Aeronautics inventions 05/08

20080121752 - Asymmetrically changing rotating blade shape (acrbs) propeller and its airplane and wind turbine applications: A propeller includes a plurality of propeller blades. Each blade has an adjustable drag coefficient. A plurality of actuators adjusts the drag coefficients of the propeller blades. A controlling unit controls the plurality of actuators such that the drag coefficients of each propeller blade is adjusted according to a pattern... Agent: Robert T. Maldonado Cooper & Dunham LLP

20080121753 - Positive lift vehicle: An air vehicle includes a body having a top and a bottom and a support platform for carrying cargo such a people or equipment. An impeller mounted on the body is powered, such as by a motor, for rotating so as to create low pressure on the top of the... Agent: Calif Kip Tervo

20080121754 - Damage-tolerant attachment system for an aircraft engine:

20080121755 - Rankine-brayton engine powered solar thermal aircraft: A solar thermal powered aircraft powered by heat energy from the sun. A Rankine-Brayton hybrid cycle heat engine is carried by the aircraft body for producing power for a propulsion mechanism, such as a propeller or other mechanism for enabling sustained free flight. The Rankine-Brayton engine has a thermal battery,... Agent: James S. Tak Assistant Laboratory Counsel

20080121756 - Unconventional integrated propulsion systems and methods for blended wing body aircraft: Integrated propulsion systems and methods for blended wing aircraft are disclosed. In one embodiment, a propulsion system at least one engine operatively disposed within an engine flow duct having an engine inlet and an engine exhaust aperture, and at least one fan operatively disposed within a fan flow duct having... Agent: Lee & Hayes, PLLC

20080121757 - Passenger seats: Seating assemblies, principally for passenger vehicles such as aircraft, are detailed. Memory devices associated with the seats may receive information in the form of seat-adjustment preferences for the passengers to whom the seats are assigned for a journey. The information may be provided directly by a passenger while on-board the... Agent: John S. Pratt, Esq Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP

20080121758 - Reinforced cover for gaps in an aerodynamic contour: Reinforced cover for gaps in an aerodynamic contour of a vehicle, with a first attachment section 1a attachable to a structural element 2, 5 of the vehicle 11, on a first axial plane I; a second elastic section 1c which covers a gap 3 which is located between a fixed... Agent: Klauber & Jackson

20080121759 - Remotely located cryocooler: A cryocooler is located on a spacecraft bus, such as a bus box, separate from the cryogenic propellant tanks disposed on a separable and distinct propellant cartridge system spacecraft docked to the spacecraft bus. In operation, propellant may be continuously pumped from the tanks through the cryocooler cold heat exchanger... Agent: Canady & Lortz LLP - Boeing

20080121760 - Docking device: A docking target indicator for a docking device is provided. The docking target indicator comprises a base layer, having a rear surface and a front surface; wherein the front surface of the base layer is reflective; and a baffle structure is secured to the base layer.... Agent: Klein, O'neill & Singh, LLP

20080116315 - Soaring wind turbine: The Soaring Wind Turbine is an alternative in electrical power production for all sizes of wind turbines. The wind turbine is lifted by two (2) lighter-than-air craft known as dirigibles. These dirigibles contain helium and can climb to one-thousand (1000) feet above ground level. With the capability to increase altitude... Agent: Ron Wayne Hamburg

20080116323 - Nacelle drag reduction device for a turbofan gas turbine engine: The nacelle drag reduction device comprises a substantially circular and axis symmetrical external airfoil concentric with a aft section of the nacelle and located outside a propulsive jet zone defined behind the engine when operating, the airfoil being positioned at a location providing a maximum streamline angle with reference to... Agent: Ogilvy Renault LLP (pwc)

20080116316 - Magnetically-damped supercritical transmissions: The invention relates to a mechanical transmission system for a rotorcraft, the system including a supercritical transmission shaft (10) and an active magnetic damper (17 to 20) secured to the structure (34) of the aircraft via a mechanical damper (50).... Agent: Young & Thompson

20080116317 - Apparatus for moving a control surface: An apparatus for use in moving a control surface during operation of an aircraft includes a flexible drive shaft to be connected with an actuator assembly by a coupling assembly. Operation of the actuator assembly operates a force transmission apparatus to move a control surface on an aircraft. The coupling... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.l.p.

