Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
244046000 | Variable | 65 |
20090146000 | Deployable aerodynamic devices with reduced actuator loads, and related systems and methods - Deployable aerodynamic devices with reduced actuator loads, and related systems and methods are disclosed. An external flow system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an external flow body, a deployable device carried by and movable relative to the external flow body, and a coupling connected between the external flow body and the deployable device. The system can further include an actuator device operatively coupled between the external flow body and the deployable device, with the actuator device positioned to move the deployable device along a motion path between a stowed position and the deployed position. The motion path can have a first portion over which the load delivered by the actuator device increases as the deployed device moves toward the deployed position, and a second portion over which the load delivered by the actuator device decreases as the deployed device moves toward the deployed position. | 06-11-2009 |
20090308971 | Airfoil System for Cruising Flight - An airfoil system includes an airfoil body and at least one flexible strip. The airfoil body has a top surface and a bottom surface, a chord length, a span, and a maximum thickness. Each flexible strip is attached along at least one edge thereof to either the top or bottom surface of the airfoil body. The flexible strip has a spanwise length that is a function of the airfoil body's span, a chordwise width that is a function of the airfoil body's chord length, and a thickness that is a function of the airfoil body's maximum thickness. | 12-17-2009 |
20100059623 | Aircraft with its fuselage suspended under the wing - An aircraft displaying a fuselage, a wing attached to the fuselage in an upper part and in a middle part along the length of the fuselage, a set of airfoils situated behind the wing and propulsion engines mounted on the wing. The wing, the set of airfoils and the propulsion engines are solidly fastened to an air propulsion unit that is affixed to the fuselage by a connection system permitting the controlled modification in flight of the position of the air propulsion unit relative to the fuselage in the three directions X, Y and Z of the reference aircraft and in rotation around the three directions X, Y and Z. The control of the relative movements of the air propulsion unit and fuselage permits an improved behavior in flight of the airplane and has advantages in the fabrication and operation of the plane. | 03-11-2010 |
20100213309 | NON-PLANAR ADAPTIVE WING SOLAR AIRCRAFT - A system and method for assembling and operating a solar powered aircraft, composed of one or more modular constituent wing panels. Each wing panel includes at least one hinge interface that is configured to rotationally interface with a complementary hinge interface on another wing panel. When a first and second wing panel are coupled together via the rotational interface, they can rotate with respect to each other within a predetermined angular range. The aircraft further comprises a control system that is configured to acquire aircraft operating information and atmospheric information and use the same alter the angle between the wing panels, even if there are multiple wing panels. One or more of the wing panels can include photovoltaic cells and/or solar thermal cells to convert solar radiation energy or solar heat energy into electricity, that can be used to power electric motors. Further, the control system is configured to alter an angle between a wing panel and the horizon, or the angle between wing panels, to maximize solar radiation energy and solar thermal energy collection. A tail assembly for the aircraft includes a rotational pivot that allows the flight control surfaces to rotate to different orientations to avoid or reduce flutter loads and to increase solar radiation energy and/or solar thermal energy collection from photovoltaic cells and/or solar thermal cells the can be located on the tail structure associated with the flight control surfaces. | 08-26-2010 |
20110036941 | Aircraft with a wing movable along the longitudinal axis of th fuselage - The aircraft has a fuselage, a wing integral with the fuselage in a middle section in a longitudinal direction of the fuselage, and a tail assembly integral with the fuselage. The wing has a rigid central chamber at the fuselage determined in front by a front spar, in the rear by a rear spar, and laterally by root ribs of the wing. The wing is mounted to be movable longitudinally in translation relative to the fuselage between an extreme forward position Xav and an extreme rearward position Xar so that the center of gravity of the aircraft can be displaced longitudinally to be positioned precisely at any time relative to the point of application of the resultant of the aerodynamic lift forces. The wing is mounted to be movable relative to the fuselage through the intermediary of at least two parallel beams, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage and integral with the fuselage at the rear/forward bulkhead of the fuselage located on each side of the rigid central chamber. | 02-17-2011 |
