Patents by Inventor Nigel Palmer

Nigel Palmer 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: 10946443
    Abstract: Removing unfused powder from internal passages of an additive-manufacture part includes attaching piezoelectric transducers to a plurality of locations on an exterior of the part. The part is vibrated by driving the piezoelectric transducers at varying amplitudes and frequencies. An amount of the unfused powder that exits the part is monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Palmer
  • Patent number: 10808862
    Abstract: A self-acting pressure activated drain valve includes at least one inlet configured to receive a fluid. A drainage passage delivers the fluid to at least one outlet where the fluid is expelled. The self-acting pressure activated drain valve further includes a flexible diaphragm configured to operate in an open position and a closed position based on a pressure. The flexible diaphragm is normally biased in the open position such that fluid is delivered from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet via the drainage passage. The pressure, however, initiates the closed position such that air is prevented from flowing through the drainage passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher McAuliffe, Nigel Palmer
  • Publication number: 20200179851
    Abstract: A water extractor for an environmental control system includes a primary duct having an inlet and an outlet, a scupper with a scupper inlet extending about the inlet of the primary duct, and a supply duct. The supply duct is in fluid communication with the primary duct and has a wall with an interior surface terminating at the scupper inlet. The interior surface defines one or more one swirl groove within the wall for gathering and conveying liquid water entrained in an airflow traversing the inlet duct to the scupper inlet. Environmental control systems, methods of making water extractors, and methods of removing water from air flows are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventor: Nigel Palmer
  • Publication number: 20200041212
    Abstract: A counter-flow heat exchanger including: a primary flow passageway comprising a primary flow inlet, a primary flow outlet, and a plurality of primary flow subset passageways therebetween; a secondary flow passageway comprising a secondary flow inlet, a secondary flow outlet, and a plurality of secondary flow subset passageways therebetween; and a heat exchanger core comprising portions of the plurality of primary flow subset passageways and the plurality of secondary flow subset passageways, the secondary flow passageway being in thermal communication with the primary flow passageway in the heat exchanger core, wherein the primary flow subset passageways in the heat exchanger core and the secondary flow subset passageways in the heat exchanger core are oriented such that primary fluid flow through the primary flow subset passageways flows opposite secondary fluid flow through the secondary flow subset passageways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Nigel Palmer, Ahmet Becene, Patrick McCord, James Streeter, Feng Feng, Luke Martin, Gabriel Ruiz, Joseph Turney
  • Publication number: 20190210107
    Abstract: Removing unfused powder from internal passages of an additive-manufacture part includes attaching piezoelectric transducers to a plurality of locations on an exterior of the part. The part is vibrated by driving the piezoelectric transducers at varying amplitudes and frequencies. An amount of the unfused powder that exits the part is monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventor: Nigel Palmer
  • Publication number: 20180172179
    Abstract: A self-acting pressure activated drain valve includes at least one inlet configured to receive a fluid. A drainage passage delivers the fluid to at least one outlet where the fluid is expelled. The self-acting pressure activated drain valve further includes a flexible diaphragm configured to operate in an open position and a closed position based on a pressure. The flexible diaphragm is normally biased in the open position such that fluid is delivered from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet via the drainage passage. The pressure, however, initiates the closed position such that air is prevented from flowing through the drainage passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher McAuliffe, Nigel Palmer
  • Patent number: 9897227
    Abstract: A self-acting pressure activated drain valve includes at least one inlet configured to receive a fluid. A drainage passage delivers the fluid to at least one outlet where the fluid is expelled. The self-acting pressure activated drain valve further includes a flexible diaphragm configured to operate in an open position and a closed position based on a pressure. The flexible diaphragm is normally biased in the open position such that fluid is delivered from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet via the drainage passage. The pressure, however, initiates the closed position such that air is prevented from flowing through the drainage passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher McAuliffe, Nigel Palmer
  • Publication number: 20170363369
    Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger is configured to receive hot flow from a hot source and cool flow from a cool source. The plate fin heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates arranged in parallel to define a plurality of flow passages therebetween, and a set of closure bars arranged at a first side of the plurality of plates to seal a first set of the flow passages against ingress of the hot flow, thereby directing the hot flow into a second set of the flow passages. Each respective closure bar includes an inner core formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and an outer cladding arranged about the inner core, the outer cladding formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first coefficient of thermal expansion is less than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Zager, Donald E. Army, George Kan, Charles J. McColgan, Nigel Palmer
  • Patent number: 9777970
    Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger is configured to receive hot flow from a hot source and cool flow from a cool source. The plate fin heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates arranged in parallel to define a plurality of flow passages there between, and a set of closure bars arranged at a first side of the plurality of plates to seal a first set of the flow passages against ingress of the hot flow, thereby directing the hot flow into a second set of the flow passages. Each respective closure bar includes an inner core formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and an outer cladding arranged about the inner core, the outer cladding formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first coefficient of thermal expansion is less than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Coporation
    Inventors: Michael Zager, Donald E. Army, George Kan, Charles J. McColgan, Nigel Palmer
  • Patent number: 9671178
    Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger includes a plate fin core having a plurality of plates defining a set of hot air passages extending from a hot air inlet region of the plate fin core to a hot air outlet region of the plate fin core and a set of cool air passages extending from a cool air inlet region of the plate fin core to a cool air outlet region of the plate fin core. The plate fin heat exchanger further includes a mounting flange circumscribing the cool air outlet region. At least a portion of the mounting flange has a plurality of heat transfer structures that extend into a flow path of cooling air exiting the cool air outlet region of the plate fin core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Zager, Donald E. Army, George Kan, Nigel Palmer, Charles J. McColgan
  • Publication number: 20160223098
    Abstract: A self-acting pressure activated drain valve includes at least one inlet configured to receive a fluid. A drainage passage delivers the fluid to at least one outlet where the fluid is expelled. The self-acting pressure activated drain valve further includes a flexible diaphragm configured to operate in an open position and a closed position based on a pressure. The flexible diaphragm is normally biased in the open position such that fluid is delivered from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet via the drainage passage. The pressure, however, initiates the closed position such that air is prevented from flowing through the drainage passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher McAuliffe, Nigel Palmer
  • Publication number: 20150041105
    Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger is configured to receive hot flow from a hot source and cool flow from a cool source. The plate fin heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates arranged in parallel to define a plurality of flow passages there between, and a set of closure bars arranged at a first side of the plurality of plates to seal a first set of the flow passages against ingress of the hot flow, thereby directing the hot flow into a second set of the flow passages. Each respective closure bar includes an inner core formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and an outer cladding arranged about the inner core, the outer cladding formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first coefficient of thermal expansion is less than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Zager, Donald E. Army, George Kan, Charles J. McColgan, Nigel Palmer
  • Publication number: 20150041109
    Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger includes a plate fin core having a plurality of plates defining a set of hot air passages extending from a hot air inlet region of the plate fin core to a hot air outlet region of the plate fin core and a set of cool air passages extending from a cool air inlet region of the plate fin core to a cool air outlet region of the plate fin core. The plate fin heat exchanger further includes a mounting flange circumscribing the cool air outlet region. At least a portion of the mounting flange has a plurality of heat transfer structures that extend into a flow path of cooling air exiting the cool air outlet region of the plate fin core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Zager, Donald E. Army, George Kan, Nigel Palmer, Charles J. McColgan