20080116318 - Galley controller panel unit: An extendable and retractable assembly comprising a mounting member attached to a support structure disposed inside an aperture in a wall. The assembly has a telescoping arm with a first and a second end. The first end of the telescoping arm is attached to the mounting member and the second... Agent: Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Attn: Patent Docket Dept.

20080116319 - Fitting and associated grommet for supporting a conduit penetrating a panel: A fitting and an associated grommet are provided for supporting a conduit penetrating a panel and limiting energy transfer between the conduit and panel. The fitting may include a grommet having annular first and second sections spaced apart from one another and an annular wall extending between the first and... Agent: Alston & Bird, LLP

20080116320 - Aircraft with wings whose maximum lift can be altered by controllable wing components: The present invention relates to an aircraft with wings whose maximum lift can be altered by controllable wing components. By means of a regulating device (20), depending on flight state parameters and the actually measured load on the wings (10), wing components (11, 12) are acted upon such that the... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080116321 - Lift spoiler for parked aircraft: A lift spoiler for use on the wings of parked aircraft to reduce lift forces produces by the aircraft wings and that are produced during storms and high wind speed conditions. The lift spoiler includes a generally rectangular spoiler panel that is supported relative to the wing upper surface by... Agent: Alfred J Mangels

20080116322 - System and method for reducing airfoil vortices: A system and a method according to the invention reduce wake turbulence of an aircraft in that a component affixed to the extremity of the wing of an aircraft disturbs the rolling action of the air in the region of the outer wing by periodic hingeing movements.... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20080111020 - Delayed tail fin deployment mechanism and method: A hold down device positioned on the projectile to exert a known spring force in opposition to the centrifugal force provides an inexpensive, light weight and reliable delayed fin deployment mechanism for boosted fin-stabilized spinning projectiles. When the forcing moment produced by the centrifugal force acting on the fin exceeds... Agent: Noblitt & Gilmore, Llc.

20080111021 - Deployment system and method for subsurface launched unmanned aerial vehicle: A launch system is provided in which an unmanned aerial vehicle is secured to a platform in a watertight tube adapted to be launched from a submerged platform. Once launched, side panels on the tube are jettisoned and a flotation device is deployed to bring the tube to the surface.... Agent: Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport

20080111022 - Compact shock absorber for an aircraft undercarriage, and an undercarriage including such a shock absorber: The invention relates to a shock absorber for an aircraft undercarriage, the shock absorber comprising a main cylinder in which a rod is mounted to slide telescopically, the shock absorber having one or more pneumatic chambers filled with gas, a supply of hydraulic fluid, and throttle means for throttling the... Agent: Mccormick, Paulding & Huber LLP

20080111023 - Telescopic member having an overridable internal abutment: The invention provides a telescopic member comprising a cylinder in which a rod carrying a piston is mounted to slide telescopically, the telescopic member including internal abutment means that are overridable over a predetermined force when the rod comes into abutment inside the cylinder in the shortening direction, wherein the... Agent: Mccormick, Paulding & Huber LLP

20080111024 - Composite aircraft structures with hat stiffeners: A composite panel structure for an aircraft includes a plurality of annular, hat-shaped frames disposed coaxially along a long axis of the aircraft in a spaced, parallel relationship, an inner skin having an inner surface bonded to an outer surface of the hat frames, a plurality of elongated, hat-shaped stringers... Agent: Macpherson Kwok Chen & Heid, LLP

20080111025 - Latch device of cockpit door of an aircraft: A latch device for detecting pressure reduction of a cockpit in an aircraft and releasing a bolt and a stopper device are provided so as to prevent a cockpit door from unexpectedly opening by an impact. A main latch device 100 of the cockpit door has a frame 112 fixed... Agent: Westerman, Hattori, Daniels & Adrian, LLP