20110121131 | Hovering and Flying Vehicle with Shape Memory Alloy Transition Assembly - The present invention to a flying vehicle having a wing and a shape memory alloy transition assembly partially housed within each side of the wing. The shape memory alloy transition assembly has ends rotatable with respect to each other and separately secured to the wing side in which the end is housed. The shape memory alloy transition assembly has a first position defined as having one wing side oriented at an angle of about 80° to about 180° relative to the other wing side. When the shape memory alloy transition assembly is in the first position the vehicle spins and will fly in a substantially hovering vertical orientation. The shape memory alloy transition assembly has a second position defined as having one wing side is oriented at an angle of about 0° relative to the other wing side. When the shape memory alloy transition assembly is in the second position the vehicle will fly in a substantially horizontal orientation. | 05-26-2011 |
20120085858 | Aircraft Having a Variable Geometry - An aircraft having a variable geometry for adapting the flight characteristics to different flight situations includes a fuselage with a pair of wings projecting on both sides of the fuselage in the transverse direction (y), each of which wings has an inner wing section arranged stationarily with respect to the fuselage and an outer wing section adjacent thereto and pivotable about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is oriented in a direction deviating from the longitudinal direction (x) of the aircraft by a maximum of 40°. | 04-12-2012 |
20120091263 | Method of operating a solar aircraft - A system and method for assembling and operating a solar powered aircraft, composed of one or more modular constituent wing panels. Each wing panel includes at least one hinge interface that is configured to rotationally interface with a complementary hinge interface on another wing panel. When a first and second wing panel are coupled together via the rotational interface, they can rotate with respect to each other within a predetermined angular range. The aircraft further comprises a control system that is configured to acquire aircraft operating information and atmospheric information and use the same alter the angle between the wing panels, even if there are multiple wing panels. One or more of the wing panels can include photovoltaic cells and/or solar thermal cells to convert solar radiation energy or solar heat energy into electricity, that can be used to power electric motors. Further, the control system is configured to alter an angle between a wing panel and the horizon, or the angle between wing panels, to maximize solar radiation energy and solar thermal energy collection. A tail assembly for the aircraft includes a rotational pivot that allows the flight control surfaces to rotate to different orientations to avoid or reduce flutter loads and to increase solar radiation energy and/or solar thermal energy collection from photovoltaic cells and/or solar thermal cells the can be located on the tail structure associated with the flight control surfaces. | 04-19-2012 |
20130099049 | AIRCRAFT WING WITH FLEXIBLE SKINS - A wing includes a spar, and a pair of flexible skins that are attached to the spar. The spar is at the leading edge of the wing, and the skins extend toward the trailing edge of the wing. The wing deploys from a stowed condition, in which the skins are curved in the same direction around a fuselage of an aircraft, to a deployed condition, in which the skins provide the wing with an airfoil cross-sectional shape, for example with the skins curve in opposite direction. A lock is used to maintain the skins in the deployed state, with the lock for example located at the trailing edge of the wing. The lock may be a mechanical mechanism that automatically locks the wing in the deployed state, preventing the wing from returning to the stowed state. | 04-25-2013 |
20140131511 | AIRCRAFT LIFTING SURFACE WITH VARIABLE SWEEP DISTRIBUTION ALONG THE SPAN - An aircraft lifting surface attached to the rear or frontal end of the aircraft fuselage with a variable sweep angle α in an inboard part and with a constant sweep angle α | 05-15-2014 |
20150097076 | AIRCRAFT WING-TO-FUSELAGE JOINT WITH ACTIVE SUSPENSION AND METHOD - An aircraft includes a fuselage, a wing, and a decoupled joint interconnecting the fuselage and the wing. The decoupled joint can be an active suspension system. A method of adapting an aircraft to attenuate forces between a main wing and a fuselage thereof includes providing a plurality of sensors upon the aircraft, configured for sensing motion and/or mechanical stress of the main wing and/or the fuselage and producing signals indicative thereof, and providing a plurality of active suspension elements interconnecting the wing and the fuselage, the active suspension elements being configured to move at least in response to the signals to adjust a position of the wing with respect to the fuselage. | 04-09-2015 |
20150321745 | Wing and Application Thereof - The present disclosure relates to a wing. More specifically, aspects of the invention relate to a variable shaped wing movable incrementally between a neutral configuration and a deformed configuration, wherein the wing takes a reflexed camber aerofoil section shape in the deformed configuration. The wing includes a first aerofoil segment and a second aerofoil segment having ends connected or fixed to one another at opposing neutral leading and trailing edges and spaced apart from one another along their lengths across a neutral mean camber line extending between the neutral leading and trailing edges to form a neutral aerofoil section of the wing. One or more actuators deform the wing between the neutral aerofoil section and a reflexed camber aerofoil section, with the first and second aerofoil segments being resilient to bias the wing towards an initial at rest aerofoil section. | 11-12-2015 |
