Patents by Inventor Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne

Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne 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: 20230250766
    Abstract: The method can include, while the airplane is on the ground: entering a disking mode including positioning the blades at a disking pitch including rotating each blade around the length, the disking pitch oriented parallel to the plane of rotation; maintaining the blades at the disking pitch; and exiting the disking mode when a disking mode exit condition is met, including rotating each blade around the length, away from the disking pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Nicolas DES ROCHES-DIONNE, Thomas Trevor RICCI, Charles BOLON-BRUHN, Jeremie HEBERT
  • Patent number: 11554851
    Abstract: Methods and systems for governing an aircraft propeller of an engine are described. The method comprises obtaining a fluid flow command for speed control of the propeller, determining pulse parameters of a pulse width modulated valve control signal for actuating a two-position solenoid valve in accordance with the fluid flow command based on an average fluid flow through the solenoid valve and an opening and closing time of the solenoid valve, generating the valve control signal with the pulse parameters as determined, and transmitting the valve control signal to the solenoid valve for actuating the solenoid valve, thereby controlling the speed of the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Gabriel Meunier, Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne
  • Patent number: 11300054
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fuel flow to an engine during start are provided. Fuel is caused to be injected into a combustor of the engine according to a first fuel schedule defining a minimum fuel flow limit required to achieve light-off of the engine, the minimum fuel flow limit set at an initial value. Following light-off of the engine, at least one operating parameter of the engine is monitored. Based on the at least one operating parameter, occurrence of flameout in the engine is detected. In response to detecting occurrence of flameout in the engine, the minimum fuel flow limit is increased from the initial value to a first value to obtain an adjusted fuel schedule, and fuel is caused to be injected into the combustor according to the adjusted fuel schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne, Sylvain Lamarre, Simon Lopez
  • Patent number: 11280683
    Abstract: Herein provided are methods and systems for detecting a high temperature condition of a gas turbine engine. A fuel flow to a combustor of the engine and a compressor outlet pressure of the engine are obtained. A ratio of the fuel flow to the compressor outlet pressure is determined. The ratio is compared to a threshold and a high temperature condition of the engine is detected when the ratio exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lamarre, Alexandre Charest, Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne
  • Patent number: 11059567
    Abstract: A method for controlling an aircraft propeller is provided that comprises obtaining a measurement of a speed of the propeller, comparing the propeller speed to a first threshold, responsive to determining that the propeller speed exceeds the speed threshold, outputting a valve control signal for opening a two-position solenoid valve coupled to the propeller, the two-position solenoid valve configured for controlling fluid flow to and from the propeller to control propeller blade angle, computing a rate of change of the propeller speed, comparing the rate of change of the propeller speed to a second threshold, and responsive to determining that the rate of change of the propeller speed is below the second threshold, outputting the valve control signal for closing the two-position solenoid valve. A system for controlling an aircraft propeller and an aircraft propeller control assembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne, Gabriel Meunier, Sylvain Lamarre
  • Publication number: 20210025338
    Abstract: There is provided a method and system for operating a turboprop engine of an aircraft. When a resulting value for Ng is between at least one upper limit and at least one lower limit, the output power is governed as a function of the target power. When the resulting value for Ng is on or outside of the at least one upper limit and the at least one lower limit, the output power is governed as a function of the maximum Ng and the minimum Ng.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Nicolas DES ROCHES-DIONNE, Sylvain LAMARRE, Alexandre CHAREST
  • Publication number: 20200369370
    Abstract: A method for controlling an aircraft propeller is provided that comprises obtaining a measurement of a speed of the propeller, comparing the propeller speed to a first threshold, responsive to determining that the propeller speed exceeds the speed threshold, outputting a valve control signal for opening a two-position solenoid valve coupled to the propeller, the two-position solenoid valve configured for controlling fluid flow to and from the propeller to control propeller blade angle, computing a rate of change of the propeller speed, comparing the rate of change of the propeller speed to a second threshold, and responsive to determining that the rate of change of the propeller speed is below the second threshold, outputting the valve control signal for closing the two-position solenoid valve. A system for controlling an aircraft propeller and an aircraft propeller control assembly are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Nicolas DES ROCHES-DIONNE, Gabriel MEUNIER, Syivain LAMARRE
  • Patent number: 10823113
    Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting power of a gas turbine engine for an aircraft are described herein. A blade angle of a propeller blade of the engine and a commanded power for the engine are obtained. A thrust transition direction is determined. The commanded power is compared to a selected threshold based on the blade angle and the thrust transition direction. Power to the engine is limited when the commanded power exceeds the selected threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lamarre, Simon Lopez, Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne, Michael Conciatori
  • Publication number: 20200262542
    Abstract: Methods and systems for governing an aircraft propeller of an engine are described. The method comprises obtaining a fluid flow command for speed control of the propeller, determining pulse parameters of a pulse width modulated valve control signal for actuating a two-position solenoid valve in accordance with the fluid flow command based on an average fluid flow through the solenoid valve and an opening and closing time of the solenoid valve, generating the valve control signal with the pulse parameters as determined, and transmitting the valve control signal to the solenoid valve for actuating the solenoid valve, thereby controlling the speed of the propeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Gabriel MEUNIER, Nicolas DES ROCHES-DIONNE
  • Publication number: 20200149479
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fuel flow to an engine during start are provided. Fuel is caused to be injected into a combustor of the engine according to a first fuel schedule defining a minimum fuel flow limit required to achieve light-off of the engine, the minimum fuel flow limit set at an initial value. Following light-off of the engine, at least one operating parameter of the engine is monitored. Based on the at least one operating parameter, occurrence of flameout in the engine is detected. In response to detecting occurrence of flameout in the engine, the minimum fuel flow limit is increased from the initial value to a first value to obtain an adjusted fuel schedule, and fuel is caused to be injected into the combustor according to the adjusted fuel schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Nicolas DES ROCHES-DIONNE, Sylvain LAMARRE, Simon LOPEZ
  • Publication number: 20190078517
    Abstract: Systems and methods for directing fuel flow to an engine when the engine is in an electronic manual override mode are described herein. In accordance with an aspect, a commanded fuel flow to the engine is determined from a fuel schedule based on the position on an engine control lever; a limit is applied on the commanded fuel flow when the commanded fuel flow exceeds a maximum fuel flow threshold; and fuel flow is directed to the engine based on the commanded fuel flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Jeremie HEBERT, Sylvain LAMARRE, Nicolas DES ROCHES-DIONNE
  • Publication number: 20190055901
    Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting power of a gas turbine engine for an aircraft are described herein. A blade angle of a propeller blade of the engine and a commanded power for the engine are obtained. A thrust transition direction is determined. The commanded power is compared to a selected threshold based on the blade angle and the thrust transition direction. Power to the engine is limited when the commanded power exceeds the selected threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Sylvain LAMARRE, Simon LOPEZ, Nicolas DES ROCHES-DIONNE, Michael CONCIATORI
  • Publication number: 20180348065
    Abstract: Herein provided are methods and systems for detecting a high temperature condition of a gas turbine engine. A fuel flow to a combustor of the engine and a compressor outlet pressure of the engine are obtained. A ratio of the fuel flow to the compressor outlet pressure is determined. The ratio is compared to a threshold and a high temperature condition of the engine is detected when the ratio exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Sylvain LAMARRE, Alexandre CHAREST, Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne