Arrangement Patents (Class 244/55)
  • Patent number: 5931414
    Abstract: A missile, in particular for combatting moving targets, has several propulsion units arranged one after the other along the longitudinal axis of the missile. At least two propulsion units arranged one after the other can be operated simultaneously, and the missile contains an ignition control that is set up for optional ignition of these propulsion units at the same time or successively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Buck Werke GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Matthias Grosse
  • Patent number: 5855340
    Abstract: A centerline mounted overbalanced multiple main jet engine configuration. The multiple jet engines are centerline mounted rather than parallel offset. While each jet engine is a "main" engine, capable of safely operating the aircraft in the event of a failure of the other engines, the engines are overbalanced in the sense that at least one of the main engines has substantially greater thrust than the other main engines. All of the main engines operate at critical periods of flight, but only one or the other of the main engines operates at other periods. The configuration of this invention combines the efficiency and performance of a single engined aircraft with enhanced safety advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Inventor: Richard J. Bacon
  • Patent number: 5842666
    Abstract: The present invention is a laminar supersonic transport aircraft having a reverse delta wing located between a forward section and a distal end of the aircraft, a set of jet engines superposed on another set of jet engines, a stabilizing vertical tail located near the distal end of the aircraft, a stabilizing canard surface located near the forward section of said aircraft. Also, a laminar flow control device can be incorporated within the wing. The reverse delta aerodynamic wing has a basic reverse delta wing portion bounded by a leading edge and by a pair of trailing edges extending from respective ends of the leading edge toward a trailing apex point and respective span-wise wing extensions in a natural laminar boundary layer wing region extending chordwise from the leading edge by a fraction of the chordlength of the wing and extending span-wise from opposing sides of said wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Coporation
    Inventors: Heinz Adolf Gerhardt, James Franklin Kerswell, Richard Thomas Priestley, Berry Thomas Gibson
  • Patent number: 5799902
    Abstract: A low-cost, liquid-propellant rocket launch vehicle having a central pod that carries an optional final-stage rocket engine cluster, and having additional engine clusters arranged in diametrically opposed pairs of clusters. The pairs of clusters are burned and separated in a staging sequence until the final stage is reached. In the presently preferred embodiment, there are three pairs of engine clusters arranged in a hexagonal configuration about the central pod and each engine cluster contains seven identical engines. The engines are made from light-weight, low-cost materials, without gimbals or other moving parts. Steering of the vehicle is effected by differential control of the engine thrusts of selected engines, using duty-cycle modulation of a plurality of on/off propellant supply valves and, additionally, control of other on/off valves controlling the supply of an inert cryogenic fluid to secondary injection ports on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Microcosm, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Keith, Thomas P. Bauer
  • Patent number: 5791594
    Abstract: A special purpose helicopter based on an existing airframe, power train, and engine, modified to provide greatly enhanced performance, payload, speed and maneuverability. The modification consists of modifying an original helicopter universal transmission center case for installation of twin drive shafts, at 180.degree. apart, and mounting a second engine on the airframe structure, at 180.degree. to the first engine, and forward of the transmission. An exhaust system for the second engine is split into two units for directing the exhaust outwardly and upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventor: Jamie R. Hill
  • Patent number: 5782427
    Abstract: Tandem-engine aircraft propulsion module attachable to an aircraft fuselage and/or to the aircraft wings directly. This propulsion module contains fore-and-aft in-line engines and an intermediate fuel compartment. A subhousing of this module has engine instrumentation and controls placed for overhead introduction into an underlying aircraft fuselage cabin when the module is secured on top thereof. Propulsion modules of this invention are readily removable and replaceable for ease of inspection and maintenance, and if like-sized are mutually interchangeable. These modules are inherently economical and enable cost-effective fuselage and dry-wing construction. They also enhance flight safety, not only in comparison with single-engine aircraft but also especially as compared with off-axial twin-engine aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Carl J. Hermach
  • Patent number: 5531400
