and the second bore, a first strut with a first gap disposed between the first aperture and the second aperture, a second strut with a second gap disposed between the first aperture and the first bore, and a bridge disposed between the second aperture and the second bore. The first bore defines a cylindrical bore surface that is at least partially textured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Howard Magner, Matthew William Trone, Mark Robert Wagle
  • Patent number: 10787211
    Abstract: Provided is a crawler pad with improved durability for preventing foreign materials from coming through between crawler pads, greatly improving the strength of steel cores and improving the integrity of a pad body and a steel core. In the prior one, the typical crawler pad had a problem that its life time keeps shortened because foreign materials such as sands, etc. penetrate through into the space between neighboring crawler pads, and the rubber-made pad body was damaged. Foreign material prevention stops are formed on with protruded from the front and back surfaces of the ground contact part, and function to firstly prevent foreign material from coming into space between two neighboring pad bodies, and overlap inclines are formed on the front and the back lower surfaces of the pad body respectively with inclined downwards so as to be overlapped with those of neighboring another pad body and thereby to form an overlap region and secondly prevent foreign material from coming into.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TR BELTRACK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woojeong Kim
  • Patent number: 10787212
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a system or method for moving a load, the apparatus may include a control panel comprising an assemblage of one or more directional switches that are configured to activate a lift mechanism structure to lift a load-bearing frame supporting the load. The one or more directional switches configured to adjust a travel mechanism that is coupled to a roller track and connected to an electrically positionable roller assembly and adjust a pin connector that is configured to connect a support foot to the roller track to allow the roller track to rotate relative to the support foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventors: Shawn Smith, Harlan Smith, Brian Unger
  • Patent number: 10787213
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supporting a component mounting plate that is suspended between a first trailer beam and a second trailer beam. The apparatus comprises a pair of top supporting members including (i) a first top supporting member secured to the plate, and (ii) a second top supporting member secured to the plate. Each of the first and second top members spans between and engages the first and second trailer beams. The apparatus also comprises a pair of bottom supporting members including a first bottom supporting member and a second bottom supporting member. The apparatus further comprises a pair of fastening mechanisms including (i) a first fastening mechanism that secures at least the first top member to the plate, and (ii) a second fastening mechanism that secures at least the second top member to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Jon D Intagliata, Joseph M Macnamara, Anthony J Cydzik, Gary J Brewer, Curt M Geideman
  • Patent number: 10787214
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly tool includes a tooling framework, vehicle control arm caster and camber setting tool, nut runners, and half shaft pressing tool. The vehicle control arm caster and camber setting tool is secured to the framework. The nut runners are secured to the framework and are configured to engage fasteners to rotatably fix a vehicle control arm to a vehicle frame. The half shaft pressing tool is secured to the framework and is configured to press a half shaft into a vehicle axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Magill, Christopher J. Wunsch, Anthony Serra
  • Patent number: 10787215
    Abstract: A dropper post assembly for supporting a bicycle seat can include an outer tube and an inner tube telescopically receivable in the outer tube and slidable within the outer tube between a retracted position in which a lower end of the inner tube is proximate a lower end of the outer tube and an extended position in which the lower end of the inner tube is axially spaced from the lower end of the outer tube. An actuator assembly may include an actuator body having a mounting portion connected to the lower end of the outer tube and a cartridge rod receiving portion, and may be configured so that when the inner tube is in the retracted position at least the upper surface of the cartridge rod receiving portion is nested within the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: D3 Innovation Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Staples
  • Patent number: 10787216
    Abstract: A system for fixing and transporting a storage bag for motorcycles including a support frame fixed onto the motorcycle and a carriage. The carriage includes a lower shell, provided with a substantially flat support surface and with a first group of coupling means for removably connecting to the support frame, and an upper shell, provided with a substantially flat support surface and with a second group of coupling devices for removably connecting to the storage bag. The support frame is provided with a third group of coupling devices for removably connecting to the support surface of the lower shell, whereas the storage bag is provided with a fourth group of coupling means for removably connecting to the support surface of the upper shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: GIVI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Visenzi
