Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080308675 | REDUCED-PERIMETER AIRCRAFT - Aircraft that have fuselages including a series of frames spaced apart according to a frame pitch. The series of frames are covered by an aircraft skin to define an interior volume of the aircraft. The interior volume contains a series of rows of seats separated according to a seat pitch. The seat pitch may be indexed to the frame pitch such that seats are located between adjacent ones of the series of frames to permit a reduced-perimeter aircraft fuselage with substantially equal passenger comfort metrics. In some embodiments, in addition, a series of windows are located adjacent outboard seats of the series of rows of seats to permit ergonomically appropriate viewing through the series of windows by passengers seated in the outboard seats. | 12-18-2008 |
20080308683 | CONTROLLABLE WINGLETS - Systems and methods for providing variable geometry winglets to an aircraft are disclosed. In one embodiment, a winglet includes a base portion configured to attach to a wing. The winglet further includes a body portion. In turn, the body portion includes at least one of a deflectable control surface, a shape memory alloy (SMA) bending plate, and a SMA torque tube. The base portion is configured to attach to the wing such that the body portion projects at an upward angle from the wing. | 12-18-2008 |
20090057493 | NOISE-SHIELDING WING CONFIGURATION - Embodiments of the invention provide an aircraft configuration that provides for increased engine noise shielding for community noise reduction, while still providing desirable aerodynamic attributes such as good spanwise lift distributions and good structural integration without excessive wing surface area. Specifically, the aircraft is configured to have a longer-chord inboard wing portion and a shorter-chord outboard wing portion. The aircraft engines are positioned in major part over the longer-chord inboard wing portions such that communities below the wing are at least partially shielded by the inboard wing portion from the engine noise. Embodiments of the invention also strategically position fowler flaps or other chord-increasing devices in the region of the wing proximate the engine. Since the fowler motion increases the effective chord of the wing as the flaps are extended, the flaps may be deployed to increase the shielding characteristics of the wing. | 03-05-2009 |
20090127861 | Fluid-dynamic renewable energy harvesting system - The invention provides a fluid-dynamic renewable energy harvesting system which includes fluid-foil means for interfacing with a fluid current such as a water current or wind or both, and which includes energy harvesting means utilizing fluid current driven periodic motion of the fluid-foil means for capturing fluid-dynamic renewable energy and converting it into usable energy in a desired form such as electricity. The invention provides devices, methods and systems for harvesting renewable energy for small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale applications, to provide real and substantial benefits towards efficiently fulfilling energy needs while also more broadly serving humanity and our global environment. The various embodiments of the invention provide energy with zero consumption of fossil fuels and zero emissions of greenhouse gases, and some selectively sited embodiments can beneficially counter global warming induced ice melting. | 05-21-2009 |
20090127862 | Wind energy harvesting system on a frozen surface - The invention provides an environmentally friendly renewable energy harvesting system for harvesting wind energy on a frozen surface, as in cold weather climatic regions associated with higher latitudes or higher altitudes, with snow or ice surfaces. A plurality of ski, skate or runner supported wings or sails are connected together to form a wind energy harvesting system, and capture wind energy by appropriate setting of wing or sail angles of attack so as to drive a cyclic motion that in turn can drive energy capture means such as electric generator means. The invention thus provides a wind energy harvesting system which is supported by a frozen surface, which includes fluid-foil means for interfacing with an air current such as a wind and which includes energy harvesting means utilizing periodic motion of the fluid-foil means for capturing wind energy and converting it into usable energy in a desired form such as electricity. The present invention is intended to provide devices, methods and systems for harvesting renewable energy which can be efficient and cost-effective for small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale applications, to provide real and substantial benefits to meet local energy needs while also more broadly serving humanity and our global environment. | 05-21-2009 |
20100200697 | Weight-Optimizing Internally Pressurized Composite-Body Aircraft Fuselages Having Near-Elliptical Cross Sections - A method for minimizing the weight of an internally pressurized aircraft fuselage of a type that includes an elongated tubular shell having a near-elliptical cross-section with a radius R(φ)- and a curvature Curv(φ), where φ is a roll elevation angle of the shell, includes tailoring at least one structural attribute of the shell as a function of at least one of the elevation angle φ, R(φ) and Curv(φ) so as to reduce the weight of the fuselage relative to an identical fuselage shell in which the same at least one structural attribute has not been so tailored. | 08-12-2010 |