    Abstract: The present invention relates to construction of aircraft engines and has particular reference to the development of novel airborne vehicles. The invention is aimed at providing novel airborne vehicles capable of long-range nonstop flights with a specified amount of cargo, as well as at solving a complex of problems involved in extending the functional capabilities of the existing airborne vehicles. The airborne vehicle comprises a fuselage 1 carrying a suspension unit 6 held thereto and consisting of additional fuel reservoirs 7, an additional power plant 8, a landing gear 4, and an additional landing gear 18 of the suspension unit 6 which can be held to the fuselage 1 either through a hinge joint 5 or with the aid of panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventors: German V. Demidov, Eduard S. Osipov
  • Patent number: 5529263
    Abstract: A supersonic airplane having four or two supersonic engines and one or more boost engines. During take-off and initial climb the supersonic engines are operated at a lower thrust setting within acceptable noise limits, and the subsonic engine(s) is operated to provide boost thrust to enable the airplane to operate a take-off and climb. During cruise, the subsonic engines are in a nonoperating mode, and the supersonic engines alone provide the thrust for supersonic operation. In one embodiment, one subsonic engine is deployed on one side of the fuselage during the operating mode. In a second embodiment, there are two subsonic engines deployed on opposite sides of the fuselage. In another embodiment, a single subsonic engine is installed inside the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Peter K. C. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 5480107
    Abstract: A centerline mounted overbalanced multiple main jet engine configuration. The multiple jet engines are centerline mounted rather than parallel offset. While each jet engine is a "main" engine, capable of safely operating the aircraft in the event of a failure of the other engines, the engines are overbalanced in the sense that at least one of the main engines has substantially greater thrust than the other main engines. All of the main engines operate at critical periods of flight, but only one or the other of the main engines operates at other periods. The configuration of this invention combines the efficiency and performance of a single engined aircraft with enhanced safety advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventor: Richard J. Bacon
  • Patent number: 5449129
    Abstract: The invention is a propulsion system for a lighter-than-air vehicle, the vehicle having a longitudinal, lateral and vertical axis. In detail, the propulsion system includes a thrust producing assembly rotatably mounted on the vehicle, the assembly rotatable about an axis of rotation in a plane at an acute angle to the vertical axis of the vehicle, the assembly rotatable in the plane from a position wherein the thrust axis of the assembly is aligned with the longitudinal axis to a position at least plus or minus ninety degrees thereto. A powerplant assembly is coupled to the thrust producing assembly to provide power thereto. The powerplant assembly includes a fuel efficient powerplant assembly mounted within the vehicle having sufficient power for cruise conditions, the fuel efficient powerplant having a output drive shaft coupled to the thrust producing assembly. A light weight, high power powerplant assembly is mounted directly to the thrust producing assembly having sufficient power for docking conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Carlile, Mark H. Wexler
  • Patent number: 5443230
    Abstract: An aircraft wing 18 and nacelle 24 combination includes a double cambered pylon 28 extending between the wing and the nacelle to support an aircraft engine 22. The pylon includes an airfoil 30 extending in a generally vertical direction having a leading edge 32 and a trailing edge 39. The airfoil is curved away from the aircraft in an axial rearward direction and a portion of the airfoil is curved toward the aircraft in the vertical direction from the nacelle toward the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wesley K. Lord, Andrea L. Karalus
  • Patent number: 5374010
    Abstract: A vertical lift and short takeoff airplane achieving a powered lift which is generated by deflecting downward on the order of nearly 90.degree. the slipstream from the driven propellors by means of the wing flap system of the airplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: E.G.R. Company
    Inventors: Charles R. Stone, Richard T. Stone
  • Patent number: 5322248
    Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the flight of a launch vehicle and a coupled payload, such a spaceplane, from launch to the separation of the payload from the vehicle. The launch vehicle is provided with controllable gimballed rocket engines and optionally with aerodynamic control surfaces, that are controlled by flight control systems. The payload having controlled flight surfaces has control systems that cooperate with those flight control systems carried by the launch vehicle to jointly control the coupled launch vehicle and coupled payload during coupled flight. The cooperating flight control systems provide open and closed loop control systems that react to winds measured prior to launch and atmospheric disturbances as indicated by on-board sensors during flight. The payload is mounted on the launch vehicle at a cant angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the launch vehicle to optimize its lift to the coupled launch vehicle and payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation Space Systems Division