  • Patent number: 10787217
    Abstract: This invention relates to a tilting mechanism for wheeled vehicles such as bicycles both electrical and manually powered, motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and the like. The wheeled vehicle, preferably with three wheels or more, driving like a 2-in-line vehicle and handles the same way in the turns and when driving straight. The tilting mechanism for a multiple wheeled vehicle, comprising a tilting mechanism that allows for leaning body and wheels into a turn and independent adjustment of the turning radius, while inducing an effect to the two front wheels similar to Ackerman steering compensation. The principle of the tilting mechanism is a parallelogram structure, which comprises a top rod, a bottom rod and a pair of connecting rods, pivotally connected to each other. To each of the connecting rods a pair of steering elements is pivotally connected and on two steering elements a pair of wheels is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BUTCHERS & BICYCLES APS
    Inventors: Morten Mogensen, Morten Wagener
  • Patent number: 10787218
    Abstract: The present application relates to a self-balancing scooter and a main frame assembly thereof. The self-balancing scooter includes a first main frame and a cooperated second main frame. The first main frame includes a first connecting portion, the first connecting portion includes a first end surface, the first end surface defines a guide hole, and the guide hole is positioned between the center and the edge of the first end surface. The second main frame includes a second connecting portion, the second connecting portion includes a second end surface corresponding to the first end surface of the first connecting portion, the second end surface defines a conduit, the conduit is positioned between the center and the edge of the second end surface, the conduit is accommodated in the guide hole when the first connecting portion is assembled and connected to the second connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XIANGYOU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xia Wen
  • Patent number: 10787219
    Abstract: An electric vehicle drive device includes a swing arm including an arm portion disposed on a left side, having a front part pivotally supported by a pivot shaft, and including a main wall having a height and extending in a front-rear direction, and a cross arm portion which has a front part pivotally supported by the pivot shaft, and including a coupling portion extending toward the left side to the main wall. A guide hole penetrating through the main wall in a vehicle width direction is formed between a part pivotally supported by the pivot shaft and a part in which the coupling portion extends. A harness extends along a side of the main wall on the left side, passes through the guide hole, and extends along the cross arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Oba
  • Patent number: 10787220
    Abstract: A handlebar-grip system and apparatus comprising: a handlebar, the handlebar comprising: a center portion, a handle attached to a first end of the center portion, the handle comprising: a handle outboard and extending along an axial axis; a handle engaging geometry located on the handle outboard end, the handle engaging geometry is noncircular about the axial axis; a grip configured to slide onto the handle outboard end, the grip comprising: a grip central opening; a grip engaging geometry located in the grip central opening; a first portion that is circumferentially offset and axially coincident relative to a second portion thereof, where the first portion has a greater radial thickness than the second portion; where, with the handle positioned within the grip central opening, the grip is circumferentially keyed to the handle to limit rotation therebetween about the axial axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Moeschler, Christian Feucht, Evan Smith, Mark Slate, Patrick M. Seidler, Raphael Schlanger
  • Patent number: 10787221
    Abstract: A scooter having a front wheel and a rear wheel. A steering assembly includes a steering tube and a handlebar. A rear foot brake is configured to apply a braking force to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel. A deck is configured to support the weight of a person. A frame is configured to support the deck. The frame comprises a plurality of frame members arranged to form at least two or more vertical planes on one or both lateral sides of the scooter. In some configurations, the rear foot brake is linked to a front brake and configured to actuate the front brake of the front wheel and apply a braking force to the rear wheel simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bravo Sports
    Inventors: Jack B. Lovley, II, Joseph C. Klingl, Mark Groenhuyzen, Kenneth Edlauer
  • Patent number: 10787222
    Abstract: A suspension (1) for a bicycle (101) comprising an elastic element (2) and a blocking/releasing device (3) of the elastic element (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HIRIDE SUSPENSION S.r.L.
