Walter Edward Morgan

US Patent:

7802756, Sep 28, 2010

Filed:

Apr 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/732109

Inventors:

Greg T. Kendall - Glendale CA, US
Walter R. Morgan - Simi Valley CA, US

Assignee:

AeroVironment Inc. - Monrovia CA

International Classification:

B64C 3/38

US Classification:

244 45R

Abstract:

A span-loaded, highly flexible flying wing, having horizontal control surfaces mounted aft of the wing on extended beams to form local pitch-control devices. Each of five spanwise wing segments of the wing has one or more motors and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other wing segments, to minimize inter-segment loads. Wing dihedral is controlled by separately controlling the local pitch-control devices consisting of a control surface on a boom, such that inboard and outboard wing segment pitch changes relative to each other, and thus relative inboard and outboard lift is varied.

US Patent:

20100308161, Dec 9, 2010

Filed:

Aug 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/804988

Inventors:

Greg T. Kendall - Glendale CA, US
Derek L. Lisoski - Simi Valley CA, US
Walter R. Morgan - Simi Valley CA, US
John A. Griecci - Redondo Beach CA, US

International Classification:

B64C 3/38

US Classification:

244 47, 244 48

Abstract:

A span-loaded, highly flexible flying wing, having horizontal control surfaces mounted aft of the wing on extended beams to form local pitch-control devices. Each of five spanwise wing segments of the wing has one or more motors and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other wing segments, to minimize inter-segment loads. Wing dihedral is controlled by separately controlling the local pitch-control devices consisting of a control surface on a boom, such that inboard and outboard wing segment pitch changes relative to each other, and thus relative inboard and outboard lift is varied.

US Patent:

51003570, Mar 31, 1992

Filed:

May 10, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/522243

Inventors:

Tyler MacCready - Pasadena CA
Martyn B. Cowley - Simi Valley CA
Taras Kiceniuk - Santa Paul CA
Parker MacCready - Seattle WA
Walter R. Morgan - Simi Valley CA
Matthew R. Kruse - Simi Valley CA

Assignee:

Aerovironment, Inc. - CA

International Classification:

A63H 2700

US Classification:

446 61

Abstract:

A toy airplane is launched; and an air flow deflecting surface is located in spaced relation to a V-shaped, swept-back wing of the airplane to deflect air flow generally upwardly toward the flight path of the airplane to aid in sustaining or balancing its flight. That surface is movable relative to the wing, and may be hand-held beneath the flying wing. In a modification, a separate stabilizer surface may be connected to the wing to dangle, forwardly thereof.

US Patent:

58102841, Sep 22, 1998

Filed:

Mar 15, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/404540

Inventors:

Bart D. Hibbs - Altadena CA
Peter B. S. Lissaman - Altadena CA
Walter R. Morgan - Simi Valley CA
Robert L. Radkey - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

B64C 3910

US Classification:

244 13

Abstract:

This disclosure provides a solar rechargeable aircraft that is inexpensive to produce, is steerable, and can remain airborne almost indefinitely. The preferred aircraft is a span-loaded flying wing, having no fuselage or rudder. Travelling at relatively slow speeds, and having a two-hundred foot wingspan that mounts photovoltaic cells on most all of the wing's top surface, the aircraft uses only differential thrust of its eight propellers to turn. Each of five sections of the wing has one or more engines and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other sections, to avoid loading them. Five two-sided photovoltaic arrays, in all, are mounted on the wing, and receive photovoltaic energy both incident on top of the wing, and which is incident also from below, through a bottom, transparent surface. The aircraft is capable of a top speed of about ninety miles per hour, which enables the aircraft to attain and can continuously maintain altitudes of up to sixty-five thousand feet. Regenerative fuel cells in the wing store excess electricity for use at night, such that the aircraft can sustain its elevation indefinitely.