    Inventor: Mohamed M. Ragab
  • Patent number: 5320305
    Abstract: The invention is a propulsion system for powering an aircraft in both vertical and horizontal flight modes. In detail, the invention includes a pair of ducted lift fans mounted in the aircraft for providing thrust in the vertical flight mode. A pair of ducted cruise fans are mounted in the aircraft for providing thrust in the horizontal flight mode. Two sets of turboshaft engines are mounted in the aircraft with each of the sets comprising a plurality of the turboshaft engines, each turboshaft engine including an output shaft and having an optimal power output sufficient for powering one of the pair of ducted cruise fans in the horizontal flight mode. Each of the sets includes a sufficient number of the turboshaft engines to provide an optimal power output for powering one of the pair of ducted lift fans and one of the pairs of ducted cruise fans the vertical flight mode. A shafting system is mounted in the aircraft for coupling all of the turboshaft engines to the pairs of ducted fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Oatway, Robert S. Bollinger, Leland M. Nicolai
  • Patent number: 5320306
    Abstract: An aircraft construction includes a fuselage, a first engine mounted on an axis extending through the fuselage for pulling the aircraft, and a second engine vertically offset from the first engine and mounted on an axis extending through the fuselage for pushing the aircraft. A main wing is disposed generally in a first plane and a tail wing is disposed generally in a second plane. A Canard wing may be disposed in a third plane different than the first plane and the second plane. Vertical stabilizers positioned to extend downwardly from the tail wing support drag wheels to protect the second engine during takeoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventor: Mark A. Gennaro
  • Patent number: 5299760
    Abstract: An improved S-duct for turbo-jet engined aircraft. The present invention allows a high volume of high energy air to traverse the S-duct at a high pressure recovery ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: The Dee Howard Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Finch, Enrico Cavatorta, William Paschal
  • Patent number: 5275356
    Abstract: The invention is a propulsion system for powering an aircraft in both vertical and horizontal flight modes. In detail, the invention comprises a gas-driven ducted lift fan mounted in the aircraft for providing thrust in the vertical flight mode. A turbofan engine is mounted in the aircraft that comprises a fan section for providing thrust in the horizontal flight mode and a turboshaft engine having an output drive shaft coupled to the fan section for driving same. A gas transfer duct is mounted in the aircraft having a first end adapted to receive exhaust air from the fan section and a second end coupled to the lift fan. A turbocompressor is mounted in the transfer duct and a combustor is mounted in the transfer duct between the turbocompressor and the lift fan, the combustor for receiving and burning fuel and providing combustion gases for driving the ducted left fan. A shafting system couples the turbocompressor to the output shaft of the turboshaft engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Bollinger, Leland M. Nicolai
  • Patent number: 5170964
    Abstract: The proposal is for a thrust nozzle for aircraft fitted with jet engines especially for lateral thrust vector control, in which the upstream ends of at least two flaps (8, 12) actuated via lever-like adjusters are arranged to pivot simultaneously at different angles of rotation about spindles running across the nozzle axis (20) and between walls (22, 23) running substantially parallel to the nozzle axis of a square nozzle housing in such a way that, with a permanently convergent nozzle contour, a narrowest cross-section is formed between the flaps (8, 12) at the outlet side; one end of each lever-like adjuster (28, 29) is to engage in downstream ends of the flaps, said adjusters being arranged at their movably mutually coupled other ends to travel in a guide path (30) which is curved so as to produce continuously different flap rotation angles; one or more narrowest cross-sections can either be kept continuously constant or change dependently upon the jet deflection angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: MTU Motoren- und Turbinen-Union Munchen GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Enderle, Klaus Rud, Helmut-Arnd Geidel
  • Patent number: 5167383
    Abstract: A STOL aircraft includes propfan engines which are each connected to a lower surface of one of the wings by a pylon. The propfan engine is located directly below the wing and are each equipped with fans at a rear portion thereof. A slat is connected to a leading edge of the wing and not divided by any object, including the pylon and the propfan engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Inventor: Yoshio Nozaki
  • Patent number: 5156353
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system includes at least one pusher propeller mounted to a nacelle mounted to the aircraft by a pylon which produces a wake which impinges upon the propeller. The wake from the pylon is modified to reduce noise and vibration produced by the propeller interaction with the wake. The propulsion system may include a pair of counterrotating pusher propellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philip R. Gliebe, Rudramuni K. Majjigi
