Aeronautics inventions 02/07

20070040061 - Systems and methods for tracking targets with aimpoint offset: A target identification and tracking system includes a carrier vehicle and one or more tracking vehicles. The carrier vehicle may determine an aimpoint of a target from a high resolution image of the target and may generate an offset from a tracking point to the aimpoint. The offset may be... Agent: Thomas J. Finn, Esq. Raytheon Company

20070040062 - Projectile tracking system: A system and method for determining the track of a projectile use a thermal signature of the projectile. Sequential infrared image frames are acquired from a sensor at a given position. A set of frames containing spots with characteristics consistent with a projectile in flight are identified. A possible projectile... Agent: Stites & Harbison, PLLC

20070040063 - Terminal docking port for an operational ground support system: A terminal (14) for an airport (13) includes multiple servicing levels (82, 102). A ground support service sub-system is coupled to the servicing levels (82, 102) and is configured to mate with a service opening (26) of the aircraft (12). The ground support service sub-system provides services to the aircraft... Agent: Ostrager Chong Flaherty & Broitman, P.C.

20070040064 - Method, apparatus and system for aircraft deicing and estimating deicing completion times: The overall operating efficiency of processing objects, which are placed in a selected one of several available queues for subsequent processing at respective processing sites, is improved using a model relating the total time for processing to time of waiting in queue and processing. A deicing decision support tool uses... Agent: Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP

20070040065 - Flexible refueling boom extendable tube: A tanker aircraft refueling boom utilizes an upper boom tube that connects to an aircraft fuselage, a lower boom tube that connects to the upper refueling tube, and a removable flexible tube with a nozzle that is connected to the lower boom tube. The flexible tube is bendable to accommodate... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070040066 - Aircraft having a dual floor servicing system associated with an operational ground support system: An aircraft (12) includes a servicing opening (26) and multiple service levels (82, 102). The service levels (82, 102) include a noncargo-based service level (82). The service levels (82, 102) are accessible through the service opening (26). An aircraft onboard primary servicing system (66) includes a primary service sub-system (151).... Agent: Ostrager Chong Flaherty & Broitman, P.C.

20070040067 - Orbit space transportation & recovery system: An In Orbit Transportation & Recovery System (IOSTAR™) (10). One preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a space tug powered by a nuclear reactor (19). The IOSTAR™ includes a collapsible boom (11) connected at one end to a propellant tank (13) which stores fuel for an electric propulsion system... Agent: Giaccherini

20070034730 - Multimode planar waveguide spectral filter: A spectral filter comprises a planar optical waveguide having at least one set of diffractive elements. The waveguide confines in one transverse dimension an optical signal propagating in two other dimensions therein. The waveguide supports multiple transverse modes. Each diffractive element set routes, between input and output ports, a diffracted... Agent: David S Alavi

20070034731 - System and method for detecting drifts in calibrated tracking systems: A method and system for detecting drift in calibrated tracking systems used to locate features with respect to one or more coordinate systems allows medical devices to be accurately tracked within a reference coordinate system, and facilitates detection and compensation for changes in the orientation of the tracking system with... Agent: Goodwin Procter LLP Patent Administrator

20070034732 - Fiber optic laser detection and ranging system: One aspect of the invention relates to a laser ranging system. In this version of the invention, a guided missile is provided with laser that directs laser radiation in the general direction of a target that is subsequently reflected from the target back to the missile. A receiving lens is... Agent: Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP

20070034734 - Flight control system especially suited for vtol vehicles: Flight control systems have plural control subsystems with redundancies organized so as to provide continued but degraded control power over critical aircraft flight operating parameters even if any one complete control subsystem catastrophically fails. One example described in detail for a VTOL craft includes four groups of controls, each group... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20070034733 - Wing rotary: VTOL aircraft capable of being freely navigated on the land, on the water, and in the air, wherein since the entire part of a rotor installed so as to surround a body is rotated to generate a lift, a high-output engine and a runway are not required and, if the... Agent: Smith Hopen, Pa

20070034735 - Tandem powered power tilting aircraft - jb: An aircraft with a long body 1 which has a forward end 2 and an aft end 3, which is able to achieve vertical take-off by means of a tilt-able rotor and blade assembly 4 at the forward part of the aircraft and a tilt-able turbojet 19 at the rear... Agent: Tom Kusic

20070034736 - Method of selectively decoupling solidborne noise, a laminated ball joint, a mechanical connection, and an aircraft: Solidborne noise and vibration is decoupled in a rotary wing aircraft by a laminated ball joint (15) for a suspension bar (13) of a transmission gearbox, the ball joint including at least two damper layers (19) dedicated to a frequency band for decoupling in the range 0 to 7000 Hz.... Agent: Young & Thompson

20070034737 - Dual axis control for cycloidal propeller: A system and method for moving an aerial vehicle along a flight path includes rotatable hubs mounted on opposite sides of the vehicle. Elongated airfoils are mounted on the hubs parallel to a common hub axis for rotation about the hub axis on a blade path. Each airfoil defines a... Agent: Neil K. Nydegger Nydegger & Associates

