Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080229688 | TENSIONING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A system and method for tensioning a cable. A thimble is placed over an eccentric member having a splined bore. A portion of an endless cable is placed over the thimble. The eccentric member and thimble are placed between a pair of parallel, spaced apart arms of a mounting structure. A splined shaft is inserted through holes in the arms and into the splined bore of the eccentric member to secure the eccentric member to the mounting structure. A threaded nut is placed on a threaded end of the splined shaft. The cable is tensioned by rotating a head portion of the splined shaft 180 degrees, or by a different predetermined value, which places the cable under a predetermined tension. A retaining screw is inserted through one of the mounting structure arms and into a threaded hole in the eccentric member. The system enables a precise degree of tension to be quickly and easily applied to a cable with no risk of accidentally over-tensioning the cable. | 09-25-2008 |
20080272236 | SPACE FRAME FUSELAGE STRUCTURE AND RELATED METHODS - An aircraft for carrying cargo in one or more containers. The aircraft includes a fuselage structure having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of elements connecting the nodes to form a space frame in which to carry cargo. At least some of the nodes are positioned in the space frame based on dimensions of the one or more containers. The fuselage structure is more compact, lighter and less expensive compared to conventional semi-monocoque fuselages. | 11-06-2008 |
20090025712 | STRUCTURALLY ISOLATED THERMAL INTERFACE - In one embodiment, an assembly having bodies of different thermal expansion rates comprises a first body, a second body having a different thermal expansion rate than the first body, and a plurality of high conductivity members attached to both the first and second bodies. The high conductivity members are more flexible than the first and second bodies in order to allow for varied thermal expansion of the first and second bodies. The assembly may comprise a solar collector assembly, wherein the first body is a solar cell attached to a substrate, and the second body is a heat sink. | 01-29-2009 |
20090076665 | Method and System to Control Operation of a Device Using an Integrated Simulation with a Time Shift Option - A method to control a device may include forming an integrated simulation model of an actual environment in which the device is or will be operating. The integrated simulation model may be formed using pre-existing data and real-time data related to the actual environment. The method may also include presenting a simulation including a representation of the device operable in the integrated simulation model of the actual environment and allowing control of operation of the simulation of the device in the integrated simulation model of the actual environment. The method may further include controlling operation of the device in the actual environment using the simulation of the representation of the device in the integrated simulation model of the actual environment. | 03-19-2009 |
20090196729 | CARGO CONTAINER HANDLING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A system and method for cargo handling is provided. The system includes a transport vehicle including a cargo bay capable of housing a plurality of cargo containers, and a loading dock for coupling to the cargo bay. The system also includes at least one railcar and pylons positioned along a floor of the cargo bay. A predetermined number of pylons are operable to elevate and lower a cargo container within the cargo bay. The present invention also provides a railcar for transporting cargo containers, as well as an apparatus for positioning at least one cargo container within a transport vehicle. The present invention also provides a system for aligning a loading dock and a transport vehicle that includes a mechanism for adjusting the height of the transport vehicle or loading dock, or a plurality of engagement members that are capable of aligning the loading dock and transport vehicle. | 08-06-2009 |
20090236473 | PROVIDING SKINS FOR AIRCRAFT FUSELAGES - An aircraft including a space frame fuselage structure. A plurality of panels are connected with the structure and configured to form a skin over the structure. The panels are movable relative to one another so as to prevent loading of the structure from inducing loading in the skin. | 09-24-2009 |
20100018301 | IN-FLIGHT TESTING KITS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING PROPOSED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURES FOR AIRCRAFT - In-flight testing methods and kits for in-flight testing of proposed aerodynamic structures are disclosed. The methods and kits involve a testing station carried on a pre-existing fully engineered and tested host aircraft. Interchangeable but differently configured aerodynamic structures may be carried upon the host aircraft, and existing systems of the host aircraft may be utilized to conduct the testing, avoiding time and cost associated with constructing fully operational demonstrator aircraft for testing purposes. | 01-28-2010 |
20100074758 | LAMINAR FLOW ROTOR AND RELATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - A rotor blade including a root attachable to a rotor hub. The blade includes a tip and one or more channels aligned within the blade generally between the root and the tip. Each channel has a sealed first end and a second end vented to outside the blade. The channel(s) are vented to one or more exterior surfaces of the blade through one or more apertures in the exterior surface(s). | 03-25-2010 |
20110070045 | CARGO CONTAINER HANDLING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A system and method for cargo handling is provided. The system includes a transport vehicle including a cargo bay capable of housing a plurality of cargo containers, and a loading dock for coupling to the cargo bay. The system also includes at least one railcar and pylons positioned along a floor of the cargo bay. A predetermined number of pylons are operable to elevate and lower a cargo container within the cargo bay. The present invention also provides a railcar for transporting cargo containers, as well as an apparatus for positioning at least one cargo container within a transport vehicle. The present invention also provides a system for aligning a loading dock and a transport vehicle that includes a mechanism for adjusting the height of the transport vehicle or loading dock, or a plurality of engagement members that are capable of aligning the loading dock and transport vehicle. | 03-24-2011 |
20120091262 | FORWARD SWEPT WINGLET - An aircraft may include a pair of wings. A forward swept winglet may be attached proximate to a wing tip of each wing. The forward swept winglet may include a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge of each winglet may extend from the wing at a predetermined forward sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to a chord of the wing tip in a direction corresponding to a forward portion of the aircraft. | 04-19-2012 |