Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Swanson

Timothy A. Swanson 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: 9267463
    Abstract: A flexible panel assembly for a gas turbine engine selectively exhibits a range of positions to regulate exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Dale William Petty, Timothy A. Swanson, Shawn M. McMahon
  • Patent number: 8733107
    Abstract: A mechanism included in a convergent-divergent nozzle connected to an aft portion of a gas turbine engine, which mechanism includes a convergent flap configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, a divergent flap pivotally connected to the convergent flap and configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, at least one actuator configured to be connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine and to mechanically prescribe the position of the convergent flap and the divergent flap by moving through one or more positions, and at least one biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus is configured to position at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap independent of the positions of the actuator by substantially balancing a force on the at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap produced by a gas pressure on the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Sean P. Zamora, Robert H. Bush, Alex J. Simpson
  • Patent number: 8356483
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a door axially slidable relative to a passage in communication with a secondary flow path to regulate the secondary flow though the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp
    Inventors: Dale William Petty, Shawn M. McMahon, Michael Joseph Murphy, Sean P. Zamora, Timothy A. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20110088403
    Abstract: A mechanism included in a convergent-divergent nozzle connected to an aft portion of a gas turbine engine, which mechanism includes a convergent flap configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, a divergent flap pivotally connected to the convergent flap and configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, at least one actuator configured to be connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine and to mechanically prescribe the position of the convergent flap and the divergent flap by moving through one or more positions, and at least one biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus is configured to position at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap independent of the positions of the actuator by substantially balancing a force on the at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap produced by a gas pressure on the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Sean P. Zamora, Robert H. Bush, Alex J. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7874160
    Abstract: A mechanism included in a convergent-divergent nozzle connected to an aft portion of a gas turbine engine, which mechanism includes a convergent flap configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, a divergent flap pivotally connected to the convergent flap and configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, at least one actuator configured to be connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine and to mechanically prescribe the position of the convergent flap and the divergent flap by moving through one or more positions, and at least one biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus is configured to position at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap independent of the positions of the actuator by substantially balancing a force on the at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap produced by a gas pressure on the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Sean P. Zamora, Robert H. Bush, Alex J. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7871242
    Abstract: A rotational flow balance system includes an actuator system which controls operation of both a fan duct blocker ring and a modulated exhaust cooling ring through a kinematic system. The kinematic system is controlled by the single actuator system such that the modulated exhaust cooling ring will remain in a fixed position while the fan duct blocker ring can be moved to satisfy operational requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Carl T. Elving, Robert T. Brooks
  • Publication number: 20090255269
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving variable nozzles with sliding doors are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: United Techonologies Corp.
    Inventors: Dale William Petty, Shawn M. McMahon, Michael Joseph Murphy, Sean P. Zamora, Timothy A. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20090241550
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving flexible panels are provided. In this regard, a representative flexible panel assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a flexible panel operative to define at least one of a throat area and an exit area of a nozzle of a gas turbine engine, the panel being further operative to selectively exhibit a range of positions to regulate exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Dale William Petty, Timothy A. Swanson, Shawn M. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20090097965
    Abstract: A rotational flow balance system includes an actuator system which controls operation of both a fan duct blocker ring and a modulated exhaust cooling ring through a kinematic system. The kinematic system is controlled by the single actuator system such that the modulated exhaust cooling ring will remain in a fixed position while the fan duct blocker ring can be moved to satisfy operational requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Carl T. Elving, Robert T. Brooks
  • Publication number: 20090072049
    Abstract: A mechanism included in a convergent-divergent nozzle connected to an aft portion of a gas turbine engine, which mechanism includes a convergent flap configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, a divergent flap pivotally connected to the convergent flap and configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, at least one actuator configured to be connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine and to mechanically prescribe the position of the convergent flap and the divergent flap by moving through one or more positions, and at least one biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus is configured to position at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap independent of the positions of the actuator by substantially balancing a force on the at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap produced by a gas pressure on the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Sean P. Zamora, Robert H. Bush, Alex J. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20080098742
    Abstract: A balance pressure control is provided for flaps which pivot in a rear of a gas turbine engine nozzle to change the cross-sectional area of the nozzle. An actuator drives a sync ring to move the flaps through a linkage. A supply of pressurized air is also provided to the sync ring to assist the actuator in resisting forces from high pressure gases within the nozzle. When those forces are lower than normal the flow of air to the rear of the sync ring is reduced or blocked. A ring rotates with another ring to control both this air flow, and a supply of cooling air to an interior of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Sadil, Timothy A. Swanson, Roger O. Coffey, Debora F. Kehret
  • Publication number: 20080072604
    Abstract: A balance pressure control is provided for flaps which pivot in a rear of a gas turbine engine nozzle to change the cross-sectional area of the nozzle. An actuator drives a sync ring to move the flaps through a linkage. A supply of pressurized air is also provided to the sync ring to assist the actuator in resisting forces from high pressure gases within the nozzle. When those forces are lower than normal the flow of air to the rear of the sync ring is reduced or blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Debora F. Kehret, Stefan M. Poth, Donald E. Grove
  • Publication number: 20070226326
    Abstract: A method of generating a standardized network-management representation of a multiple-layer network communications interface sub-stack having a non-standardized network-management representation includes determining, based on a signature indicating a layered structure of the network communications interface sub-stack, whether an expected type of sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack exists. If the expected type of sub-layer interface is determined not to exist, then a sub-layer interface of the expected type is created and a network management information base is populated with a sub-layer interface entry including (1) respective instance and type identifiers of the sub-layer interface and (2) one or more operational attributes of the sub-layer interface, the value of each operational attribute identically mirroring the value of a corresponding operational attribute of the interface sub-stack as reflected in the non-standardized network-management representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Gili, Jaime Colom, Enid Jimenez, Agrahara Koushik, Timothy Swanson, Leon Zachery
  • Patent number: 7097421
    Abstract: A vernier duct blocker comprising a plurality of vanes each having a width and comprising a forward portion and an aft portion defining a plurality of gas paths each of the plurality of vanes being separated by a plurality of widths, and a rotatably movable ring interposed between the forward portion and the aft portion comprising a plurality of openings each having a width, wherein the width of one of the plurality of vanes differs from the width of another one of the plurality of vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, James E. Jones
  • Publication number: 20060078419
    Abstract: A vernier duct blocker comprising a plurality of vanes each having a width and comprising a forward portion and an aft portion defining a plurality of gas paths each of the plurality of vanes being separated by a plurality of widths, and a rotatably movable ring interposed between the forward portion and the aft portion comprising a plurality of openings each having a width, wherein the width of one of the plurality of vanes differs from the width of another one of the plurality of vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Timothy Swanson, James Jones