Patents by Inventor Joseph E. Elliott

Joseph E. Elliott 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: 11649040
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a method for providing continuously variable feel forces for an aircraft comprises sensing, by each of at least one sensor associated with at least one aircraft control, a force sensor value. The method further comprises determining a net force value by using the force sensor value for each of at least one sensor. Also, the method comprises comparing the net force value to a desired breakout force. In addition, the method comprises determining whether the net force value exceeds the desired breakout force. Additionally, the method comprises determining an adjusted force value by using the desired breakout force and the net force value, when the net force value exceeds the desired breakout force. Also, the method comprises determining an actuator torque command based on the adjusted force value. Further, the method comprises commanding an autopilot actuator with the actuator torque command to apply torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Tlie Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph E. Elliott
  • Publication number: 20220024563
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a method for providing continuously variable feel forces for an aircraft comprises sensing, by each of at least one sensor associated with at least one aircraft control, a force sensor value. The method further comprises determining a net force value by using the force sensor value for each of at least one sensor. Also, the method comprises comparing the net force value to a desired breakout force. In addition, the method comprises determining whether the net force value exceeds the desired breakout force. Additionally, the method comprises determining an adjusted force value by using the desired breakout force and the net force value, when the net force value exceeds the desired breakout force. Also, the method comprises determining an actuator torque command based on the adjusted force value. Further, the method comprises commanding an autopilot actuator with the actuator torque command to apply torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventor: Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 11068012
    Abstract: A rudder control pedal assembly including an idler link pivotably coupled to a support frame at a first joint, a coupler link pivotably coupled to the idler link at a second joint, a drive link pivotably coupled to the coupler link at a third joint and pivotably coupled to the support frame at a fourth joint, and a pedal coupled to the coupler link and constrained to movement along an approximately linear travel path, wherein the support frame forms an imaginary fixed link to complete a four-bar linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 11053016
    Abstract: Controlling a movement of an aircraft. A computer system detects a position of a group of integrated control levers for the aircraft. The computer system controls a forward thrust, a drag, and a reverse thrust generated by the aircraft based on the position of the group of integrated control levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew August Lassen, Joseph E. Elliott, Stephen Todd Burrington, Robert James Myers, Kent E. Karnofski, Thomas Jenkins Staggs
  • Patent number: 10926869
    Abstract: Systems and methods for jam mitigation in aircraft fly-by-wire systems are described herein. An example method of controlling an aircraft with a fly-by-wire system includes determining a current position of a pilot cockpit controller of the fly-by-wire system, determining an amount of pilot input force applied to the pilot cockpit controller, determining an expected pilot input force value that corresponds to the current position of the pilot cockpit controller, and, if the amount of pilot input force applied exceeds the expected pilot input force value by a threshold, generating a pilot command based on the amount of pilot input force applied and not the current position of the pilot cockpit controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Neal V. Huynh, Joseph E. Elliott
  • Publication number: 20200172230
    Abstract: Systems and methods for jam mitigation in aircraft fly-by-wire systems are described herein. An example method of controlling an aircraft with a fly-by-wire system includes determining a current position of a pilot cockpit controller of the fly-by-wire system, determining an amount of pilot input force applied to the pilot cockpit controller, determining an expected pilot input force value that corresponds to the current position of the pilot cockpit controller, and, if the amount of pilot input force applied exceeds the expected pilot input force value by a threshold, generating a pilot command based on the amount of pilot input force applied and not the current position of the pilot cockpit controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Neal V. Huynh, Joseph E. Elliott
  • Publication number: 20190384345
    Abstract: A rudder control pedal assembly including an idler link pivotably coupled to a support frame at a first joint, a coupler link pivotably coupled to the idler link at a second joint, a drive link pivotably coupled to the coupler link at a third joint and pivotably coupled to the support frame at a fourth joint, and a pedal coupled to the coupler link and constrained to movement along an approximately linear travel path, wherein the support frame forms an imaginary fixed link to complete a four-bar linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 10409315
    Abstract: A rudder control apparatus includes a pair of pedal assemblies, coupled to a support frame for control of a rudder control device. Each one of the pedal assemblies includes an idler link, a coupler link, and a drive link. The idler link is coupled to the support frame and is pivotable relative to the support frame. The coupler link is coupled to the idler link and is pivotable relative to the idler link. The drive link is coupled to the coupler link and to the support frame and is pivotable relative to the coupler link and relative to the support frame. A pedal is coupled to the coupler link. A four-bar linkage is formed by the support frame, the idler link, the coupler link, and the drive link and confines movement of the pedal to a linear travel path in a forward direction and a rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 10246178
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the pitch of an aircraft. The apparatus includes a horizontal control column extending from a control wheel horizontally towards a front wall of a cockpit. A pitch output link is connected to a downstream pitch control mechanism to transfer a force applied at the pitch output link to the downstream pitch control mechanism. A transfer assembly is connected to the horizontal control column and to the pitch output link. The transfer assembly translates a horizontal force applied to the horizontal control column to the pitch output link to provide the force applied to the downstream pitch control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joseph E. Elliott, Andrew Sones, John Standley
  • Publication number: 20180009523