    Inventors: Diego Delvecchio, Domenico Borgese
  • Patent number: 10787223
    Abstract: A clamping element for fastening bicycle components, in particular brake/gearshift units, to bicycle handlebars, such as a racing bicycle handlebar, includes a first clamping part and a second clamping part. The first clamping part serves to be connected with the bicycle component, e.g. by a screw. The second clamping part is releasably connected with the first clamping part. Thereby, it is possible to configure the clamping element such that the clamping element is also suited for non-round handlebars and/or can be arranged in closed regions of a handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Canyon Bicycles GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Heyder, Julius Thorwart
  • Patent number: 10787224
    Abstract: A wheeled vehicle incorporating a frame; a drive shaft mounted upon the frame, the drive shaft having rotary power input and output ends; a drive wheel mounted upon the frame; a rotary power output linkage operatively interconnecting the drive shaft's output end and the drive wheel; rotary power pedals mounted upon the frame; a rotary power input linkage operatively interconnecting the drive shaft's input end and the rotary power pedals; a spiral spring having a rotary power input end and a rotary power output end, the spiral spring being mounted over the drive shaft; a clutch and one way bearing combination for anchoring the spiral spring's rotary power input end upon the drive shaft and upon the frame; and a one way bearing and brake combination for alternatively anchoring the spiral spring's rotary power output end upon the drive shaft and upon the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas M. Howe
  • Patent number: 10787225
    Abstract: A fitting structure of a bottom bracket shell of a bicycle contains: a hollow body having a receiving orifice. A first engagement element includes a first engaging section, a first aperture, and a first tilted guide portion. A second engagement element includes a second engaging section, a second aperture, and a second tilted guide portion. A first sleeve includes a first accommodation portion, a first connection portion, a first rib, a first abutting portion, and a first coupling section, wherein a first conically inclined face is defined between the first sleeve and the first tilted guide portion. A second sleeve includes a second accommodation portion, a second connection portion, a second rib, a second abutting portion, and a second coupling, wherein a second conically inclined face is defined between the second sleeve and the second tilted guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Chang Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 10787226
    Abstract: A pedal includes a pedal body and a step-in assembly. The step-in assembly has a projected area less than that of the pedal body and is fixed on a platform of the pedal body. The step-in assembly has a frame with a U-shape, a front fastener integrally formed at a closed end of the frame in one-piece, and a rear fastener pivotedly connected to an open end of the frame. A protrusion is aslant extended from each of two opposite sides of the frame. The two protrusions are symmetrically arranged to face to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SCADA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 10787227
    Abstract: A chain guide for a bicycle having may include a base frame and a height adjustment member connected to the base frame and slidable relative to the base frame and lockable in a first position by engaging a first locking member. A retaining member may be pivotally connected to the height adjustment member and may be pivotable about a pivot axis a retaining position, in which the retaining member is positioned to obstruct lateral movement of the chain away from the chainring thereby preventing lateral misalignment between the chain and the chainring, and a removal position, in which the retaining member does not obstruct lateral movement of the chain away from the base frame while the height adjustment member is locked in the first position. The pivot axis may be spaced apart from the first locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: D3 Innovation Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Staples
  • Patent number: 10787228
    Abstract: A pin for a crown of a bicycle crankset that includes a mounting portion configured to be fixed to the crown, a chain engaging portion having a first face that faces towards said mounting portion for engaging a plate of a link of a bicycle chain, and a second face that faces the opposite way with respect to said mounting portion. The second face has at least one first surface portion inclined by a first angle smaller than 90° when measured in a longitudinal section plane of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Minto, Nicola Sgreva
