Patents Represented by Attorney Edwards F. Murphy, III
  • Patent number: 8033358
    Abstract: An aircraft turbine engine with a takeoff fan speed and a landing fan speed, the aircraft engine includes a fan duct with a HQ (Herschel-Quincke) acoustic control noise reduction tube. The acoustic control noise reduction tube contains a movable frequency tuner obstruction. The movable frequency tuner obstruction is movable within the acoustic control noise reduction tube, with the movable frequency tuner obstruction movable along a fixed tube path length between a first takeoff frequency obstruction tube path location, and a second landing frequency obstruction tube path location, with the frequency tuner obstruction positioned at the first takeoff frequency location with the takeoff speed, and the frequency tuner obstruction positioned at the second landing frequency location with the landing speed to reduce noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas E. Ivers
  • Patent number: 8020807
    Abstract: An aircraft vehicular front wheel landing gear assembly is provided that includes a nonelastomeric outer upper strut tubular member having an inner axial center bore with a tubular cylindrical frictional interface inner surface segment, and a nonelastomeric inner lower strut member having an outer bonding surface segment. The nonelastomeric inner member is rotationally received in the outer strut member inner axial center bore with the nonelastomeric inner strut member rotatable within said outer strut member. The assembly includes an elastomeric surface effect damper member encompassing the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment. The elastomeric surface effect damper member has an inner bonding surface segment and an outer elastomer surface, the inner bonding surface segment is bonded to the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Bachmeyer, Doug A. Hodgson
  • Patent number: 8002252
    Abstract: An isolation mount for supporting and isolating one part from another includes an inner member formed to be connected to one of the parts and an outer member formed to be connected to one of the parts. The inner member has a first and a second inner plates being connected at one end and extending at a first angle with respect to each other; the outer member also has a first and a second outer plates being connected at one end and extending at a second angle with respect to each other. The isolation mount further includes a first and a second individual elastomeric element compressed between respective inner and outer plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Peter D. Howorth, Guangze Li, Mark Smialowski
  • Patent number: 7967281
    Abstract: A vibration isolation member comprising an inner member comprising an outer periphery having a first dimension; an outer member comprising a base and a shroud that extends away from the base, the shroud adapted to overlay the inner member, said shroud defining an inner periphery having a second dimension, the second dimension being less than the first dimension; and a resilient member constrained between the shroud and the inner member, whereby the vibration isolation member provides iso-elastic dynamic stiffness and an interference between the inner and outer members in the event of a failure of the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Scott A. Rawson
  • Patent number: 7942248
    Abstract: A damper device comprising a first mode having a first level of damping, a second mode having a second level of damping corresponding to a predetermined function, a sensor system having a first output corresponding to a normal position and a second output corresponding to an end stop approaching position, and a control system operable for receiving the first output and the second output and executing the first mode and the second mode. The damper device is operable in the first mode when the control system receives the first output and is operable in the second mode when the control system receives the second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth A. St. Clair, Kenneth R. Boone, Douglas E. Ivers
  • Patent number: 7942633
    Abstract: Helicopter rotating hub mounted vibration control system for a rotary wing hub having periodic vibrations while rotating at an operational rotation frequency. The vibration control system includes a housing attachable to the rotary wing hub and rotating with the hub at the operational frequency. The housing is centered about the rotary wing hub axis of rotation and has an electronics housing cavity subsystem and an adjacent rotor housing cavity subsystem. The rotor housing cavity contains a first coaxial ring motor with a first rotor and imbalance mass and a second coaxial ring motor with a second rotor and imbalance mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Jolly, Stephen Hildebrand, Russell Altieri, Matthew Ferguson, Douglas Ivers
  • Patent number: 7925392
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring rotating shaft shafts and couplings in an aircraft propulsion system is described. The measurement system/method provides for accurate and precise monitoring of a rotating shaft flexible coupling in a fixed wing aircraft vehicle propulsion system. The measuring system/method provides for a high reliability short take off vertical landing fixed wing aircraft in which the vertical propulsion dynamically rotating drive shaft system and couplings are monitored in real time. The vehicular shaft coupling misalignment measuring system utilizes multiple positional sensors to provide highly reliable and precise determination of the dynamic characteristics of the rotating sensor target components of the propulsion system drive shaft. The relative position of the sensors is rigidly fixed externally from the rotating targets with a structural frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Russell E. Altieri, James F. Kuhn, Mark R. Jolly, Steve C. Southward, Askari Badre-Alam, Leslie P. Fowler, Matthew Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7722322