20080111026 - Splice joints for composite aircraft fuselages and other structures: Structures and methods for joining composite fuselage sections and other panel assemblies together are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a shell structure configured in accordance with the present invention includes a first panel portion positioned adjacent to a second panel portion. The first panel portion can include a first stiffener... Agent: Perkins Coie, LLP

20080111027 - Sol-gel coating method and composition: A coating composition and a method for coating metallic substrates, such as aircraft components exposed to elevated temperatures and/or oxidative conditions. The coating composition includes an aqueous mixture having about 2 vol % to about 50 vol % organosilane, about 0.3 to about 25 vol % metal alkoxide, and about... Agent: Mcnees Wallace & Nurick Llc

20080111028 - Wing ice protection heater element network: An ice prevention network comprising a plurality of non-overlapping heater elements arranged in a grid along an airfoil is provided, powered by a multiphase power source, each phase powering selected heater elements that can selectively be powered on and powered off. The grid has a number of zones extending along... Agent: Honeywell International Inc.

20080111029 - Automatic activation device for a parachute and a method for activating an opening of a parachute: An automatic activation device for a parachute. The device comprises pressure input means for inputting a pressure value. The device is provided for operating in selectable working configurations according to which a reference pressure is determined either on the basis of the input pressure value or on the basis of... Agent: Jacobson Holman Pllc

20080111030 - Process for recoving a launch vehicle first stage: The invention is a process for returning the first stage booster of a launch vehicle having at least one upper stage, the first stage booster having a rocket engine system and aerodynamic flight control system, to the launch site, the process comprising the steps of: 1) launching the vehicle from... Agent: Louis L. Dachs

20080111031 - Deployable flat membrane structure: A truss structure for supporting a membrane that is to be deployed in space, where the truss structure maintains the membrane sufficiently flat with uniform tension. The truss structure includes a circular perimeter truss and a transitional truss. The transitional truss includes a series of ties that are coupled to... Agent: Miller Ip Group, Plc Northrop Grumman Corporation

20080105783 - Fuselage design for sonic boom suppression of supersonic aircraft: Disclosed is an aircraft configured to reduce the effects of a sonic boom when flown at supersonic speed. The aircraft has a tapered fuselage. The fuselage has a first predetermined cross-section at a first longitudinal position. The cross section has a horizontal dimension which is greater than the vertical dimension... Agent: Lathrop & Gage Lc

20080105781 - Aircraft with reduced environmental impact: s

20080105782 - Mounting system for use in mounting a gas turbine engine: A mounting system for use in mounting a gas turbine engine having an engine core to an aircraft comprises an engine support arrangement and front and rear mounting assemblies to mount the engine support arrangement to a casing surrounding the engine core. Each of the front and rear mounting assemblies... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20080105784 - Linking assembly between a mechanical system and an adjustment actuator comprising engagement/disengagement members: The invention relates to a linking assembly between a mechanical system, such as an aircraft seat, and an adjustment actuator, comprising an input shaft connected to an output of the actuator and an output shaft connected to an input of the mechanical system, and engagement/disengagement members placed between the input... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080105785 - Optimized fuselage structure: A fuselage structure including an upper fuselage portion defined by a first cross-section including at least three different radii of curvature. The fuselage structure may also include a lower fuselage portion defined by a second cross-section including at least three different radii of curvature, wherein the first cross-section is different... Agent: Moore And Van Allen PLLC For Boeing

20080105786 - Stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of reinforcing thereof: The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of reinforcing such a stringer in which the stringer is formed with a substantially lambda shaped section.... Agent: Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, LLP

20080105787 - Hierarchical strategy for singularity avoidance in arrays of control moment gyroscopes: A control system for adjusting the attitude of a spacecraft comprises a set of control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) configured to allow null space maneuvering. The control system further comprises a momentum actuator control processor coupled to the set of CMGs and configured to determine a mandatory null space maneuver to... Agent: Honeywell International Inc.

