Patents by Inventor Kurt J. Doughty

Kurt J. Doughty 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: 8850830
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a cooling loop that includes a reservoir. The reservoir has a level sensor that is configured to provide a level signal indicative of a coolant level within the reservoir. A temperature sensor is in communication with the cooling loop and is configured to provide a temperature signal. A controller is in communication with the level sensor and the temperature sensor. The controller has a coolant density data. The controller is configured to correct the level signal based upon the temperature signal and detect a leakage condition of the cooling system. A method of determining a coolant amount within a cooling system includes the steps of determining an amount of coolant having a temperature-variable density, determining a coolant temperature, correcting the coolant amount based upon the coolant temperature, and comparing the corrected coolant amount to a desired coolant amount to detect a coolant leakage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Kurt J. Doughty
  • Patent number: 8844551
    Abstract: A method for detecting a leak in a closed-volume liquid system comprises circulating a fluid through a closed-loop with a pump having a reservoir and that is driven by an electric motor. The method also comprises sensing a pressure in the closed-loop, sensing current draw by the motor and sensing fluid level in the reservoir. The method further comprises determining a presence of a leak of fluid from the closed-loop based upon two of the sensed signals using a first leak detection logic, and determining the presence of a leak of fluid from the closed-loop based upon at least one of the sensed signals using a second leak detection logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt J. Doughty, Terrance R. Snider, Daniel Uttberg, Eric A. Rohrbach
  • Publication number: 20130327071
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a cooling loop that includes a reservoir. The reservoir has a level sensor that is configured to provide a level signal indicative of a coolant level within the reservoir. A temperature sensor is in communication with the cooling loop and is configured to provide a temperature signal. A controller is in communication with the level sensor and the temperature sensor. The controller has a coolant density data. The controller is configured to correct the level signal based upon the temperature signal and detect a leakage condition of the cooling system. A method of determining a coolant amount within a cooling system includes the steps of determining an amount of coolant having a temperature-variable density, determining a coolant temperature, correcting the coolant amount based upon the coolant temperature, and comparing the corrected coolant amount to a desired coolant amount to detect a coolant leakage condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Kurt J. Doughty
  • Patent number: 8602063
    Abstract: A fluid system comprises a pressure vessel with a baffle oriented at a skew angle. The baffle divides the vessel into first and second volumes. A first port is provided to introduce a pressurizing fluid into the first volume, and a second port is provided to circulate a working fluid within the second volume. A purge aperture is provided to purge the pressurizing fluid from the second volume across the baffle into the first volume, and a flow aperture is provided to transfer the working fluid through the baffle between the first and second volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Terrance R. Snider, Kurt J. Doughty
  • Patent number: 8517040
    Abstract: A closed-loop system includes a pump driving a fluid through a series of conduits. A control system is included that minimizes pressure fluctuations in a bootstrap reservoir to maintain a desired minimum pressure at the pump inlet. Moreover, the control system reduces a maximum system pressure by reducing the magnitude of pressure fluctuations encountered by the bootstrap reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Kurt J. Doughty
  • Publication number: 20130037119
    Abstract: A closed-loop system includes a pump driving a fluid through a series of conduits. A control system is included that minimizes pressure fluctuations in a bootstrap reservoir to maintain a desired minimum pressure at the pump inlet. Moreover, the control system reduces a maximum system pressure by reducing the magnitude of pressure fluctuations encountered by the bootstrap reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventor: Kurt J. Doughty
  • Publication number: 20120318366
    Abstract: A method for isolating a leak in a closed-volume liquid system comprises circulating a fluid through a plurality of isolatable zones and a non-isolatable zone in a closed-volume liquid system, detecting a leak in the closed-volume liquid system, isolating all of the isolatable zones from the non-isolatable zone, sequentially detecting if the leak is present in the non-isolatable zone and each of isolatable zones, and taking corrective action after the leak is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl P. Henkel, Kurt J. Doughty, Daniel Uttberg, Eric A. Rohrbach, Terrance R. Snider
  • Publication number: 20120318368
    Abstract: A method for detecting a leak in a closed-volume liquid system comprises circulating a fluid through a closed-loop with a pump having a reservoir and that is driven by an electric motor. The method also comprises sensing a pressure in the closed-loop, sensing current draw by the motor and sensing fluid level in the reservoir. The method further comprises determining a presence of a leak of fluid from the closed-loop based upon two of the sensed signals using a first leak detection logic, and determining the presence of a leak of fluid from the closed-loop based upon at least one of the sensed signals using a second leak detection logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kurt J. Doughty, Terrance R. Snider, Daniel Uttberg, Eric A. Rohrbach
  • Patent number: 8333210
    Abstract: A method for isolating a leak in a closed-volume liquid system comprises circulating a fluid through a plurality of isolatable zones and a non-isolatable zone in a closed-volume liquid system, detecting a leak in the closed-volume liquid system, isolating all of the isolatable zones from the non-isolatable zone, sequentially detecting if the leak is present in the non-isolatable zone and each of isolatable zones, and taking corrective action after the leak is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Karl P. Henkel, Kurt J. Doughty, Daniel Uttberg, Eric A. Rohrbach, Terrance R. Snider
  • Publication number: 20120199229
    Abstract: A fluid system comprises a pressure vessel with a baffle oriented at a skew angle. The baffle divides the vessel into first and second volumes. A first port is provided to introduce a pressurizing fluid into the first volume, and a second port is provided to circulate a working fluid within the second volume. A purge aperture is provided to purge the pressurizing fluid from the second volume across the baffle into the first volume, and a flow aperture is provided to transfer the working fluid through the baffle between the first and second volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terrance R. Snider, Kurt J. Doughty