Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Robert E Bauer

Charles R Smith

Matthew Allen Neal

John C Rufino

Thomas E Keavney

An apparatus for selectively increasing a wing area of an aircraft having a fuselage with an interior space includes an inflatable wing moveable between a stowed condition located in the interior space and a deployed condition located outside the interior space. The wing includes at least one inflatable spar. The inflatable spar is operatively coupled to a source of pressurized inflation fluid for selective inflation as the wing moves into the deployed condition. A plurality of reels is secured to the aircraft. A plurality of cables connects the wing to the reels. At least one reel is operable to unwind a selected cable to allow the wing to partially inflate to the deployed condition by ram air generated by movement of the aircraft as the inflatable spar is being inflated by the pressurized inflation fluid. A method for selectively increasing a wing area of an aircraft is also provided.

Deployable wing for an aircraft

A bi-directional coupler that selectively couples and de-couples a driving element to a driven element. The coupler includes an outer shaft having an outer shaft slot and an inner shaft having an inner shaft slot, where the inner and outer shafts are configured to rotate independently of each other. The coupler also includes a ball bearing provided within the inner shaft slot and having a size so that when the ball bearing is located at a center portion of the inner shaft slot it does not interfere with rotation of the outer shaft, where the ball bearing is held in that location by a magnet located in the inner shaft. Rotation of the inner shaft above a predetermined rotational speed causes the ball bearing to engage the outer shaft slot so as to cause the inner shaft to be locked to the outer shaft and rotate therewith.

Bi-directional magnetic clutch

A sealing system for an aircraft having an opening and a door movable between an open condition spaced from the opening and a closed condition covering and sealing the opening includes a cover plate connected to the aircraft adjacent the opening. A first magnetic coupling secured to the cover plate includes a first plurality of magnets. A second magnetic coupling configured for securing to the door includes a second plurality of magnets. The first magnetic coupling is repelled by the second magnetic coupling when the couplings have a first degree of alignment with one another. This causes the cove plot move away from the door. The first magnetic coupling is attracted to the second magnetic coupling when the couplings have a second degree of alignment with one another greater than the first degree, causing the magnetic couplings to engage one another and seal the opening in the aircraft.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Robert E Bauer