Lifting Fuselages Patents (Class 244/36)
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Patent number: 12122534Abstract: A direct design method for generating an osculating curved waverider based on a complex leading edge, includes obtaining a leading edgeleading edge through determining a leading edge of a waverider according to a spread length, a front-to-rear length, and a sweep angle at each position of an aircraft, and arranging leading-edge discrete points on the leading edgeleading edge; drawing a small shock cone corresponding to each leading-edge discrete point by starting from each leading-edge discrete point, taking a local shock angle as a half cone angle and taking a free streamline direction as an axis; finding envelope surfaces of all small shock cones, namely, a shock curved surface corresponding to the leading edgeleading edge; generating a waverider by using the osculating curved waverider design method.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Inventors: Chongwen Jiang, Zhihao Li, Shuyao Hu, Chenhao Xu, Zhenxun Gao, Chunhian Lee
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Patent number: 12024286Abstract: Described herein is a blended wing body aircraft. In some embodiments, a blended wing body aircraft may include a passenger cabin separated into two or more cabin bays. In some embodiments, two or more cabin bays may be separated by a structural element that runs through the passenger cabin along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2023Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: JetZero, Inc.Inventor: Mark Allan Page
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Patent number: 11939060Abstract: A lift nacelle may comprise an airflow generator; a sidewall system coupled to the airflow generator and spanning in a first direction, wherein the sidewall system defines a nacelle interior space, wherein the airflow generator defines one of a forward boundary or an aft boundary of the nacelle interior space; and a lift body disposed in the nacelle interior space and spanning substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially perpendicular to an upward lift direction. The airflow generator may be configured to accelerate airflow in an aft direction into the nacelle interior space through the forward boundary of the nacelle interior space. The airflow may contact and/or interact with the lift body creating lift in response.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Copperhead Aeronautics, LLCInventors: Phillip Greenberg, Ian Wells
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Patent number: 11673643Abstract: A low stall or minimum control speed aircraft comprising a fuselage that has vertically flat sides; wings with high a lift airfoil profile of constant chord section set at zero degree planform sweep, twin booms having inner vertically flat surfaces, twin vertical stabilizers, a flying horizontal stabilizer; preferably twin engines having propellers and wherein each engine preferably has a thrust-line that is inclined nose-up to a maximum of +8 degrees, and is parallel to the wing chord underneath wing mounts and landing gear doors that provide surfaces for channeling propeller wash in a rearward direction; all working in concert so that the airplane has an extremely low stall speed and minimum control speed. The engines may be diesel, hydrogen fuel cell, electric fuel cell, diesel-electric, gas turbine or combinations thereof. The propellers may be counter-rotating.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: JP AEROSPACE GROUP, INC.Inventors: John K. Markley, Jason Russell, Paul Bartlett
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Patent number: 11597501Abstract: Technologies for providing noise shielding are described herein. In some examples, noise shields are installed proximate to one or more of the main engines of the aircraft. The noise shields can be extended during terminal operations and retracted during flight operations.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Blended Wing Aircraft, Inc.Inventor: Mark A. Page
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Patent number: 11498678Abstract: A blended wing body aircraft wherein at least each profile section corresponding to the normalized half-span values from 0 to 0.2 has a thickness ratio having a nominal value within the range set forth in Table 1. Also, a blended wing body aircraft wherein at least each profile section corresponding to the normalized half-span values from 0.15 to 0.3 has a normalized chord having a nominal value within the range set forth in Table 1, and wherein a ratio between a maximum thickness of the center body and the chord length along the centerline has a nominal value of at least 16%. Also, a blended wing body aircraft wherein a region of the aircraft defined by normalized half-span values from 0.1 to 0.2 has a normalized chord having a dimensionless rate of change from ?3.5 to ?5.1, and a thickness ratio having a rate of change from ?0.27 to ?0.72.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.Inventors: Siddhartho Banerjee, Alexandre Galin, Ian Chittick
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Patent number: 11487914Abstract: A system and a method are described for laying out components in a vehicle workspace. The method may comprise: receiving, as input, a plurality of components for a vehicle workspace; determining an optimization of a routing of a plurality of connections, each of which connect to at least one of the plurality of components; and providing an output indicative of the routing within the vehicle workspace.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brendan Diamond, Kevin James Rhodes, Erik J. Christen
