Patents by Inventor William E. Rhoden

William E. Rhoden 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: 20200309462
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first channel with at least one first wall for porting a first fluid and a second channel with at least one second wall for porting a second fluid. The heat exchanger includes a barrier chamber located between the at least one first wall and the at least one second wall such that a rupture of one of the at least one first wall and the at least one second wall does not result in mixing of the first fluid and the second fluid. The heat exchanger includes a support member that extends between the at least one first wall and the at least one second wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, John W. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 10703500
    Abstract: A pipe assembly includes a first wall having an inner surface defining a fuel flowpath, a second wall spaced radially outward of the first wall, a gap formed between the first wall and the second wall defining a flow passage, and a screen positioned within the fuel flowpath being shaped and configured to direct ice in the fuel flowpath toward the inner surface such that heat from the first wall melts the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Giacomo Mezzino, Gianfranco Salvatoriello
  • Publication number: 20200108166
    Abstract: An air purifier system includes a duct, an ultraviolet light assembly, and a fan. The duct defines a reaction chamber for the flow of air, and includes an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The ultraviolet light assembly is adapted to illuminate the reaction chamber with ultraviolet light. The fan is adapted to draw the air through the reaction chamber. A reflective surface of the fan is configured to reflect the ultraviolet light into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Publication number: 20200017231
    Abstract: A pipe assembly includes a first wall having an inner surface defining a fuel flowpath, a second wall spaced radially outward of the first wall, a gap formed between the first wall and the second wall defining a flow passage, and a screen positioned within the fuel flowpath being shaped and configured to direct ice in the fuel flowpath toward the inner surface such that heat from the first wall melts the ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Giacomo Mezzino, Gianfranco Salvatoriello
  • Patent number: 10502159
    Abstract: An actuation system for a gas turbine engine oriented about a centerline includes a translating ring, at least one hydraulic actuator, and at least one electric actuator. The translating ring is oriented about the centerline and configured to move axially along the centerline. The at least one hydraulic actuator is configured to provide a first mechanical force to move the translating ring along the centerline. The at least one electric actuator is configured to provide a second mechanical force to move the translating ring in the axial direction. The at least one electric actuator is controlled to provide the second mechanical force upon determination of an operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Patent number: 10495740
    Abstract: A system has an actuator with a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being offset a step dimension from the second surface. A sensor is configured to measure a distance between the sensor and both the first surface and the second surface via a signal received by the sensor after having reflected off the first surface or the second surface. The step dimension is greater than a minimum dimension, which is defined in view of a medium through which the actuator moves and a frequency of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Publication number: 20190331441
    Abstract: An additively manufactured component is provided. The additively manufactured component includes an additively manufactured first part defining a first trench, an additively manufactured second part defining a second trench and a fiber optic sensor. The additively manufactured first and second parts are additively manufactured together with the first and second trenches corresponding in position such that the additively manufactured first and second parts form an assembled part with a fiber channel cooperatively defined by the first and second trenches. The fiber optic sensor includes a first sensor part embedded in the fiber channel and a second sensor part operably coupled to the first sensor part and extendible at an exterior of the assembled part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, John W. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 10428816
    Abstract: A multi-stage gear pump includes a first pump stage, a second pump stage, and a variable speed gearbox including an input and an output, wherein the input is rotationally coupled to the first pump stage and the input rotates at a first rotational speed, and the output is rotationally coupled to the second pump stage and rotates at a second rotational speed, wherein a variable gear ratio determines the second rotational speed relative to the first rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Publication number: 20190257569
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a heat exchanger body, an inlet for a fluid to be cooled, and an outlet for the fluid to be cooled. There is also an inlet for a cooling fluid and an outlet for the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid and the fluid to be cooled connects to the heat exchanger, but are maintained separate in the heat exchanger such that the cooling fluid lowers the temperature of the fluid to be cooled. The cooling fluid and the fluid to be cooled connects to pass through the heat exchanger, but are maintained separate such that the cooling fluid lowers the temperature of the fluid to be cooled. An ice detector detects an undesirable amount of ice particles in the cooling fluid. A control receives information from the ice detector and controls electric heating elements should an undesirable amount of ice particles be detected. An aircraft is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Publication number: 20190248503
    Abstract: A powered aircraft includes at least one thrust producing engine and an engine controller controllably coupled to the at least one thrust producing engine. The engine controller includes at least a first control channel and a drag control channel. The first control channel is configured to control the at least one thrust producing engine via thrust control and the drag control channel is configured to control the at least one thrust producing engine via drag control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Publication number: 20190225323