20100229850 | Inflatable heliostatic solar power collector - Increased utilization of solar power is highly desirable as solar power is a readily available renewable resource with power potential far exceeding total global needs; and as solar power does not contribute to pollutants associated with fossil fuel power, such as unburned hydrocarbons, NOx and carbon dioxide. The present invention provides low-cost inflatable heliostatic solar power collectors, which can be stand-alone units suitable for flexible utilization in small, medium, or utility scale applications. The inflatable heliostatic power collectors use a reflective surface or membrane “sandwiched” between two inflated chambers, and attached solar power receivers which may be of photovoltaic and/or solar thermal types. Modest concentration ratios enable benefits in both reduced cost and increased conversion efficiency, relative to simple prior-art flat plate solar collectors. | 09-16-2010 |
20100252027 | Low-cost heliostatic mirror with protective inflation stabilizable surface element means - Increased utilization of solar power is highly desirable as solar power is a readily available renewable resource with power potential far exceeding total global needs; and as solar power does not contribute to environmentally harmful pollutants associated with fossil fuel power, such as unburned hydrocarbons, NOx and carbon dioxide. The present invention is motivated by the fact that heliostats are the single biggest cost element for utility-scale central receiver solar thermal powerplants. This invention provides a low-cost heliostatic mirror with protective inflation stabilizable surface element means for providing adverse weather performance & survival, where the inflation stabilizable surface element means include inflation stabilizable near-spherical surface element means and may include inflation stabilizable near-cylindrical surface element means. | 10-07-2010 |
20110056183 | ULTRA-EFFICIENT PROPULSOR WITH AN AUGMENTOR FAN CIRCUMSCRIBING A TURBOFAN - An ultra-efficient “green” aircraft propulsor utilizing an augmentor fan is disclosed. A balanced design is provided combining a fuel efficient and low-noise high bypass ratio augmentor fan and a low-noise shrouded high bypass ratio turbofan. Three mass flow streams are utilized to reduce propulsor specific fuel consumption and increase performance relative to conventional turbofans. Methods are provided for optimization of fuel efficiency, power, and noise by varying mass flow ratios of the three mass flow streams. Methods are also provided for integration of external propellers into turbofan machinery. | 03-10-2011 |
20110277815 | Inflatable Linear Heliostatic Concentrating Solar Module - Increased utilization of solar power is highly desirable as solar power is a readily available renewable resource with power potential far exceeding total global needs; and as solar power does not contribute to pollutants associated with fossil fuel power, such as unburned hydrocarbons, NOx and carbon dioxide. The present invention provides low-cost inflatable heliostatic solar power collectors, which a range of embodiments suitable for flexible utilization in small, medium, or utility scale applications. The inflatable heliostatic power collectors use a reflective surface or membrane “sandwiched” between two inflated chambers, and attached solar power receivers which are of concentrating photovoltaic and optionally also concentrating solar thermal types. Floating embodiments are described for certain beneficial applications on. Modest concentration ratios enable benefits in both reduced cost and increased conversion efficiency, relative to simple prior-art flat plate solar collectors. | 11-17-2011 |
20130036735 | FLOATING ICE SHEET BASED RENEWABLE THERMAL ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM - The invention provides a floating ice sheet based renewable thermal energy harvesting system, that can harvest energy from naturally occurring temperature differential between liquid water below a floating ice sheet that is substantially at the freezing temperature of water (0 degrees C. or slightly lower for salt water), and colder air above the floating ice sheet. For example, this is a naturally occurring phenomenon in Artic and Antarctic region sea ice or ice shelf regions, where the air temperature above the floating ice may range from −5 degrees C. down to winter extreme cold temperatures of around −50 degrees C. In addition to the inventive application of thermodynamic cycle engines to harvest renewable energy from this naturally occurring temperature differential, variant embodiments also combine wind energy and/or solar energy subsystems to provide synergistic further benefits and greater quantities of renewable energy harvestable from devices of this class. | 02-14-2013 |
20130080357 | Aircraft Seating Systems - A method and apparatus comprising a plurality of seating systems and a frame for use in a passenger aircraft. A first seating system in the plurality of seating systems may have different dimensions from a second seating system in the plurality of seating systems. A frame may be configured to be connected to the plurality of seating systems. | 03-28-2013 |
20130099053 | Mid-Wing Multi-Deck Airplane - An airplane comprises a twin-deck fuselage in which an upper deck support structure is utilized for carry-through of a mid-mount main wing box. The main landing gear of the airplane is mounted to the fuselage and is stowed in a non-pressurized area below the main wing box (enabled due to an optimized wing box geometry). A pressurized passageway/cargo/galley complex separates the main landing gear box and the main wing box. The upper deck is continuous, while the lower deck is separated by the wheel wells into two distinct fore and aft areas (for either cargo or passengers). The airplane further comprises an integrated vertical fin and an aft-extended pressurized deck area for reduced double-deck wetted area. More specifically, the double-deck pressurized fuselage structure is extended to form a blending structure to which a structural box of the vertical fin is attached. | 04-25-2013 |