20160023747 | HYBRID LIGHTER-THAN-AIR VEHICLE - The present invention is a variable geometry aircraft that is capable of morphing its shape from a symmetric cross-section buoyant craft to an asymmetric lifting body and even to a symmetric zero lift configuration. The aircraft may include variable span, length, and camber. The variability of the structure and the flexible envelope allows the aircraft to adjust its aspect ratio along with the camber of the upper and/or lower surfaces to achieve varying shapes. This transformation changes both the lift and drag characteristics of the craft and may be accomplished while the craft is airborne. | 01-28-2016 |
20160167765 | COLLAPSIBLE WING AND UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS INCLUDING COLLAPSIBLE WING | 06-16-2016 |
244047000 | Dihedral | 4 |
20100308161 | Aircraft control system - A span-loaded, highly flexible flying wing, having horizontal control surfaces mounted aft of the wing on extended beams to form local pitch-control devices. Each of five spanwise wing segments of the wing has one or more motors and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other wing segments, to minimize inter-segment loads. Wing dihedral is controlled by separately controlling the local pitch-control devices consisting of a control surface on a boom, such that inboard and outboard wing segment pitch changes relative to each other, and thus relative inboard and outboard lift is varied. | 12-09-2010 |
20140319267 | CONTROLLED TRANSITORY OR SUSTAINED GLIDING FLIGHT WITH DIHEDRAL ANGLE AND TRAILING FLAPS - A micro aerial vehicle capable of controlled transitory or sustained gliding flight. The vehicle includes a fuselage. A pair of articulated wings are forward of a center of gravity of the vehicle, the wings being articulated and having trailing edge flaps, and having actuators for controlling the dihedral angles of the wings and the flaps for effective yaw control across the flight envelope. The dihedral angles can be varied symmetrically on both wings to control the aircraft speed independently of the angle of attack and flight-path angle, while an asymmetric dihedral setting can be used to control yaw and the actuators control the dihedral settings of each wing independently. The aircraft lacks a vertical tail or other vertical stabilizer. | 10-30-2014 |
20150021430 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LONG ENDURANCE VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING VEHICLE - A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a fuselage, an empennage having an all-moving horizontal stabilizer located at a tail end of the fuselage, a wing having the fuselage positioned approximately halfway between the distal ends of the wing, wherein the wing is configured to transform between a substantially straight wing configuration and a canted wing configuration using a canted hinge located on each side of the fuselage. The VTOL aircraft may further includes one or more retractable pogo supports, wherein a retractable pogo support is configured to deploy from each of the wing's distal ends. | 01-22-2015 |
20160068252 | Active Dihedral Control System for a Torsionally Flexible Wing - A span-loaded, highly flexible flying wing, having horizontal control surfaces mounted aft of the wing on extended beams to form local pitch-control devices. Each of five spanwise wing segments of the wing has one or more motors and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other wing segments, to minimize inter-segment loads. Wing dihedral is controlled by separately controlling the local pitch-control devices consisting of a control surface on a boom, such that inboard and outboard wing segment pitch changes relative to each other, and thus relative inboard and outboard lift is varied. | 03-10-2016 |
244048000 | Incidence | 6 |
20090321558 | ACTIVE TWISTING OF AN AIRCRAFT LIFTING SURFACE VIA MODULATED CLAMPING OF SUBSTRUCTURE - A system and method for enabling controlled twisting of a tip of a wing in response to the aerodynamic forces experienced by the wing. The structural stiffness of the wing is modulated to modulate the twist of the wing in the presence of aerodynamic forces. | 12-31-2009 |
20110062278 | CONTROLLABLE MINIATURE MONO-WING AIRCRAFT - Micro/nano mono-wing aircraft with the wing configured as a winged seed (Samara) is uniquely suited for autonomous or remotely controlled operation in confined environments for surrounding images acquisition. The aircraft is capable of effective autorotation and steady hovering. The wing is flexibly connected to a fuselage via a servo-mechanism which is controlled to change the wing's orientation to control the flight trajectory and characteristics. A propeller on the fuselage rotates about the axis oriented to oppose a torque created about the longitudinal axis of the fuselage and is controlled to contribute in the aircraft maneuvers. A controller, either ON-board or OFF-board, creates input command signals to control the operation of the aircraft based on a linear control model identified as a result of extensive experimentations with a number of models. | 03-17-2011 |
20130327882 | Connection arrangement, aircraft or spacecraft, method for dropping load and method for landing - A connection arrangement having: a fuselage portion; a wing portion which is mounted on the fuselage portion in an upper region thereof; a first Z-coupling element which couples the wing portion to the fuselage portion in the vertical direction thereof; and two XZ-coupling elements which couple the wing portion to the fuselage portion in the vertical direction and longitudinal direction thereof; the first Z-coupling element being longitudinally adjustable in the vertical direction in order to thus adjust an angle of attack of the wing portion. | 12-12-2013 |
