Patents by Inventor Michael Paul Somerfield

Michael Paul Somerfield 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: 20230314182
    Abstract: A composite cylinder for an actuator. The cylinder includes: a radially inner fibre-reinforced polymer layer defining a hollow bore; a radially outer fibre-reinforced polymer layer; a primary conductive coil, and a first and second secondary conductive coil wound between the radially inner fibre-reinforced polymer layer and the radially outer fibre-reinforced polymer layer. The first secondary conductive coil extends axially along at least a first region of the cylinder and the second secondary conductive coil extends axially along at least a second region of the cylinder, and wherein the primary conductive coil extends axially along at least a central region of the cylinder between the first region and the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan David Pethick, Michael Paul Somerfield
  • Patent number: 10907576
    Abstract: A nacelle for a gas turbine engine, comprising a thrust reverser movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and a locking system configured to selectively prevent movement of the thrust reverser from the stowed position, the locking system comprising a locking mechanism and an actuator configured to actuate the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is positioned aft of a blade-off zone defined across the nacelle and the actuator is positioned fore of, or at least partially within, the blade-off zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Antony Morgan, Michael Paul Somerfield
  • Patent number: 10760528
    Abstract: A thrust reverser drive arrangement is described for use in driving a thrust reverser cowl for movement relative to first and second guide tracks, the drive arrangement comprising a first actuator located, in use, close to the first guide track, and a second actuator located, in use, close to the second guide track, the actuators being arranged to be driven in synchronism and at the same speed by a drive motor to drive the cowl for movement, wherein at least one of the first and second actuators is provided with a load limiter to limit the transmission of loads through that actuator in the event that that actuator is subject to a compressive loading greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Paul Somerfield, Benjamin Thomas Tucker
  • Publication number: 20180334994
    Abstract: A nacelle for a gas turbine engine, comprising a thrust reverser movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and a locking system configured to selectively prevent movement of the thrust reverser from the stowed position, the locking system comprising a locking mechanism and an actuator configured to actuate the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is positioned aft of a blade-off zone defined across the nacelle and the actuator is positioned fore of, or at least partially within, the blade-off zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Antony MORGAN, Michael Paul SOMERFIELD
  • Publication number: 20170328307
    Abstract: A thrust reverser drive arrangement is described for use in driving a thrust reverser cowl for movement relative to first and second guide tracks, the drive arrangement comprising a first actuator located, in use, close to the first guide track, and a second actuator located, in use, close to the second guide track, the actuators being arranged to be driven in synchronism and at the same speed by a drive motor to drive the cowl for movement, wherein at least one of the first and second actuators is provided with a load limiter to limit the transmission of loads through that actuator in the event that that actuator is subject to a compressive loading greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Paul Somerfield, Benjamin Thomas Tucker
  • Patent number: 9528469
    Abstract: A thrust reverser drive arrangement is described for use in driving a thrust reverser cowl for movement relative to first and second guide tracks, the drive arrangement comprising a first actuator located, in use, close to the first guide track, and a second actuator located, in use, close to the second guide track, the actuators being arranged to be driven in synchronism and at the same speed by a drive motor to drive the cowl for movement, wherein at least one of the first and second actuators is provided with a load limiter to limit the transmission of loads through that actuator in the event that that actuator is subject to a compressive loading greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Paul Somerfield, Benjamin Thomas Tucker
  • Patent number: 9394980
    Abstract: A no-back arrangement is disclosed for use in applying a braking load to a rotary actuator member, the no-back arrangement comprising a no-back device operable to apply a braking load to the rotary actuator member when the rotary actuator member is subject to a tensile loading, and limit means operable to limit the magnitude of the applied braking load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Tony Jones, Michael Paul Somerfield, Edward George Hill
  • Patent number: 9016152
    Abstract: An actuator arrangement comprises a rotatable shaft, a nut mounted upon the shaft and translatable along the shaft upon rotation of the shaft relative to the nut, and a lock arrangement operable to lock the shaft and nut against relative rotation, the lock arrangement comprising a lock component mounted upon one of the shaft and the nut for axial movement relative thereto but held against angular movement relative thereto, the lock component being co-operable with an abutment provided on the other of the shaft and the nut, or a component associated therewith, to lock the shaft and nut to one another against relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Tony Jones, John Herbert Harvey, Michael Paul Somerfield
  • Patent number: 8632033
