Patents by Inventor Keith E. Short

Keith E. Short 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: 20200056547
    Abstract: An air turbine starter device includes a gear assembly, a rotor arranged in a cavity of a housing and operably connected the gear assembly, a first manifold having a cavity with a first manifold port operative to direct compressed air to the rotor, and a second manifold having a cavity with a second manifold port operative to direct compressed air to the rotor. The first manifold is larger than the second manifold, the second manifold is fluidly connected in parallel with the first manifold, and the first manifold port and the second manifold port are operative to drive the rotor in a common direction for starting a gas turbine connected to the gear assembly. Air turbine starter systems and methods of starting gas turbine engines are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Daniel Richard Walker
  • Patent number: 10480417
    Abstract: An air turbine starter device comprises a rotor arranged in a cavity of a housing, a first manifold having a cavity with a port operative to direct compressed air to the rotor, a second manifold having a cavity with a port operative to direct compressed air to the rotor, wherein the first manifold is larger than the second manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Daniel Richard Walker
  • Publication number: 20180016988
    Abstract: An air turbine starter device comprises a rotor arranged in a cavity of a housing, a first manifold having a cavity with a port operative to direct compressed air to the rotor, a second manifold having a cavity with a port operative to direct compressed air to the rotor, wherein the first manifold is larger than the second manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Daniel Richard Walker
  • Patent number: 9863432
    Abstract: A method for filtering a fluid that includes collecting contaminates in the fluid, passing the fluid from inside an internal cavity of a first shaft through a tight clearance at a spline connection between the first shaft and a second shaft such that the fluid is filtered of contaminates as a result of the tight clearance, and delivering the filtered fluid to a delivery location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Heitz, Keith E. Short
  • Publication number: 20170260989
    Abstract: A method for filtering a fluid that includes collecting contaminates in the fluid, passing the fluid from inside an internal cavity of a first shaft through a tight clearance at a spline connection between the first shaft and a second shaft such that the fluid is filtered of contaminates as a result of the tight clearance, and delivering the filtered fluid to a delivery location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Steven A. Heitz, Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 9689399
    Abstract: An assembly for filtering a fluid includes a first rotatable shaft with a first set of splines. The first rotatable shaft has an internal cavity containing the fluid. Also included is a second rotatable shaft with a second set of splines mated to the first set of splines. The second rotatable shaft includes at least a portion of a supply hole. The first rotatable shaft and the second rotatable shaft are configured to convey the fluid from the internal cavity through a tight clearance between the first set of splines and the second set of splines, to filter the fluid, and then out the supply hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Heitz, Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 9353848
    Abstract: A gearbox assembly for use in a gas turbine engine includes a gearbox housing and first and second shafts. The first shaft is rotatably mounted in the gearbox housing. The first shaft has a first set of splines and defines a central cavity. The second shaft has a second set of splines engaged with the first set of splines. A scupper is positioned on an inner surface of the gearbox housing proximate the first shaft so as to direct liquid from the scupper through the central cavity of the first shaft to the first and second sets of splines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Blewett, Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 9284866
    Abstract: A lube system is provided and includes an air-oil tank including a deaerator configured to remove a first quantity of oil from a first air-oil supply to generate a second air-oil supply having a second quantity of oil, which is smaller than the first quantity of oil, the air oil tank being configured to output the second air-oil supply to an air vent line, a de-oiler disposed along the air vent line and configured to remove from the second air-oil supply oil mist including oil droplets of a minimum size and a system disposed between the deaerator and the de-oiler, which is configured to encourage formation of the oil droplets of at least the minimum size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Michael R. Blewett
  • Patent number: 9194254
    Abstract: A lube system is provided and includes an air-oil tank including a deaerator configured to remove a first quantity of oil from a first air-oil supply to generate a second air-oil supply having a second quantity of oil, which is smaller than the first quantity of oil, the air oil tank being configured to output the second air-oil supply to an air vent line, a de-oiler disposed along the air vent line and configured to remove from the second air-oil supply oil mist including oil droplets of a minimum size and a pressure regulating valve (PRV) disposed along the air vent line between the air-oil tank and the de-oiler to regulate fluid pressures within the air-oil tank, the PRV being configured to encourage formation of the oil droplets of at least the minimum size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Michael R. Blewett
  • Publication number: 20150252815
    Abstract: An assembly for filtering a fluid includes a first rotatable shaft with a first set of splines. The first rotatable shaft has an internal cavity containing the fluid. Also included is a second rotatable shaft with a second set of splines mated to the first set of splines. The second rotatable shaft includes at least a portion of a supply hole. The first rotatable shaft and the second rotatable shaft are configured to convey the fluid from the internal cavity through a tight clearance between the first set of splines and the second set of splines, to filter the fluid, and then out the supply hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven A. Heitz, Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 9127661