20140239117 | CANARD-LOCKED OBLIQUE WING AIRCRAFT - An aircraft includes a fuselage, a main wing pivotally coupled to an aft portion of the fuselage, and a canard coupled to a forward portion of fuselage, wherein the main wing and the canard are configured to be connected together for supersonic flight and disconnected from each other for subsonic flight. | 08-28-2014 |
20150344134 | High Performance VTOL Aircraft - The present disclosure relates to a high performance Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft for executing hovering flight, forward flight, and transitioning between the two in a stable and efficient manner. The VTOL aircraft provides a highly stable, controllable and efficient VTOL aircraft. The preferred comprises: (1) a pusher propeller configuration with strategic placement which maximizes the effective use of thrust, (2) four propellers which allow for the highly-controllable and mechanically simple control methods used in multirotor aircraft, (3) electric motors which create mechanically simple, lightweight and reliable operation, (4) and a tandem wing configuration which is stable, controllable and efficient in both hovering and forward flight. The VTOL aircraft is capable of full runway, short runway or vertical takeoffs or landings, having unobstructed forward view for camera and sensor placement; and providing a compact, mechanically simple and low-maintenance VTOL aircraft design. | 12-03-2015 |
20150375847 | Horizontal Tail Surface - An aerial vehicle including a fuselage, a main wing attached to the fuselage, a support structure extending upwardly from the fuselage and having a front surface facing the main wing, an overhang positioned on a top of the support structure and extending towards the main wing, one or more rotating actuators positioned on the overhang, a rear elevator attached to the one or more rotating actuators that are configured to move the rear elevator from a flying mode position where a leading edge of the rear elevator faces the main wing to a hover mode position where the major surfaces of the rear elevator faces the main wing, and wherein the major surfaces of the rear elevator remain in front of the front surface of the support structure when the rear elevator is moved from the flying mode position to the hover mode position. | 12-31-2015 |
244049000 | Folding | 41 |
20090152393 | Flight Machinery - A flight machinery with high stability in the air having a pendulum structure and an active posture control principle which can be designed for universal purposes at a low cost is provided. | 06-18-2009 |
20090206196 | INFLATABLE FOLDING WINGS FOR A VERY HIGH ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT - A foldable wing for use with a very high altitude aircraft capable of operating at an altitude at or above 85,000 feet is disclosed. The foldable wing may employ a spiral fold deployment, wherein a hinge between each segment of the foldable wing is slightly offset from the perpendicular. Successively positioned wing segments fold over one another. Alternatively, the hinges are substantially perpendicular so that each respective wing segment folds linearly against the next wing segment. An inflatable rib, with inflatable arms, can be inflated to provide a force against two adjacent arms, thereby deploying the wing segments through a full 180° of rotation. | 08-20-2009 |
20090302151 | Aircraft with fixed, swinging and folding wings - An aircraft with wings that may be fixed for flight and which swing and fold for storage and for maneuvering and otherwise operating the aircraft while not in flight is disclosed. An embodiment includes wings which swing backwards and through the body of the aircraft and then fold by drooping elevons which span the trailing edges of the wings along the sides of the body. Another embodiment includes wings which swing forward and control surfaces which fold upwards at the sides of the aircraft. The invention provides for a narrow width for the aircraft when not in flight using a simple mechanism. | 12-10-2009 |
20100012774 | Powered unmanned aerial vehicle - An unmanned aerial vehicle mounts a payload section to an air delivery vehicle. The air delivery vehicle includes deployable wings and tail fins for gliding or powered flight. A set of propeller blades are provided for powered flight. The propeller blades are mounted for movement from a stowed position to deployed position extending radially from the fuselage for powered flight. | 01-21-2010 |
20100019080 | Folding Wing Root Mechanism - Improvements to the hinge of a folding aircraft wing including a load bearing hinge mechanism with multiple locking mechanisms. The mechanism includes rigid panels that cover the hinge area when the wing is deployed, and the wing itself covers the hinge area when the wing is retracted. A control lever is used to actuate the wing and incorporates safety features to prevent unwanted actuation. | 01-28-2010 |
20100038470 | Air Vehicle Wing Pivot - A stowable wing structure incorporates a wing having a span equal to a fuselage length and movable from a stowed position longitudinally aligned with the fuselage to a deployed position perpendicular to the fuselage. A pivot offset laterally from a centerline of the fuselage and aft from a symmetry point on the centerline with a corresponding offset forward toward the leading edge from a chord centerpoint on the wing allows rotation of the wing from the stowed position to the deployed position with the rotation resulting in an aft position of the chord center point relative to the fuselage symmetry point. | 02-18-2010 |
