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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8109464 | Aircraft taxiing and secondary propulsion system An on board secondary propulsion system for an aircraft provides the capability of taxiing the aircraft on the ground without using the main aircraft engine(s). The power system includes a small taxi engine mounted on or in the aircraft at a location suitable to pro... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8028952 | System for shipboard launch and recovery of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aircraft and method therefor A system to launch and recover an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) aircraft has a pole member attached to a deck of a ship. An arm member is attached to the pole member and extends away from the pole member in an approximately horizontal direction. The arm member is ab... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8028953 | Accelerating device Providing an accelerating device capable of safely and efficiently accelerating an aircraft even if the aircraft is a high-speed and heavyweight one. The accelerating device has a support base for supporting an aircraft so that it does not go backward or levi... | 10/04/2011 |
| 7954755 | Method of launching a catapult, catapult, and locking device A method of launching a catapult, a catapult and a locking device for a catapult. The catapult comprises a carriage for fastening an aircraft. The carriage can be provided with a high acceleration by directing a launching force generated by a launching device theret... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7913948 | Method and apparatus for stratospheric and space structures The high-altitude balloon has a skin made of nearly evacuated electrostatically inflated cells which provide thermal insulation to minimize heat loss from the gas in the balloon, while transmitting heat from the sun to heat the gas. The lower surface of the balloon ... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7815146 | Combustible outgassing material lined altitude compensating rocket nozzle A fixed sized bell rocket nozzle is lined with a layer of combustible material that is ignited during launch ignition and burns to outgas into the rocket exhaust for spatially variably confining the exhaust and perfecting an effective variably sized altitude compens... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7712702 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and breaking subsequent grip motion Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can acceler... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7665691 | Aerial vehicle launching system and method An aerial vehicle launching system includes a launch platform and a restraint system coupled to the launch platform. The restraint system has at least one passive restraint suitably adapted to indirectly restrain an aerial vehicle. The restraint system is configured... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7658347 | Micro air-vehicle transport container and launch system A Micro Air-Vehicle (MAV) starting system that provides the combined functions of: packing protection of sensitive vehicle components, a mechanical starting assembly, and a launch pad. The preferred embodiment comprises a container and a container lid with the MAV c... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7594624 | Flying vehicle-launching apparatus and method A flying vehicle-launching apparatus and method for launching a winged flying vehicle by accelerating the vehicle in a predetermined direction includes a flying vehicle-supporting platform, a guide device, and a driving device. The flying vehicle-supporting platform... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7562843 | Method of launching a catapult, catapult, and locking device A method of launching a catapult, a catapult and a locking device for a catapult. The catapult comprises a carriage (4) for fastening an aircraft (5). The carriage (4) can be provided with a high acceleration by directing a launching force (F | 07/21/2009 |
| 7556219 | Unmanned aerial vehicle and launch assembly An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided, that is cost effective to use and manufacture and that includes a low count of component parts, allowing mission planners to use the UAVs in a disposable manner. The UAV includes an airframe having a central body and win... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7472866 | Deployment system and method for subsurface launched unmanned aerial vehicle A launch system in which an unmanned aerial vehicle is secured to a platform in a watertight tube adapted to be launched from a submerged platform. Once launched, side panels on the tube are jettisoned and a flotation device is deployed to bring the tube to the surf... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7419326 | Method for accelerating a passengered vehicle upon a roadway A roadway upon which a wheeled vehicle travels is provided. The roadway including a movable surface extending in a direction of the vehicle's travel and a potential energy transfer arrangement operatively connected to the movable surface for transferring a stored po... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7410125 | Robotically assisted launch/capture platform for an unmanned air vehicle An embodiment of the invention is directed to a platform for launching and/or capturing an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), particularly a small UAV. The launch/capture platform includes a frame, a floor attached to the frame that is capable of supporting the UAV, means ... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7410124 | Lightweight air vehicle and pneumatic launcher A portable unmanned air vehicle and launcher system including a foldable unmanned air vehicle with a pressure tube; a launch gas reservoir for holding launch gas; a launch tube operatively connected to the launch gas reservoir and having a free end that is positione... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7360741 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and breaking subsequent grip motion Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can acceler... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7360977 | Machine tool gear mechanism A machine tool transmission, in particular a spindle transmission, with which the force and/or the torque transfer from an output shaft (3) of a transmission (1) takes place directly on a spindle (15). The spindle (15) is placed co-axiall... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7338015 | Gravity extraction air launch system for launch vehicle A launch vehicle is deployed from an aircraft using gravity extraction of the launch vehicle with the aid of a small parachute which assists the extraction and damps the yaw and pitch of the launch vehicle. The launch vehicle is supported on two rows of tires which ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7318565 | Electric motor assisted takeoff device for an air vehicle A takeoff assist device for an air vehicle, such as an unmanned air vehicle is provided. The device features an electric motor and is much less complex and lighter than takeoff assist devices heretofore known. A body member is shaped to fit to a portion of the air v... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7287474 | Consumer pyrotechnics support apparatus A reusable pyrotechnics support device for securely holding consumer ground-based fireworks (for example, fountains, mortars, multiple aerials, and the like) in a vertical and upright position, using a sufficiently wide base that is resistant to tipping over. In cer... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7281682 | Spacecraft and launch system A spacecraft system for achieving LEO and beyond includes a lifting body spacecraft, and an acceleration bed unit for accelerating the spacecraft horizontally on a runway to liftoff. The rocket engines of the spacecraft then power the spacecraft into LEO, and the sp... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7262394 | Mortar shell ring tail and associated method There is provided a ring tail for a ballistic projectile and an associated method that facilitate maneuverability of the ballistic projectile. The ring tail comprises a ring member having a generally cylindrical wall and at least one rod joined to an aft section of ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7252270 | System and method for launching a missile from a flying aircraft System for launching a missile from a launch region within the atmosphere of a planet, the missile being located within a flying vehicle before launching the missile, the system including a missile support coupled with the missile, and a foldable control-surface mec... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7249730 | System and method for in-flight trajectory path synthesis using the time sampled output of onboard sensors Disclosed are a system, method, and program storage device implementing the method, of data fusion, wherein the method comprises determining pre-launch data affecting a flight of a self-sensing air-bursting ballistic projectile, the projectile comprising a plurality... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7246987 | Solid motor transport trailer with rotatable chock supports Methods and apparatus are provided for transporting a solid rocket motor, rocket or other object. A transport for an object suitably includes a trailer having a longitudinal axis. A tail support coupled to the trailer has a notch configured to receive a pin affixed ... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7243880 | Landing gear door assembly An aircraft landing gear door assembly includes a plurality of doors moveable between open positions, in which landing gear can be deployed through an aperture, and closed positions, in which the doors are closed across the aperture. The plurality of doors includes ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7237748 | Landing gear method and apparatus for braking and maneuvering Aircraft landing gear comprised of a wheel hub motor/generator disks stack, includes alternating rotor and stator disks mounted with respect to the wheel support and wheel. The wheel hub motor/generator can provide motive force to the wheel when electrical power is ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7232092 | Flying vehicle-launching apparatus and method A flying vehicle-launching apparatus and method for launching a winged flying vehicle by accelerating the vehicle in a predetermined direction includes a flying vehicle-supporting platform, a guide device, and a driving device. The flying vehicle-supporting platform... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7226018 | Landing gear method and apparatus for braking and maneuvering Aircraft landing gear comprised of a wheel hub motor/generator disks stack, includes alternating rotor and stator disks mounted with respect to the wheel support and wheel. The invention can provide motive force to the wheel when electrical power is applied, e.g. pr... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7219856 | UAV recovery system A UAV capture system is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the UAV capture system is coupled to the deck of a sea-faring vessel. The UAV capture system includes a single arresting line that is supported by a stanchion. In the illustrative embodiment, the sta... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7216642 | Pneumatically launched folding wing glider toy A glider toy has pivoting wings that may be locked in a retracted position prior to launch. Upon launching of the glider, the wings may be unlocked. During flight, the wings extend forward for an entertaining glide at the urging of one or more elastic members. A lau... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7210654 | Unmanned airborne reconnaissance system An unmanned airborne reconnaissance system, the unmanned airborne reconnaissance system including a lightweight, portable, powered aircraft and a foldable launch rail, the aircraft, in a broken down condition and the launch rail in a broken down condition fitable in... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7178759 | Hinged door for aircraft landing gear The door comprises a panel (14) formed from two rigid parts (14a, 14b) hinged to each other edge to edge. A first part (14a) of these two parts is connected to the aircraft structure through a pivot pin (20) an... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7174950 | Heat transfer system for a satellite including an evaporator A heat transfer system includes a heat transfer passage in the vicinity of a source of dissipated heat on a satellite to collect heat dissipated by the source and a fluid loop including an evaporator having over part of its path a maximum surface area of its externa... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7175135 | Methods and apparatuses for capturing unmanned aircraft and constraining motion of the captured aircraft Methods and apparatuses for capturing and constraining motion of unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured at an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the airc... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7165745 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and braking subsequent grip motion Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can acceler... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7152827 | Methods and apparatuses for launching, capturing, and storing unmanned aircraft, including a container having a guide structure for aircraft components Methods and apparatuses for launching, capturing, and storing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be assembled from a container with little or no manual engagement by an operator. The container... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7143974 | Methods and apparatuses for launching airborne devices along flexible elongated members Methods and apparatuses for cable launching airborne devices (e.g., unmanned aircraft) are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an elongated structure, e.g., a tower, boom or derrick. At least one flexible elongated member (e.g., a cable or rope) can ... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7140575 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for releasably gripping aircraft during launch Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can belaunched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch axis. A gripper carried by the l... | 11/28/2006 |