  • Patent number: 10787230
    Abstract: A modular, weight-shift controlled watercraft device is disclosed which includes: a modular board removably attachable to a power system. The power system includes a modular power supply system, and a modular propulsion system. The power supply system includes a housing including a battery. The propulsion system includes a modular strut, a modular propulsion pod, and a modular hydrofoil. In one embodiment, the power supply system is removably and mechanically attachable directly to the propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: KAI Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Montague, Joseph Andrew Brock, Jamieson Edward Schulte, Daniel Elliot Schabb
  • Patent number: 10787231
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses are provided for the reduction of hydrodynamic frictional drag. These systems, methods and apparatuses can include a vessel surface having an external layer and a plurality of dimples, wherein the external layer comprises a hydrophilic material, and wherein each of the dimples includes an inner surface having a superhydrophobic coating. The dimples can be configured to maintain an air-water interface as one or more fluids flow over the vessel surface. In some embodiments, a pressure reservoir can be coupled with the dimples, and can include an acoustic speaker to vibrate the air-water interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Cong Wang, David Jeon, Morgane Grivel, Francisco Pereira, Morteza Gharib
  • Patent number: 10787232
    Abstract: A structural suspension of radial turret bearing wheels in a turret bearing comprises a rail support structure mounted on a turret bearing support structure, a circular rail mounted to the rail support structure, and a plurality of radial wheels running on the mainly vertical inner side of the rail. The suspension includes a vertical flexible shaft, for each radial wheel, supported by an upper and lower support with a part of the shaft protruding with the radial wheel mounted close to the outer end. The inner side of the rail is a frustum with the shortest radius at the top and an aperture of 2, and the outer mainly planar contacting surface of the wheel has an angle ? relative to the rotational axis of the wheel, and is overlaid with a convex curvature across the contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: APL Technology AS
    Inventor: Sigmund Askestad
  • Patent number: 10787233
    Abstract: A floating device for supporting an offshore wind turbine, comprising a central floating pillar for fixedly receiving a tower of the wind turbine, at least three peripheral floaters, and one leg per floater, each leg extending in a longitudinal direction that runs radially in relation to the central pillar; each leg has a proximal end that is secured to the central pillar, and a distal end that is secured to the floater; the legs include an outer tubular element, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the leg and has a curved cross-section perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and an inner tubular element, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the leg and has a polygonal cross-section perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, the polygonal cross-section being inscribed in the curved cross-section. The invention also relates to a floating wind turbine unit comprising the device and a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ceteal
    Inventors: Julien Gatesoupe, Pascal Heisel, Yves Marin
  • Patent number: 10787234
    Abstract: A data capture device and a data capture system are provided. The data capture device is configured to navigate along an elongate structure. The data capture device includes a surface scanner, for scanning a surface of the elongate structure; and a sensor, for capturing data relating to the elongate structure. The surface scanner and the sensor are configured to capture data relating to a common region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Hegel Industrial Solutions Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Darren James Foster
  • Patent number: 10787235
    Abstract: A method for cycling autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that record seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The method includes deploying plural current AUVs on the ocean bottom; recording the seismic signals during the marine seismic survey with plural current AUVs; releasing from an underwater base a new AUV to replace a corresponding current AUV from the plural current AUVs; recovering the current AUV; and continuing to record the seismic signals with the new AUV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Seabed Geosolutions B.V.
