Patents by Inventor Kevin Allan Dooley

Kevin Allan Dooley 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: 20160153364
    Abstract: A method of controlling a flow of a fuel mixture of different types of fuel in a gas turbine engine is described which includes determining a combustive energy value of an input of the fuel mixture in the engine, extracting fuel schedule data from a fuel schedule established for a reference fuel, determining a desired fuel mixture flow rate by adapting the fuel schedule data to the fuel mixture based on the combustive energy value, and controlling a fuel metering device of the engine such that the fuel mixture flow rate corresponds to the desired fuel mixture flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph H. BRAND, Kevin Allan DOOLEY
  • Patent number: 9347379
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for in-flight relighting of a turbofan engine involve in one aspect selectively controlling an accessory drag load on one or more windmilling rotors to permit control of the windmill speed to an optimum value for relight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 9267438
    Abstract: A multi-engine system 10 for use on an aircraft 14 is disclosed. The system 10 may comprise a first aircraft engine 16A and a second aircraft engine 16B configured to drive at least one device 12 of the aircraft 14. A starter 20 may be coupled to one of the first and second aircraft engines 16A, 16B to assist starting of the one of the first and second aircraft engines 16A, 16B. An energy source 24 may be configured to deliver energy to the starter 20 at a rapid rate during rapid starting of the one of the first and the second aircraft engines 16A, 16B, the rapid rate being higher than a regular rate used during regular starting of the one of the first and the second aircraft engines 16A, 16B. The energy source 24 may comprise at least one supercapacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Kevin Allan Dooley, Keith Morgan
  • Patent number: 9261025
    Abstract: A method for purging fuel from a fuel system of a gas turbine engine on shutdown of the engine comprises, in one aspect, terminating a fuel supply to the fuel system and using the residual compressed air to create a reversed pressure differential in the fuel system relative to a forward pressure differential of the fuel system used to maintain fuel supply for engine operation, and under the reversed pressure differential substantially purging the fuel remaining in the system therefrom to a fuel source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Publication number: 20150322864
    Abstract: A multi-engine system 10 for use on an aircraft 14 is disclosed. The system 10 may comprise a first aircraft engine 16A and a second aircraft engine 16B configured to drive at least one device 12 of the aircraft 14. A starter 20 may be coupled to one of the first and second aircraft engines 16A, 16B to assist starting of the one of the first and second aircraft engines 16A, 16B. An energy source 24 may be configured to deliver energy to the starter 20 at a rapid rate during rapid starting of the one of the first and the second aircraft engines 16A, 16B, the rapid rate being higher than a regular rate used during regular starting of the one of the first and the second aircraft engines 16A, 16B. The energy source 24 may comprise at least one supercapacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin Allan DOOLEY, Keith MORGAN
  • Patent number: 9169742
    Abstract: An electrical control system for distinguishing between an electrical fault and a shaft shear condition in a gas turbine engine, the control system including, in one aspect, a detection circuit including: two or more probes, each probe including an associated resistor having a predetermined range of resistance, and each probe being disposed in the engine adjacent a rotary mounted shaft component, where mechanical interference between one or more of the probes and the shaft component renders the associated resistor substantially non-conductive; sensor processor(s) in communication with each probe, determining a probe operational status based on a measured resistance to current conducted through each probe, and generating a fault code when the measured resistance of at least one of the plurality of probes is not within the predetermined range of resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Kevin Allan Dooley, Antwan Shenouda
  • Patent number: 9128063
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for measuring stress or strain in a conductive material without physical contact with the material are provided. The device comprises an inductor circuit configured to induce an alternating current into the material along a first path; and a detector configured to detect a signal representative of the stress in the material along the first path when current is induced in the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 9096326
    Abstract: An assembly of fuel tank and bubbler system comprises a fuel tank defining a storage volume adapted to receive fuel therein. The fuel tank comprises at least one fuel inlet, at least one fuel outlet, and at least one gas inlet adapted to be connected to an inert gas source to feed inert gas to fill an ullage in the storage volume. A bubbler system has at least one pipe extending into the fuel tank and adapted to be immersed into the fuel of the fuel tank. The pipe has a porous structure. The pipe is adapted to be connected to an inert gas source to inject inert gas via the porous structure into the fuel of the fuel tank. A method for treating fuel in a fuel tank is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Kevin Allan Dooley, David Waddleton, Thomas A. Bush
  • Patent number: 8975877
    Abstract: A DC motor assembly (10) with soft starting capability is provided. The assembly (10) comprises a DC motor (12) including an armature (14) and a field winding (16) adapted to be excited separately from the armature; and circuitry configured to controllably increase current flow through the field winding of the DC motor as a function of time during starting of the DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Publication number: 20150049589