20100051742 | Folding Wing & Locking Mechanism - Improved mechanisms for folding and locking an aircraft wing and controlling the wing's aileron through a wing fold have been motivated by development of a roadable aircraft. Applicable to a broader class of aircraft, these mechanisms allow for a safer, lighter-weight solution to the wing-folding challenge than currently available. The cable control system allows an outer wing section to be moved in concert with an actuated inner wing section. The locking mechanism allows for automated operation and visual inspection. The aileron control mechanism provides centering and locking in addition to flight control through the hinge axis. | 03-04-2010 |
20100230532 | Roadable aircraft with folding wings and integrated bumpers and lighting - A low-wing, low-span canard aircraft with a protected pusher-style propeller is designed to transition simply between use in the air and use on the ground, without any mechanical effort on the part of the pilot. The vehicle may include deformable aerodynamic bumpers, embedded road-safety vehicle lighting and license plates, a protected propeller, and an integrated RFID airport access system. The vehicle may be designed for potential certification by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Light Sport Aircraft. | 09-16-2010 |
20100264260 | MECHANISM FOR FOLDING, SWEEPING, AND LOCKING VEHICLE WINGS ABOUT A SINGLE PIVOT - A wing pivot mechanism that is configured to pivot two wings about a single pivot axis of a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The wing pivot mechanism includes a hub, a set of gears positioned at least partially within an interior region of the hub, and two wings that are rotatably connected to the hub. Each wings includes a gear surface extending therefrom. Each gear of the hub assembly engages a gear of a respective wing such that rotation of the gears of the hub assembly causes rotation of the gears of the wings and pivoting of the wings about the single pivot axis in opposite rotational directions between a stowed position and a deployed position. A releasable locking mechanism is provided for locking the wings in a fixed rotational position in both the deployed position and the stowed position. | 10-21-2010 |
20100282897 | Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Device - An aerial surveillance device is provided, comprising an image capturing device capable of being supported by an airframe structure above the ground. The airframe structure includes a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and configured to support the image-capturing device. A tail portion having control surfaces is operably engaged with the body portion along the axis. Transversely-extending wing portions are directly engaged with the body portion. Each wing portion is defined by longitudinally-opposed spars extending from a spaced-apart disposition at the body portion to a common connection distally from the body portion. The spars have a fabric extending therebetween to provide a wing surface. A support member extends along an aerodynamic center, transversely to the body portion, of each wing portion, to tension and rigidify the wing portions so as to provide a positive camber for the wing portions and to form an airfoil. | 11-11-2010 |
20100294879 | WING ASSEMBLY AND APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING FLYING OBJECT USING THE SAME - Disclosed are a wing assembly including a wing movably accommodated in a launch tube, and a buffer unit detachably mounted to the wing to come in contact with the launch tube and configured to be separated from the wing after the wing comes out of an inner space of the launch tube, and an apparatus for launching a flying object having the same. | 11-25-2010 |
20100314490 | APPARATUS FOR DEPLOYING WING AND APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING FLIGHT HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a wing deployment apparatus and an apparatus for launching a flying object having the same, the wing deployment apparatus including wings configured to be in a folded state and a deployed state, a driving unit connected to the wings, and configured to drive the wings to be switched from the folded state to the deployed state or vice versa, and a damper cooperative with the operation of the driving unit, and configured to damp a driving force of the driving unit from the start of the wings being moved to the completion of the movement of the wings. | 12-16-2010 |
20110180657 | TWO-MOTION WING-FOLD MECHANISM WITH INDEPENDENT LOAD PATH - An aircraft wing folding system folds an outboard wing section relative to an inboard wing section between a deployed position and a stored position in two discrete motions where each motion has an independent load path separate of the loading of the wing experienced by in-flight aerodynamic forces. The wing-fold mechanism of the present invention includes a fold assembly comprising a twist component and a fold component operable to fold the outboard wing section from the deployed position to the stored position that remains substantially unloaded with respect to in-flight aerodynamic forces when the wing is in the deployed or flight configuration. | 07-28-2011 |
20110315812 | WING DEVICE AND FLIGHT VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a wing device for a flight vehicle and a flight vehicle having the same, the wing device including a fixing shaft disposed in a lengthwise direction of a main body of the flight vehicle, a wing rotatably mounted to the fixing shaft so as to be deployed from a state of being laid on an outer circumferential surface of the main body to an erected state, and slidable along the fixing shaft, a fixing groove formed to face the wing in a sliding direction of the wing, and a spring unit configured to apply a first elastic force in an outer circumferential direction of the main body for deployment of the wing, and apply a second elastic force in a lengthwise direction of the main body for inserting the wing into the fixing groove, whereby the wing can be fixed after deployment so as to enhance stability of the flight vehicle. | 12-29-2011 |
