Patents by Inventor Ian Francis

Ian Francis 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).

  • Patent number: 11900734
    Abstract: A technique for controlling access to one or more attractions is achieved using a number of access keys, each being issued to one or more users. An electronic queue management part manages a virtual queue in respect of each attraction and receives electronic requests for attraction access, each request relating to an access key and being for the users associated with it to access a particular attraction. Receipt of each request causes the respective users to be added to a corresponding virtual queue. A time at which each group of users reaches the front of the virtual queue and can access the attraction is determined. The users access the attractions by presenting an access key to an access control part, in communication with the electronic queue management part. Only a user presenting an access key at the correct time for accessing the attraction is allowed access to the attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ACCESSO TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC
    Inventors: Christopher Simon Galley, Christopher Simon Peter Barnaby, Ian Francis, Dominic Light
  • Patent number: 11734980
    Abstract: A technique for controlling access to one or more attractions is achieved using a number of access keys, each being issued to one or more users. An electronic queue management part manages a virtual queue in respect of each attraction and receives electronic requests for attraction access, each request relating to an access key and being for the users associated with it to access a particular attraction. Receipt of each request causes the respective users to be added to a corresponding virtual queue. A time at which each group of users reaches the front of the virtual queue and can access the attraction is determined. The users access the attractions by presenting an access key to an access control part, in communication with the electronic queue management part. Only a user presenting an access key at the correct time for accessing the attraction is allowed access to the attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ACCESSO TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC
    Inventors: Christopher Simon Galley, Christopher Simon Peter Barnaby, Ian Francis, Dominic Light
  • Publication number: 20230119477
    Abstract: A turbine engine that includes an engine core, an inner cowl, an outer cowl and an accessory gearbox. The engine core includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The accessory gearbox is operably coupled to the engine core and includes a first portion and a second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, John Carl Glessner, Lawrence William Nurre, Ian Francis Prentice, Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Arthur William Sibbach
  • Publication number: 20230100823
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for determining the weight of tobacco in a tobacco product (10), the tobacco product comprising a tobacco component (16) and a plurality of non-tobacco components (12, 14, 18, 20, 22). The apparatus comprises means (26) for determining the total weight of the tobacco product (10), means (30) for producing an x-ray image of the tobacco product, means (34) for determining weights of the non-tobacco components from the x-ray image, and means (34) for determining the weight of the tobacco component based on the total weight of the tobacco product and the weights of the non-tobacco components. This may allow an accurate determination of tobacco weight to be achieved. Furthermore, measurements can be taken where components are present which might interfere with microwave measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Iavor Vasilev Bojinov, Ian Francis Tindall
  • Patent number: 11572838
    Abstract: A turbine engine that includes an engine core, an inner cowl, an outer cowl and an accessory gearbox. The engine core includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The accessory gearbox is operably coupled to the engine core and includes a first portion and a second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, John Carl Glessner, Lawrence William Nurre, Ian Francis Prentice, Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Arthur William Sibbach
  • Publication number: 20220387461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of a TLR-9 agonist and a conjugate of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ian Francis HERMANS, Gavin Frank PAINTER, Kef Kawin PRASIT
  • Publication number: 20220233668
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a glycopeptide conjugate compound of Formula (I):, as described herein, compositions comprising the conjugate compound and to the use of such a compound to as a vaccine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Dale Ian GODFREY, William Ross HEATH, Lauren Eelise HOLZ, Ian Francis HERMANS, Gavin Frank PAINTER, Regan James ANDERSON, Benjamin Jason COPTON, Shivali Ashwin GULAB
  • Publication number: 20220099031
    Abstract: A turbine engine that includes an engine core, an inner cowl, an outer cowl and an accessory gearbox. The engine core includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The accessory gearbox is operably coupled to the engine core and includes a first portion and a second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, John Carl Glessner, Lawrence William Nurre, Ian Francis Prentice, Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Arthur William Sibbach
  • Patent number: 11156119
    Abstract: A feedback sensor system is provided. The feedback sensor system includes a first ring rotatable about an axial direction and a second ring also rotatable about the axial direction. The first ring includes one or more first ring features and the second ring includes one or more second ring features. The feedback sensor system also includes a sensor directed at the surface of the first ring for sensing a parameter influenced by the one or more first ring features and the one or more second ring features. The sensor may determine a position of the first ring relative to the second ring by sensing the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Ian Francis Prentice
  • Publication number: 20210215062
    Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 11053812
    Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 10677158
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system and method of operating gas turbine engines are provided. The gas turbine engine assembly includes a gas turbine engine includes a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a first fan and a second fan coupled to the power shaft coaxially with the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a first fan duct configured to direct a first stream of air to the first fan. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a second fan duct configured to direct a second stream of air to the second fan. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes an exhaust duct configured to direct a stream of exhaust gases of the gas turbine engine in a direction of the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Narendra Digamber Joshi, Ian Francis Prentice, Kurt David Murrow