  • Patent number: 5149016
    Abstract: A propelling system for an aircraft having a fuselage and a pair of swept wings, is provided and consists of a pair of propeller driving engines, each carried on top rearward edge of each swept wing so as to push the aircraft forward, a pair of pylons, each carried on bottom of a forward edge of each swept wing and a pair of jet engines, each affixed to a bottom end of each pylon so as to pull the aircraft forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Inventors: John Huhn, George Spector
  • Patent number: 5136839
    Abstract: A ducted fan turbine engine (2) includes an inner discharge nozzle (18) and an outer discharge nozzle (8) surrounding the inner discharge nozzle. The engine (2) is mounted on an aircraft wing by a pylon. The rear part of this pylon supports rollers which run in guide rails (36) which extend rearwardly along the upper portion of the outer discharge nozzle (8). The outer discharge nozzle (8) is secured in its forward operational position adjacent the engine nacelle by bolting support fittings (38) to the pylon. To remove the remainder of the engine, the support fittings (38) are unbolted from the pylon, a locating device (28) is released from the engine thrust reverser structure, and the outer discharge nozzle (8) and a primary nozzle fairing (22) are rolled rearwardly to a park position. The remainder of the engine can then be removed downwardly from the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Short Brothers PLC
    Inventor: Norman Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5135185
    Abstract: An aircraft engine is mounted on an aircraft wing such that the wing wake sheds along a zone at a predetermined position on the engine disk thereby minimizing dynamic loads or resonance. For a prechosen or design set of engine conditions the strength of the dynamic load is a function of the radial location of the zone on the disk having at least one relative minima between the centerline and the perimeter of the disk. The zone is positioned on the disk such that the value of the function is essentially a relative minima.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur P. Adamson, Wu-Yang Tseng
  • Patent number: 5131605
    Abstract: A VTOL aircraft has a first engine nacelle mounted under the wing on one side of the fuselage and houses two of the aircraft engines. The first engine nacelle is mounted in close proximity with the fuselage. A second engine nacelle is mounted under the wing on the opposite side of the fuselage from the first nacelle and houses the remaining two engines. The second engine nacelle is mounted in close proximity with the fuselage. The first and second nacelles are movable from positions parallel to the wing for normal flight to positions perpendicular to the wing for vertical flight. Each of the first and second engine nacelles has inlets and nozzles and each of the first and second nacelles is angled in a manner whereby its nozzles are closer to the fuselage than its inlets. First control vanes extend aft of the nozzles of, and are movable with, the first engine nacelle and second control vanes extend aft of the nozzles of, and are movable with, the second engine nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Robert W. Kress
  • Patent number: 5071088
    Abstract: A high lift vertical takeoff and landing aircraft has first and second fuselages connected by a central airfoil. Jet engines at the leading edge of the airfoil expel propulsive streams simultaneously over top and bottom surfaces of the foil. Extendable flaps are utilized at a trailing edge of the airfoil with a horizontal control blade being attached to the leading edge of the foil. The control blade is within the jet's propulsive stream to permit proportioning of the stream above and below the airfoil.An extendable augmenter wing is attached between the fuselages aft and above the main airfoil to permit airflow in this region to be directed downwardly, accelerating the flow and providing additional lift.The main airfoil is positioned so that the fuselage walls extend above and below the foil. Lateral flow of the main engine exhaust is restrained by these walls. Above the wing the walls and airfoil create a venturi to speed airflow and decrease pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Edward E. Betts
  • Patent number: 4998995
    Abstract: A turbo-prop driven aircraft has the engines (6) and propeller assemblies (10) spatially separated fore and aft of the wing box (4) and interconnected by a drive shaft (27). This arrangement permits the engine to be located away from the wing box without causing excessive overhang of the turbo-prop installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Alan A. Blythe
  • Patent number: 4976396
    Abstract: An aircraft having two aft mounted prop engines on opposite sides of the fuselage. The side surfaces of the fuselage adjacent to the propellers are contoured so that each has an inwardly and rearwarding slanting forward region, a substantially longitudinally aligned intermediate region which is adjacent to the propellers, and a rear region which slants inwardly and rearwardly to an end closure location. This configuration results in a more uniform flow pattern into the propellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert B. Carlson, Barbara J. Cosgrove, Paul T. Meredith
  • Patent number: 4969614
    Abstract: In a jet-propelled aircraft of the type in which the propulsion jets are directed onto a wing so as to achieve an ejector effect, two vertical tail-fin surfaces are provided and extend downwardly beneath the center of gravity of the aircraft to return the aircraft to a correct attitude when it tends to move sideways relative to the direction of flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Aeritalia - Societe Aerospaziale Italiana - S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alfredo Capuani
  • Patent number: 4953812
    Abstract: An aircraft with two aft mounted prop engines. The side surface portions at the rear portion of the fuselage adjacent to the propellers are contoured from a standard optimized configuration to alleviate adverse effects on the pressure distribution pattern on the surfaces adjacent to the propellers. This is accomplished by contouring the side surface portions at an inward and rearward slant in a forward region, while locating intermediate side surface regions more along a longitudinally aligned contour. The rear regions of the side surface portions slant rearwardly and inwardly to a closure location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Antonius J. Van der Hoeven
  • Patent number: 4938021
    Abstract: The high cost of fabrication of a turbojet propulsion system 12 for a missile having an engine 18, mounted within a casing 14, including an inlet 20 to a compressor 22 and an exhaust gas outlet 24 is avoided in a structure having a propulsion system 12 with an inlet 26, 28; 37 located forward of the engine 18 for directing free stream air to the inlet 20 of the compressor 22, an outlet 30, 33; 38, 40 located aft of the engine 18 for directing exhaust gas into the free stream air, an engine starter 42 aft of the engine outlet 24, and a fuel storing bladder 46 forward of the engine 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony C. Jones, Henry A. Weber
  • Patent number: 4919364
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft capable of hypersonic flight combines a turbo-jet with a ramjet which are so arranged that the ramjet or jets are located directly adjacent to the aircraft body while the turbo-jet or jets are located away from the aircraft body so that the ramjet or jets is placed between the turbo-jets and the body. This arrangement makes the turbo-jets much more accessible for maintenance and exchange work. Both types of engines have a common air intake which is provided with flaps capable of guiding the body boundary layer through the ramjet when the latter is not in operation. When the ramjet is in operation, the air intake flaps form the air intake in such a way that boundary layer turbulent air is mixed with undisturbed incoming air for the ramjet while the air inflow to the turbo-jet is closed off altogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut John, Otfrid Herrmann
  • Patent number: 4901947
    Abstract: The invention is a short/vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. In detail, it comprises an airframe having aerodynamic lift and flight control surfaces. An engine is mounted in the airframe in a reversed position having the inlet facing toward the rear of the aircraft and the exhaust nozzle assembly, having a pair of exhaust nozzles, facing toward the front. The exhaust nozzles extend outward from the sides of the aircraft and are rotatable from a vertically downward position to provide upward thrust to a horizontally rearward direction to provide forward thrust. The thrust axis when in the vertical position is approximately through the center of gravity. A generally U-shaped engine inlet duct is mounted in the airframe having an inlet opening facing forward and an outlet coupled to the inlet of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Raymer
  • Patent number: 4899958
    Abstract: An air intake system of an aircraft is improved so that a performance of the air intake system will not be degraded even during flight at a large angle of attack and at high mobility of the aircraft while at the same time secretiveness or security of the aircraft against radar beam irradiation from below will be maintained. The air intake system includes a main air intake port provided on an upper surface of the airframe of the aircraft, an auxiliary air intake port provided on a lower surface of the airframe, and a closure member for the auxiliary air intake port and which is movable between a closed position and an open position of the auxiliary air intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Horikawa
  • Patent number: 4883240
    Abstract: In one form of the invention, a counterrotating pair of aircraft propellers produces noise in the form of a frequency-modulated carrier wave. The frequency modulation allows a designer to manipulate the energy spectrum of the noise in order to, for example, place much of the acoustic energy into inaudible frequency ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur P. Adamson, Philip R. Gliebe
  • Patent number: 4871130
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is installed near to the center of gravity of an aircraft and has a power output shaft which is arranged to be inclined with respect to the aircraft longitudinal axis, in the direction of a high empennage of the aircraft. An extension shaft follows coaxially from the engine power output shaft, which extension shaft is connected to a propeller shaft by a single reorientation transmission or gear box. The gear box is designed as a miter gear box. A pusher propeller is arranged at the rear end of the empennage. Instead of a miter gear box, a constant speed universal joint can also be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Inventor: Walter Schulze
  • Patent number: 4867394
    Abstract: A "compression" pylon 10 for an aircraft with a wing-mounted engine, that does not cause supersonic airflow to occur within the fuselage-wing-pylon-nacelle channel 20. The chord length of the pylon 10 is greater than the local chord length of the wing 12 to which it is attached. The maximum thickness 45 of the pylon 10 occurs at a point corresponding to the local trailing edge 32 of the wing 12. As a result, the airflow through the channel 20 never reaches supersonic velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: James C. Patterson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4836470
    Abstract: An aerospace vehicle having multiple propulsion systems on a relatively rotatable flying wing capable of takeoff and subsequent landing with intermediate space flight in the manner of a conventional aircraft and rocket, respectively, comprising an elongated wing member having internal passenger and crew, cargo and fuel storage compartments. A plurality of propulsion systems are distributed about the wing member for providing thrust and aerodynamic control. The vehicle also includes rotating means for controlling the direction of the thrust of the propulsion systems relative to the longitudinal axis of the wing whereby to rotate the wing member relative to the direction of flight. The vehicle takes off and lands with the longitudinal wing axis being transverse to the direction of thrust and therefore to the flight direction in a manner similar to that of conventional aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Inventor: David R. Criswell
  • Patent number: 4815680
    Abstract: A nacelle wing combination wherein said nacelle can be mounted below the wing and positioned closely to the wing, without creating excessive nacelle induced drag. The wing is contoured so that peak low pressures below the wing occur near the mid chordwise location at the lower surface of the wing. Thus, the channeling of air passing over the nacelle and under the leading edge of the wing does not create supersonic velocities which would create excessive drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mark I. Goldhammer
  • Patent number: 4801058
    Abstract: An aircraft has a ducted fan gas turbine engine connected thereto by an underwing mounting arrangement. Links connect the engine to wing main beams and are connected only to that side of the engine which is inboard with respect to the fuselage of the aircraft. An aerodynamically shaped box structure surrounds the links and obviates the gap between engine and wing on the inboard side of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: John A. Mullins
  • Patent number: 4767083
    Abstract: A high performance aircraft capable of subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds employs a forward swept wing planform and at least one first-and-second-solution ejector located on the inboard section of the wing. A high degree of flow control on the inboard sections of the wing is achieved along with improved maneuverability and control of pitch, roll and yaw. Lift loss is delayed to higher angles of attack than in conventional aircraft. In one embodiment the ejectors may be advantageously positioned spanwise on the wing while the ductwork is kept to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: David G. Koenig, Kiyoshi Aoyagi, Michael R. Dudley, Susan B. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4711415
    Abstract: The present invention provides a single seat aircraft having the capabilities of vertical takeoff, landing and hovering operations utilizing the X-Wing as a conventional helicopter rotating wing. After transition to forward flight following takeoff, the rotating wing is stopped and becomes a fixed wing of "X" configuration. The aircraft utilizes two engines within the fuselage, one engine being positioned vertically above the other along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, the particular arrangement of engines allowing aircraft size and weight to be substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Northrop Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Binden
  • Patent number: 4685643
    Abstract: In a nacelle and wing combination where a vortex is shed from a side surface portion of the nacelle and said vortex burst prematurely to reduce lift, the improvement comprising a vortex control device located in an upwash region along the side of the nacelle to cause said vortex to form in the critical vortex control region where boundary layer is relatively thin and local velocity is relatively high. This strengthens the vortex to inhibit vortex bursting at the burst location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Henderson, Ralph B. Owen
  • Patent number: 4666104