20080105788 - Methods and apparatus for node-synchronous eccentricity control: A method for performing east-west station keeping for a satellite in an inclined synchronous orbit is described. The method includes averaging a value of a right ascension of the ascending node for an inclination vector associated with the satellite over a period of the control cycle, and managing corrections for... Agent: John S. Beulick (24691) Armstrong Teasdale LLP

20080105789 - Digital programmable driver for solenoid valves and associated method: A digital programmable driver for a solenoid valve comprises at least one valve driver circuit for opening and closing the valve and a controller capable of sending an output signal to the valve driver circuit. The valve driver circuit comprises a power switch for providing current to the valve in... Agent: Alston & Bird, LLP

20080105790 - Rudder pedal assembly including non-parallel slide rails: A rudder pedal assembly exhibits sufficient ergonomic feel for a pilot, and is relatively small in overall size. The rudder pedal assembly includes a plurality of rails disposed non-parallel to each other within a common plane, and a rudder pedal. The rudder pedal is movably coupled to the plurality of... Agent: Honeywell International Inc.

20080099598 - Integral locking mechanism for deployable device: A guided projectile has a deployment system for deploying a deployable structure, such as a fin, another type of control surface, or an antenna. The deployment system includes a single-piece body that has a hub body and a resilient tab. The resilient tab presses against a stepped surface of a... Agent: Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20080099599 - Fuel efficient fixed wing aircraft: A fixed wing aircraft having a fuselage having a forward end and a rearward end, the fuselage's forward end forming a nose section; the aircraft further having a primary thrust turbo-prop engine fixedly mounted upon the fuselage's rearward end; the aircraft further having an auxiliary thrust turbo-fan jet engine; the... Agent: Kenneth H. Jack

20080099630 - Air inlet and method for a highspeed mobile platform: An inlet apparatus and method for use with a cabin air compressor on a high speed, airborne mobile platform, such as a commercial or military aircraft. The apparatus includes a Pitot inlet of a desired shape that is supported outside an exterior surface of a fuselage of the aircraft by... Agent: Harness Dickey & Pierce, PLC

20080099632 - Aircraft airframe architectures: Disclosed are aircraft airframes 20 for providing reduced fuel burn, weight and cost. A fuselage 22 accepts a single gas generator core 38 configured to remotely drive multiple, bladed propulsion elements 36. The propulsion elements 36 may be fans or propellers. An outer cowling 34, extends radially outwardly from the... Agent: Pratt & Whitney

20080099631 - Tandem air inlet apparatus and method for an airborne mobile platform: A tandem inlet apparatus for use with a high speed mobile platform, for example a commercial or military aircraft. The tandem inlet apparatus includes a Pitot inlet for feeding air to a cabin air compressor (CAC) of an air conditioning pack carried on the mobile platform. A flush heat exchanger... Agent: Harness Dickey & Pierce, PLC

20080099600 - System and method for transferring airplanes: A method for transferring airplanes and an unmanned airplane transfer system. The airplane transferring system includes: receiving a transfer signal responsive of a movement of an airplane control component; and transferring an airplane, by an unmanned airplane transfer system, in response to the transfer signal.... Agent: Nath & Associates, PLLC Sixth Floor

20080099601 - Apparatus and method for rigging slaved and actuated panels with external access: A rigging for moving an aircraft panel relative to an aircraft substructure includes a retaining base attached to a panel interior, and a slider rod held in contact with the substructure and adjustably engaged with the retaining base. The slider rod is manipulable from the panel exterior to adjustably engage... Agent: Macpherson Kwok Chen & Heid, LLP

20080099602 - System and method for detecting ground contact status of an air vehicle: A system and associated method for determining the ground contact status of an air vehicle. The system includes an altitude measurement device; at least one wheel speed sensor; at least one weight-on-wheel sensor; at least one squat switch and a processor for processing useful data from the altitude measurement device,... Agent: Klein, O'neill & Singh, LLP

20080099603 - Ground towing power architecture for an electric brake system of an aircraft: A power management architecture as disclosed herein is suitable for use in connection with an electric brake system of an aircraft. During ground towing operations when the aircraft engines are off, the power management architecture provides operating power to the electric brake system (and other aircraft systems that are required... Agent: Ingrassia Fisher & Lorenz, P.C. (boeing)