    Abstract: The computer programmable system and program product include first program instructions for actively driving a first imbalance mass concentration rotor and a second imbalance mass concentration rotor at a vibration canceling rotation frequency while controlling the rotational position of the first imbalance mass concentration and the second imbalance mass concentration to produce a rotating net force vector to inhibit periodic vibrations. The program product includes second program instructions to opposingly orient the first imbalance mass concentration relative to the second imbalance mass concentration during a starting stopping rotation speed less than the vibration canceling rotation frequency. The system includes a fault mode control protocol for controlling a rotation of the rotors during a sensed failure of the rotating assembly vibration control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Russell E. Altieri, Mark R. Jolly
  • Patent number: 7717013
    Abstract: An active balancer for dynamically balancing a rotating machine is provided. The active balancer has a balancer body which rotates with the rotating machine and at least one controllable position counter weight having a real-time adjustable position relative to the balancer body and the rotating machine inorder to produce an actively adjustable controllable counter weight balance force for dynamically balancing the rotating machine. The active balancer includes a spring with the balancer body mounted to the rotating machine through the spring wherein the balancer body mass resonates on the spring with a torsional vibration canceling frequency which cancels a torsional vibration of the rotating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Hildebrand, Lane Miller
  • Patent number: 7686246
    Abstract: A method/system for controlling helicopter vibrations is provided that includes a vibration canceling force generator for actively generating a vibration canceling force. The system includes a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency and a resonant actuator electronic control system. The resonant actuator electronic control system provides an electrical drive current to the resonant actuator to drive the resonant actuator about the resonant frequency when commanded by a received command signal. The resonant actuator has a feedback output with the feedback output fed back into the resonant actuator electronic control system wherein the resonant actuator electronic control system adjusts the electrical drive current based on the resonant actuator feedback output to generate the vibration canceling force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Askari Badre-Alam, Douglas Swanson, Jeffrey Cranmer
  • Patent number: 7637360
    Abstract: A system that includes a magnetically actuated motion control device comprising a housing defining a cavity and including a slot therethrough. A movable member is located within the cavity and is movable relative to the housing. A magnetic field generator located on either the housing or the movable member causes the housing to press against the movable member to develop a friction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: J. David Carlson, Richard Wilder
  • Patent number: 7578465
    Abstract: An aircraft vehicular front wheel landing gear assembly is provided that includes a nonelastomeric outer upper strut tubular member having an inner axial center bore with a tubular cylindrical frictional interface inner surface segment, and a nonelastomeric inner lower strut member having an outer bonding surface segment. The nonelastomeric inner member is rotationally received in the outer strut member inner axial center bore with the nonelastomeric inner strut member rotatable within said outer strut member. The assembly includes an elastomeric surface effect damper member encompassing the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment. The elastomeric surface effect damper member has an inner bonding surface segment and an outer elastomer surface, the inner bonding surface segment is bonded to the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Bachmeyer, Doug A. Hodgson
  • Patent number: 7571876
    Abstract: An aircraft vehicular assembly is provided that includes a nonelastomeric outer tubular member having an inner axial center bore with a tubular cylindrical frictional interface contiguous smooth inner surface segment, and a nonelastomeric inner member having an outer bonding surface segment. The nonelastomeric inner member is rotationally received in the outer member inner axial center bore with the nonelastomeric inner strut member rotatable within said outer member. The assembly includes an elastomer encompassing the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment. The elastomer has an inner bonding surface segment and an outer grooved elastomer surface, the inner bonding surface segment is bonded to the nonelastomeric inner member outer bonding surface segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Bachmeyer, Douglas A. Swanson, Bryan J. Pittman, Scott K. Thompson, Doug A. Hodgson
  • Patent number: 7566099