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Patent number: 11377219Abstract: A hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion system may comprise: a first propulsion system, a second propulsion system, and a third propulsion system. The first propulsion system may comprise a first fan, a first turbine, a first compressor, and a first electric motor, the first fan operably coupled to the first turbine and the first compressor by a first shaft, the first shaft coupled to the first electric motor, the first shaft configured to be disposed radially inward of a fuselage of an aircraft. The second propulsion system and the third propulsion system may be in accordance with the first propulsion system. The hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion system may be symmetric about a vertical plane extending through a neutral aerodynamic axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Daniel Kupratis, Gary Roberge
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Patent number: 11034442Abstract: The universal vehicle system is designed with a lifting body which is composed of a plurality of interconnected modules which are configured to form an aerodynamically viable contour of the lifting body which including a front central module, a rear module, and thrust vectoring modules displaceably connected to the front central module and operatively coupled to respective propulsive mechanisms. The thrust vectoring modules are controlled for dynamical displacement relative to the lifting body (in tilting and/or translating fashion) to direct and actuate the propulsive mechanism(s) as needed for safe and stable operation in various modes of operation and transitioning therebetween in air, water and terrain environments.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2016Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: University of Maryland, College ParkInventors: Evandro Gurgel Do Amaral Valente, Norman M. Wereley, Eduardo Gurgel Do Amaral Valente
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Patent number: 11008088Abstract: A method for operating a wing (5) including a fixed wing (9), a foldable wing tip portion (11) mounted to the fixed wing (9) pivotally between an extended position and a folded position, an actuation unit (13) for actuating movement of the foldable wing tip portion (11), and an arresting unit (15) for locking the foldable wing tip portion (11) in the extended position and/or in the folded position. The method includes controlling the actuation unit (13) to move the foldable wing tip portion (11) either to the extended position or to the folded position until the foldable wing tip portion (11) or the actuation unit (13) contacts a stop element (28), continuing actuation until the actuation unit (13) reaches a stall condition, detecting the stall condition of the actuation unit (13), and locking the arresting unit (15) upon detection of the stall condition.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbHInventors: Saskia Dege, Svenja Jegminat
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Patent number: 10815010Abstract: An air launched rocket for placing payloads in earth orbit comprising a lifting body having a cross sectional shape of an airfoil extending in a spanwise direction between a first and a second wing tip. The lifting body further comprises at least one rocket engine positioned at the first wing tip oriented for propelling the lifting body in the spanwise direction. The air launched rocket is combined with a carrier aircraft which is removably attached to a suction surface of the airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Intercept Nexus, LLCInventor: Kyle Snowberger
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Patent number: 10787255Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: SKY CANOE INC.Inventor: Dale Arthur George
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Patent number: 10696378Abstract: Described herein is vehicle comprising a body. The vehicle also comprises a cargo door assembly, coupled to the body. The cargo door assembly comprises a first door, movable, relative to the body, between a first closed position and a first open position. The cargo door assembly also comprises a first aerodynamics control surface, coupled to the first door and selectively movable relative to the first door. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 1 of the present disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Norman H. Princen, Jaime E. Baraja, Benjamin A. Harber
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Patent number: 10407887Abstract: A self-cleaning floor assembly is configured to form or be positioned on a floor of an enclosed space. The self-cleaning floor assembly includes a moveable floor including a moveable floor panel, an actuation system that is operatively coupled to the floor panel, and a cleaning system proximate to at least a portion of the moveable floor. The actuation system is configured to move at least a portion of the floor panel into and through the cleaning system during a cleaning cycle. The cleaning system is configured to clean the portion(s) of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Charles C. Jensen
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Patent number: 9376207Abstract: A system is disclosed including at least one indexing stub secured to a fuselage in the place of one or more wing stubs and including indexing members protruding from opposite sides of the fuselage. A pair of receivers are mounted to a container and define channels to receive the indexing members. The channels may include an upper flared portion and a lower straight portion. The indexing members are lowered into the channels and the flared portions guide the indexing members into the straight portions. In some embodiments, a pair of clamping members are configured to selectively lock the indexing members within the channels. The indexing members may have a cylindrical shape and may be rotatably mounted to the at least one indexing stub.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Becklin Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Dennis S. Becklin, Dean A. Weathers, Adrian P. Tayne
