Patents by Inventor Robert French

Robert French 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: 20190113092
    Abstract: A heat shield assembly for a braking system is provided. The heat shield assembly includes a circumferential heat shield having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end along a central axis. A tab member is disposed proximate the second end of the circumferential heat shield. The tab member has a radially extending portion with an aperture extending therethrough. The aperture is configured for mounting the circumferential heat shield to a wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT FRENCH, Paul J. Howard
  • Patent number: 10259433
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided comprising a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, an selective gearbox mechanically coupled to the rotor and disposed in the housing, a first output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a different speed than the rotor, and a second output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a same speed as the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Robert French
  • Patent number: 10119870
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electromechanical actuator comprising an actuator drive unit housing, a relief formed in the actuator drive unit housing, a column defined by the relief positioned adjacent to a second relief, and a load cell comprising the column and a strain gauge coupled to the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Thomas Freshour, Harald Klode, Satinder Mann, Robert French
  • Patent number: 9929627
    Abstract: A brushless DC motor is provided. The brushless DC motor comprises a motor housing around an axis, a stator assembly inside the motor housing, a carrier plate fixed relative to the stator assembly, and a Hall effect sensor assembly removably coupled to the carrier plate. A method of making a brushless DC motor is also provided comprising fixing a carrier plate relative to a stator assembly of a brushless DC motor assembly, and fixing a first Hall effect sensor array to the carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Harald Klode, David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Albert Keith Pant, Robert French
  • Publication number: 20180031094
    Abstract: A mechanical linear actuator in an aircraft brake may include a ball nut, a ball screw, and an actuator drive unit housing. The ball screw may rotate to drive the ball nut axially. The ball screw and the actuator drive unit housing may form a series of annular raceways. The ball screw may have a first window corresponding to a first raceway and a second window corresponding to a second raceway. Balls may be inserted into the first raceway through the first window and into the second raceway through the second window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Satinder Mann, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Patent number: 9791025
    Abstract: A mechanical linear actuator in an aircraft brake may include a ball nut, a ball screw, and an actuator drive unit housing. The ball screw may rotate to drive the ball nut axially. The ball screw and the actuator drive unit housing may form a series of annular raceways. The ball screw may have a first window corresponding to a first raceway and a second window corresponding to a second raceway. Balls may be inserted into the first raceway through the first window and into the second raceway through the second window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATIOLN
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Satinder Mann, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20170241526
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuator assembly having a ball nut comprising a helical track and a ball screw. The ball screw of the actuator assembly includes a first translation bearing track having a first diameter, wherein the helical track and the first translation bearing track form a first translation bearing raceway in which a first translation bearing ball is disposed. The ball screw further includes a second translation bearing track having a second diameter, wherein the helical track and the second translation bearing track form a second translation bearing raceway in which a second translation bearing ball is disposed. The first diameter and the second diameter are not equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus, Satinder Mann, Marc Georgin, Robert French
  • Publication number: 20170241848
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electromechanical actuator comprising an actuator drive unit housing, a relief formed in the actuator drive unit housing, a column defined by the relief positioned adjacent to a second relief, and a load cell comprising the column and a strain gauge coupled to the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Thomas Freshour, Harald Klode, Satinder Mann, Robert French
  • Publication number: 20170239616
    Abstract: Tightly-coiled helical ducts for centrifugal air separators may be formed with the tools and methods disclosed herein. A helical coil toolset includes a helically grooved mandrel and an entry block. The helical groove of the mandrel has a small helix inside diameter relative to a width of the helical groove. The entry block has a guide channel to guide a tube to the helical groove and a mandrel channel to receive the mandrel. Methods include forming tubing into a tightly-coiled helical duct by filling a tube with fine particles, positioning the tube in the helical groove of a helically grooved mandrel, fixing the tube relative to the mandrel, assembling an entry block around the tube and around the mandrel, and bending the filled tube around the helically grooved mandrel into the tightly-coiled helical duct by rotating the mandrel relative to the entry block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Paul F. Thieben, JR., Robert French, John Suarez
  • Publication number: 20170080906
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided comprising a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, an selective gearbox mechanically coupled to the rotor and disposed in the housing, a first output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a different speed than the rotor, and a second output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a same speed as the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Robert French
  • Patent number: 9586678
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods related to park brake systems and methods. In various embodiments, a park brake system may comprise a motor shaft having a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion having a greater diameter than the first diameter portion. A park brake system may further comprise a spring disposed at least partially around a circumference of the motor shaft, a wire coil disposed at least partially around a circumference of a bobbin, a one-way clutch disposed at least partially within the bobbin and coaxial to the motor shaft, an annular magnet disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and distal to at least a portion of the bobbin, and a clutch release mechanism disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and around the first diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Patent number: 9545903
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided comprising a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, an selective gearbox mechanically coupled to the rotor and disposed in the housing, a first output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a different speed than the rotor, and a second output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a same speed as the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Robert French
  • Publication number: 20160221555
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided comprising a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, an selective gearbox mechanically coupled to the rotor and disposed in the housing, a first output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a different speed than the rotor, and a second output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a same speed as the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Robert French
  • Publication number: 20160207613
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods related to park brake systems and methods. In various embodiments, a park brake system may comprise a motor shaft having a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion having a greater diameter than the first diameter portion. A park brake system may further comprise a spring disposed at least partially around a circumference of the motor shaft, a wire coil disposed at least partially around a circumference of a bobbin, a one-way clutch disposed at least partially within the bobbin and coaxial to the motor shaft, an annular magnet disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and distal to at least a portion of the bobbin, and a clutch release mechanism disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and around the first diameter portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Patent number: 9359069
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator including an aircraft parking brake may include a motor shaft, a park brake disk, and a voice coil assembly. The voice coil assembly may include a bobbin configured to translate between an engaged position and a disengaged position. An engagement feature may be coupled to the bobbin. The engagement feature may contact the park brake disk in the engaged position. The engagement feature may be magnetically coupled to a voice coil magnet and washer in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Robert French, Albert Keith Pant, Joseph E. Beason, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20160126811
    Abstract: A brushless DC motor is provided. The brushless DC motor comprises a motor housing around an axis, a stator assembly inside the motor housing, a carrier plate fixed relative to the stator assembly, and a Hall effect sensor assembly removably coupled to the carrier plate. A method of making a brushless DC motor is also provided comprising fixing a carrier plate relative to a stator assembly of a brushless DC motor assembly, and fixing a first Hall effect sensor array to the carrier plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harald Klode, David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Albert Keith Pant, Robert French
  • Publication number: 20160123445
    Abstract: A mechanical linear actuator in an aircraft brake may include a ball nut, a ball screw, and an actuator drive unit housing. The ball screw may rotate to drive the ball nut axially. The ball screw and the actuator drive unit housing may form a series of annular raceways. The ball screw may have a first window corresponding to a first raceway and a second window corresponding to a second raceway. Balls may be inserted into the first raceway through the first window and into the second raceway through the second window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID DRENNEN, KEVIN REHFUS, SATINDER MANN, ROBERT FRENCH, HARALD KLODE
  • Patent number: 9308990
    Abstract: A park brake systems and methods are disclosed. According to various embodiments, park brake systems comprising a tapered motor shaft having a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter, a voice coil disposed at least partially around a circumference of a bobbin, a first one-way clutch housed at least partially within the bobbin, the first one-way clutch disposed coaxial to the tapered motor shaft, and an annular magnet disposed coaxial to the tapered motor shaft and proximal to the first one-way clutch, wherein, in response to a first voltage applied to the voice coil, the first one-way clutch translates axially in a first direction with respect to the tapered motor shaft and engages with the second diameter are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David B. Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Patent number: 9273738
    Abstract: Park brake systems comprising a motor shaft coupled to a brake drum, wherein the brake drum comprises a first groove and a second groove, wherein the brake drum is mounted to the motor shaft so as to rotate with the motor shaft, a first belt at least partially disposed in the first groove and about a first pivot linkage, a second belt at least partially disposed in the second groove and about a second pivot linkage, a first actuator piston coupled to an actuator and the first pivot linkage, a second actuator piston coupled to the actuator and the second pivot linkage, and a pivot base coupled to the first pivot linkage and the second pivot linkage are disclosed. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David B. Drennen, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20160039520
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator including an aircraft parking brake may include a motor shaft, a park brake disk, and a voice coil assembly. The voice coil assembly may include a bobbin configured to translate between an engaged position and a disengaged position. An engagement feature may be coupled to the bobbin. The engagement feature may contact the park brake disk in the engaged position. The engagement feature may be magnetically coupled to a voice coil magnet and washer in the disengaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: DAVID DRENNEN, KEVIN REHFUS, ROBERT FRENCH, ALBERT KEITH PANT, JOSEPH E. BEASON, HARALD KLODE