20070034738 - Aerodynamically stable, vtol aircraft: A hover aircraft employs an air impeller engine having an air channel duct and a rotor with outer ends of its blades fixed to an annular impeller disk that is driven by magnetic induction elements arrayed in the air channel duct. The air-impeller engine is arranged vertically in the aircraft... Agent: Leighton K. Chong Godbey Griffiths Reiss & Chong

20070034739 - Ducted fan vtol vehicles: A vehicle including a fuselage having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, two Ducted Fan lift-producing propellers carried by the fuselage on each side of the transverse axis, a pilot's compartment formed in the fuselage between the lift-producing propellers and substantially aligned with one side of the fuselage, a... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20070034740 - Transformable airship: The present invention provides a solar-powered transformable airship, on which solar cell panels are installed all over to maximize the amount of solar energy collected. Moreover, the airship according to the present invention has a main body of variable volume, suitable for any altitude, ranging from the ground to 30... Agent: Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist P.A.

20070034741 - Solar-powered aircraft: A solar-powered aircraft uses solar energy to electrolyze on-board water to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen fills various on-board tanks, causing the aircraft to become lighter than air. The hydrogen is also used to operate a fuel cell which provides power for electrical equipment, including a motor for turning a propeller.... Agent: William H. Eilberg

20070034742 - Passenger compartment: The field relates to a compartment of an aircraft. The compartment is delimited by a section of the outer wall of the cabin, as well as by two identical foldable partition segments that delimit the compartment from adjacent compartments. So that a compartment passenger's compliance with the requirement to fasten... Agent: Christopher Paradies, Ph.d.

20070034743 - Composite single pane window for an aircraft and method of making same: A single pane window for use in a jet aircraft. The single pane window includes a plurality of metal sheets. A fiber reinforced resin at least partially surrounds the plurality of metal sheets. The fiber reinforced resin is transparent. A cutout is formed within each of the plurality of metal... Agent: Harness Dickey & Pierce, PLC

20070034744 - Multi-grommet retained slider for parachutes: A reefing slider for providing improved line management and canopy deployment characteristics of a ram air inflated airfoil type canopy. During initial descent of the parachute the slider, secured by fastening elements, is held against the canopy in the upper reefing position where it mechanically restricts canopy deployment while giving... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20070034745 - Apparatus and method to provide failsafe deceleration for an agricultural windrower: Apparatus and a method for monitoring the performance of control algorithms, and inappropriate operator actions, and for providing failsafe deceleration for a vehicle, particularly an agricultural windrower, wherein the propulsion driveline of the vehicle is controllably and actively decelerated. Inappropriate operator actions can include, but are not limited to, attempted... Agent: Cnh America LLC

20070034746 - System for aerodynamic flows and associated method: A system and method for controlling boundary layer flow over an aircraft wing are provided. The system includes at least one wing element, and a plurality of ports defined in the wing element and in fluid communication with one another. The system also includes at least one fluidic device operable... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP

20070034748 - Aerospace vehicle flow body systems and associated methods: Flow body systems and associated methods, including aerospace vehicle control surface systems are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward an aerospace vehicle system that includes a first flow body that can be coupleable to an aerospace vehicle. The system can further included a second flow body... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20070034747 - Translating conduit apparatus for an airplane or equipment: An apparatus for an airplane or other equipment is provided. The apparatus may comprise a multitude of connected arms which are adapted to rotate relative to one another. One end of the apparatus may be connected to a fixed wing, while another end of the apparatus may be connected to... Agent: Timothy K. Klintworth Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon

20070034749 - Deployable airfoil assembly for aircraft: A deployable airfoil assembly is disclosed that provides for selectively augmenting lift surface area of an aircraft. In one embodiment, a fixed wing is mounted to the aircraft. An auxiliary wing is moveably coupled to the fixed wing and actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the... Agent: Scott T. Griggs

20070023566 - Flying all-terrain vehicle: A method and apparatus are provided for constructing, operating, and marketing a vehicle that is alternatively adaptable for controlled, powered operation on the ground as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or in the air as a powered parachute, or for controlled, powered operation on both the ground and in the air... Agent: Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren P.C.

20070023567 - Apparatus and appertaining method for upfinding in spinning projectiles using a phase-lock-loop or correlator mechanism: The invention relates to the field of gun-launched guidance systems and to a navigation system based on inertial sensors mounted in a spinning projectile using at least one rotation sensing device with input components perpendicular to the spinning body's longitudinal axis, and an appertaining method for upfinding. The phase of... Agent: Honeywell International Inc.