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a source of physiological affliction within a moving enclosed structure, such as a vehicle, which defines an interior. The system includes: at least one pressure fluctuation generator, at least one pressure sensor located to sense pressure indicative of the interior of the structure; and at least one controller configured to: determine, from the first pressure sensor information, at least one pressure disturbance within the interior of the structure; and control the at least one pressure fluctuation generator to cancel the at least one pressure disturbance within the interior of the structure. In an example, the at least one pressure disturbance includes infrasonic pressure fluctuations (infrasound). In an example, the physiological affliction includes motion sickness or nauseogenicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin Allan Dooley, Elwood A. Morris
  • Publication number: 20150033754
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for in-flight relighting of a turbofan engine involve in one aspect selectively controlling an accessory drag load on one or more windmilling rotors to permit control of the windmill speed to an optimum value for relight conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin Allan DOOLEY
  • Publication number: 20150033753
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for in-flight relighting of a turbofan engine involve in one aspect selectively controlling an accessory drag load on one or more windmilling rotors to permit control of the windmill speed to an optimum value for relight conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin Allan DOOLEY
  • Patent number: 8938973
    Abstract: An aircraft air system includes a gas turbine engine, a bleed air duct directing compressed air bled from a compressor to an inner compartment within the aircraft, and an air contamination detector located downstream of the gas turbine engine compressor. The air contamination detector includes a visual indicator which detects the presence of a fluid contaminant within the bleed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin Allan Dooley, Kiritkumar Patel
  • Patent number: 8878468
    Abstract: An electric machine assembly with fail-safe arrangement is described. The assembly comprises a stator including a plurality of windings and a cooperating rotor including at least one permanent magnet; a detector configured to detect DC current in at least one of the windings of the stator; and a bypass circuit configured to be activated upon detection of the DC current by the detector and to prevent at least some of the DC current from flowing into the at least one of the windings of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 8875519
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for in-flight relighting of a turbofan engine involve in one aspect selectively controlling an accessory drag load on one or more windmilling rotors to permit control of the windmill speed to an optimum value for relight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 8844292
    Abstract: A method for purging fuel from a fuel system of a gas turbine engine on shutdown of the engine comprises, in one aspect, terminating a fuel supply to the fuel system and using the residual compressed air to create a reversed pressure differential in the fuel system relative to a forward pressure differential of the fuel system used to maintain fuel supply for engine operation, and under the reversed pressure differential substantially purging the fuel remaining in the system therefrom to a fuel source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Publication number: 20140252171
    Abstract: An assembly of fuel tank and bubbler system comprises a fuel tank defining a storage volume adapted to receive fuel therein. The fuel tank comprises at least one fuel inlet, at least one fuel outlet, and at least one gas inlet adapted to be connected to an inert gas source to feed inert gas to fill an ullage in the storage volume. A bubbler system has at least one pipe extending into the fuel tank and adapted to be immersed into the fuel of the fuel tank. The pipe has a porous structure. The pipe is adapted to be connected to an inert gas source to inject inert gas via the porous structure into the fuel of the fuel tank. A method for treating fuel in a fuel tank is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Kevin Allan DOOLEY, David WADDLETON, Thomas A. BUSH
  • Publication number: 20140245745
    Abstract: A method for purging fuel from a fuel system of a gas turbine engine on shutdown of the engine comprises, in one aspect, terminating a fuel supply to the fuel system and using the residual compressed air to create a reversed pressure differential in the fuel system relative to a forward pressure differential of the fuel system used to maintain fuel supply for engine operation, and under the reversed pressure differential substantially purging the fuel remaining in the system therefrom to a fuel source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan DOOLEY
  • Publication number: 20140245739
    Abstract: A method for purging fuel from a fuel system of a gas turbine engine on shutdown of the engine comprises, in one aspect, terminating a fuel supply to the fuel system and using the residual compressed air to create a reversed pressure differential in the fuel system relative to a forward pressure differential of the fuel system used to maintain fuel supply for engine operation, and under the reversed pressure differential substantially purging the fuel remaining in the system therefrom to a fuel source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan DOOLEY
  • Publication number: 20140245581
    Abstract: A low-inductance capacitor assembly (12) is provided. The capacitor assembly (12) includes a positive terminal plate (16), a negative terminal plate (18) and an array (20) of capacitors (22) disposed between and electrically coupled to the positive terminal plate (16) and the negative terminal plate (18). A passage (30) extends through the positive terminal plate (16), the negative terminal plate (18) and through a void (35) formed within the array (20) of capacitors (22). The passage (30) may allow routing of a conductor (14) through the capacitor assembly (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin Allan DOOLEY, Joshua BELL