20120032023 | Flying vehicle retractable wing hinge and truss - A truss for a flying vehicle supports a pair of wings in a manner which facilitates pivoting of the wings between a deployed configuration and a retracted configuration. The truss includes parallel top and bottom plates with the gap therebetween. The wings have wing brackets affixed thereto with the wing brackets pivotably supported by hinge assemblies to the top plate and bottom plate of the truss. Latch assemblies can be selectively actuated to secure the wing brackets and associated wings to the truss in either the deployed configuration or the retracted configuration, so that loads between the wings and the truss are primarily carried through the latch assemblies rather than through the hinge assemblies. A hinge position on the truss and on the wing brackets is selected to maximize wing length tip to tip while minimizing an outline required for the vehicle when the wings are fully retracted. | 02-09-2012 |
20120228424 | AEROFOIL - There is provided an aerofoil comprising an inboard section, a tip section moveable between a flying configuration and a parked configuration, a hinge shaft mounted at a compound angle in the inboard section, a fixed gear mounted concentrically on the hinge shaft and a drive gear coupled to the tip section and configured to mesh with the fixed gear, wherein a rotation of the drive gear against the fixed gear causes the tip section to rotate about the hinge shaft between the flying configuration and the parked configuration. | 09-13-2012 |
20120280080 | FOLDING WING FOR AIRCRAFT - A folding wing for an aircraft comprises first and second inboard wing sections, and first and second outboard wing sections. The first and second inboard wing sections rotate about a centerline hinge, and a centerline spring applies force to the first and second inboard wing sections to rotate the first and second inboard wing sections from a stowed position to a deployed position. At least one of the first and second inboard wing sections translates along the axis of rotation of the first and second inboard wing sections as they move from the stowed to the deployed positions. The first and second outboard wing sections rotate between the stowed and the deployed positions about first and second outboard hinges. | 11-08-2012 |
20120292436 | COMPACT AIRCRAFT WING FOLDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An aircraft wing is equipped with asymmetric wing folding hinges to achieve a highly compact folded footprint. One or more of the hinges is advantageously placed at angle with respect to an aircraft centerplane such that the wing tips can fold over the centerplane without touching each other. Preferred aircraft have hinge angles that differ by several degrees such that one wing tip lies in front of the other in a folded configuration. Other asymmetries such as asymmetric hinge placement and asymmetric hinge seam length can be used concomitantly to enhance the compactness of the folded aircraft. Special application to wide span aircraft, high aspect ratio aircraft, and flying wing aircraft is contemplated. | 11-22-2012 |
20130056579 | WING WITH RETRACTABLE WING END PIECE - The invention relates to a wing with an extension in the wingspan direction, in the wing chord direction and in the wing thickness direction for use in an aircraft, with a retractable wing end piece. A mechanical lever system is here used, which can execute a pivoting motion of a wing end piece comprising both a rotational component and a translational component. The lever kinematics here comprises two lever arrangements, for which a respective two hinged devices are provided. | 03-07-2013 |
20130068880 | INFLATABLE FOLDING WINGS FOR A VERY HIGH ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT - A foldable wing for use with a very high altitude aircraft capable of operating at an altitude at or above 85,000 feet is disclosed. The foldable wing may employ a spiral fold deployment, wherein a hinge between each segment of the foldable wing is slightly offset from the perpendicular. Successively positioned wing segments fold over one another. Alternatively, the hinges are substantially perpendicular so that each respective wing segment folds linearly against the next wing segment. An inflatable rib, with inflatable arms, can be inflated to provide a force against two adjacent arms, thereby deploying the wing segments through a full 180° of rotation. | 03-21-2013 |
20130099050 | AIRCRAFT WING WITH KNUCKLED RIB STRUCTURE - An aircraft wing has hinged ribs, and a skin covering the ribs. The ribs each include plural rib sections, array from the leading edge of the wing, to the trailing edge of the wing, and a lock to hold the rib sections together in a deployed state or condition. The wings are initially in a stowed state, with the ribs and the rib sections having a curved chord, and deploy to the deployed state, in which the ribs have a straightened chord that defines an airfoil state. The wing may have foam material between the ribs to allow the wings to expand in the wingspan direction, for instance after the ribs have been placed in the deployed state. | 04-25-2013 |