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Patent number: 9120552Abstract: Aircraft engineering applicable for improving aerodynamic quality of helicopters, airplanes, including big airbuses and amphibian airplanes, aerodynamic ground-effect and air-cushion vehicles, by reducing contact area between the external fuselage tail section surface and a high-speed air flow, area of contact is reduced by increasing surface area of holes in the fuselage tail section. To increase lifting force without increasing pressure resistance, the aerodynamic channel bottom is convex upwards, for example, curved upwards according to the shape of the airfoil convex side. The upper hole for the aerodynamic channel in the fuselage skin may be located along the fin middle portion divided lengthwise by the fin to right and left, in two. The aerodynamic channel is made through and may be open. The upper front edge aligned hole of the aerodynamic channel has a greater surface area than the rear hole aligned with the fuselage end.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Inventors: Gennady Trofimovich Kreshchishin, Larisa Trofimovna Kreshchishina
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Patent number: 9090328Abstract: Provided is a fuselage segment that extends in a longitudinal fuselage segment axis and is closed in a circumferential direction around this longitudinal fuselage segment axis. The fuselage segment features a plurality of shell components for forming a skin of the fuselage segment that respectively feature two first shell component edges extending along a longitudinal shell component direction and two second shell component edges extending along a lateral shell component direction. The shell components are respectively connected to at least one adjacent shell component along at least one first shell component edge and along at least one second shell component edge. Methods for manufacturing such a fuselage segment are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbHInventor: Robert Alexander Goehlich
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Publication number: 20150122942Abstract: The object of the invention is a method for generating lift for an airborne flying device, which has a wing part and/or a fuselage part generating lift by means of interactive movement between the air and the device. In the method, in the frontal view area of the lift-generating part of the device is arranged at least one counterflow impulse surface (1), which is formed by a planar or curved surface extending forward in the direction of travel from the lower surface (2) of the wing and/or fuselage and obliquely upwards, and which generates at least the main part of the lift when the airflow hits this inclined impulse surface and bends when the device is airborne.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2012Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Raimo Hirvinen, Jani Hirvinen, Toni Hirvinen
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Patent number: 8967526Abstract: A flight-operable, truly modular aircraft has an aircraft core to which one or more of outer wings members, fuselage, cockpit, leading and trailing edge couplings, and empennage and tail sections can be removably coupled and/or replaced during the operating life span of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments the aircraft core houses the propulsive engines, avionics, at least 80% of the fuel, and all of the landing gear. The aircraft core is preferably constructed with curved forward and aft composite spars, that couple to outer wing sections and possibly other sections using hardpoints. The aircraft core preferably has a large central cavity dimensioned to interchangeably carry an ordnance launcher, a surveillance payload, electronic countermeasures, and other types of cargo. Contemplated aircraft can be quite large, for example having a wing span of at least 80 ft.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Inventor: Abe Karem
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Publication number: 20140231593Abstract: A flight-operable, truly modular aircraft has an aircraft core to which one or more of outer wings members, fuselage, cockpit, leading and trailing edge couplings, and empennage and tail sections can be removably coupled and/or replaced during the operating life span of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments the aircraft core houses the propulsive engines, avionics, at least 80% of the fuel, and all of the landing gear. The aircraft core is preferably constructed with curved forward and aft composite spars, that transfer loads across the center section, while accommodating a mid-wing configuration. The aircraft core preferably has a large central cavity dimensioned to interchangeably carry an ordnance launcher, a surveillance payload, electronic countermeasures, and other types of cargo. Contemplated aircraft can be quite large, for example having a wing span of at least 80 ft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventor: Abe Karem
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Publication number: 20140175215Abstract: Optimization of the use of the available volume in a flying wing for commercial passenger transport, in particular for short- or medium-haul routes. A flying wing is provided including a passenger cabin together with at least one hold for the transport of luggage and/or goods, in which the hold is positioned laterally relative to said passenger cabin.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: June 26, 2014Inventors: Guillaume Gallant, Romain Delahaye
