Patents by Inventor Tadd F. Herron

Tadd F. Herron 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: 11541260
    Abstract: A fire suppression system includes at least one high pressure gas source containing an inert gas, at least one low pressure gas source containing an organic halide gas, a distribution network connected with the high pressure gas source and the low pressure gas source to distribute the inert gas and the organic halide gas, and a controller in communication with the distribution network. The distribution network includes flow control devices configured to control flow of the inert gas and the organic halide gas. The controller is configured to initially release the inert gas in response to a fire threat to reduce an oxygen concentration at the fire threat below a preset oxygen concentration threshold, and release the organic halide gas to increase an organic halide gas concentration at the fire threat above a preset organic halide gas concentration threshold while the oxygen concentration is below the preset oxygen concentration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Kidde Graviner Limited
    Inventors: Adam Chattaway, Terry Simpson, Tadd F. Herron
  • Patent number: 11413484
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring pressure in a fire suppression system of an aircraft, the method providing: receiving a first pressure-vessel measured pressure from a first pressure-vessel pressure transducer connected to a first pressure-vessel; receiving a second pressure-vessel measured temperature from a second pressure-vessel temperature sensor connected to a second pressure-vessel; calculating a first pressure-vessel estimated pressure from the second pressure-vessel measured temperature; comparing the first pressure-vessel measured pressure With the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure; and providing a depressurization alert when a difference between the first pressure-vessel measured pressure and the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure is greater than a threshold thereby avoiding unscheduled aircraft downtime due to an erroneous or missing temperature measurement in the first pressure-vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Tadd F. Herron
  • Patent number: 11237067
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for detecting uncertainty in temperature detection systems. The system includes a temperature sensor including a ground sheath and a central conductor surrounded by the ground sheath, the ground sheath and the central conductor being electrically coupled to one another through a temperature dependent resistive element. The system includes a controller connected to the temperature sensor and adapted to detect an electrical parameter of the temperature dependent resistive element, the controller operable upon execution to output an uncertainty indication when the electrical parameter of the temperature dependent resistive element is not within an expected value range based on an aircraft status indication, a historical value of the electrical parameter, and the electrical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Tadd F. Herron, Scott Kenneth Newlin
  • Publication number: 20210055169
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for detecting uncertainty in temperature detection systems. The system includes a temperature sensor including a ground sheath and a central conductor surrounded by the ground sheath, the ground sheath and the central conductor being electrically coupled to one another through a temperature dependent resistive element. The system includes a controller connected to the temperature sensor and adapted to detect an electrical parameter of the temperature dependent resistive element, the controller operable upon execution to output an uncertainty indication when the electrical parameter of the temperature dependent resistive element is not within an expected value range based on an aircraft status indication, a historical value of the electrical parameter, and the electrical parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Tadd F. Herron, Scott Kenneth Newlin
  • Publication number: 20210023407
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring pressure in a fire suppression system of an aircraft, the method providing: receiving a first pressure-vessel measured pressure from a first pressure-vessel pressure transducer connected to a first pressure-vessel; receiving a second pressure-vessel measured temperature from a second pressure-vessel temperature sensor connected to a second pressure-vessel; calculating a first pressure-vessel estimated pressure from the second pressure-vessel measured temperature; comparing the first pressure-vessel measured pressure With the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure; and providing a depressurization alert when a difference between the first pressure-vessel measured pressure and the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure is greater than a threshold thereby avoiding unscheduled aircraft downtime due to an erroneous or missing temperature measurement in the first pressure-vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Tadd F. Herron
  • Publication number: 20200316419
    Abstract: A fire suppression system includes at least one high pressure gas source containing an inert gas, at least one low pressure gas source containing an organic halide gas, a distribution network connected with the high pressure gas source and the low pressure gas source to distribute the inert gas and the organic halide gas, and a controller in communication with the distribution network. The distribution network includes flow control devices configured to control flow of the inert gas and the organic halide gas. The controller is configured to initially release the inert gas in response to a fire threat to reduce an oxygen concentration at the fire threat below a preset oxygen concentration threshold, and release the organic halide gas to increase an organic halide gas concentration at the fire threat above a preset organic halide gas concentration threshold while the oxygen concentration is below the preset oxygen concentration threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Adam Chattaway, Terry Simpson, Tadd F. Herron