20130292508 | Fold wing tip having stub spar - A wing comprises a wing tip hinged to a main wing section. The wing tip includes a stub spar extending past an end of the wing tip. When the wing tip is extended, the stub spar extends into the main wing section to react a moment load across a length of the stub spar | 11-07-2013 |
20130306789 | FOLDING CONFIGURATION FOR AIR VEHICLE - An air vehicle, as well as a method for folding an air vehicle for storage, may include a fuselage and a wing connected to the fuselage. The wing may include two ends positioned opposite from each other, and the wing may be substantially perpendicular to the fuselage. At least one of the ends may define a space therebetween the fuselage and the wing. The space may be sized to receive a potion of the wing when the wing is wrapped around the fuselage. | 11-21-2013 |
20130313356 | HORIZONTAL FOLDING WINGTIP - An apparatus of an aircraft, the apparatus may include a wing comprising an unfixed portion and a fixed portion. The unfixed portion movably may connect to the fixed portion. The unfixed portion may include a rotating portion to rotate the unfixed portion between a flight position and a folded position. The fixed portion may connect to the unfixed portion of the wing. A joint may allow rotation of the unfixed portion of the wing with respect to the fixed portion of the wing about a rotation axis. | 11-28-2013 |
20130327883 | LATCHING APPARATUS AND METHODS - Latching apparatus and methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first latch portion including a first tooth and a first pin disposed in a first aperture defined by the first tooth and a second latch portion including a second tooth and a second pin disposed in an second aperture defined by the second tooth. The second tooth of the second latch portion is to mesh with the first tooth of the first latch portion to substantially orient the first pin and the second pin along an axis. The example apparatus further includes an actuator adjacent a first end of one of the first latch portion or the second latch portion to move the first pin and the second pin along the axis to lock the first latch portion to the second latch portion. | 12-12-2013 |
20140008487 | COLLAPSIBLE WING ASSEMBLY - Disclosed herein is a collapsible wing assembly of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a method of locking and unlocking the collapsible wing assembly of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The collapsible wing assembly comprising a centre wing adapted to be attached to the fuselage; and a pair of outboard wings, wherein each of the outboard edges of the centre wing comprises a first attachment structure, and each of the inboard edges of the outboard wings comprises a second attachment structure, wherein the first attachment structure is operable to engage with the second attachment structure and displace the second attachment structure to a captive position towards the trailing edge of the centre wing. | 01-09-2014 |
20140014768 | WING FOLD CONTROLLER - Illustrative embodiments may provide for an apparatus and method of controlling the folding of a wing. The apparatus may include a sensor, an actuator, and a wing fold controller. The method may include receiving a status of at least one of an aircraft and a wing fold system of the aircraft by the wing fold controller of the wing fold system. The method may also include receiving an automated command by the wing fold controller in response to receiving the status. The method may also include operating the wing fold system by the wing fold controller based on the automated command and the status. The method may also include transitioning a wingtip of a wing of the aircraft to one of a flight position and a folded position by an actuator of the wing fold system in response to commands from the wing fold controller. | 01-16-2014 |
20140061371 | WING FOLD SYSTEM WITH LATCH PINS THROUGH MULTIPLE MATING LUGS - A wing fold system of a wing of an aircraft. The system may include a first lock of a latch to prevent movement of a latch pin of the latch to prevent movement of an unfixed portion of the wing with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, the first lock may include a first cam configured to prevent the second lock from transitioning to a second engaged position until the first lock may be in a first engaged position via contact with a second cam of the second lock. A second lock of the latch, the second lock may include the second cam configured to prevent the first lock from transitioning away from the first engaged position until the second lock transitions away from the second engaged position. | 03-06-2014 |
20140117150 | WING HINGE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING HINGED TORQUE BOXES - A wing assembly comprises a fixed section, a foldable section, and a hinge assembly for hinging the foldable section to the fixed section. The hinge assembly includes a plurality of interleaved torque boxes that are hinged together. | 05-01-2014 |
20140117151 | WING FOLD SYSTEM - A wing fold system may move a second portion of a wing with respect to a first portion of the wing between flight position | 05-01-2014 |
20140231581 | LATCHING APPARATUS AND METHODS - Latching apparatus and methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first latch portion including a first tooth and a first pin disposed in a first aperture defined by the first tooth and a second latch portion including a second tooth and a second pin disposed in an second aperture defined by the second tooth. The second tooth of the second latch portion is to mesh with the first tooth of the first latch portion to substantially orient the first pin and the second pin along an axis. The example apparatus further includes an actuator adjacent a first end of one of the first latch portion or the second latch portion to move the first pin and the second pin along the axis to lock the first latch portion to the second latch portion. | 08-21-2014 |