20130334368 | AIRCRAFT WITH AFT SPLIT-LEVEL MULTI-DECK FUSEALGE - An aircraft capable of carrying passengers and cargo includes a fuselage, having a crown section and a keel, a first passenger cabin, having a first floor, located in a forward portion the fuselage, and a first cargo deck, located below at least a portion of the first passenger cabin. A split level cabin is located in an aft portion of the fuselage, the split level cabin including an upper second cabin having a second floor above the level of the first floor, and a lower third cabin beneath the upper second cabin and having a third floor below the level of the first floor. A second cargo deck is located in the aft portion of the fuselage and beneath at least a portion of the lower third cabin. The crown section has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape fore-to-aft above the first passenger cabin and the split level cabin, and the keel below the second cargo deck is lowered compared to the keel below the first cargo deck. A modified aircraft having a split level aft cabin and lowered keel, and a method for modifying an aircraft in this way are disclosed. | 12-19-2013 |
20140097294 | AIRCRAFT LAVATORY AND GALLEY SEPARATED BY AN INTERNAL WALL HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE NOTCH THAT IMPROVES THE LAVATORY ENVIRONMENT - An internal wall in an aircraft cabin separates a lavatory and a galley of the aircraft. The internal wall has an intermediate notch that increases a lateral width dimension of the lavatory above the notch and thereby improves the spatial environment of the lavatory. | 04-10-2014 |
20140097296 | Aircraft Cargo Compartment Container Crane System - An aircraft cargo compartment container crane system including an aircraft having an upper passenger compartment and at least one lower cargo compartment, wherein the passenger compartment and the cargo compartment are separated by a floor and a crane assembly connected to a structural element of the cargo compartment beneath the floor, wherein the crane assembly is configured to lift and move a cargo container within the cargo compartment along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft. | 04-10-2014 |
20140291453 | WING LOAD ALLEVIATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - Wing load alleviation methods and apparatus are disclosed. An example winglet system for an aircraft includes a first winglet including a body portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a base portion to be coupled to an outboard end of a wing such that the body portion projects at an upward angle from the wing during all modes of airplane operation, a control surface coupled to the body portion proximate to the trailing edge, and at least one of a spoiler and an aileron coupled to the outboard end of the wing; and a processor to, in response to at least one input signal indicative of one of a subset of flight conditions, command actuated deflections of both the control surface of the first winglet and the at least one of the spoiler and the aileron to create an incremental pressure field in an airflow region inboard of the first winglet. | 10-02-2014 |
20140337067 | Aircraft Seating Systems - A method and apparatus comprising a plurality of seating systems and a frame for use in a passenger aircraft. A first seating system in the plurality of seating systems may have different dimensions from a second seating system in the plurality of seating systems. A frame may be configured to be connected to the plurality of seating systems. | 11-13-2014 |
20140339367 | EFFICIENT LOW CARBON EMISSION AIRPLANE INTEGRATING JET FUEL AND CRYOGENIC FUEL SYSTEMS - A hybrid fuel airplane and methods are presented. A cryogenic fuel is transferred to an airplane propulsor from an airplane fuel system comprising a cryogenic fuel tank and a jet fuel tank. The cryogenic fuel tank conforms to an outer mold line and carries a cryogenic fuel, and is located in a portion of the airplane body while not extending beyond the outer mold line. The jet fuel tank carries a jet fuel and is located in an airplane wing, or an airplane body, or both. A dynamic aircraft load is born on the cryogenic fuel tank, and the airplane propulsor is operated using the cryogenic fuel to generate thrust for the hybrid fuel airplane. An aerodynamic lift is generated using the airplane wing coupled to the airplane body. | 11-20-2014 |
20140353425 | AIRCRAFT LAVATORY AND GALLEY SEPARATED BY AN INTERNAL WALL HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE NOTCH THAT IMPROVES THE LAVATORY ENVIRONMENT - An internal wall in an aircraft cabin separates a lavatory and a galley of the aircraft. The internal wall has an intermediate notch that increases a lateral width dimension of the lavatory above the notch and thereby improves the spatial environment of the lavatory. | 12-04-2014 |
20150069184 | CRYOGENIC FUEL TANKS FOR USE IN AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES - Cryogenic fuels tanks for use in aircraft structures are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein an airfoil-shaped structure disposed outboard of a fuselage of an aircraft. The example apparatus also includes a first cryogenic fuel tank disposed inside the airfoil-shaped structure. | 03-12-2015 |