    Inventors: Antoine Lelaurin, Jonathan Grimsdale, Thierry Brizard
  • Patent number: 10787236
    Abstract: A tiller system for steering an outboard motor. The tiller system includes a tiller arm that is rotatably coupled to the outboard motor. The tiller arm is rotatable from a down position to an up position through a plurality of lock positions therebetween. A tilt lock system is coupled between the tiller arm and the outboard motor and is configured to be activated and deactivated. When activated, the tilt lock system prevents the tiller arm from rotating downwardly through each of the plurality of lock positions. The tiller arm is further rotatable into an unlock position, whereby rotating the tiller arm into the unlock position automatically deactivates the tilt lock system such that the tiller arm is freely rotatable downwardly through the plurality of lock positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Erickson, Jolayne K. Ingebritson, Robert A. Podell
  • Patent number: 10787237
    Abstract: A jet pump includes a propulsion system including an impeller coupled to a rotatable shaft configured to receive torque from an engine and an exhaust system including an exhaust flow path configured to direct exhaust from the engine to an exterior of the watercraft, wherein the exhaust system is integrated with the propulsion system. In another embodiment, a jet pump includes a propulsion system including a water intake configured to take in water from a body of water, the water intake including an intake grate and an intake base, and an exhaust system including an exhaust flow path configured to direct exhaust from the engine to an exterior of the watercraft, wherein the intake base of the water intake is configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of a hull of the watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Indmar Products Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. Kimball
  • Patent number: 10787238
    Abstract: A ship handling device enabling easy turning calibration. With a ship handling device (7), during turning calibration with the ship handling device (7), the joystick lever (10) is turned to rotate the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides of the ship, and the joystick lever (10) is tilted to change a forward-thrust/backward-thrust ratio of the forward-backward propeller (4) on the port or starboard side or to change the rotation speeds. When a calibration execution switch (10a) is operated, thrusts generated with the changed forward-thrust backward-thrust ratio are set as correction coefficients, or, among thrusts generated at the changed rotation speeds (Npn, Nsn) of the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides, thrusts generated by the forward-backward propellers (4) on the port and starboard sides according to the tilting of the joystick lever (10) are set as correction coefficients (Cp, Cs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Watanabe, Gakuji Tamura, Koichi Kanda
  • Patent number: 10787239
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides a power port device for mounting a monopod. The power port device includes power port typical of a marine vessel, such as a bass boat or speed boat. The power port device would connect to a rail affixed to the side of a kayak. An adjustable mount can be inserted between the power port device and the rail to adjust the angle of the power port device. The monopod can then provide power for mobile accessories, such as cameras and smart phones. The monopod may be fitted with extendable, bendable arms for mounting additional cameras or other electronic devices or for providing additional accessories. The monopod could also include other power outlets, including universal serial bus (USB) or standard power outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Christian L. Corley
  • Patent number: 10787240
    Abstract: A vehicle body may have a skeleton formed by a plurality of overlapping layers bonded to each other. Each of the plurality of overlapping layers may be fabricated from a continuous fiber coated with a matrix material. A trajectory of the continuous fiber may be different between adjacent layers of the plurality of overlapping layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Continuous Composites Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Tyler
  • Patent number: 10787241
    Abstract: An aircraft joint between overlapping first and second components includes a fastener assembly. The fastener assembly includes a threaded fastener and a boss having an outer diameter and a threaded internal bore. The boss is fixedly attached to the second component at the overlap region. The first component has a through hole having a diameter sized to receive the outer diameter of the boss. The boss is received in the through hole from a first side of the first component. The fastener extends through the through hole from a second side of the first component opposite the first side. The fastener is threadably received in the internal bore of the boss and reacts against the second side of the first component to fasten the first component to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Vernon Holmes, Rodney Evans, Stefanos Kosteletos
  • Patent number: 10787242