    Abstract: A combination lift and thrust device for increasing the performance of an aircraft by simultaneously reducing drag and augmenting the thrust of a turbojet engine carried within the device. The device comprises a wing of generally airfoil shape having numerous geometrically spaced apertures penetrating its surface, a turbojet engine carried within the wing, an elongated exhaust plenum attached to the turbojet having a number of strategically positioned exhaust nozzles, and a mixing chamber having a forward opening and a rear nozzle also carried within the wing. The mixing chamber forward opening is cooperatively associated with the exhaust nozzles to form an ejector drawing air through the apertures in the wing into the forward opening, mixing the air with the exhaust gases from the turbojet to provide thrust augmentation, and exhausting the air and gas mixture from the rear nozzle of the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Charles C. Kelber
  • Patent number: 4662582
    Abstract: In a lightweight aircraft having a principal longitudinal load-carrying member, a wing structure mounted on the load-carrying member, a tail rudder and elevator assembly mounted on the load-carrying member, a propeller mounted on the load-carrying member for rotation about the member's longitudinal center line, an engine mounted on the load-carrying member, and means drivingly connecting the engine to the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventor: Rolf Brand
  • Patent number: 4651952
    Abstract: A turbojet aircraft has a fuselage pod in which all fuel is stored for engines also linked to the pod. The pod and engines can be jettisoned in flight to improve aircraft performance in the event of a forced landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: John B. Tavano
  • Patent number: 4629147
    Abstract: This invention is an aircraft 10 with a system for increasing the lift-drag ratio over a broad range of operating conditions. The system positions the engines and nacelles 15 over the wing 12 in such a position that gains in propeller 16 efficiency is achieved simultaneously with increases in wing lift and a reduction in wing drag. Adverse structural and torsional effects on the wings 12 are avoided by fuselage mounted pylons which attach to the upper portion of the fuselage 11 aft of the wings. Similarly, pylon-wing interference is eliminated by moving the pylons to the fuselage. Further gains are achieved by locating the pylon surface area aft of the aircraft center-of-gravity, thereby augmenting both directional and longitudinal stability. This augmentation has the further effect of reducing the size, weight and drag of empennage components 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Joseph L. Johnson, Jr., E. Richard White
  • Patent number: 4605185
    Abstract: A motor-generator powered airplane is provided and consists of an internal combustion engine that drives an electric generator. Two transformers are electrically connected to the generator and are each electrically connected to an electric motor. Each electric motor drives a propeller so that the airplane can fly. An emergency battery is connected between the generator and the transformers so that in case of a failure of the engine the battery will supply electricity to continue operation of the electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Inventor: Daniel Reyes
  • Patent number: 4598886
    Abstract: An aircraft intended to fly at supersonic Mach mnumbers is disclosed. The aircraft utilizes a double parasol wing arrangement, with a power plant nacelle located under the wing on each side of the fuselage. Each nacelle is located at the focus of a reflection parabola formed by the undersurface of each wing. In flight the shock wave pressure field created by the nacelles is reflected and redirected by the parabolic wing surface and thereby transformed into beneficial lift. The separation distance between each wing and its respective nacelle is arranged to maximize multiple reflections to thereby further enhance the lift created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gottfried O. Friebel, Robert M. Kulfan
  • Patent number: 4533101
    Abstract: A device which increases the energy efficiency of aircraft wherein a wingtip pusher propeller 12 is positioned aft of the wingtip 18 to rotate in the crossflow of the wingtip vortex. The propeller 12 rotates against the vortex swirl creating additional thrust from and attenuating the wingtip vortex by simultaneously extracting energy from the vortex and converting it to propeller blade-induced thrust while injecting its high energy wake into the vortex axial flow to dissipate the vortex. As a result, the device increase aircraft fuel efficiency by simultaneously increasing thrust and decreasing vortex induced drag. By attenuating the vortex safety to following aircraft is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration
    Inventor: James C. Patterson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4506850
    Abstract: A fan jet engine mounted below and rearwardly of the wing of an aircraft. There are a pair of mounting arms which are connected to and extend rearwardly from the rear spar of the wing and connect to the fan case and the core engine case. The major portion of the cowling structure is mounted to slideways, so that the cowling structure can be moved rearwardly to expose the engine for service and repair. The thrust reverser is mounted to the rear of the cowling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Charles H. McConnell