20080099604 - Methods and apparatuses for indicating and/or adjusting tension in pliant tension members, including aircraft recovery lines: Methods and apparatuses for measuring and adjusting tension in pliant tension members, including aircraft recovery lines, are disclosed herein. A tool for indicating tension in a pliant tension member in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, for example, can include a first support member releasably coupled to a flexible... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20080099605 - Boarding ramp device for aircraft: When a single door for opening and closing an opening in a body is opened outward with its lower part as a fulcrum, a plurality of plate-shaped steps of a foldable boarding ramp provided on an inner face of the door are swung in association with one another from a... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080099607 - Apparatus and method pertaining to light-based power distribution in a vehicle: A vehicle (400) such as an aircraft is provided (101) with a source of light (401). An optical conduit is then used to couple (104) this source of light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus (408). which then converts (105) such light into electricity. A rechargeable power supply (407), such as... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin And Flannery

20080099606 - Cabin air supply apparatus with filtered air: A method and apparatus for distributing air. The apparatus includes an air distribution vent that distributes air into a compartment, wherein the distribution of air into the compartment causes compartment air from the compartment to be drawn from the compartment. The apparatus also includes a contaminant removal system, wherein compartment... Agent: Duke W. Yee

20080099608 - Seat device for an aircraft: The present invention relates to a seat device for an aircraft. The seat device comprises a seat installation and a shell structure. In this arrangement the inside of the shell structure comprises an enclosed stowage space, wherein the shell structure is designed to attach the seat installation to a floor... Agent: Christopher Paradies, Ph.d.

20080099611 - Tail cone for aircraft with movable fairing and support structure for auxiliary power unit and the ancillary elements thereof: Tail cone (2) for aircraft (1) with a cover (8) housing an auxiliary power unit (3) and the ancillary systems thereof (6,7), and the cover (8) has a fixed forward section (11) by means of which the tail cone (2) is secured to the rest of the fuselage (4), and... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.

20080099609 - Tunable acoustic absorption system for an aircraft cabin: A tunable acoustic absorption system according to the present invention includes an airframe batting area; a primary soundproofing blanket area; an interior trim panel area; and a hard trim area, which are layered over an aircraft outer skin. Specifically tailoring or “tuning” materials within each area to the particular aircraft... Agent: Carlson, Gaskey & Olds, P.C.

20080099610 - Ventral fairing for an aircraft: t

20080099612 - Actuation system for tail section of aircraft: The invention is directed to an actuation system in an aircraft comprising a fuselage and a hinged tail section with at least one interlock component that engages a tail support, wherein the engagement of the tail support to the tail section enables the actuation system to operate. The actuation system... Agent: Duke W. Yee

20080099613 - Wing panel structure: A wing panel structure for an aerospace vehicle or the like may include an outer layer of material having a predetermined thickness. A core structure may be placed on at least a portion of the outer layer of material. An inner layer of material may be placed at least on... Agent: Moore And Van Allen PLLC For Boeing

20080099615 - Modular aircraft window: A modular aircraft window includes an outer pane and an inner pane each inserted in a substantially rectangular frame. A foldable shade is disposed on one of the frames and has a freely movable end that is coupled with an operating unit for opening and closing the shade. The assembly... Agent: Lerner Greenberg Stemer LLP

20080099614 - Unitary one-piece windshield: A windshield for a pressurized aircraft includes a single transparent unit that functions structurally to allow pressurization of the aircraft and to support the aircraft's fuselage in response to external loads. The windshield also functions operationally to provide the pilot with an unobstructed field of vision through an extended arc... Agent: Nydegger & Associates

20080099616 - Electrical interlock and indication system for aircraft: An electrical interlock and indication system for use with an aircraft having a hinged tail section is provided. The interlock and indication system prevents operation of a latch/lock actuation system of the hinged tail section unless a tail support is engaged to the tail section, inhibits over rotation of the... Agent: Duke W. Yee

20080099617 - Ice protection of aerodynamic surfaces: An electrothermal heater mat for anti-icing or de-icing of a helicopter rotor blade or other aerodynamic surface comprises a substrate, such as a flexible polyimide sheet, bearing tracks of a material of selected electrical resistivity, these tracks being formed by printing onto the substrate with a thermosetting ink loaded with... Agent: Mcdonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

