Patents by Inventor Joseph Thomas Kopecek

Joseph Thomas Kopecek 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).

  • Publication number: 20220170536
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a rotary lock assembly that includes a first epicyclic gear assembly having a first sun gear assembly, a first ring gear assembly, and a first planet gear assembly mechanically engaged to the first sun gear assembly and the first ring gear assembly, and a second epicyclic gear assembly having a second sun gear assembly configured to be rotated by the first ring gear assembly, a second ring gear assembly, and a second planet gear assembly mechanically engaged to the second sun gear assembly and the second ring gear assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 11326554
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a thrust reverser synchronization shaft lock system includes a rotatable shaft comprising at least one radial prong extending radially from the shaft, a hydraulic lock assembly that includes a housing, a piston head having a lock recess, a piston rod extending radially away from the shaft and configured to be urged by the piston head to move the first piston rod end out of engagement with the radial prong to selectably permit rotation of the shaft, and a bias member configured to urge the first piston rod end into engagement with the radial prong, and an electric lock assembly that includes a lock pin and an electric actuator configured to controllably extend and retract the lock pin in and out of engagement with the lock recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan DeMichele, Neil Jenkins, Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Publication number: 20220112865
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an actuator apparatus includes an output member configured to actuate between a first positional configuration and a second positional configuration, a source fluid reservoir, a fluid velocity resistor configured to provide a predetermined resistance to fluid flow, a fluid velocity fuse configured to flow fluid flows having a first predetermined range of fluid velocities and to block fluid flows having second predetermined range of fluid velocities, and a fluid actuator assembly configured to urge fluid flow from the source fluid reservoir through the fluid velocity resistor and the fluid velocity fuse based on actuation of the output member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Kopecek, William Muster
  • Patent number: 11255294
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a turbofan engine assembly includes a engine, a nacelle defining a generally forward-to-aft bypass air flow path, a thrust reverser comprising a first movable element, movable to and from a reversing position where at least a portion of the bypass air flow is reversed, a hydraulic actuator coupled to the first movable element to move the first movable element into and out of the reversing position, and a second moveable element, configured to move in synchronicity with the first moveable element, a first hydraulic valve operable to control a flow of hydraulic fluid for actuation of the hydraulic actuator, a second hydraulic valve operably coupled to the second moveable element and moveable between a restricted condition wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid is restricted, and a permit condition wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 11236700
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system includes a turbofan engine, a nacelle surrounding the engine and defining an annular bypass duct through the engine to define a generally forward-to-aft bypass air flow path, a thrust reverser movable to and from a reversing position where at least a portion of the bypass air flow path is reversed and comprising a first reverser portion having a first latch element, and a second reverser portion having a second latch element that is reversibly engageable with the first latch element to reversibly secure the second reverser portion to the first reverser portion, and an actuator comprising a catch element coupled to a portion of at least one of the first latch element and the second latch element to move the first reverser portion and the second reverser portion into and out of the reversing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ernest Stone, Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Publication number: 20220003187
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a thrust reverser synchronization shaft lock system includes a rotatable shaft comprising at least one radial prong extending radially from the shaft, a hydraulic lock assembly that includes a housing, a piston head having a lock recess, a piston rod extending radially away from the shaft and configured to be urged by the piston head to move the first piston rod end out of engagement with the radial prong to selectably permit rotation of the shaft, and a bias member configured to urge the first piston rod end into engagement with the radial prong, and an electric lock assembly that includes a lock pin and an electric actuator configured to controllably extend and retract the lock pin in and out of engagement with the lock recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Dan DeMichele, Neil Jenkins, Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 11156186
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an assembly that includes a piston having a piston inner surface defining a cylindrical cavity and includes a first axial portion, a piston face at a first end of the first axial portion, a second axial portion at a second end of the first axial portion, and a helical piston thread defined upon the piston inner surface, a bushing configured to contact the piston inner surface, and a lock nut configured to engage the piston and the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Berger, Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 11067034