    Abstract: A thrust reverser drive arrangement for driving a thrust reverser cowl for movement relative to first and second guide tracks is described which comprises a first actuator located, in use, close to the first guide track, a second actuator located, in use, close to the second guide track, and a third actuator, the actuators being arranged to be driven in synchronism and at the same speed by a drive motor to drive the cowl for movement, the third actuator being of smaller size and/or weight than the first and second actuators, and wherein the third actuator is provided with a load limiter to limit the transmission of loads through the third actuator in the event that the third actuator is subject to a compressive loading greater than a predetermined level. The invention further relates to a load limiter device suitable for use in such an arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael Paul Somerfield, Benjamin Thomas Tucker
  • Publication number: 20110232406
    Abstract: A thrust reverser drive arrangement for driving a thrust reverser cowl for movement relative to first and second guide tracks is described which comprises a first actuator located, in use, close to the first guide track, a second actuator located, in use, close to the second guide track, and a third actuator, the actuators being arranged to be driven in synchronism and at the same speed by a drive motor to drive the cowl for movement, the third actuator being of smaller size and/or weight than the first and second actuators, and wherein the third actuator is provided with a load limiter to limit the transmission of loads through the third actuator in the event that the third actuator is subject to a compressive loading greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael Paul Somerfield, Benjamin Thomas Tucker
  • Publication number: 20110072780
    Abstract: A thrust reverser drive arrangement is described for use in driving a thrust reverser cowl for movement relative to first and second guide tracks, the drive arrangement comprising a first actuator located, in use, close to the first guide track, and a second actuator located, in use, close to the second guide track, the actuators being arranged to be driven in synchronism and at the same speed by a drive motor to drive the cowl for movement, wherein at least one of the first and second actuators is provided with a load limiter to limit the transmission of loads through that actuator in the event that that actuator is subject to a compressive loading greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael Paul Somerfield, Benjamin Thomas Tucker
  • Publication number: 20110073421
    Abstract: A no-back arrangement is disclosed for use in applying a braking load to a rotary actuator member, the no-back arrangement comprising a no-back device operable to apply a braking load to the rotary actuator member when the rotary actuator member is subject to a tensile loading, and limit means operable to limit the magnitude of the applied braking load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Tony Jones, Michael Paul Somerfield, Edward George Hill
  • Publication number: 20100089029
    Abstract: An actuator comprises a screw shaft, a nut translatable along the screw shaft upon relative rotation occurring therebetween, and articulated connection means securing an output member to the nut, the output member being of elongate form and extending substantially parallel to or coaxial with the screw shaft when the actuator is in a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael Paul Somerfield, John Herbert Harvey
  • Publication number: 20100078608
    Abstract: An actuator comprises a gear arrangement operatively connected to a rotatable input of a linearly extendable actuator device, wherein the gear arrangement comprises a pinion gear and a face gear in meshing engagement with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael Paul Somerfield, Alan M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20090090204
    Abstract: An actuator arrangement comprises a rotatable shaft, a nut mounted upon the shaft and translatable along the shaft upon rotation of the shaft relative to the nut, and a lock arrangement operable to lock the shaft and nut against relative rotation, the lock arrangement comprising a lock component mounted upon one of the shaft and the nut for axial movement relative thereto but held against angular movement relative thereto, the lock component being co-operable with an abutment provided on the other of the shaft and the nut, or a component associated therewith, to lock the shaft and nut to one another against relative rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Tony Jones, John Herbert Harvey, Michael Paul Somerfield
  • Patent number: 7174828
    Abstract: A linear hydraulic actuator comprises a hollow main piston axially moveable in an elongate cylinder under the influence of hydraulic pressure, the main piston defining a bore within which a seal member is provided, the seal member forming a sliding seal with the bore of the main piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Harlow Davies, Mark Anthony Guy, Michael Paul Somerfield, David Roy Tucker
  • Patent number: 6625973
    Abstract: A thrust reverser actuator lock mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, rotation of which in one direction from a rest position drives an associated thrust reverser from a stowed position towards an operative position in use, retractable abutment means having a rest position abutting an element rotatable with the shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft, resilient means urging said abutment means to said rest position, and, mechanical latch means sensitive to the speed of rotation of said shaft for latching said abutment means in a retracted position against the action of said resilient means when the rotational speed of said shaft exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: David John Langford, John Herbert Harvey, Tony Jones, Michael Paul Somerfield, Melanie Zoe Brown