20140239118 | Method and Apparatus for Foldable Wing UAV - A device for releaseably retaining a wing of an aerial vehicle in a folded orientation in a bore of a tube is disclosed. A retaining element is bound around the folded wing elements of a foldable-winged UAV so that the maximum diameter of the folded and bound UAV is less than the diameter of the bore. A releasable retaining fastener is provided and configured whereby the fastener releases when the UAV is propelled through and exits the bore, releasing the retaining element after which the wings of the UAV unfold and return to a flight orientation. The retaining element may include a tether for the retention and reuse of the device after a launch. | 08-28-2014 |
20140319268 | SYSTEM FOR LATCHING AND LOCKING A FOLDABLE AIRFOIL - An aircraft comprises a foldable airfoil. The airfoil includes inboard and outboard sections that are hinged together about a hinge line. The airfoil further includes a first latching mechanism on an inboard side of the hinge line, and a second latching mechanism on an outboard side of the hinge line for latching the outboard section to the inboard section. | 10-30-2014 |
20150014478 | WING FOLD CONTROLLER - Illustrative embodiments may provide for an apparatus and method of controlling the folding of a wing. The apparatus may include a sensor, an actuator, and a wing fold controller. The method may include receiving a status of at least one of an aircraft and a wing fold system of the aircraft by the wing fold controller of the wing fold system. The method may also include receiving an automated command by the wing fold controller in response to receiving the status. The method may also include operating the wing fold system by the wing fold controller based on the automated command and the status. The method may also include transitioning a wingtip of a wing of the aircraft to one of a flight position and an on-ground position by an actuator of the wing fold system in response to commands from the wing fold controller. | 01-15-2015 |
20150136898 | Telescopic Wing and Rack System for Automotive Airplane - The invention is a vehicle for personal transportation with the ability to convert between two alternate modes of transport, as an automobile for transportation on roads and as a personal aircraft for travel between municipal airports, utilizing retractable telescoping wings and a foldable frame. | 05-21-2015 |
20150298793 | WING FOLD SYSTEM ROTATING LATCH - An apparatus and method of a wing fold system may include a latch assembly rotating an unfixed portion of a wing, with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, between a flight position of the wing and a folded position of the wing. A first portion of the wing may hold a rotating portion of the latch assembly. A second portion of the wing may hold a secured portion of the latch assembly. The rotating portion of the latch assembly may rotate between an open position and a closed position. A slot in the rotating portion may receive the secured portion of the latch assembly. A securing portion of the rotating portion may secure a secured portion of the latch assembly. The latch assembly may prevent rotation of the second portion when the wing may be in the flight position. | 10-22-2015 |
20150336657 | ROTARY DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR WING TIP - A rotary drive assembly is provided. The assembly includes a tip hinge box, a body hinge box pivotably coupled to the tip hinge box, a rotary actuator positioned within the body hinge box, and a linkage mechanism coupled between the rotary actuator and the tip hinge box, the linkage mechanism including a first linkage fixedly coupled to the rotary actuator, and a second linkage coupled between the first linkage and the tip hinge box, wherein rotation of the rotary actuator causes the tip hinge box to rotate relative to the body hinge box. | 11-26-2015 |
20160001872 | Foldable Wing System For A Vehicle - A multi-modal vehicle (“MMV”) | 01-07-2016 |
20160137285 | Enhancing aerodynamic performance of an aircraft wing assembly - Disclosed is a method of enhancing aerodynamic performance of an aircraft wing assembly including a fixed section and a foldable section. The foldable section is hinged to the fixed section at a hinge axis. The method includes turning a torque box extending from the foldable section to rotate the foldable section about the hinge axis from a stowed position to a deployed position. | 05-19-2016 |
20160185444 | MANUAL WING-FOLD MECHANISM - A manual wing-fold mechanism provides a means by which to reconfigure the wing of an aircraft between a flight configuration and one that can be easily stowed and transported. The folding mechanism includes an extension tube that enables the outboard portion of the wing to be extended away from the inboard section of the wing, rotated about the lateral axis of the aircraft and then pivoted rearward so that the wing is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft along side the fuselage. The wing-fold mechanism is independent of the structural components of the wing used to convey aerodynamic loads during flight and provides a means for the user to bring the outboard wing section into a near alignment position while the wing-fold mechanism thereafter assists to refine the alignment into its final flight configuration. | 06-30-2016 |
20160251073 | Backup System | 09-01-2016 |