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Publication number: 20140103159Abstract: Aircraft comprising a single wing suspended under a closed sided chassis. The wing spar is mounted to the sides that enclose and channel the airflow over and under the wing to provide lift. Airflow is provided by a source located in front of the wing by means of either propeller, ducted fan or similar devise. Engines mounted on a rotational engine mount can provide downward thrust to lift front of craft to obtain an angle great enough for lift-off Once aircraft has sustained-angle for lift off engine(s) rotate to produce airflow parallel to wing for flight. Rudders mounted behind the air source and prior to the wing provide steering.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Inventor: Wayne Curtis Bert
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Patent number: 8672259Abstract: A supersonic aircraft design using compression lift for enhanced cruise performance. Each engine nacelle at mid-span has a vertical wedge at the nose which creates shock waves under the wings. The increased pressure behind the shock waves pushes up on the wings, creating compression lift. The second part of the process is trapping the shocks by some vertical surfaces. The inboard shocks are intercepted by a keel under the fuselage. This causes the reflected shock effect, which increases compression lift. The keel is just wide enough to store the main landing gear's wheel bogies one behind the other. One strut carrying a wheel bogie retracts upward and forward. The other strut retracts upward and backward. This allows tandem bogie storage in the narrow keel, which reduces drag. Outboard shocks are trapped by wingtip fins with pointed noses to reduce shock interference at the point of shock trapping.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Inventor: Patrick Andrew Kosheleff
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Publication number: 20130341459Abstract: A supersonic aircraft design using compression lift for enhanced cruise performance. Each engine nacelle at mid-span has a vertical wedge at the nose which creates shock waves under the wings. The increased pressure behind the shock waves pushes up on the wings, creating compression lift. The second part of the process is trapping the shocks by some vertical surfaces. The inboard shocks are intercepted by a keel under the fuselage. This causes the reflected shock effect, which increases compression lift. The keel is just wide enough to store the main landing gear's wheel bogies one behind the other. One strut carrying a wheel bogie retracts upward and forward. The other strut retracts upward and backward. This allows tandem bogie storage in the narrow keel, which reduces drag. Outboard shocks are trapped by wingtip fins with pointed noses to reduce shock interference at the point of shock trapping.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventor: Patrick Andrew Kosheleff
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Publication number: 20130306788Abstract: An unmanned air system and method with blown flaps are presented. Air is guided to a fuel cell carried by the unmanned air system. The fuel cell is ventilated by the guided air such that the air is heated by the fuel cell to provide heated air. The heated air is routed from the fuel cell to one or more high lift devices on a lift device of the unmanned air system to provide routed air. The routed air is blown across the high lift devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventor: The Boeing Company
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Patent number: 8485476Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft having one or more fixed wings in a flying wing configuration, where the aircraft further includes a high performance co-flow jet (CFJ) circulating about at least a portion of an aircraft surface to produce both lift and thrust.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: University of MiamiInventors: Gecheng Zha, Bertrand P. E. Dano
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Patent number: 8453963Abstract: An amphibious large aircraft without traditional airstairs is disclosed. With its flat and oblong fuselage, said amphibious large aircraft has wing-in-ground effect in addition to generating elevating force in flight. Thus, said amphibious large aircraft has smooth takeoff and touchdown on the runway as well as on broad water area. The flight efficiency is increased by 30-40%. The fuselage has only one floor, wherein the passenger cabin is set in the front of the fuselage, and the cargo hold is mounted above the rear. The wings are extended towards two sides from upper side of the fuselage. A jet engine is mounted above the rear of the fuselage and adjacent to the tail wing. Passengers can go on and off the amphibious large aircraft directly without the need of airstairs and can escape from the aircraft directly without the need of an inflator slide during an emergency.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Inventor: Shiying Liu
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Patent number: 8448893Abstract: Aircraft configured to operate at Mach numbers from above 0.80 and up to 1.2 with wing sweep angles defined by the wing outboard leading edge of less than 35 degrees, and incorporating calculated values of the ratio of outboard wing panel aspect ratio raised to an exponent of 0.78, divided by the ratio of maximum thickness divided by chord (t/c), greater than about 45, characterized by one of the following: a) where maximum thickness divided by chord (t/c) is at a location approximately 70% of the distance outboard from the attaching aircraft body to the wing tip, or b) where maximum thickness divided by chord (t/c) is the average value of (t/c)'s located between approximately 50% of the distance outboard from the attaching aircraft body to the wing tip.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Aerion CorporationInventors: Richard R. Tracy, James D. Chase
