Patents by Inventor Dennis Wayne Smith
Dennis Wayne Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8899389Abstract: Embodiments of a thermally-conductive vibration isolator are provided, as are embodiments of a spacecraft isolation employing a plurality of thermally-conductive vibration isolators. In one embodiment, the thermally-conductive vibration isolator includes a first end portion, a second end portion substantially opposite the first end portion, and first and second load transfer paths from the first end portion to the second end portion. The first and second load transfer paths comprise a main spring and a damper in parallel with the main spring, respectively. An elongated thermal conduit, which has a thermal conductivity exceeding that of first load transfer path and the second load transfer path, extends from the first end portion to the second end portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Dennis Wayne Smith, Steven Hadden
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Patent number: 8469597Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the preload of duplex rolling element bearings systems under various temperatures is described. A spacer or a plurality of spacers may be located adjacent to the rings of the duplex rolling element bearings. The spacer or spacers may be heated or cooled to increase or decrease the axial dimension of the spacer or spacers. Changing the axial dimension of the spacers changes the preload of the duplex rolling element bearing system. The preload of the system may be estimated by receiving an input from a sensor or sensors located on the duplex rolling element bearings system. The sensor may be a temperature sensor or a force transducer.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2008Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Dennis Wayne Smith, James Hanks
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Publication number: 20120292476Abstract: Embodiments of a thermally-conductive vibration isolator are provided, as are embodiments of a spacecraft isolation employing a plurality of thermally-conductive vibration isolators. In one embodiment, the thermally-conductive vibration isolator includes a first end portion, a second end portion substantially opposite the first end portion, and first and second load transfer paths from the first end portion to the second end portion. The first and second load transfer paths comprise a main spring and a damper in parallel with the main spring, respectively. An elongated thermal conduit, which has a thermal conductivity exceeding that of first load transfer path and the second load transfer path, extends from the first end portion to the second end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Dennis Wayne Smith, Steven Hadden
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Patent number: 8127631Abstract: A rotor assembly is provided for deployment within the inner gimbal assembly of a control moment gyroscope (CMG). In one embodiment, the rotor assembly includes a rotor shell, a rotor shaft fixedly coupled to the rotor shell, and a rotor rim. The rotor rim includes an annular body and a strain relief member. A first end portion of the strain relief member is fixedly coupled to the annular body, and a second end portion of the strain relief member is fixedly coupled to the rotor shell to form a rim-shell joinder interface. The strain relief member has a flexibility sufficient to reduce the mechanical stress experienced by the rim-shell joinder interface during operation of the CMG.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Gary Lynwood Gisler, Porter Davis, Roger Nagel, Dennis Wayne Smith
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Patent number: 7997157Abstract: A control moment gyroscope (CMG) is provided for deployment on a spacecraft. The CMG includes an inner gimbal assembly (IGA), which, in turn, includes an IGA housing, a rotor rotatably coupled to the IGA housing, and a spin motor coupled to the IGA housing and configured to rotate the rotor about a spin axis. The CMG further comprises a stator assembly, which includes: (i) a stator assembly housing rotatably coupled to the IGA housing, and (ii) a torque module assembly coupled to the stator assembly housing and configured to rotate the IGA about a gimbal axis. A gimbal bearing is disposed between the IGA housing and the stator assembly housing. The gimbal bearing resides between the spin axis and the torque module assembly such that the distance between the gimbal bearing and the spin axis is less than the distance between the gimbal bearing and the torque module assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Dennis Wayne Smith, Paul Buchele, Carlos J. Stevens, Stephen Edward Fiske
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Publication number: 20100064828Abstract: A rotor assembly is provided for deployment within the inner gimbal assembly of a control moment gyroscope (CMG). In one embodiment, the rotor assembly includes a rotor shell, a rotor shaft fixedly coupled to the rotor shell, and a rotor rim. The rotor rim includes an annular body and a strain relief member. A first end portion of the strain relief member is fixedly coupled to the annular body, and a second end portion of the strain relief member is fixedly coupled to the rotor shell to form a rim-shell joinder interface. The strain relief member has a flexibility sufficient to reduce the mechanical stress experienced by the rim-shell joinder interface during operation of the CMG.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2008Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Gary Lynwood Gisler, Porter Davis, Roger Nagel, Dennis Wayne Smith
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Publication number: 20090263062Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the preload of duplex rolling element bearings systems under various temperatures is described. A spacer or a plurality of spacers may be located adjacent to the rings of the duplex rolling element bearings. The spacer or spacers may be heated or cooled to increase or decrease the axial dimension of the spacer or spacers. Changing the axial dimension of the spacers changes the preload of the duplex rolling element bearing system. The preload of the system may be estimated by receiving an input from a sensor or sensors located on the duplex rolling element bearings system. The sensor may be a temperature sensor or a force transducer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2008Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Dennis Wayne Smith, James Hanks
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Publication number: 20090200428Abstract: A control moment gyroscope (CMG) is provided for deployment on a spacecraft. The CMG includes an inner gimbal assembly (IGA), which, in turn, includes an IGA housing, a rotor rotatably coupled to the IGA housing, and a spin motor coupled to the IGA housing and configured to rotate the rotor about a spin axis. The CMG further comprises a stator assembly, which includes: (i) a stator assembly housing rotatably coupled to the IGA housing, and (ii) a torque module assembly coupled to the stator assembly housing and configured to rotate the IGA about a gimbal axis. A gimbal bearing is disposed between the IGA housing and the stator assembly housing. The gimbal bearing resides between the spin axis and the torque module assembly such that the distance between the gimbal bearing and the spin axis is less than the distance between the gimbal bearing and the torque module assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2008Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Dennis Wayne Smith, Paul Buchele, Carlos J. Stevens, Stephen Edward Fiske
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Patent number: 7334377Abstract: An air handling unit (AHU) for housing a number of components used in a heating or cooling system to provide forced air for climate control in a particular structure includes a single raceway construction having both low thermal conductivity and enhanced mechanical properties for use with lifting the AHU; a single insulated panel construction having a minimum number of components as well as enhanced mechanical properties for use as the floor in an AHU compartment; to minimize costs associated with fabrication and installation.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Harold J. Dubensky, Jack Yue Jia, Dennis R. Runkle, Wayne Joseph Pierjok, Dennis Wayne Smith, Martin Dale Weatherd, Kevin Lee Stein, Nathan E. Pears, Dennis Timothy Diamond, Robert H. Edgell