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the pitch of an aircraft. The apparatus includes a horizontal control column extending from a control wheel horizontally towards a front wall of a cockpit. A pitch output link is connected to a downstream pitch control mechanism to transfer a force applied at the pitch output link to the downstream pitch control mechanism. A transfer assembly is connected to the horizontal control column and to the pitch output link. The transfer assembly translates a horizontal force applied to the horizontal control column to the pitch output link to provide the force applied to the downstream pitch control mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: JOSEPH E. ELLIOTT, ANDREW SONES, JOHN STANDLEY
  • Publication number: 20170253317
    Abstract: A rudder control apparatus may include a laterally spaced apart pair of pedal assemblies each coupled to a support frame and a rudder control device, the pedal assemblies each including a four-bar linkage constrained to movement in an approximately vertical plane, and a pedal coupled to the four-bar linkage and constrained to movement in an approximately horizontal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventor: Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 5242552
    Abstract: The present invention resides in a process and apparatus for the electrolytic production of strong solutions of halogen oxyacids, more specifically for the production of such acids having a normality of about 0.1 to about 3.6 from the corresponding alkali metal salts of such acids. The present invention comprises establishing a solution of the corresponding alkali metal salt having a molar concentration less than that at which precipitation of said salt occurs. An electrolytic cell is provided comprising an anode compartment containing an anode, a cathode compartment containing a cathode, and a middle feed compartment intermediate the anode compartment and cathode compartment. The feed compartment is separated from the anode compartment by a diaphragm and from the cathode compartment by a cation-selective membrane. Means are provided for introducing said alkali metal salt solution into said middle feed compartment and for applying a voltage between the anode and cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Eltech Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Coin, Joseph E. Elliott, Eric J. Rudd, Anthony R. Sacco
  • Patent number: 4377806
    Abstract: A parallel to serial converter is described for recording channel applications, wherein a coded symbol comprising a plural number of bits is to be rotated or converted to a serial stream. The converter includes a variable delay section which accepts the parallel code inputs on a plurality of lines and delays each input bit a predetermined number of counts, depending upon which line it is input on. The delay unit supplies a selector array of gates with bit signals, and the selector array reorders the bits into the desired serial stream. An output register is provided to reclock the serial stream prior to further channel processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph E. Elliott, John R. Elliott
  • Patent number: 4345981
    Abstract: Biofouling and scale control in conductive aqueous systems is effected on metal, preferably valve metal such as titanium, surfaces on which such fouling normally occurs by applying thereto a stable electrocatalytic coating, anodically polarizing said valve metal coating such that essentially only oxygen is evolved at the surface thereof, preferably at a rate of at least about 4.66 millimoles per square meter per hour without evolution of any chlorine. Periodic current reversal is effected to forestall biofouling upon any cathode utilized in implementing the instant invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Diamond Shamrock Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Bennett, Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 4256556
    Abstract: Biofouling and scale control in conductive aqueous systems is effected on metal, preferably valve metal such as titanium, surfaces on which such fouling normally occurs by applying thereto a stable electrocatalytic coating, anodically polarizing said valve metal coating such that only oxygen is evolved at the surface thereof, preferably at a rate at least about 4.66 millimoles per square meter per hour without evolution of any chlorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: Diamond Shamrock Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Bennett, Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 4235697
    Abstract: Novel oxygen selective electrode comprising a coating on said anode consisting of delta manganese dioxide. This outer coating on the anode may be placed on the anode electrochemically by electrolyzing an acid saline solution having dissolved therein sufficient manganous chloride. Sufficient manganese dioxide is plated on said anode when the chlorine evolution essentially ceases during electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Diamond Shamrock Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Bennett, Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 4180445
    Abstract: Novel oxygen selective electrode comprising a coating on said anode consisting of delta manganese dioxide. This outer coating on the anode may be placed on the anode electrochemically by electrolyzing an acid saline solution having dissolved therein sufficient manganous chloride. Sufficient manganese dioxide is plated on said anode when the chlorine evolution essentially ceases during electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Diamond Shamrock Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Bennett, Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 4085014
    Abstract: Electrolysis of impure saline solutions containing dissolved iron and manganese causes deposits to form on the anodes of such electrolysis cell which rapidly reduces the efficiency of the cell. Pretreating the impure saline solutions with sodium hypochlorite solution formed from the reaction products of the electrolysis cell precipitates the iron and manganese dissolved therein and effectively prevents the formation of the deleterious deposits on the anode of said electrolytic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Assignee: Diamond Shamrock Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Bennett, Joseph E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 3974051
    Abstract: The formation of hardness-caused deposits on the cathodic surfaces of cells used in the electrolytic production of hypochlorite from impure saline solutions is reduced and good current efficiencies are realized by employing flat, continuous cathodes having a surface roughness of less than 2.54 .times. 10.sup.-.sup.4 cm. and passing said solution by said cathodes during electrolysis at a velocity of from 0.3 meter/sec. to the number which is equal to the log expressed by the formula: Log velocity (in m/sec/3) = 1.0 - (available Cl.sub.2 concentration, in grams per liter, divided by 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: Diamond Shamrock Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph E. Elliott, Neil W. Stillman, John E. Bennett