Did You Know...
...that it was melting ice cream that inspired the invention of the outboard motor? It was a lovely August day and Ole Evinrude was rowing his boat to his favorite island picnic spot. As he rowed, he watched his ice cream melt and wished he had a faster way to get to the island. At that moment the idea for the outboard motor was born!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8172182 | Aircraft spillover fuel tank Apparatus and methods described herein provide for a spillover tank to extend the fuel capacity of the main wing tank of an aircraft. The spillover tank is located in the wing of the aircraft adjacent to the main wing tank. At least one aperture exists through the s... | 05/08/2012 |
| 7357149 | Auxiliary fuel tank systems for aircraft and methods for their manufacture and use Auxiliary fuel tank systems for aircraft and methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, an aircraft can include a fuselage, at least one engine, and a fuel system configured to distribute fuel to at least one of the engine and an aerial refueling mani... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7337795 | Fuel balancing system A fuel system for a mobile platform is provided. The system includes a crossfeed fuel transmission assembly having a single crossfeed valve that controls fuel consumption from a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank. The system additionally includes a balancing fue... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7213787 | Valves for annular conduits including aircraft fuel conduits and associated systems and methods Valves for annular conduits and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A fluid transmission system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a first conduit having a first wall aligned with a flow direction in the first conduit and a second ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7093800 | Method of operating a satellite for end-of-life maneuvers A method for operating a satellite (10, 34) so that a predetermined amount of propellant is left to perform end-of-life maneuvers is provided. A first pressure differential is established between a first propellant tank (74) and a second propellant tan... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7073751 | Aircraft structure fatigue alleviation A fuel transfer apparatus for an aircraft comprises: two or more fuel tanks (2,3,4,5,6) arranged in an inboard to outboard alignment, at least one being situated in the wing (1) of the aircraft, means... | 07/11/2006 |
| 6997415 | Method and arrangement for aircraft fuel dispersion Method and arrangement for dispersing fuel 62 within a fuel containment system 60 of an aircraft 30 including utilizing a fuel containment system on an aircraft that is located at least partially within a wing 34 of the aircraft and defin... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6920866 | Method and arrangement for the transport of fuel at a combustion engine Fuel for an engine is supplied from a first fuel tank and return fuel from the engine is gathered in a second fuel tank for resupply to the engine. The second fuel tank constitutes a fuel tank which is connected to and fillable from the first fuel tank and the engin... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6913228 | Aircraft with active center of gravity control A supersonic aircraft comprises a wing, a fuselage, a plurality of fuel tanks contained within the wing and/or fuselage, and a fuel transfer system communicatively coupled to the plurality of fuel tanks and capable of transferring fuel among the plurality of fuel ta... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6910659 | Method and apparatus for liquid containment, such as for aircraft fuel vessels A vessel, such as a wing-integrated aircraft fuel tank. The vessel can include a first surface portion, a second surface portion spaced apart from the first surface portion, and a core positioned between the first and second surface portions. The core can be sealabl... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6899300 | Process for the loading of fuel into an aircraft on the ground A process for loading of fuel into an aircraft on the ground, wherein an optimal position Cgt of the center of gravity of the aircraft is aimed for by adjusting the weight of fuel poured into the tail tank of the aircraft. ... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6776372 | Method of operating a satellite for end-of-life maneuvers A method for operating a satellite (10, 34) so that a predetermined amount of fuel is left to perform end-of-life maneuvers is provided. A first pressure differential is established between a first propellant tank (74) and a second propellant tank (... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6755378 | System and method for controlling a space-borne propulsion system A system and method for controlling a propulsion system of a space-borne object (e.g., a satellite) is based on the principle that temperature in the propellant tank of the propulsion system is directly proportional to the pressure therein. Accordingly, when pressur... | 06/29/2004 |