    Abstract: There is provided an aerodynamic control apparatus for an air vehicle comprising a flap system including a first spanwise flap segment to be arranged on a first side of an air vehicle, a second spanwise flap segment to be arranged on the first side of the air vehicle, and a controller to actuate the first spanwise flap segment to a first flap deflection and the second spanwise flap segment to a second flap deflection, wherein the first spanwise flap segment at the first flap deflection and the second spanwise flap segment at the second flap deflection form a piecewise continuous trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventor: Nhan T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10787243
    Abstract: A propeller component, for example a propeller blade airfoil, includes an external surface exposed in use to an oncoming airstream (A), and a protective polymeric film applied over substantially the entire exposed external surface of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventor: Bruno Seminel
  • Patent number: 10787244
    Abstract: A blade-fold bushing system includes a splined bushing comprising a first plurality of teeth, a castellated bushing comprising a second plurality of teeth and a shaft portion configured to coaxially fit within the splined bushing, and a lock bushing coaxially aligned with the castellated bushing. A support tool for use with a blade-fold bushing system includes an outer head comprising a third plurality of teeth configured to mesh with the first plurality of teeth of the splined bushing, and an inner head comprising a fourth plurality of teeth configured to mesh with the second plurality of teeth of the castellated bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Glenn Alan Shimek
  • Patent number: 10787245
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an airflow. The method draws air through a group of inlets. The group of inlets is located in a group of locations on the vehicle such that the group of inlets actively controls the airflow relative to an aircraft when drawing the air. The method compresses the air drawn by the group of inlets in a group of air compressor units located in an aircraft structure to form pressurized air. Further, the method sends the pressurized air through a group of exit ports in the aircraft structure. The pressurized air flowing out of the group of exit ports actively controls the airflow for an aircraft, enabling an improved performance of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Duffy, Rene Woszidlo
  • Patent number: 10787246
    Abstract: A method of improving performance of an aircraft, including attaching a wing tip to a wing of the aircraft. The wing tip includes a winglet and a ventral fin. The winglet includes a winglet leading edge, a winglet trailing edge, an adapter section, a transition section attached to the adapter section, a blade section attached to the transition section, and a first tip section attached to the blade section. The ventral fin is coupled to the winglet at an attachment location adjacent the transition section. The ventral fin includes a second tip section. The wing has a wing leading edge and a wing trailing edge in a wing chord plane. Attaching the wing tip to the wing includes connecting the adapter section to the wing such that the winglet leading edge continuously transitions from the wing leading edge, and the winglet trailing edge continuously transitions from the wing trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Aviation Partners, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis B. Gratzer
  • Patent number: 10787247
    Abstract: A hybrid actuator, having a central longitudinal axis, may include a housing defining a central cavity. The hybrid actuator may also include a piston disposed within the central cavity, the piston comprising a piston head that divides the central cavity into a pressure chamber and an annular chamber. The piston houses a pump configured to pump fluid through a port defined in the piston head between the annular chamber and the pressure chamber to extend a piston rod of the piston from the central cavity, according to various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Harald Klode
  • Patent number: 10787248
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, disclosed is an axle saddle system for an axle having an undercut between the outboard and inboard bearing lands of the axle. According to various embodiments, the axle saddle system comprises a saddle configured to fill the axle undercut in order to protect the axle from damage by the installation of a wheel onto the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Swank, Shane E. Hunnicutt, Joshua Stephen Kossler, Michael Neal Patterson
  • Patent number: 10787249
    Abstract: Multi-stage reduction of impact forces are disclosed. An example apparatus to reduce impact energy of an aircraft during landing includes a rotatable landing leg having a proximal end near an axis of rotation and a distal end opposite the proximal end, a first flexible portion of the proximal end, where the first flexible portion is to engage a first engaging portion at a first rotation angle of the rotatable landing leg, and a second flexible portion of the distal end, where the second flexible portion is to engage a second engaging portion at a second rotation angle of the rotatable landing leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Fabian Oberndorfer, Klaus Doth, Martin Stobbe
  • Patent number: 10787250