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes a nacelle configured to at least partially surround an engine and a thrust reverser coupled to the nacelle. The thrust reverser includes: a thrust-reversing element movable relative to the nacelle between a stowed position and a deployed position; a hydraulic actuator operably coupled to move the thrust-reversing element; and a fluid control system configured to operate the hydraulic actuator. The fluid control system includes: a directional control unit including a directional control valve operable to selectively route fluid between a pressurized fluid source, the actuator, and a fluid return reservoir; one or more bypass fluid lines providing fluid communication between the actuator and the fluid return reservoir independent of the directional control valve; and a flow limiter residing between the pressurized fluid source and the directional control valve, the flow limiter configured to inhibit a pressure draw by the actuator from surpassing a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 11053889
    Abstract: The present subject matter can be embodied in, among other things, a two-speed thrust reverser actuation system for actuating a thrust reverser element experiencing an assisting load during movement between a stowed and deployed positions. The system includes a hydraulic actuator to move the thrust reverser element between the stowed and deployed positions, and a directional control valve with a regeneration feature including a restrictor and a velocity fuse arranged in parallel with the restrictor. The velocity fuse is configured to close when the assisting load on the thrust reverser element increases the flow rate of hydraulic fluid through the velocity fuse above threshold value. In operation, the system defines a first movement speed when the velocity fuse is open, and a second movement speed when the velocity fuse is closed, thereby decreasing an effective exit orifice size of the hydraulic actuator when the assisting load increases the deploy rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 11035320
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a lock apparatus that includes a latch hook having a catch at a first latch end, a first pivotal mount at a second latch end opposite the first latch end, and a second pivotal mount, a rotary actuator configured to selectably rotate a rotor shaft in a first rotary direction and in a second rotary direction opposite the first rotary direction, a rotor arm coupled to the rotor shaft at a first arm end and extending radially outward from the rotor shaft to a second arm end opposite the first arm end, and a link arm pivotably connected to the second arm end at a first link end, and pivotably connected to the second pivotal mount at a second link end opposite the first link end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Kopecek, Julian Sweet
  • Publication number: 20210123504
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an actuator that includes a worm drive assembly having a worm shaft, and a worm wheel configured as a ring having a radially outer perimeter comprising a first collection of gear teeth extending radially outward from the radially outer perimeter and at least partly engaged with the worm shaft, and a coaxial radially inner perimeter comprising a second collection of gear teeth extending radially inward from the inner perimeter, and an epicyclic gear assembly having a sun gear and a planet gear engaged with the sun gear and the second collection of gear teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Publication number: 20210079872
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system includes a turbofan engine, a nacelle surrounding the engine and defining an annular bypass duct through the engine to define a generally forward-to-aft bypass air flow path, a thrust reverser movable to and from a reversing position where at least a portion of the bypass air flow path is reversed and comprising a first reverser portion having a first latch element, and a second reverser portion having a second latch element that is reversibly engageable with the first latch element to reversibly secure the second reverser portion to the first reverser portion, and an actuator comprising a catch element coupled to a portion of at least one of the first latch element and the second latch element to move the first reverser portion and the second reverser portion into and out of the reversing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ernest Stone, Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 10865738
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a linear actuator lock apparatus, including a housing having an inner surface defining an axial cavity including a first housing portion where the axial cavity has a first lateral size, a second housing portion where the axial cavity has a second lateral size that is larger than the first lateral size, and a face from the first housing portion to the second housing portion, a piston configured for axial movement within the axial cavity, a lock finger affixed to and extending away from the piston, where a finger end is configured to contact the face when extended and fit within the first housing portion when retracted, and a sleeve configured to move between a position in which the lock finger is permitted to extend and a position configured to contact and retract the lock finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Publication number: 20200386185