| 6736354 | Airplane fuel supply system and airplane wing pipeline assembly method An airplane fuel supply system includes a wing fuel tank that is formed from a wing tip fuel tank having a wing tip fuel pump; a central fuel tank having a central fuel pump; and a wing root fuel tank having a wing root fuel pump. Fuel movement from the wing tip fue... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6454212 | Aerial refueling hose reel drive controlled by a variable displacement hydraulic motor and method for controlling aerial refueling hose reel The invention is a variable displacement hydraulic motor-controlled hose reel drive system. The system includes a variable displacement hydraulic motor, having an electro-hydraulic control valve; a tachometer/position sensor; a reaction torque sensor; and... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6398165 | Protective enclosure with peripheral fluid storage facility Fluids such as air, liquid or gaseous fuels are stored within a passage of a helically wound flexible hose sandwiched within a peripheral portion of a tubular enclosure of a transport vehicle between an outer shell and an inner support layer of such tubul... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6231008 | Method and liquid storage tank for minimizing permeation of liquid vapors through a tank dividing membrane A temperature regulating arrangement (7) at least partially surrounds a fuel or oxidizer storage tank (1). The tank (1) is divided by a polymer membrane (3) into a first partial chamber (2) receiving the fuel (2') therein, and a second partial chamber (4)... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6126111 | Emergency flight control system using one engine and fuel transfer A system for emergency aircraft control uses at least one engine and lateral fuel transfer that allows a pilot to regain control over an aircraft under emergency conditions. Where aircraft propulsion is available only through engines on one side of the ai... | 10/03/2000 |
| 6125882 | Fluid transfer system A variable volume fluid storage tank or reservoir and related fluid transfer system are provided for storing and transferring volatile or hazardous fluids, particularly such as fuel in an aircraft fuel supply system. Each fluid storage tank comprises a ta... | 10/03/2000 |
| 5749402 | Integrated storage and transfer system and method for spacecraft propulsion systems A method of loading propellant into a spacecraft that comprises storing and transferring propellant in a portable propellant loading tank, temperature conditioning and helium saturating the propellant in the propellant loading tank, transferring the loadi... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5660358 | Fuel supply system Fuel supply system for multijet airplanes using cryogenic fuel with one tank or one tank group for each engine or for all engines on one side of the longitudinal central plane of the airplane, and, if desired, with an additional, common tank or an additio... | 08/26/1997 |
| 5479959 | Integrated storage and transfer system and method for spacecraft propulsion systems A system, a portable propellant loading tank and loading method for bipropellant spacecraft servicing to load propellant into a spacecraft. The spacecraft has a propellant storage tank with a propellant input and a vent output. The system comprises a port... | 01/02/1996 |
| 5321945 | Apparatus for controlling fuel transfers in a distributed fuel tank system The present invention relates to a distributed fuel system, wherein a plurality of fuel tanks used for storing fuel are distributed in different locations. The fuel tanks are connected to each other via a manifold which permits fuel to flow therein. The d... | 06/21/1994 |
| 5284309 | Propellant immobilizing system and method A propellant immobilizing system and method in which propellant motion in the propellant storage tanks (22) is reduced or eliminated during velocity change maneuvers to reduce disturbance torques acting upon the spacecraft (10) and improving the spacecraf... | 02/08/1994 |
| 5263329 | Flow management apparatus for cryogenic liquid In a tank 10 for cryogenic liquid to be used in a low-gravity environment (e.g., on a space vehicle), a liquid transfer apparatus 15 (which comprises an elongate array of fins 32 and a sponge structure formed from panels 31) functions to transfer cryogeni... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5251852 | Thermal fuel transfer and tank isolation to reduce unusable fuel A spacecraft includes a pair of pressurized propellant tanks. The pressure may be provided from a common pressurant tank. Each propellant tank has a propellant output port. A manifold includes a first branch coupled between a common juncture and the outpu... | 10/12/1993 |
