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...that after Walter Hunt patented the safety pin in 1849, he sold the rights to it for $400?
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8172184 | Aerial transport apparatus The invention provides a cargo hook apparatus for securing cargo external to an aircraft for transportation, the apparatus comprising, pendent sling means, an attachment for securing the pendent sling means to the aircraft, and a cargo hook assembly, where the cargo... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8162264 | Method of jettisoning an external load carried by an aircraft, and an associated device The present invention relates to a method and an associated device for automatically jettisoning an external load (4) that is reversibly suspended from a release-hook (12) of an aircraft fuselage (2) by a sling (13), which method comprise... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8162263 | Payload quick release for an aerial system A payload quick release mechanism for an unmanned aerial vehicle is provided. This mechanism is affixed to a structure on the unmanned aerial vehicle, and allows for quick attachment and removal of a payload from the unmanned aerial vehicle. The attachment device in... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8104717 | Air transport with scalloped underbody An exemplary embodiment provides an air transport that has a scalloped aerodynamic underside that includes at least one depression. The depression is configured to receive at least an upper portion of a cargo pod to preclude an air passage way between an upper surfa... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8052090 | Hoist support removably mountable externally onto a helicopter A support system attaches a hoist to the External Stores Support System of an aircraft by using a boom from which a first leg depends and is attached to a forward fitting. A second leg is attached to the boom via a collar and attaches to an aft fitting while a torqu... | 11/08/2011 |
| 7954765 | System and method for in-flight adjustment of store ejector gas flow orificing A store ejector is adapted for in-flight adjustment of the pitch attitude imparted to a store by a pair of ejector pistons. The pitch attitude of the store is adjustable to correspond to a flight condition of the aircraft at time of store release. The aircraft has a... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7950607 | Small munitions adaptor rack for releasing small munitions from an aircraft An adapter for converting a full size aircraft bomb rack into a rack capable of supporting reduced size bombs or stores. The full size bomb rack includes a bomb ejection mechanism capable of delivering an ejection force to a full size bomb. The adapter includes an e... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7934681 | Quick connect-disconnect air transport A rapid air transportation system for humans, animals, materials or facilities, comprises of rapid coupling of a carriage on land to the tether of a hovering aircraft using quick coupling methods and rapid de-coupling of the same at the end of transportation and lan... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7887011 | Apparatus and methods for carrying airborne cargo An airborne cargo-carrying apparatus includes support and lower structural frames; a retaining mechanism securing a cargo carrier to the support frame; collapsible nose and tail cones coupled to the frames; flexible side panels coupled to the cones and frames; and a... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7850123 | Methods and apparatus for a cable retractor Methods and apparatus for a cable retractor to facilitate removal of a cable connector from an item after release from a vehicle. In one embodiment, the cable retractor pulls in the connector after the item is released. ... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7793888 | Apparatus and method for air-to-air arming of aerial vehicles A transfer of ordnance units from a first aerial vehicle to a second aerial vehicle performed while both vehicles are airborne. The first aircraft is used as an ordnance storage, ordnance delivery and ordnance supplier platform. The second aircraft has the functiona... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7677501 | Store and munitions release system having deployable swaybrace claw A system for releasing an article such as a munition or store from an aircraft employs a sway brace or cradle built into the structure of a bomb rack from lateral or pitching motion before it is released. A claw mechanism is driven out of the sway braces into the ar... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7648104 | Store ejector rack A store ejection system that can be “blind-loaded” without the need to have physical access to the ejector rack. This invention provides the ability to carry certain unique weapon shapes that can not be carried on current ejector racks due to the lack of access ... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7637460 | Methods and apparatus for a cable retractor to prevent cable damage after connector release Methods and apparatus for a cable retractor device to remove slack in a lanyard coupled to a cable connector after release of an item from a vehicle. In one embodiment, the cable retractor device removes slack after the item is released from an aircraft to reduce th... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7624947 | Armament carriage system A carriage and release system for stores (armaments such as rockets and bombs) on an aircraft includes a bracket adapted for attachment to the aircraft. A pylon is mounted on the bracket for movement in a pitch direction relative to the aircraft. A mechanism is prov... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7578479 | Rotating air cargo delivery system and method of construction A system and method of constructing a system for delivering cargo by airdrop are provided. In short, the system uses rotor blades to slow the descent of cargo dropped from an aircraft. In one example of one embodiment, a frame is secured to a cargo pallet and at lea... | 08/25/2009 |
| 7510147 | Vibration damping pylon The pylon of the present invention provides damping of vibrations transferred in both directions between the aircraft and the payload. That is, the pylon of the present invention damps the effects of aircraft vibrations on the payload as well as the effects of paylo... | 03/31/2009 |