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Patent number: 8408490Abstract: An oblique wing aircraft (1) designed for reduced surface area to volume ratio. The aircraft has an oblique wing comprising a forward swept wing segment (27) on one side of the wing and an aft swept wing segment (29) on the opposite side of the wing. A center oblique airfoil section (25) 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. The center oblique airfoil section is not shaped solely to function as a circular fairing to fill the gap between an oblique wing and a fuselage at different oblique wing angles, nor is it a second wing in an X wing configuration. Preferably, the aircraft is an all-wing aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Advanced Product Development, LLCInventor: William R McDonnell
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Publication number: 20120292435Abstract: A flight-operable, truly modular aircraft has an aircraft core to which one or more of outer wings members, fuselage, cockpit, leading and trailing edge couplings, and empennage and tail sections can be removably coupled and/or replaced during the operating life span of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments the aircraft core houses the propulsive engines, avionics, at least 80% of the fuel, and all of the landing gear. The aircraft core is preferably constructed with curved forward and aft composite spars, that couple to outer wing sections and possibly other sections using hardpoints. The aircraft core preferably has a large central cavity dimensioned to interchangeably carry an ordnance launcher, a surveillance payload, electronic countermeasures, and other types of cargo. Contemplated aircraft can be quite large, for example having a wing span of at least 80 ft.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventor: Abe Karem
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Publication number: 20120256043Abstract: An airborne vehicle having a wing-body which defines a wing-body axis and appears substantially annular when viewed along the wing-body axis, the interior of the annulus defining a duct which is open at both ends. A propulsion system is provided comprising one or more pairs of propulsion devices, each pair comprising a first propulsion device mounted to the wing-body and positioned on a first side of a plane including the wing-body axis, and a second propulsion device mounted to the wing-body and positioned on a second side of the plane including the wing-body axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: GO SCIENCE LIMITEDInventor: Harry George Dennis Gosling
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Patent number: 8282036Abstract: A multi-wing, airfoil fuselage aircraft that is capable of flying in a ground-effect mode includes a main airfoil fuselage wing, a fin that extends vertically from this wing, a pivot mount that is affixed to the fin, an auxiliary wing that connects to the pivot mount so as to allow its angle of attack to be adjusted and changed during different flight conditions, a main landing gear, an adjustable-length, stabilizing landing gear, assorted control surfaces that are movably affixed to the auxiliary wing and fin, and a ground-effect control system that is adapted to control the operation and movement of these control surfaces when the aircraft is flying in a ground-effect mode of flight.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Inventor: Stephen H. Funck
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Patent number: 8272594Abstract: A method of providing an aircraft having a fuselage and a wing configured for extensive laminar flow at design cruise conditions, the method characterized by a) providing wing biconvex-type airfoils having values of thickness, chord and shape along the wing span which provide substantially optimal aircraft range at design cruise conditions, considering the influences of wing drag and wing weight; b) providing wing leading edges, which are configured to effect laminar flow; c) providing fuselage and wing contours which, in combination, produce reduced total wave drag and produce extensive areas of laminar boundary layer flow on the wing; and d) providing wing sweep angularity that facilitates provision of a), b) and c).Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Aerion CorporationInventors: Richard R. Tracy, Peter Sturdza, James D. Chase
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Patent number: 8262031Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft having one or more fixed wings in a flying wing configuration, where the aircraft further includes a high performance co-flow jet (CFJ) circulating about at least a portion of an aircraft surface to produce both lift and thrust.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: University of MiamiInventors: Gecheng Zha, Sebastian Aspe, Joseph John Dussling, Nicholas Ramsay Heinz, Daniel J. Martinez
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Patent number: 8256706Abstract: Methods, aircraft, and engine nacelles are disclosed. A wing leading edge of a planform is superimposed on a wing shockwave that extends in a first direction from a shockwave apex toward the wing leading edge. A waverider shape is streamline traced between the wing leading edge and a trailing edge of the planform to form a waverider wing. A position of an engine inlet vertex relative to the waverider wing is identified. An inlet shockwave is projected from the inlet vertex in a second direction generally opposed to the first direction. The inlet shockwave intersects the wing shockwave. An inlet leading edge of an engine inlet includes a lower leading edge including a plurality of points where the inlet shockwave intersects the wing shockwave.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Thomas R. Smith, Kevin G. Bowcutt
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Patent number: 8251310Abstract: Sail wing aircraft which includes a wing (6) and at least one propulsion engine (8). It includes an upper beam (22) which is firmly fixed at its front end to a first frame (12) located on an air inlet (14) of the propulsion engine and which is in addition firmly fixed at its median part to a second frame (16) located to the rear of the first frame. The sail wing aircraft includes in addition a pylon (26) for attachment of the engine onto the fuselage, where the engine is fixed to the pylon (26).Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Airbus Operations SASInventors: Herve Marche, Fabien Raison
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Patent number: 8210472Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving the performance of transport aircraft. In particular, the aircraft is provided with a rounded nose cone in front of a center of gravity of the aircraft. The rounded nose cone has an upper longitudinal surface and a lower longitudinal surface configured, respectively, to generate a lifting force and a negative lifting force and produce a resultant that is lifting and to produce an auxiliary nose-up moment. The method involves shaping the nose cone to increase the lifting resultant. This shaping is carried out-by increasing the upper longitudinal surface of the nose cone, so as to increase the lifting force, and by reducing the lower longitudinal surface of the nose cone, so as to decrease the negative lifting force.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Airbus Operations SASInventors: Lionel Espagnan, Arnaud Hormiere, Francois Guillaumel
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Patent number: 8205824Abstract: An aircraft fuselage structure is described for a flying-wing aircraft, having a central area of slight curvature and side areas of greater curvature, which forms a pressure body and has an outer skin and structure reinforcements which support the outer skin. According to the invention, the structure reinforcements contain three-dimensional truss bending supports which extend over the area of light curvature and comprise first straps, which run close to the outer skin 9, and second straps, which run at a distance from the outer skin, and are connected to one another by coupling elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbHInventor: Joern Goos
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Patent number: 8191820Abstract: The invention is an aircraft that includes a flying wing having a plurality of extendable flaps mounted on the trailing edge of the flying wing. A canard is mounted on the nose of said flying wing. A system is mounted in the flying wing for providing high pressure air over the canard and the flaps. A second system is provided for controlling the flow of air over the canard to provide pitch control of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2007Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Northrop Gurmman CorporationInventors: Bryan Wayne Westra, Roxanne Marie Sato, Douglas Ellwood Shultz, James Franklin Kerswell, Perry Bruce Petersen, Scott Walter Collins
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Publication number: 20120091262Abstract: An aircraft may include a pair of wings. A forward swept winglet may be attached proximate to a wing tip of each wing. The forward swept winglet may include a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge of each winglet may extend from the wing at a predetermined forward sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to a chord of the wing tip in a direction corresponding to a forward portion of the aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Blaine K. RAWDON, John C. VASSBERG
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Patent number: 8157204Abstract: Symmetric external parts of a front lower aircraft wing sweep forward such that lift generated by a rear upper wing is greater than lift generated by the front lower wing. The rear upper wing is in direct contact with rear upper parts of fuselages. A propulsion system of the aircraft has a turboprop engine and is carried by an internal part of the rear upper wing, with the propulsion system lying in a longitudinal mid-plane.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: AirbusInventor: Richard Wilby
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Publication number: 20110309187Abstract: An aircraft, with the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds, designed to increase cruise lift/drag ratio, reduce sonic boom and have greater downward visibility by having an ‘inverted’ nose profile that has greater inclination of the lower surfaces to the flight direction than the upper surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventor: Sudarshan Paul Dev
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Patent number: 8056852Abstract: The Longitudinal Flying Wing aircraft idea provides for design of large cargo and passenger aircraft in range from low to high subsonic and transonic speed. Such aircraft would have up to twice lower fuel consumption per unit of payload, higher lift capacity, and a significantly longer range, while having a significantly lower level of noise inside passenger cabin and cockpit relative to classical concept aircraft. This idea is further providing for efficient, reliable, and simple flight controls, hence it may be successfully applied for design of all-size, long range, high-lift-capacity unmanned aircraft throughout the entire range of subsonic speeds.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Inventors: Faruk Dizdarevic, Mithad Dizdarevic
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Patent number: 7988088Abstract: An air transport vehicle of the present invention comprises a tubular body, said body comprising an upper half and a lower half. The upper half is positioned above the lower half and connected thereto. A central bore is formed between the upper half and the lower half. The bore extends longitudinally from the nose end of the vehicle to the tail end of the vehicle. The vehicle also comprises at least one propulsion device, preferably positioned inside the bore. The vehicle further comprises at least one bulkhead. The bulkhead connects the upper half to the lower half, and extending longitudinally inside the bore, thus dividing the bore into parallel subsections. In preferred embodiments, the upper half and the lower half comprise cavities, used among other things, for cargo and passenger transport.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Inventor: Alexandr Konstantinovskiy
