Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

The Boeing Company

Mcdonnall Douglas

Cynthia Ann Gruensfelder

Robert Henry Wille

Jack Howard Jacobs

Joseph B Diller

Michael Watson Geiger

Lawrence Otto Brase, Jr

James Richard Ellis

Micael Watson Geiger

A mission adaptive inlet (,) for an aircraft (,) has a rigid lip panel (,) pivotally attached to an inlet (,) of the aircraft (,). An actuation mechanism is coupled to the rigid lip panel (,) and causes the rigid lip panel (,) to pivot from a first position to a second position. A reinforced elastomer system (,) is connected the rigid lip panel and the inlet (,).

Mission adaptive inlet

A leading edge (,) for an aircraft has a hard durometer elastomer tip (,). An elastomer panel (,) has a first end attached to the hard durometer elastomer tip (,) and has a plurality of reinforcing members capable of freely sliding inside the elastomer panel (,). A rigid block (,) is attached to a second end of the elastomer panel (,) and is attached to a structure (,) of the aircraft.

Leading edge for an aircraft

A mission adaptive inlet (42) for an aircraft (40) has a rigid lip panel (56) pivotally attached to an inlet (42) of the aircraft (40). An actuation mechanism is coupled to the rigid lip panel (56) and causes the rigid lip panel (56) to pivot from a first position to a second position. A reinforced elastomer system (48) is connected the rigid lip panel and the inlet (42).

An auxiliary inlet (60) for a jet engine has a first rod block (62) attached to a first side (64) of a hole (66) in a skin (68) of an inlet of the jet engine. A second rod block (80) is attached to an opposing side (82) of the hole (66) in the skin (68) of the inlet of the jet engine. A first reinforced elastomer section (70) is attached to the first rod block (62). A center beam (74) has a first side attached to the first reinforced elastomer section (70). A second reinforced elastomer section (78) is attached to the second rod block (80) and attached to the center beam (74). An actuation system (88, 90) is connected to an intake end of the center beam (74). The actuation system (88, 90) moves the center beam (74) from a first in-moldline position to a second out-of-moldline position.

Auxiliary inlet for a jet engine

A wing fold (50) for an aircraft has inner wing (74) connected to the aircraft and an outer wing (76) connected to the inner wing (74) by a hinge (72). An actuator (72) is capable of rotating the outer wing (76) over ninety degrees with respect to the inner wing (74). A first reinforced elastomer panel (54) is connected between a lower surface (52) of the inner wing (74) and a lower surface (58) of the outer wing (76).

Folding wing for an aircraft

An aircraft (50) with a variable cargo bay (52) includes a frame (60) having an inner surface and an outer skin (64) covering the frame (60). The frame (60) has a pair of faceted fairings (54, 56) coupled to the frame (60) and a door assembly (58) between the pair of faceted fairings (54, 56). The door assembly (58) has an inner surface connected to a linkage mechanism (66). The linkage mechanism (66) couples the inner surface of the frame (60) and the inner surface of the door assembly (58). A conformable surface (70) is connected between the skin (64) of the frame (60) and the door assembly (58).

Expandable aircraft cargo bay and method

An apparatus (30) for eliminating gaps (20) in a door of an airplane has an elastaueric bladder (32) bonding along an edge (24) of a door gap (20). The elastomeric bladder (32) includes a port providing for access to an interior cavity (34). A pneumatic actuator is coupled to the port.

Apparatus for eliminating gaps in an aircraft

An aircraft (50) with a variable cargo bay (52) includes a frame (60). A pair of fairing assemblies (54, 56) is coupled to the frame (60). Each of the pair of fairing assemblies (54, 56) has a ramp (100) connected to the frame (60) by a front sliding pivoting mechanism (106). A door assembly (58) is between the pair of fairing assemblies (54, 56) and is coupled to the frame (60).

Expandable aircraft bay and method

An active reinforced elastomer system (50) has a rigid attachment block (56). A stiffening member (58) slides through an opening in the rigid attachment block (56). A shape memory alloy structure (62) is attached to the rigid attachment block (56). An elastomer panel (52) is attached to the rigid attachment block (56) and covers the stiffening member (58).

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Cynthia Ann Gruensfelder