Patents by Inventor Richard Kudrna

Richard Kudrna 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: 11500011
    Abstract: There is provided an aircraft engine printed circuit board assembly generally having a functional circuit contributing to the operation of an aircraft engine. The functional circuit has a first substrate portion, a first electronic component supported by the first substrate portion, and a first electrical conductor supported by the first substrate portion and leading to the first electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Reza Pedrami, Carmine Lisio, Richard Kudrna
  • Patent number: 11371825
    Abstract: A blade angle feedback assembly for an aircraft-bladed rotor is provided. The rotor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having an adjustable blade pitch angle. The assembly comprises a feedback device coupled to rotate with the rotor with adjustment of the blade pitch angle, the feedback device comprising a non-magnetically permeable body defining a root surface and a plurality of magnetically permeable position markers circumferentially disposed on the root surface, and at least one sensor mounted adjacent the feedback device and configured to detect a passage of the plurality of position markers as the feedback device rotates about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sean Durand, Richard Kudrna, Ian Farrell
  • Patent number: 11333020
    Abstract: A blade angle feedback assembly for an aircraft-bladed rotor is provided. The rotor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and has an adjustable blade pitch angle. The assembly comprises a feedback device coupled to rotate with the rotor with adjustment of the blade pitch angle, the feedback device having a root surface, a plurality of position makers circumferentially disposed on the root surface, the plurality of position markers circumferentially spaced from one another and non-aligned with the longitudinal axis, and at least one sensor mounted adjacent the feedback device and configured to detect a passage of the plurality of position markers as the feedback device rotates about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sean Durand, Richard Kudrna, Ian Farrell
  • Publication number: 20210341530
    Abstract: There is provided an aircraft engine printed circuit board assembly generally having a functional circuit contributing to the operation of an aircraft engine. The functional circuit has a first substrate portion, a first electronic component supported by the first substrate portion, and a first electrical conductor supported by the first substrate portion and leading to the first electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Reza PEDRAMI, Carmine LISIO, Richard KUDRNA
  • Patent number: 10889367
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing pitch position feedback for pitch-adjustable blades of an aircraft bladed rotor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the systems include a sensor comprising a magnet having a magnetic field, a pole piece coupled to a first pole of the magnet and directing the magnetic field toward the feature and a coil mounted in the magnetic field. The coil generates a sensor signal indicative of a variation in the magnetic field caused by movement of the feature in the magnetic field. The sensor also includes a magnetic shield mounted in the magnetic field. The magnetic shield defines a magnetic return path for some magnetic flux of the magnetic field exiting the pole piece toward an opposite second pole of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Kudrna, Ian Farrell
  • Publication number: 20200378742
    Abstract: A blade angle feedback assembly for an aircraft-bladed rotor is provided. The rotor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having an adjustable blade pitch angle. The assembly comprises a feedback device coupled to rotate with the rotor with adjustment of the blade pitch angle, the feedback device comprising a non-magnetically permeable body defining a root surface and a plurality of magnetically permeable position markers circumferentially disposed on the root surface, and at least one sensor mounted adjacent the feedback device and configured to detect a passage of the plurality of position markers as the feedback device rotates about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Sean DURAND, Richard KUDRNA, Ian FARRELL
  • Publication number: 20200378259
    Abstract: A blade angle feedback assembly for an aircraft-bladed rotor is provided. The rotor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and has an adjustable blade pitch angle. The assembly comprises a feedback device coupled to rotate with the rotor with adjustment of the blade pitch angle, the feedback device having a root surface, a plurality of position makers circumferentially disposed on the root surface, the plurality of position markers circumferentially spaced from one another and non-aligned with the longitudinal axis, and at least one sensor mounted adjacent the feedback device and configured to detect a passage of the plurality of position markers as the feedback device rotates about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Sean DURAND, Richard Kudrna, Ian Farrell
  • Publication number: 20180304991
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing pitch position feedback for pitch-adjustable blades of an aircraft bladed rotor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the systems include a sensor comprising a magnet having a magnetic field, a pole piece coupled to a first pole of the magnet and directing the magnetic field toward the feature and a coil mounted in the magnetic field. The coil generates a sensor signal indicative of a variation in the magnetic field caused by movement of the feature in the magnetic field. The sensor also includes a magnetic shield mounted in the magnetic field. The magnetic shield defines a magnetic return path for some magnetic flux of the magnetic field exiting the pole piece toward an opposite second pole of the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Richard KUDRNA, Ian FARRELL
  • Publication number: 20180195407
    Abstract: The aircraft engine can have an engine casing housing the engine, the engine casing having a shaft aperture; a shaft rotatably mounted to the engine casing, the shaft protruding from the engine casing through the shaft aperture; and a seal assembly extending between the engine casing and the shaft adjacent the shaft aperture, the seal assembly defining an electrically conductive path between the engine casing and the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Richard KUDRNA, Mélanie BRILLANT
  • Patent number: 9874510
    Abstract: A magnetic chip device such as a chip detector or chip collector, comprising a horseshoe magnet held within a housing and having two adjacent tips protruding from the housing, and having a plurality of portions extending sequentially from one of the tips to the other, the plurality of portions including two end portions, each one of the two end portions extending to a corresponding one of the tips, and a rare-earth magnet portion made of a rare earth magnet material and positioned between the two end portions in the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Richard Kudrna
  • Publication number: 20150177116
    Abstract: A magnetic chip device such as a chip detector or chip collector, comprising a horseshoe magnet held within a housing and having two adjacent tips protruding from the housing, and having a plurality of portions extending sequentially from one of the tips to the other, the plurality of portions including two end portions, each one of the two end portions extending to a corresponding one of the tips, and a rare-earth magnet portion made of a rare earth magnet material and positioned between the two end portions in the sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Richard KUDRNA
  • Publication number: 20080071461
    Abstract: Variable rate ignition method and system that take advantage of knowledge and analysis of environmental conditions and/or operational conditions. A variable ignition rate for igniting the engine permits an optimal use of the igniters and thereby prolongs their life as well as its associated maintenance schedule. Operating costs and durability are also enhanced. Furthermore, flexibility is enhanced since any changes to the method of determining the best spark rate can be made through update in the software of the engine controller instead of change in the hardware (e.g., the exciter).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Kudrna, Danielle Methot
  • Publication number: 20060137357
    Abstract: Variable rate ignition method and system that take advantage of knowledge and analysis of environmental conditions and/or operational conditions. A variable ignition rate for igniting the engine permits an optimal use of the igniters and thereby prolongs their life as well as its associated maintenance schedule. Operating costs and durability are also enhanced. Furthermore, flexibility is enhanced since any changes to the method of determining the best spark rate can be made through update in the software of the engine controller instead of change in the hardware (e.g., the exciter).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Kudrna, Danielle Methot