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a lock apparatus that includes a latch hook having a catch at a first latch end, a first pivotal mount at a second latch end opposite the first latch end, and a second pivotal mount, a rotary actuator configured to selectably rotate a rotor shaft in a first rotary direction and in a second rotary direction opposite the first rotary direction, a rotor arm coupled to the rotor shaft at a first arm end and extending radially outward from the rotor shaft to a second arm end opposite the first arm end, and a link arm pivotably connected to the second arm end at a first link end, and pivotably connected to the second pivotal mount at a second link end opposite the first link end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Kopecek, Julian Sweet
  • Publication number: 20200355140
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a turbofan engine assembly includes a engine, a nacelle defining a generally forward-to-aft bypass air flow path, a thrust reverser comprising a first movable element, movable to and from a reversing position where at least a portion of the bypass air flow is reversed, a hydraulic actuator coupled to the first movable element to move the first movable element into and out of the reversing position, and a second moveable element, configured to move in synchronicity with the first moveable element, a first hydraulic valve operable to control a flow of hydraulic fluid for actuation of the hydraulic actuator, a second hydraulic valve operably coupled to the second moveable element and moveable between a restricted condition wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid is restricted, and a permit condition wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid is permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Publication number: 20200347802
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an assembly that includes a piston having a piston inner surface defining a cylindrical cavity and includes a first axial portion, a piston face at a first end of the first axial portion, a second axial portion at a second end of the first axial portion, and a helical piston thread defined upon the piston inner surface, a bushing configured to contact the piston inner surface, and a lock nut configured to engage the piston and the bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Berger, Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Publication number: 20200271072
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a linear actuator lock apparatus, including a housing having an inner surface defining an axial cavity including a first housing portion where the axial cavity has a first lateral size, a second housing portion where the axial cavity has a second lateral size that is larger than the first lateral size, and a face from the first housing portion to the second housing portion, a piston configured for axial movement within the axial cavity, a lock finger affixed to and extending away from the piston, where a finger end is configured to contact the face when extended and fit within the first housing portion when retracted, and a sleeve configured to move between a position in which the lock finger is permitted to extend and a position configured to contact and retract the lock finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 10704497
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a turbofan engine assembly includes a engine, a nacelle defining a generally forward-to-aft bypass air flow path, a thrust reverser comprising a first movable element, movable to and from a reversing position where at least a portion of the bypass air flow is reversed, a hydraulic actuator coupled to the first movable element to move the first movable element into and out of the reversing position, and a second moveable element, configured to move in synchronicity with the first moveable element, a first hydraulic valve operable to control a flow of hydraulic fluid for actuation of the hydraulic actuator, a second hydraulic valve operably coupled to the second moveable element and moveable between a restricted condition wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid is restricted, and a permit condition wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 10662897
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a lock apparatus that includes a latch hook having a catch at a first latch end, a first pivotal mount at a second latch end opposite the first latch end, and a second pivotal mount, a rotary actuator configured to selectably rotate a rotor shaft in a first rotary direction and in a second rotary direction opposite the first rotary direction, a rotor arm coupled to the rotor shaft at a first arm end and extending radially outward from the rotor shaft to a second arm end opposite the first arm end, and a link arm pivotably connected to the second arm end at a first link end, and pivotably connected to the second pivotal mount at a second link end opposite the first link end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Kopecek, Julian Sweet
  • Patent number: 10626824
    Abstract: A thrust reverser includes: a thrust-reversing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; at least one hydraulic actuator operably coupled to move the thrust-reversing element between the stowed and deployed positions; at least one hydraulic primary lock configured to transition, in response to a first activation pressure, between an engaged state, where movement of the thrust-reversing element is inhibited, and a released state, where movement of the thrust-reversing element is uninhibited; and a directional control unit fluidly coupled to the hydraulic actuator and the hydraulic primary lock, the directional control unit configured to transition from a first stage to a second stage in response to a second activation pressure that is greater than the first activation pressure, and where a transition from the first stage to the second stage by the directional control unit causes the hydraulic actuator to move the thrust-reversing element to the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Kopecek, Julian Sweet