    Abstract: An air vehicle control system is described that includes a computer-implemented controller. The controller is configured to control an air vehicle, where the air vehicle is logically divided into four sections of electrical and mechanical devices that are operatively connected to the controller via a control data bus and an actuation bus. The four sections include a forward sector, a left engine sector, a right engine sector, and an aft sector. The controller controls all four sections of electrical and mechanical devices of the air vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Peter J. Padykula
  • Patent number: 10330404
    Abstract: An additively manufactured component is provided. The additively manufactured component includes an additively manufactured first part defining a first trench, an additively manufactured second part defining a second trench and a fiber optic sensor. The additively manufactured first and second parts are additively manufactured together with the first and second trenches corresponding in position such that the additively manufactured first and second parts form an assembled part with a fiber channel cooperatively defined by the first and second trenches. The fiber optic sensor includes a first sensor part embedded in the fiber channel and a second sensor part operably coupled to the first sensor part and extendible at an exterior of the assembled part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, John W. Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20190120142
    Abstract: A fuel supply system has a fuel tank, a first fuel pump, and a first oxygen removal unit. The first fuel pump delivers fuel from the fuel tank into the first oxygen removal unit. A valve downstream of the first oxygen removal unit is operable to selectively deliver fuel back to the fuel tank in a bypass position or downstream to a use in a use position. A controller programmed to control the valve and the first fuel pump maintains the valve in the bypass position when an associated gas turbine engine is not operating. The controller moves the valve to the use positon when the associated gas turbine engine is operating. A gas turbine engine and a method of operating a fuel supply system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Peter J. Padykula
  • Patent number: 10225950
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for an aircraft includes an aircraft controller for controlling an operation of an aircraft, a thermoelectric device having a low temperature side and a high temperature side, an inlet line that carries fluid through the low temperature side of the thermoelectric device and to the aircraft controller; and an outlet line that carrier the fluid away from the and aircraft controller through the high temperature side of the thermoelectric device. Heat is transferred away from the inlet line to the outlet line through the thermoelectric device when a predetermined condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Charles E. Lents
  • Publication number: 20190056485
    Abstract: A system has an actuator with a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being offset a step dimension from the second surface. A sensor is configured to measure a distance between the sensor and both the first surface and the second surface via a signal received by the sensor after having reflected off the first surface or the second surface. The step dimension is greater than a minimum dimension, which is defined in view of a medium through which the actuator moves and a frequency of the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Patent number: 10190828
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first half defining a first inlet portion and a first outlet portion, a second half defining a second inlet portion and a second outlet portion. The first half and the second half are configured to mate and form an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. At least one of the first half or the second half includes one or more inlet transfer holes defined through a thickness of at least one of the first inlet portion and/or the second inlet portion. At least one of the first half or the second half includes one or more outlet transfer holes defined through a thickness of at least one of the first outlet portion or the second outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Leo J. Veilleux, Jr., Peter J. Padykula
  • Publication number: 20190022558
    Abstract: A fuel deoxygenation system includes a boost pump and an oxygen collector. The collector includes an input port fluidly connected to an output of the boost pump, an output port in fluid communication with the input port, and one or more hollow fiber tubes disposed within the oxygen collector, the hollow fiber tubes having an oxygen permeable membrane disposed thereon. The system also includes a nitrogen source in fluid communication with the one or more hollow fiber tubes that causes the formation of a nitrogen containing sweep gas channel within the one or more hollow fiber tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Haralambos Cordatos
  • Publication number: 20190022557
    Abstract: A fuel de-oxygenation system includes a boost pump and an oxygen collector. The oxygen collector includes an input port fluidly connected to an output of the boost pump, an output port in fluid communication with the input port, and one or more hollow fiber tubes disposed within the oxygen collector, the hollow fiber tubes having an oxygen permeable membrane disposed thereon. The system further includes a vacuum source in fluid communication with the one or more hollow fiber tubes that causes the formation of at least a partial vacuum within the one or more hollow fiber tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Publication number: 20180363647
    Abstract: A fuel system for a turbomachine includes a fuel tank and a first fuel line in fluid communication with the fuel tank and one or more fuel injectors. The first fuel line includes a main fuel pump disposed on the first fuel line, and an electric metering system disposed on the first fuel line downstream of the main fuel pump configured for starting the turbomachine and metering fuel to the fuel injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Peter J. Padykula
  • Publication number: 20180328215
    Abstract: A device and methods are provided for controlling blade outer air seal of a gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, a method includes receivg blade outer air seal clearance from an integrated sensor actuator, determining blade outer seal control by an electronic engine control unit, and controlling the blade outer air seal clearance by the electronic engine control unit, wherein an interleaved blade outer air seal is positioned by an integrated sensor actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Peter L. Jalbert, William E. Rhoden