Patents by Inventor Rhett S. Henrickson

Rhett S. Henrickson 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: 9732771
    Abstract: A hydraulic rotary actuator including a stator housing having a through bore to position a rotor assembly. A rotor assembly includes an output shaft and at least a first rotary piston member disposed radially about the output shaft. The rotary piston member includes an vane element. A continuous seal is disposed on peripheral longitudinal faces and lateral end faces of the rotary piston element. The bore through the stator housing includes an interior cavity with surfaces adapted to receive the rotor assembly and contact the continuous seal. With rotation fluid ports blocked, the housing cavity is sealed with the continuous piston seal for hydraulic blocking, preventing actuator displacement by external forces. A method of operation and method of assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett S. Henrickson, Robert P. O'Hara
  • Publication number: 20150078882
    Abstract: A hydraulic rotary actuator including a stator housing having a through bore to position a rotor assembly. A rotor assembly includes an output shaft and at least a first rotary piston member disposed radially about the output shaft. The rotary piston member includes an vane element. A continuous seal is disposed on peripheral longitudinal faces and lateral end faces of the rotary piston element. The bore through the stator housing includes an interior cavity with surfaces adapted to receive the rotor assembly and contact the continuous seal. With rotation fluid ports blocked, the housing cavity is sealed with the continuous piston seal for hydraulic blocking, preventing actuator displacement by external forces. A method of operation and method of assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Rhett S. Henrickson, Robert P. O'Hara
  • Patent number: 8915176
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a hydraulic blocking rotary actuator including a stator housing having a through bore to position a rotor assembly. A rotor assembly includes an output shaft and at least one rotary piston disposed radially about the output shaft. The rotary piston includes an integral first vane element and an integral second vane element each with peripheral longitudinal faces substantially concentric to the other. A continuous seal groove is disposed in peripheral longitudinal faces and lateral end faces of the rotary pistons. A continuous seal is disposed in the continuous seal groove. The bore through the stator housing includes an interior cavity with surfaces adapted to receive the rotor assembly. With rotation fluid ports blocked the housing cavity is sealed with the continuous piston seal for hydraulic blocking, preventing actuator displacement by external forces. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett S. Henrickson, Robert P. O'Hara
  • Publication number: 20140219771
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a hydraulic blocking rotary actuator including a stator housing having a through bore to position a rotor assembly. A rotor assembly includes an output shaft and at least one rotary piston disposed radially about the output shaft. The rotary piston includes an integral first vane element and an integral second vane element each with peripheral longitudinal faces substantially concentric to the other. A continuous seal groove is disposed in peripheral longitudinal faces and lateral end faces of the rotary pistons. A continuous seal is disposed in the continuous seal groove. The bore through the stator housing includes an interior cavity with surfaces adapted to receive the rotor assembly. With rotation fluid ports blocked the housing cavity is sealed with the continuous piston seal for hydraulic blocking, preventing actuator displacement by external forces. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: WOODWARD, INC.
    Inventors: Rhett S. Henrickson, Robert P. O'Hara