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-copter, including: a fuselage; three or more intermediate supporting bars which have one ends fixed to the fuselage and radially extend from the fuselage; two mounting rods which are divided into two branches at the other ends of the intermediate supporting bars; and a propeller set configured by two propellers which are mounted to two mounting rods and rotate at the same rotational speed (RPM) in opposite directions. When an angle formed by any one propeller between two propellers which form the propeller set and the mounting rod is a first angle and an angle formed by the other one propeller and the mounting rod is a second angle, a difference between the first angle and the second angle is 360/2n degrees and n is a number of blades for every propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Korea Aerospace Research Institute
    Inventor: Tae Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 10787251
    Abstract: A helicopter has a mast axis and a rotorcraft blade assembly. The rotorcraft blade assembly has a main body and a blade tip movable relative to the main body. The rotorcraft blade assembly is selectively rotatable about the mast axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Edward Foskey
  • Patent number: 10787252
    Abstract: A rotorcraft having a fuselage surmounted by a main rotor. The rotorcraft has a first propeller and a second propeller driven in rotation respectively about a first secondary axis of rotation and a second secondary axis of rotation. A mobility system turns the second propeller relative to the fuselage, the mobility system turning the second secondary axis of rotation relative to the fuselage from a first position where the second propeller exerts thrust in a first direction to a second position where the second propeller exerts thrust in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Michel Vialle, Sylvain Berthalon
  • Patent number: 10787253
    Abstract: The present invention includes an anti-torque assembly for a helicopter comprising a plurality of fixed blade pitch motors mounted on one or more pivots on the tail boom of the helicopter, wherein the plurality of fixed blade pitch motors on the one or more pivots are adapted to be oriented substantially in-plane with a tail boom of a helicopter during a first mode of operation that comprises a hover mode and wherein the fixed blade pitch motors are adapted to be oriented substantially off-plane from the tail boom of the helicopter during a second mode of helicopter operation that is different from the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Carlos Alexander Fenny, Erik John Oltheten
  • Patent number: 10787254
    Abstract: A VTOL flying taxicab is provided to solve the ground and airport traffic congestion problems by directing the traffic from two-dimensional ground space to the three-dimensional air space. The VTOL-Flying-Taxicab includes two rows of independently controllable small electrical-motor driven propellers, located above-and-below each of its two wings' leading edges. This configuration divides each wing-top-surface and wing-bottom-surface into independently controllable strips of wing surfaces, where the thrust vector, air velocity vector and air pressure on each and all strips of wing surfaces are independently controllable at any vehicle speed. These features provide all control requirements of the VTOL-flying-taxicab maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Franklin Y. K. Chen
  • Patent number: 10787255
    Abstract: An aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing comprises a fuselage, at least one processor carried by the fuselage and a pair of aerodynamic, lift-generating wings extending from the fuselage. A plurality of vectoring rotors are rotatably carried by the fuselage so as to be rotatable between a substantially vertical configuration relative to the fuselage for vertical take-off and landing and a substantially horizontal configuration relative to the fuselage for horizontal flight. The vectoring rotors are unsupported by the first pair of wings. The wings may be modular and removably connected to the fuselage and configured to be interchangeable with an alternate pair of wings. A cargo container may be secured to the underside of the fuselage, and the cargo container may be modular and interchangeable with an alternate cargo container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SKY CANOE INC.
    Inventor: Dale Arthur George
  • Patent number: 10787256
    Abstract: An aeronautical car comprises a ground-travel system including at least one traction device, an air-travel system including at least one flight mechanism configured to be selectively moved between a first position when the aeronautical car is in a driving mode and a second position when the aeronautical car is in a flying mode, and a weather manipulation device. The weather manipulation device may be configured to manipulate at least one aspect of a weather condition while the aeronautical car is in the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: LTA Corporation
    Inventor: John Goelet
  • Patent number: 10787257
    Abstract: Disclosed is an unmanned aircraft including: a housing; a drive unit that is formed in such a manner that the housing is moved; multiple UWB communication modules that are arranged a distance away from one another and that receives a wireless signal from an external device; a sensor unit that detects movement of the housing; and a control unit that calculates a distance between the external device and the housing, using pieces of movement information which are output by the multiple UWB communication modules and the sensor unit, and that controls the drive unit in such a manner that a specific distance between the external device and the housing is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jungsik Kim, Jaehark Park, Woosok Chang, Taegil Cho