| 5116000 | Adaptable system for storing liquid under pressure and spacecraft propellant storage applications thereof A system for storing liquid under pressure is adapted to contain any of various quantities of liquid determined in advance with approximately the same filling ratio in an environment in which the temperature varies. It comprises a main storage tank adapte... | 05/26/1992 |
| 5058834 | Liquid balance control for spinning spacecraft The balance of a spin-balanced spacecraft may be dynamically adjusted by moving a liquid between or among containers spaced about the spin axis. The transfer of liquid is accomplished by controllable heaters associated with each container, for heating tha... | 10/22/1991 |
| 4955962 | Remote controlled flying saucer A flying saucer is remotely controlled and includes a plurality of angularly spaced apart guide flaps and motors all of which are operated independently of each other. Each of the motors has a fuel tank associated therewith and the fuel tanks can be inter... | 09/11/1990 |
| 4932609 | Fuel transfer system for aircraft Parallel transfer pumps (92, 94) operate to transfer fuel from auxiliary tanks (52, 60, 66) to the main tank (10). A pressure sensor (106) in the pump discharge line in combination with tank level rate mechanisms (86, 88, 90) sequences pumps (92, 92) and ... | 06/12/1990 |
| 4918619 | Multiplexed junction probe for fuel gaging system and system containing same A true mass fuel gaging system for aircraft utilizing multiplexing of tank unit measurements in or adjacent a fuel tank for improved accuracy and fault isolation. The system provides dual equipment channels for redundancy throughout all data processing po... | 04/17/1990 |
| 4912925 | Rocket engine with redundant capabilities A redundant rocket engine for high reliability that incorporates a single thrust chamber and its attendent hydrogen and oxygen injectors and provides a pair of independent but indentical engine systems that provide the fuel feed and cooling systems where ... | 04/03/1990 |
| 4872120 | Multiplexed junction probe for fuel gaging system and system containing same A true mass fuel gaging system for aircraft utilizing multiplexing of tank unit measurements in or adjacent a fuel tank for improved accuracy and fault isolation. The system provides dual equipment channels for redundancy throughout all data processing po... | 10/03/1989 |
| 4609169 | Propellant tank resupply system A novel propellant resupply system for, and method of recharging the propellant tanks of, the attitude control system (ACS) of a spacecraft or the like are described, comprising first and second propellant conduits respectively interconnecting the outlets... | 09/02/1986 |
| 4591115 | Automatic/manual fuel tank supply balance system A multi-engine helicopter fuel supply balance system effects automatic trfer of fuel from a larger tank to a smaller tank in response to low fuel level in the smaller tank when in automatic mode, and effects a transfer of a predetermined quantity of fuel... | 05/27/1986 |
| 4089493 | Aircraft with combination power plant By employing in-line gas turbine power plants in the nose and tail of a low profile highly streamlined aircraft, twin engine reliability is obtained with only a single engine frontal area combined with the employment of strakes rather than pipes for the n... | 05/16/1978 |
| 4012012 | Supplemental oil system for engines An oil replenishment system provides a remote reserve oil tank and the plumbing necessary to fill the main oil tank or tanks of engines, especially aircraft engines during flight. This system includes apparatus to determine the quantity of oil pumped to a... | 03/15/1977 |
| 3982399 | Fuel degassing method The method of purging entrained air or vapor from fuel stored in two or more tanks in an aircraft, and more particularly in multi-engine aircraft during crossfeed fuel delivery when the aircraft is climbing to altitude, which method consists of reversing ... | 09/28/1976 |
| 3981321 | Vehicle fuel system A vehicle fuel system comprising a plurality of tanks, each tank having a feed and a return conduit extending into a lower portion thereof, the several feed conduits joined to form one supply conduit feeding fuel to a supply pump and using means, unused f... | 09/21/1976 |
| 3934512 | Liquid fuel multistage rocket This invention is a rocket which has a thrust stage located at the lowermost stage and an arbitrary number of propellant stages which are cut off in turn from a propellant stage located at the uppermost stage after exhausting fuel therein.... | 01/27/1976 |