  • Patent number: 10589475
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine composite article having a composite article airfoil extending outwardly to an article root to an article airfoil tip. Within the article airfoil is a core including a core airfoil attached to a core root including a core dovetail. A continuous outer three-dimensional braided layer including braided composite material tows are braided on the core and the braided layer covers the entire core airfoil and the core root. The core may be an inflatable mandrel or a composite core made of a composite material. The core may include stiffeners such as an I beam or hollow rectangular cross-section box beams. A method for making such an article includes braiding a continuous outer three-dimensional braided layer including braided composite material tows on the core including covering the entire core airfoil and the core root with the continuous outer three-dimensional braided layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Xiaomei Fang, Christopher Madsen, Ian Francis Prentice, Sultan Shair, Dong-Jin Shim, Douglas Duane Ward
  • Publication number: 20200003071
    Abstract: A feedback sensor system is provided. The feedback sensor system includes a first ring rotatable about an axial direction and a second ring also rotatable about the axial direction. The first ring includes one or more first ring features and the second ring includes one or more second ring features. The feedback sensor system also includes a sensor directed at the surface of the first ring for sensing a parameter influenced by the one or more first ring features and the one or more second ring features. The sensor may determine a position of the first ring relative to the second ring by sensing the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: Ian Francis Prentice
  • Publication number: 20190347885
    Abstract: A technique for controlling access to one or more attractions is achieved using a number of access keys, each being issued to one or more users. An electronic queue management part manages a virtual queue in respect of each attraction and receives electronic requests for attraction access, each request relating to an access key and being for the users associated with it to access a particular attraction. Receipt of each request causes the respective users to be added to a corresponding virtual queue. A time at which each group of users reaches the front of the virtual queue and can access the attraction is determined. The users access the attractions by presenting an access key to an access control part, in communication with the electronic queue management part. Only a user presenting an access key at the correct time for accessing the attraction is allowed access to the attraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Simon GALLEY, Christopher Simon Peter BARNABY, Ian FRANCIS, Dominic LIGHT
  • Patent number: 10443625
    Abstract: Composite airfoil singlet, includes airfoil extending from base to tip of airfoil, integrally formed with no more than one outer platform at tip and/or no more than one inner platform at base. Parallel composite plies or woven fibers extend through airfoil and through outer and/or inner platforms. Outer and/or inner curved sections extend between outer and/or inner platforms and airfoil respectively. Assembly includes circular row of the composite airfoil singlets depending radially inwardly from and mounted to an outer shroud or casing. Outer and/or inner fasteners may secure outer and inner platforms to outer shroud or casing and an inner shroud respectively and include shanks extending substantially perpendicularly from outer and inner fastening plates though platform holes in outer and inner platforms and through outer and inner holes in outer shroud or casing and inner shroud respectively. Nuts are screwed on threaded ends of shanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leslie Louis Langenbrunner, Ian Francis Prentice, Rosa Lee Nemec, Adam Max Aresty, Ming Xie, Andrew McGee
  • Patent number: 10442541
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes at least two propulsion engines. Each propulsion engine rotates about a longitudinal rotational axis, and a propulsive fan associated with each propulsion engine rotates in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal rotational axis. Each plane is at least one of spaced axially along a fuselage of the aircraft and canted such that each plane does not intersect any other plane associated with another propulsion engine and propulsive fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice
  • Patent number: 10436056
    Abstract: A feedback sensor system is provided. The feedback sensor system includes a first ring rotatable about an axial direction and a second ring also rotatable about the axial direction. The first ring includes one or more first ring features and the second ring includes one or more second ring features. The feedback sensor system also includes a sensor directed at the surface of the first ring for sensing a parameter influenced by the one or more first ring features and the one or more second ring features. The sensor may determine a position of the first ring relative to the second ring by sensing the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ian Francis Prentice
  • Patent number: 10408083
    Abstract: A method of making a hollow metal component comprising the steps of providing at least one core comprising a first side and a reverse side; utilizing a first metal spray process to apply at least one metal or metal alloy to the first side of the core, resulting in a partially-formed structure comprising a first side and a reverse side; and utilizing a second metal spray process to apply at least one metal or metal alloy to the reverse sides of the partially-formed structure and the core, resulting in a rough structure. A hollow metal component comprising a first side having interior and exterior surfaces, a reverse side having interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surfaces of the first side and the reverse side defining at least one cavity. The component is integrally formed and has regions comprising relatively different material compositions, the regions having gradual transitions of materials therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, Eric Allen Ott, Andrew Philip Woodfield
  • Patent number: D1028279
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CEM Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Adam Zawatsky, Steven Francis Guilmette, William Edward Jennings, Ian Stuart Goldstein