    Abstract: A bootstrap accumulator system includes an actuator cylinder that drives an accumulator piston through a multiple of nested actuator sleeves, comprising a multistage actuator cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Dean A. Norem
  • Patent number: 8945284
    Abstract: An assembly includes a housing having a housing cavity, an inlet, and an outlet, a rotatable shaft positioned proximate the outlet, and a seal positioned at an interface of the rotatable shaft and the housing. The seal includes porous material adjacent the shaft and the housing and a shell substantially separating the porous material from the housing cavity. The shell includes an inlet that allows fluid flow from the housing cavity to the porous material and an outlet that allows fluid flow from the porous material to the housing interior. The inlet is positioned radially inward of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Michael R. Blewett
  • Patent number: 8876476
    Abstract: An air turbine starter and accessory gearbox assembly, the accessory gearbox includes a gear shaft and the air turbine starter includes an output shaft and a clutch assembly. The output shaft extends from the accessory gearbox and is coupled to and supported by the gear shaft. The accessory gearbox is adapted to receive the air turbine starter such that the clutch assembly and the output shaft are disposed within a casing of the accessory gearbox when the air turbine starter is mounted to the accessory gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Blewett, Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 8876933
    Abstract: A breather assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes a static housing for accepting a fluidic mixture of substances, a rotatable separator having one or more fluid inlets and arranged about an axis of rotation, an exhaust outlet defined in the housing and positioned coaxially with the rotatable separator to accept fluidic exhaust from the rotatable separator, and a static diffuser supported by the housing at or near the exhaust outlet downstream from the rotatable separator. A portion of the static diffuser extends within the rotatable separator. The static diffuser includes a flow-straightening structure configured to reduce vortex flows in fluid flows passing through the exhaust outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Michael R. Blewett
  • Patent number: 8845275
    Abstract: A cranking pad assembly for a gearbox of a turbomachine including a cranking pad shaft rotatably secured in a gearbox housing and engageable with a gearbox drivetrain when urged inwardly into the gearbox housing. The cranking pad shaft includes an interface for a cranking tool. An interlock pin retains the cranking tool at the cranking pad shaft and a disconnect spring is operably connected to the gearbox housing to bias the cranking pad shaft outwardly from the gearbox housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Jeff A. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140274420
    Abstract: A gearbox assembly for use in a gas turbine engine includes a gearbox housing and first and second shafts. The first shaft is rotatably mounted in the gearbox housing. The first shaft has a first set of splines and defines a central cavity. The second shaft has a second set of splines engaged with the first set of splines. A scupper is positioned on an inner surface of the gearbox housing proximate the first shaft so as to direct liquid from the scupper through the central cavity of the first shaft to the first and second sets of splines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael R. Blewett, Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 8813607
    Abstract: A gearbox includes an outer housing including manual rotation access passage and a manual rotation shaft coupled to a spool of an engine to rotate the engine spool. The gearbox also includes coupled to the outer housing that includes a flapper valve that, in a closed position, prevents a lubricant from escaping from the outer housing via the manual rotation access passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Blewett, Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 8657931
    Abstract: A gearbox that includes an inlet configured to receive a mixture of air and oil from an external source and a deoiler. The deoiler includes a shaft including an outlet passage formed on an inner portion of the shaft, a separator unit coupled to and surrounding a portion of the shaft and including an inlet port, and a synchronizer including one or more blades and that is coupled to the shaft proximate the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Michael R. Blewett
  • Publication number: 20130319240
    Abstract: An assembly includes a housing having a housing cavity, an inlet, and an outlet, a rotatable shaft positioned proximate the outlet, and a seal positioned at an interface of the rotatable shaft and the housing. The seal includes porous material adjacent the shaft and the housing and a shell substantially separating the porous material from the housing cavity. The shell includes an inlet that allows fluid flow from the housing cavity to the porous material and an outlet that allows fluid flow from the porous material to the housing interior. The inlet is positioned radially inward of the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Michael R. Blewett
  • Publication number: 20130313050
    Abstract: A lube system is provided and includes an air-oil tank including a deaerator configured to remove a first quantity of oil from a first air-oil supply to generate a second air-oil supply having a second quantity of oil, which is smaller than the first quantity of oil, the air oil tank being configured to output the second air-oil supply to an air vent line, a de-oiler disposed along the air vent line and configured to remove from the second air-oil supply oil mist including oil droplets of a minimum size and a system disposed between the deaerator and the de-oiler, which is configured to encourage formation of the oil droplets of at least the minimum size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Michael R. Blewett