| 7503525 | Pivotable pylon for external carriage of aircraft stores A pivotable pylon for carrying stores, such as ordinance, sensors and pods external to an aircraft includes an elongated strongback coupled against an external surface of the aircraft and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. An elongated pivoting str... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7458544 | Method and apparatus for dropping a launch vehicle from beneath an airplane A system for launching a launch vehicles mounted beneath an aircraft. A mechanism which separates the launch vehicle from the carrier aircraft engages the launch vehicle, and prevents the launch vehicle from coming into contact with the carrier aircraft as the launc... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7429016 | Method and apparatus for fast deploying and retrieving of towed bodies In a method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a mooring craft to an ejected object comprising the steps of monitoring velocity to determine when a point for optimum braking has been achieved and then engaging a brake system to reta... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7395761 | Variable-force payload ejecting system The Variable-Force Payload Ejecting System, residing within an air vehicle, utilizes multiple pressure generators, one or more of which may be activated, to produce variable levels of force. A controlling computer within the air vehicle determines when and how much ... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7353090 | System, bus monitor assembly and method of monitoring at least one data bus of an aircraft A system is provided for monitoring at least one data bus of an aircraft. The system includes an aircraft adapted to control the operation of stores of a second predetermined type (e.g., Harpoon Block I missiles). However, the aircraft is also capable of carrying a ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7270297 | Hoist for aircraft cabin construction A device is provided for hoisting a module for mounting into an overhead space, such as the crown of an aircraft fuselage. The device includes a frame that supports the module, and a lifting device that lifts the first frame to properly place the module. The lifting... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7264205 | Parachute release apparatus A parachute release apparatus for controllably and timely releasing a drogue parachute from a descending, aerially delivered cargo platform. The parachute release apparatus is comprised of a pendant body with multiple parallel plates. Cavities are defined between ea... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7246769 | Vehicles particularly useful as VTOL vehicles A vehicle including a fuselage, at least one lift-producing propeller carried by the fuselage on each side of its transverse axis a pilot's compartment formed in the fuselage between the lift-producing propellers and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis,... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7223071 | Device for providing assistance to the pilot of a rotorcraft in the event of engine failure The present invention provides a device enabling the collective pitch of the blades of the main rotor of a single-engined rotorcraft to be reduced automatically in the event of an engine failure. The device comprises an actuator which increases the collective pitch ... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7219613 | Reconfigurable attack and reconnaissance vessel II A reconfigurable marine vessel is disclosed. The marine vessel includes an upper hull, two propulsion hulls, and two struts for coupling the propulsion hulls to the upper hull. The struts are segmented and are capable of reconfiguring the marine vessel. The upper hu... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7213788 | Microjet-based control system for cavity flows A dynamic cavity air flow system reduces the highly unsteady flow over exposed aircraft cavities by incorporating a series of microjets proximate the leading edge of a cavity. The microjets, which may articulate, issue a supersonic jet flow toward the rear or traili... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7195197 | Techniques for controlling a fin with unlimited adjustment and no backlash A fin control assembly includes a housing, an arm configured to couple to a fin and to steer the fin relative to the housing, and a locking member disposed within the housing. The locking member is configured to (i) lock the arm in a substantially fixed state to inh... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7178442 | Detachable hanger The invention is a detachable hanger assembly for attaching a flying object to a launch rail on a launch platform. The detachable hanger assembly is attached to the flying object by one or more bolts and is adapted to slide in a slot in the launch rail when the flyi... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7156347 | Pivotable pylon for external carriage of aircraft stores A pivotable pylon for carrying stores, such as ordinance, sensors and pods external to an aircraft includes an elongated strongback coupled against an external surface of the aircraft and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. An elongated pivoting str... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7147188 | Aircraft store ejector rack systems and methods Store ejector rack systems and methods having an improved fluid actuator assembly for sequencing the opening of the hooks from which the store is suspended and the pressurization of thrusters which force the store away from the aircraft are disclosed. In one embodim... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7137599 | Launcher with dual mode electronics A system and method for interconnecting analog legacy stores to both legacy and modern aircraft. One aspect of the invention provides for a dual mode launcher having a first interface for interfacing with a modern aircraft and a second interface for interfacing with... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7125058 | Locking device with solenoid release pin A locking device with a solenoid release actuator includes a housing, a plunger axially slidable within the housing, a biasing member for biasing the plunger in a first direction, one or more locking balls, and the locking balls disposed in an aperture in the housin... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7104503 | Aircraft loading apparatus Aircraft loading apparatus includes a frame removably attachable to an aircraft (e.g. a helicopter). The frame is constructed for assembly and disassembly in a transitional position and includes a pair of raising and lowering mechanisms. The mechanisms include a pai... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7100873 | Hanger assembly for aircraft A hanger assembly for suspending an external store from an aircraft includes left and right side panels in hinged connection to a center panel, where the panels, in combination, form a band for substantially circumferentially surrounding the external store. The cent... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7093798 | Transformable airplane A transformable airplane may be reconfigured easily and rapidly to perform any one or a combination of tanking, transport, bombing, or command and control missions as desired for a tactical situation by installing or replacing mission-specific modules as desired. A ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7093802 | Pressurized sonobuoy deployment system A jet aircraft with integrated, rotary sonobuoy launch system has storage racks for a number of sonobuoys in sonobuoy launch containers; and one or more launcher units in its cabin. Each launcher unit has a pressure shell with a door allowing loading of sonobuoys in... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7083148 | Assembly for carrying and ejecting stores A carriage and ejection assembly for retaining different types of stores to an aircraft and selectively ejecting a carried one of the stores away from the aircraft is disclosed. The assembly can include a sway brace having at least one contact location for each type... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7082388 | Flutter test model A flutter test model is provided that utilizes a novel approach for fixing wing elements to an elastic spar, resulting in reduced airflow disturbance. A test wing has an elastic spar that simulates the elasticity of a wing of an actual airplane, and a plurality of w... | 07/25/2006 |