    Abstract: The invention provides a furniture chair seatback tilt limiter system for adjustably limiting the seatback recline of a chair. The seatback tilt limiter system includes a first gear toothed rotator with a full forward seatback upright endstop and a full recline seatback endstop. The seatback tilt limiter system includes a second gear toothed rotator having an adjustment endstop. The first rotator is free to rotate between the full forward seatback upright endstop and the full recline seatback endstop when the rotator gear teeth are disengaged and the second rotator adjustment endstop limits the rotation of the first rotator to an adjustable reclined seatback tilt limit when the gear teeth are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: David Catanzarite, Keith Ptak, Jim Maciak
  • Patent number: 7389162
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring rotating shaft shafts and couplings in an aircraft propulsion system is described. The measurement system/method provides for accurate and precise monitoring of a rotating shaft flexible coupling in a fixed wing aircraft vehicle propulsion system. The measuring system/method provides for a high reliability short take off vertical landing fixed wing aircraft in which the vertical propulsion dynamically rotating drive shaft system and couplings are monitored in real time. The vehicular shaft coupling misalignment measuring system utilizes multiple positional sensors to provide highly reliable and precise determination of the dynamic characteristics of the rotating sensor target components of the propulsion system drive shaft. The relative position of the sensors is rigidly fixed externally from the rotating targets with a structural frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Russell E. Altieri, James F. Kuhn, Mark R. Jolly, Steve C. Southward, Askari Badre-Alam, Leslie P. Fowler
  • Patent number: 7370397
    Abstract: A method and kit for repairing vehicle door skins by reorienting vehicle hem flanges from a closed orientation to an open orientation to allow removal of a damaged door skin from a door frame and replacing with a new door skin with an open orientation hem flange that is reoriented to a closed orientation to integrate the door skin and door frame with an adhesive. The repair kit includes a first tool for lifting and opening the damaged door skin hem flange to allow removal of the damaged door skin and reuse of the door frame. The tool kit includes a second repair tool for reorientation and closing the new door skin replacement door skin hem flange on the reused door frame with an adhesive to provide a repaired vehicle door with the replacement skin and reused door frame integral as a vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Edward T. Staquet
  • Patent number: 7370829
    Abstract: A method/system for controlling helicopter vibrations is provided that includes a vibration canceling force generator for actively generating a vibration canceling force. The system includes a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency and a resonant actuator electronic control system. The resonant actuator electronic control system provides an electrical drive current to the resonant actuator to drive the resonant actuator about the resonant frequency when commanded by a received command signal. The resonant actuator has a feedback output with the feedback output fed back into the resonant actuator electronic control system wherein the resonant actuator electronic control system adjusts the electrical drive current based on the resonant actuator feedback output to generate the vibration canceling force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Askari Badre-Alam, Douglas Swansor, Jeffrey Cranmer
  • Patent number: 7316389
    Abstract: A vibration isolation member comprising an inner member comprising an outer periphery having a first dimension; an outer member comprising a base and a shroud that extends away from the base, the shroud adapted to overlay the inner member, said shroud defining an inner periphery having a second dimension, the second dimension being less than the first dimension; and a resilient member constrained between the shroud and the inner member, whereby the vibration isolation member provides iso-elastic dynamic stiffness and an interference between the inner and outer members in the event of a failure of the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Scott A. Rawson
  • Patent number: 7290985
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotary wing aircraft helicopter vehicle rod end and method of making a rod end. The rotary wing aircraft rod end includes a nonelastomeric inner member having an outer bonding surface segment and an axial bore with a center bore axis, a nonelastomeric outer member having an inner bonding surface segment and an axial bore center bore axis, and molded in place alternating elastomeric shims and nonelastomeric shims connecting the nonelastomeric inner member to the nonelastomeric outer member. The rod end includes a first inner elastomeric shim bonded to the nonelastomeric inner member outer bonding surface segment and to a first inner nonelastomeric shim and a second outer elastomeric shim bonded to the nonelastomeric outer member inner bonding surface segment and to a second outer nonelastomeric shim. The nonelastomeric inner member has a molded misalignment rotary wing aircraft rod end orientation with the outer nonelastomeric outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Frank O. James, Christopher F. Rajecki
  • Patent number: 7270321
    Abstract: A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber through a fluid backfiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Donald D. Russell