20080099619 - Fuel system - aircraft (fuel quantity indicating and delivery systems): The system and method of the present concept is to provide a significantly reduced electrically dependent fuel system, thus reducing a combustible environment with a reduction in the consumption of electrical power. Manufacturing costs and weight savings can be realized with the need for a costly and weighty inert gas... Agent: John Anthony Diaks

20080099618 - Oxygen removal system: A system and process is provided to deplete or remove oxygen in the ullage of a fuel tank to reduce the oxygen/fuel vapor ratio below a lower explosion limit by exposing the ullage compounds to an oxygen removal catalyst active at a relatively low temperature. The oxygen removal catalyst may... Agent: Honeywell International Inc.

20080099620 - Self-adjusting uld loading guide and restraint: A ULD guide includes a base and an arm substantially upwardly extending from the base. A guide member having at least one substantially planar guide surface is pivotally connected to the arm, and is movable between a first guide position and a second guide position.... Agent: Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC Goodrich Corp.

20080099621 - Fuselage mounted evacuation slide system: An inflatable evacuation slide system includes a slide pack that is ejected from its enclosure by means of an ejection bag, which inflates rapidly to force the evacuation slide out of the enclosure. The high accelerations imposed on the uninflated evacuation slide by the ejection bag make the slide prone... Agent: John D. Titus The Cavanagh Law Firm

20080099622 - Accessory for vehicle: External store systems and assemblies for a carrier vehicle are provided. In some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of external store elements, each external store element comprising a plurality of surfaces defining an exterior thereof, the surfaces comprising at least one face, and a mounting arrangement configured for enabling... Agent: Nath & Associates

20080099623 - Combined skirt-reefing and slider method for controlled parachute opening: A parachute system having a parachute canopy having a skirt, and a plurality of gores spaced about the skirt. The plurality of gores is defined by first and second groups of gores. The parachute system includes a slider having a plurality of through-holes, a line loop attached to the slider,... Agent: U.s. Army Soldier Systems Center

20080099624 - Space tether transport system: A space transport system for transporting payloads between points on the ground, in the air, and in outer space, includes a tether wheels able to accept payload from the ground or a low, slow position and transport it at high velocity to either another low, slow location on the same... Agent: Erik Evjenth

20080099625 - First satellite sub-constellation and offset second satellite sub-constellation: A satellite constellation in one example comprises a first set of satellites configured in a first sub-constellation defined by a first set of orbital elements. The satellite constellation further comprises a second set of satellites configured in a second sub-constellation defined by the first set of orbital elements with a... Agent: Patti, Hewitt & Arezina LLC

20080099626 - Reconfigurable reaction wheel for spacecraft: The invention provides a reconfigurable reaction wheel for a spacecraft, a spacecraft, and a method of using the reconfigurable reaction wheel to control the movement of a spacecraft. The reaction wheel includes a reaction wheel housing, a flywheel rotatably disposed in the housing and an electric motor operably coupled to... Agent: Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP (all Goodrich Entities)

20080099627 - Pulsed detonation engines for reaction control systems: Pulsed detonation engines (PDEs) are adapted for use in reaction control systems (RCS), such as thrusters for orbital correction and control (e.g., for earth-orbiting satellites), divert thrust generation and control for space-based interceptor devices, and for missile trajectory correction and motion control. According to one aspect of the invention, PDEs... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

20080099628 - Apparatus and method for refueling aircraft: A method and apparatus for aiding pilots in aerial refueling comprises a primary auto-throttling system (ATS) disposed in a primary aircraft and a secondary ATS disposed in a secondary aircraft. The primary ATS includes logic which generates and transmits an anticipatory signal to the secondary ATS. Based upon the received... Agent: Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, LLP

20080099629 - Pilot flight control stick haptic feedback system and method: A pilot flight control stick haptic feedback system includes a pilot user interface, a position sensor, a pilot motor, and a control circuit. The pilot user interface is movable to a position at a movement rate. The position sensor senses the position of the pilot user interface and supplies a... Agent: Honeywell International Inc.