Patents Represented by Attorney Stephen G. Mican
  • Patent number: 7886702
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing control of multiple engines amongst the engines in a power generation system that has a central controller, comprises the steps of: receiving aboard each engine from the central controller a control signal representative of a desired fuel flow; metering fuel at a fuel metering point aboard each engine; sensing at least one parameter aboard each engine proximate the fuel metering point that is representative of fuel flow; adjusting the fuel metering aboard each engine to cause the sensed parameter to correlate to the desired fuel flow; and transmitting a monitoring signal from each engine to the central controller that is representative of the adjusted fuel metering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Precision Engine Controls Corporation
    Inventors: James Gregory Jerrell, Paul D. Zafuta
  • Patent number: 7885089
    Abstract: A power conversion system comprises: a source of multiphase high frequency alternating current (AC) electrical input power; a high frequency controlled magnetics transformer for each phase of the multiphase high frequency AC input power, with each transformer having a primary winding coupled to its respective phase of the multiphase high frequency AC input power, at least one secondary winding that produces high frequency AC output power and at least one control winding responsive to a direct current (DC) control signal that changes the high frequency output power in proportion to the amplitude of the DC control signal; a power converter that receives the multiphase high frequency AC output power from each high frequency transformer secondary and converts it to system output power without the high frequency AC content; and a system controller responsive to the system output power that produces a DC control signal for each control winding that changes in amplitude in response to changes in a measured parameter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Jacek F. Gieras, Andreas C. Koenig
  • Patent number: 7884491
    Abstract: A power turbine speed control system for a turbo-shaft type gas turbine engine that has a gas generator compressor spool and a power turbine spool and drives an electrical generator that powers at least one electrical load by way of at least one electrical bus, comprises a power turbine controller that senses the rotary speed of the power turbine spool and generates at least one signal that changes the torque of the electrical generator in response to the sensed change in the rotary speed of the power turbine spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Halsey, Charles J. Romenesko
  • Patent number: 7859231
    Abstract: A permanent magnet (PM) electric generator with directly controllable field excitation control comprises: a drive shaft; a PM rotor assembly with multiple PMs arranged around an outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly; a stator assembly comprising a ferromagnetic stator yoke, multiple ferromagnetic stator teeth mounted to the stator yoke with distal ends proximate the outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly separated by an air gap and multiple stator coils mounted between the stator teeth; multiple saturable ferromagnetic shunts, each shunt coupling adjacent distal ends of the stator teeth to shunt air gap magnetic flux ?g generated by the PMs across the air gap through the distal ends of the stator teeth; and multiple saturation control coils, each saturation control coil wrapped about a saturable region of an associated one of the shunts; wherein application of a control current Ic to the control coils at least partially magnetically saturates the shunts to reduce shunting of air gap magnetic flux ?
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Jacek F. Gieras, Gregory I. Rozman
  • Patent number: 7852049
    Abstract: A dual channel power generation system comprises: a prime mover; a permanent magnet (PM) dynamoelectric machine that has a PM rotor coupled to the prime mover, two multiphase alternating current (AC) stators that develop electromotive force (EMF) in response to rotation of the PM rotor due to the magnetic flux linkage between the PM rotor and the stators, two control coils that each change the magnetic flux linkage of a respective stator in response to the level of a control current that passes through the control coil; a multiphase AC rectifier for each stator that receives AC power from its respective stator to supply DC power on a respective rectifier bus; a current feedback loop for each rectifier bus; a voltage feedback loop for each rectifier bus; a load-sharing controller responsive to both current feedback loops to develop a voltage regulator reference signal for each rectifier bus that is representative of the value of voltage that its corresponding stator should produce to maintain equal values of c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay K Maddali, Gregory I Rozman, Matthew L Wilhide
  • Patent number: 7810337
    Abstract: A method of starting a gas turbine engine with a synchronous multiphase alternating current (AC) dynamoelectric machine with a rotor and a stator that allows re-engagement of a starting operation at non-zero rotor speeds comprises the steps of: applying electrical excitation to the rotor; measuring electromotive force (EMF) generated in the stator; determining rotor speed, acceleration and position from the measured EMF by sensorless means; initiating closed-loop sensorless position controlled power to the stator if the determined rotor speed is at least a pre-determined minimum closed-loop sensorless re-engagement speed; initiating open-loop position controlled power to the stator if the determined rotor speed is less than the pre-determined minimum closed-loop sensorless re-engagement speed but at least a predetermined minimum open-loop re-engagement speed and the determined rotor acceleration is no more than a pre-determined maximum open-loop re-engagement acceleration; and initiating open-loop zero-speed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundtrand Corporation
    Inventors: Donal E Baker, Gary L. Miles, Raymond J. Beckmann
  • Patent number: 7806596
    Abstract: A rotary bearing system that supports a shaft for rotating machinery in a housing comprises: at least one stationary rotary bearing mounted in the housing for supporting a respective journal of the shaft in a desired axial and radial alignment; at least one slidable rotary bearing, with an outer surface mounted within a respective inner support surface of the housing to form a respective linear bearing such that each slidable bearing may slide axially along the inner support surface of the housing, for supporting another respective journal of the shaft with the desired radial alignment; and at least one layer of a crystalline material that exhibits a high degree of basal cleavage bonded to at least one of the linear bearing surfaces; wherein each layer of crystalline material allows each slidable rotary bearing to slide axially along each respective linear bearing to compensate for differences in the coefficient of expansion of the housing and the shaft so as to prevent the bearing system from binding due to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Mark N. Shatz, Eric J. Alexander, Gordon F. Jewess, James J. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 7804263
    Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine that has at least one rotor component proximate a stator that is axially displaceable from the stator in response to pressure of lubrication oil delivered to its lubrication system has a system for changing axial displacement of each axially displaceable rotor component from the stator to cause a corresponding change in rotor-stator magnetic flux interaction, comprising: a hydraulic pump for generating a flow of lubrication oil; and means for regulating the flow of lubrication oil to the machine to develop a corresponding lubrication oil pressure that controls axial displacement of each axially displaceable rotor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Himmelmann, Mohammad Shahamat
  • Patent number: 7777358
    Abstract: A power turbine speed control system for a turbo-shaft type gas turbine engine that has a gas generator compressor spool and a power turbine spool and drives an electrical generator that powers at least one electrical load by way of at least one electrical bus, comprises a power turbine controller that senses the rotary speed of the power turbine spool and generates at least one signal that changes the torque of the electrical generator in response to the sensed change in the rotary speed of the power turbine spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Halsey, Charles J. Romenesko
  • Patent number: 7777384
    Abstract: A permanent magnet (PM) dynamoelectric machine with directly controllable field excitation control comprises: a drive shaft; a PM rotor assembly with multiple PMs arranged around an outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly; a stator assembly comprising a ferromagnetic stator yoke, multiple ferromagnetic stator teeth mounted to the stator yoke with distal ends proximate the outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly separated by an air gap and multiple stator coils mounted between the stator teeth; multiple saturable ferromagnetic shunts, each shunt coupling adjacent distal ends of the stator teeth to shunt air gap magnetic flux ?g generated by the PMs across the air gap through the distal ends of the stator teeth; and multiple saturation control coils, each saturation control coil wrapped about a saturable region of an associated one of the shunts; wherein application of a control current Ic to the control coils at least partially magnetically saturates the shunts to reduce shunting of air gap magnetic fl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Jacek F. Gieras, Gregory I. Rozman
  • Patent number: 7748208
    Abstract: A recirculating bearing lubrication system for a gas turbine engine that comprises a housing for the engine that serves as a primary static structural support, a rotor shaft for mounting rotational components of the engine, at least two bearings for supporting the rotor shaft within the housing and an air intake for supplying engine air comprises a generally annular lubricant source mounted about the engine intake to cool lubricant for the bearings; a solenoid that seals the lubricant from air contamination during storage of the engine and unseals it upon starting the engine; a lubricant pump that circulates the lubricant; at least one lubricant spray jet that receives circulating lubricant and sprays lubricant onto the bearings; and a sump for collecting excess lubricant sprayed on the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon F. Jewess, Anthony C. Jones, Robert O. Barkley
  • Patent number: 7736062
    Abstract: For machinery comprising rotary components attached to at least one drive shaft, at least one rotary bearing to position the drive shaft with a rotational freedom of movement about a drive shaft axis and associated stationary components, apparatus that comprises: a rotary backup bearing sleeve attached to the drive shaft proximate the bearing comprising a rotary radial surface relative to the drive shaft axis and a rotary axial surface relative to the drive shaft axis; and a stationary backup bearing collar mounted to one of the stationary components proximate the rotary backup bearing sleeve comprising a stationary radial surface relative to the drive shaft axis proximate the rotary radial surface with a predetermined axial clearance and a stationary axial surface relative to the drive shaft axis proximate the rotary radial surface with a predetermined axial clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Behzad Hagshenas, Charles B. Parme, Dirk A. Fichtner, Crosby H. Johnson, Dominic Giammaria
  • Patent number: 7737591
    Abstract: A coaxial twin variable field permanent magnetic dynamoelectric machine comprising first and second stators displaced from each other and first and second permanent magnet rotors. The rotors comprising hydraulic actuators mounted within the rotors for axially displacing the outer and inner surfaces of the first and second rotors, respectively, with the inner and outer surfaces of the first and second stators, respectively, in order to change magnetic flux interaction between the first stator and rotor and the second stator and rotor. Both stators have magnetic shields covering outer and inner surfaces of the first and second stators, respectively. The first axial hydraulic actuator displaces the first rotor outer surface within the second stator magnetic shield and the second axial hydraulic actuator displaces the second rotor inner surface over the first stator magnetic shield with reduced first rotor-second stator and second rotor-first stator magnetic flux interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Himmelmann, Mohammad Shahamat