  • Publication number: 20200147433
    Abstract: A fire extinguishing composition includes a propellant, a dry chemical fire extinguishing agent and an anti-decomposition agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: David William Frasure, Mark P. Fazzio, Dharmendr Len Seebaluck, Adam Chattaway, John Wright Porterfield, JR., Tadd F. Herron, Qing Edda Liu
  • Patent number: 9814916
    Abstract: A fire suppression system includes at least one first gas source containing an inert gas, at least one second gas source containing an organic halide gas, a distribution network connected with the first gas source and the second gas source to distribute the inert gas and the organic halide gas, and a controller. The distribution network includes a common manifold, input lines connecting the first gas source and the second gas source with the common manifold, output lines leading from the common manifold, and flow control devices. The controller is in communication with the distribution network and configured to distribute the inert gas responsive to a fire threat signal and determine whether to distribute the organic halide gas based upon a location of a fire threat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Kidde Graviner Limited
    Inventors: Adam Chattaway, Terry Simpson, Tadd F. Herron
  • Publication number: 20170281997
    Abstract: A fire suppression system includes at least one first gas source containing an inert gas, at least one second gas source containing an organic halide gas, a distribution network connected with the first gas source and the second gas source to distribute the inert gas and the organic halide gas, and a controller. The distribution network includes a common manifold, input lines connecting the first gas source and the second gas source with the common manifold, output lines leading from the common manifold, and flow control devices. The controller is in communication with the distribution network and configured to distribute the inert gas responsive to a fire threat signal and determine whether to distribute the organic halide gas based upon a location of a fire threat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Adam Chattaway, Terry Simpson, Tadd F. Herron
  • Publication number: 20170281996
    Abstract: A fire suppression system includes at least one high pressure gas source containing an inert gas, at least one low pressure gas source containing an organic halide gas, a distribution network connected with the high pressure gas source and the low pressure gas source to distribute the inert gas and the organic halide gas, and a controller in communication with the distribution network. The distribution network includes flow control devices configured to control flow of the inert gas and the organic halide gas. The controller is configured to initially release the inert gas in response to a fire threat to reduce an oxygen concentration at the fire threat below a preset oxygen concentration threshold, and release the organic halide gas to increase an organic halide gas concentration at the fire threat above a preset organic halide gas concentration threshold while the oxygen concentration is below the preset oxygen concentration threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Adam Chattaway, Terry Simpson, Tadd F. Herron
  • Patent number: 9421406
    Abstract: An automated fire protection system for a freighter such as an aircraft may include a single fire retardant source for a first deck and a second deck. The system may further include a plurality of sensors for detecting fire and a plurality of nozzles for dispersing the retardant, wherein each nozzle is paired with one of the plurality of sensors. Once a fire is detected by one of the sensors, the fire protection system may eject fire retardant through only one or more nozzles paired with the sensor that detected the fire. Because retardant may be accurately dispersed close to the detected fire location through less than the plurality of nozzles, an amount of on-board retardant may be decreased, thereby decreasing weight of the fire suppression system. In an embodiment, the fire retardant may only be discharged during the descent, further decreasing the weight of the fire system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dharmendr Len Seebaluck, Adam Chattaway, Tadd F. Herron
  • Publication number: 20150034342
    Abstract: An automated fire protection system for a freighter such as an aircraft may include a single fire retardant source for a first deck and a second deck. The system may further include a plurality of sensors for detecting fire and a plurality of nozzles for dispersing the retardant, wherein each nozzle is paired with one of the plurality of sensors. Once a fire is detected by one of the sensors, the fire protection system may eject fire retardant through only one or more nozzles paired with the sensor that detected the fire. Because retardant may be accurately dispersed close to the detected fire location through less than the plurality of nozzles, an amount of on-board retardant may be decreased, thereby decreasing weight of the fire suppression system. In an embodiment, the fire retardant may only be discharged during the descent, further decreasing the weight of the fire system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dharmendr Len Seebaluck, Adam Chattaway, Tadd F. Herron