20070023568 - Unmanned aerial vehicle (uav) deceleration system: A system for slowing an air vehicle, including an independently supported aerodynamic drag device designed so that, after contact is made between the flying air vehicle and the aerodynamic drag device, one or more parts of the aerodynamic drag device are carried along by the air vehicle thereby decelerating the... Agent: Dr. Mark Friedman Ltd. C/o Bill Polkinghorn

20070023569 - Apparatuses and methods for applying forces to a structure utilizing oscillatory wing motions in a fluid: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that rotate a first member about a first point relative to a chassis, wherein the first member is rotatably coupled to a second member at a second point. A second member is counter-rotated at a ratio of the rotational speed of the first member wherein... Agent: Heimlich Law

20070023570 - System and method for remote control of interdiction aircraft: An aircraft attack interdiction system using an unmanned interdiction aircraft piloted using a remote control system. In-flight refueling system, weapons launcher systems and intelligence gathering equipment are mounted on the interdiction aircraft. A remote flight control operator to remotely fly the interdiction aircraft can be based on a remote flight... Agent: Fulbright & Jaworski Market Square

20070023571 - Quiet airplane configuration: A blended wing aircraft reduces forward, aft, and sideline flyover noise and heat energy by reflecting it upward using the wing and vertical stabilizers positioned just outboard of the engines. The engines are located on top of the wing and forward of the trailing edge of the wing with the... Agent: Ernest Caravalho

20070023572 - Fuselage: The fuselage according to an exemplary embodiment is conceived in such a way as to prevent the spread of flames produced by a source of fire and acting on the fuselage from outside the aircraft environment. The fuselage concept takes into account materials or material combinations that will scarcely allow... Agent: Christopher Paradies, Ph.d.

20070023573 - Aircraft wing: An aircraft wing that may be used in large transport aircraft comprising a first wing portion that, in use, forms an inner portion of an aircraft wing, and is attached to a readily replaceable second wing portion comprising a wingtip. The second wing portion may be readily replaceable by a... Agent: Patterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.A.

20070023574 - Graphical symbology apparatus for use in an airborne refueling system: A vision system and method for use on a refueling tanker to assist a boom operator in performing an airborne refueling operation on a receiver aircraft. The system includes a digital camera system, a sensor subsystem and a processing system that receives information from the sensor system and the camera... Agent: Ernest Caravalho

20070023576 - Positioning system, device, and method for in-flight refueling: A positioning system, device, and method are provided to facilitate the in-flight positioning of two aircraft relative to one another such that a second aircraft is guided to an in-flight refueling position relative to a first aircraft. The system, device, and method of the present invention provide a signal emitted... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP

20070023575 - Vision system and method incorporating graphics symbology for use in a tanker refueling system: A vision system and method for use on a refueling tanker to assist a boom operator in performing an airborne refueling operation on a receiver aircraft. The system includes a digital camera system, a sensor subsystem and a processing system that receives information from the sensor system and the camera... Agent: Ernest Caravalho

20070023577 - Increasing the performance of aircraft on-board inert gas generating systems by turbocharging: A modular, on-board, inert gas generating system for aircraft is disclosed in which main components such as a heat exchanger, filter, air separation module, and turbocharger are provided in a modular unit sized to provide a variable flow of nitrogen-enriched air to the aircraft spaces to be inerted. For different... Agent: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP.

20070023578 - Aircraft evacuation slide inflator having valve leakage trap and safety vent: An inflatable aircraft evacuation slide system includes a primary valve, a bust disk and a valve leakage trap operatively disposed between the primary valve and the burst disk. The valve leakage trap comprises a small exhaust vent opening into a flow restriction orifice in the gas path between the primary... Agent: Goodrich C/o The Cavanagh Law Firm

20070023579 - Unified attitude control for spacecraft transfer orbit operations: A method of controlling attitude of a spacecraft during a transfer orbit operation is provided. The method includes providing a slow spin rate, determining the attitude of the spacecraft using a unified sensor set, and controlling the attitude of the spacecraft using a unified control law. The use of a... Agent: Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP And The Boeing Company

20070023580 - High-torque, low power reaction wheel array and method: Methods and apparatus are provided for reaction wheel (RW) assemblies for spacecraft. The apparatus comprises a M/G coupled to an inertia wheel and a controller coupled to the M/G that, in response to commands it receives, couples power to or from an M/G of another RW assembly over a shared... Agent: Honeywell International Inc.

20070023581 - Omnidirectional aircraft: An omni-directional aircraft with flight capabilities surpassing those of a regular VTOL or helicopter, being able to take full advantage of the simultaneous six degrees of freedom of motion possible in the atmosphere, undergoing any desired combination of translational and rotational movement, and keeping station in the air in any... Agent: William H.t. La

20070023582 - Unmanned air vehicle, integrated weapon platform, avionics system and control method: A small, reusable interceptor unmanned air vehicle (UAV), an avionics control system for the UAV, a design method for the UAV and a method for controlling the UAV, for interdiction of small scale air, water and ground threats. The UAV includes a high performance airframe with integrated weapon and avionics... Agent: Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC