B64C25/00

Systems and methods for variable gap wireless power and communication
11203416 · 2021-12-21 · ·

Systems and methods for tuning power transmission circuits may sweep a power frequency applied to a transmission coil across a plurality of frequencies. The transmission coil may be inductively coupled to a receiving coil and separated from the receiving coil by an air gap. A current and/or voltage at the transmission coil may be measured in response to the power frequency being at each frequency of the plurality of frequencies. A transmission frequency may be selected based at least in part on the measured current and/or the measured voltage.

Systems and methods for high strength titanium wire additive manufacturing
11192186 · 2021-12-07 · ·

A method of titanium wire additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method may comprise mixing a plurality of powdered metals comprising titanium, iron, vanadium, and aluminum to produce a powder blend, sintering the powder blend to form a billet, performing a wire forming operation to produce a worked wire, heat treating the worked wire to produce a heat treaded wire, loading the heat treated wire into a wirefeed additive manufacturing machine, and producing a metallic component from the heat treated wire. The titanium may be a titanium hydride powder.

GROUND EFFECT CRAFT
20210371099 · 2021-12-02 · ·

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

GROUND EFFECT CRAFT
20210371099 · 2021-12-02 · ·

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

Levered landing gear with inner shock strut
11352129 · 2022-06-07 · ·

A levered landing gear including a first shock strut having a first end and a second end, a truck lever pivotally coupled to the second end of the first shock strut, and a second shock strut disposed between the second end of the first shock strut and the truck lever, where the second shock strut has a first end and a second end, the first end of the second shock strut being coupled to the second end of the first shock strut and the second end of the second shock strut being coupled to the truck lever.

STRUCTURAL FUSE
20220170499 · 2022-06-02 ·

A structural fuse is disclosed and configured to shear upon an application of a predetermined load and includes a plurality of elongate reinforcing elements in a metal matrix. The provision of a so-called metal matrix composite results in a fuse that is lighter in weight than a conventional metal pin and has improved fatigue properties and hence a longer operating life. The load (or range of loads) at which the fuse is arranged to shear can be engineered by careful arrangement of the orientation of the reinforcing elements, and by selecting the proportion of reinforcing elements in the matrix. Thus, a fuse having a narrower load range than hitherto achievable can be produced.

Covered retainer for segmented annular heat shield
11346418 · 2022-05-31 · ·

A retainer for a segmented annular heat shield of a wheel includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. Both the first end and the second end are configured to be coupled to at least one of the wheel and a torque bar. Further, the body includes opposing longitudinal sides configured to respectively engage and secure a respective heat shield segment of the segmented annular heat shield. Also, the retainer includes a cover coupled to and extending over at least the body, with an air gap being defined between the body and the cover.

Integrated landing gear fire detection and fatigue monitoring system
11338910 · 2022-05-24 · ·

A system for an aircraft that includes a plurality of zones including: a first fiber optic cable routed through a zone of the plurality of zones. The first fiber optic cable is attached to a landing gear of the aircraft in the zone of the plurality of zones; and a first controller configured to provide a first optical signal to the first fiber optic cable and obtain a first optical response signal from the first fiber optic cable. The first controller is further configured to determine at least one temperature within the zone of the plurality of zones based on the first optical response signal, the first optical signal, and coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry (COFDR).

Health monitoring of aircraft landing gear mechanical structures

Methods and systems are provided that facilitate the maintenance of levered landing gears by monitoring the condition of the stop pads of such landing gears. One embodiment provides for calibrating a sensor for measuring a condition of a stop joint formed by a first stop pad and a second stop pad of a levered landing gear against a nominal condition of at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad; monitoring, by the sensor, a current condition of the at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad from the nominal condition; determining whether a non-conformance from the nominal condition of the at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad has been detected by the sensor for the current condition; and in response to determining that the non-conformance has been detected, generating an alert.

GROUND EFFECT CRAFT
20220144423 · 2022-05-12 · ·

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the around effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.