Graham W Schill

US Patent:

20110303789, Dec 15, 2011

Filed:

Jun 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/796950

Inventors:

Stephen W. Miller - Cockeysville MD, US
Steven J. Fox - Parkton MD, US
Graham W. Schill - Baltimore MD, US
Brian A. Aske - Parkton MD, US

Assignee:

AAI Corporation - Hunt Valley MD

International Classification:

B64F 1/02

US Classification:

244110 C

Abstract:

An apparatus for the recovery of an aircraft includes a capture device and first and second pole pairs. The first pole pair includes first top and bottom poles respectively placed near first top and bottom portions of the capture device. The first pole pair is configured to move from a first position, in which the pole pair holds the capture device in an open position to capture the aircraft, to a second position, in which the pole pair holds the capture device in a closed position to contain the captured aircraft after impact of the aircraft on the capture device. The second pole pair includes second top and bottom poles respectively placed near second top and bottom portions of the capture device. The second pole pair is also configured to move from the first position to the second position. Further, energy elements are coupled on one end to a respective top or bottom portion of the capture device and on another end to a respective top or bottom pole. The energy elements are disposed to absorb the force of the impact of the aircraft.

US Patent:

20190329882, Oct 31, 2019

Filed:

Apr 26, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/395415

Inventors:

- Hunt Valley MD, US
David D. Billingsley - Seven Valleys PA, US
Brad S. Galloway - Seven Valleys PA, US
Richard M. Chapman - Madison WI, US
Daniel Thomas Otradovec - Forest Hill MD, US
Graham Schill - Upperco MD, US

International Classification:

B64C 29/00
B64C 27/08
B64C 27/26

Abstract:

An aircraft employs articulated, variable-position electric rotors having different operating configurations and transitions therebetween, as well as variable-pitch airfoils or blades, for generating vectored thrust in the different configurations. Control circuitry generates rotor position signals and blade pitch signals to independently control rotor thrust, rotor orientation and rotor blade pitch of the variable-position rotors in a manner providing (i) the transitions among the operating configurations for corresponding flight modes of the aircraft, which may include both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) mode as well as a forward-flight mode, and (ii) commanded thrust-vectoring maneuvering of the aircraft in the different configurations, including tailoring blade pitch to optimize aspects of aircraft performance.