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Publication number: 20110121130Abstract: A blended wing body cargo aircraft is disclosed. A body section defines a cargo volume, where an outer surface of the body section is shaped to provide an aerodynamic lifting surface. A cargo door and ramp structure is located in an aft end of the body section and is shaped to conform to an outer shape of the aerodynamic lifting surface when in a closed position. A control surface has a slightly cambered downward shape, and is positioned substantially near an aft end of the cargo door and ramp structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2009Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventors: Richard C. Odle, Dino Roman, Blaine Knight Rawdon
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Patent number: 7854409Abstract: Canarded deltoid main wing aircraft idea allows for design of large supersonic civil and military aircraft with cruising speeds of up to Mach 3 at the altitude of over 25,000 meters. The fuel consumption per unit of payload of such aircraft would be at least twice lower with a longer range of over 50% when compared to existing supersonic aircraft of the same size. Simultaneously, the flight safety and ride quality during takeoff and landing at low speeds would be similar to the existing subsonic passenger aircraft. A low fuel consumption, long range, high ride quality, and high flight safety of these aircraft are widely opening a door for design of supersonic long range continental and intercontinental passenger aircraft that would be highly competitive with existing long range high subsonic passenger aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Inventors: Faruk Dizdarevic, Mithad Dizdarevic
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Publication number: 20100252674Abstract: Runway length requirement for take-off and landing of an aircraft is reduced by taking advantage of dynamic lift overshoot, and in some cases, dynamic stall. In take-off and landing, the angle of attack is rapidly increased so that the lift coefficient exceeds the maximum predicted by the steady flow lift curve. By increasing the angle of attack at an appropriate rate, the increased lift coefficient can be maintained, without loss of control, until the aircraft touches down in the case of a landing, or until the aircraft can begin a normal climb, in the case of take-off. A low aspect ratio lifting body is preferred because of its more gradual stall behavior, and the potential to use dynamic stall for further deceleration before touchdown. Vortex fences can be oscillated to delay the onset of stall, and, in cruise, to energize the boundary-layer and reduce drag and/or control roll and/or yaw.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2007Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: Aereon CorporationInventor: James D. Lang
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Publication number: 20100243795Abstract: An oblique wing aircraft (1) designed for reduced surface area to volume ratio. The aircraft has an oblique wing comprising a forward swept wing segment (27) on one side of the wing and an aft swept wing segment (29) on the opposite side of the wing. A center oblique airfoil section (25) 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. The center oblique airfoil section is not shaped solely to function as a circular fairing to fill the gap between an oblique wing and a fuselage at different oblique wing angles, nor is it a second wing in an X wing configuration. Preferably, the aircraft is an all-wing aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLCInventor: William R McDonnell
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Patent number: 7793884Abstract: “T-tailed Deltoid Main Wing” idea allows for design of high-subsonic passenger aircraft with a capacity between 200 and 650 passengers with outer dimensions fitting within 80 m box on class VI airports while having more than twice lower fuel consumption per unit of payload when compared to the present classical-concept aircraft with fuselage that have the same passenger capacity. T-tailed deltoid main wing aircraft is satisfying all safety requirements for a passenger aircraft while having over 50% longer range than the aircraft of equivalent capacity with fuselage. Simple aerodynamic and structural solutions of T-tailed deltoid main wing aircraft are resulting with low development risks and production cost. Simple and reliable flight control systems of aircraft that are based on T-tailed deltoid main wing aerodynamic configuration allow for design of all-purpose, high-lift-capacity, and long range unmanned aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Inventors: Faruk Dizdarevic, Mithad Dizdarevic
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Publication number: 20100213308Abstract: Provided is a positive-pressure floating type airplane comprising an airfoil portion, left-right fuselages, a central fuselage, an elevator and a rudder disposed at the back of the airfoil portion, a thruster disposed at the back of the central fuselage, and a horizontal stabilizer disposed at the rear ends of the left-right fuselages. The individual front ends of the airfoil portion, the left-right fuselages and the central fuselage are formed into arcuate shapes in longitudinal sections. On the lower side of the airfoil portion, a recessed air capture is formed from the front end to the rear end. As a result, the positive-pressure floating type airplane is floated by the reaction from the air at the time when the air to pass the air capture through the airfoil portion is pushed by the thrust of the thruster, and is propelled forward by the component of that thrust.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventor: Masahiko Suzuki