  • Patent number: 7705574
    Abstract: A direct current (DC) remote power controller for remotely controlling DC power between a DC power source and a DC load, comprises: a current sensor for sensing the level of current that the power source supplies to the load and generating a current feedback signal representative of the sensed current level; a current limit controller that compares the current feedback signal to a reference current level and generates a current regulation signal representative of the value of sensed current level above the reference current level; a current limiting device that is responsive to the current regulation signal to limit load current to the reference current level up to a first predetermined level of potential difference across the current limiting device; a load resistance; and a switched-mode DC-to-DC converter in parallel with the current limiting device that senses potential difference across the current limiting device and diverts a portion of the load current from the current limiting device through the load
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Fox
  • Patent number: 7701197
    Abstract: An electrical current sensing assembly comprises: a conductive input substrate with a generally planar contact surface; a conductive output substrate with a generally planar contact surface proximate and substantially parallel to the input substrate contact surface; a conductive current sense path extending from the input substrate contact surface to the output substrate contact surface with a sense path cross sectional area generally normal to electrical current flow; a conductive current bypass path extending from the input substrate contact surface to the output substrate contact surface with a bypass path cross sectional area generally normal to electrical current flow; and an electrical current sensing device proximate the current sense path for sensing electrical current passing through the current sense path; wherein the ratio of the current passing through the bypass path to the current passing through the sense path is proportional to the ratio of the bypass path cross sectional area to the sensing p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Randal Sherman, Shin Katsumata
  • Patent number: 7677135
    Abstract: An electromechanical power transfer system for a vehicle, comprises: an electrical power source; a system controller; at least two dynamoelectric machines; an electrically engageable clutch for each machine; an input shaft coupled to the jack shaft; an output shaft coupled to a load presented by the vehicle; and at least two electrically engageable transmission gear sets for coupling the input shaft to the output shaft; wherein the system controller selectively engages each machine clutch and each transmission gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 7671665
    Abstract: An electrical switching circuit for controlling current flow to an electrical load from a primary power source with a first electrical potential difference relative to a circuit ground comprising a primary energy storage device with a low side coupled to the electrical load, a secondary electrical energy storage device with a high side and a low side, a controllable electrical switch that toggles the low side of the secondary energy storage device from the circuit ground to the low side of the primary energy storage device, a primary unidirectional current gate coupled between the high side of the secondary energy storage device and the high side of the primary energy storage device to let current flow from the secondary energy storage device to the primary energy storage device when the potential difference of the high side of the secondary energy storage device is higher than the high side of the primary energy storage device, a secondary unidirectional current gate coupled between a secondary power source
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Teryl Pratt
  • Patent number: 7669325
    Abstract: A method of assembling a portable compressor package comprises steps of assembling a sub-frame module that comprises the mechanical components of an apparatus for ease of assembly to associated structural modules for minimisation of assembly time and ease of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Dale E. Husted, James J. Papczynski
  • Patent number: 7640723
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine that delivers fuel to a combustor of the engine and lubricates bearings of the engine with fuel, comprising: a tank for storing the fuel; a pump for delivering a continuous flow of fuel from the tank to the combustor by way of a combustor inlet stream and the engine bearings by way of a bearing lubrication stream; a pressurized container for storing fuel lubrication additive under pressure; and a flow valve for controlling flow of fuel lubrication additive that flows from the pressurized container into the bearing lubrication inlet stream to mix with the fuel delivered to the engine bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Eric J. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7633729
    Abstract: A method of detecting and indicating a presence of alternating current (AC) series arc fault events in current supplied by an AC electrical power source to an electrical load for the power source comprises the steps of: measuring positive and negative current through the load over a first sample cycle of the AC power to establish first measured positive and first measured negative current levels; determining the absolute value of the first measured positive and first measured negative current levels to establish a first absolute positive current level and a first absolute negative current level; adding the first absolute positive current level and the first absolute negative current level to establish a first sum current level; measuring positive and negative current through the load over a second sample cycle staggered from the first sample cycle to establish second measured positive and second measured negative current levels; determining the absolute value of the second measured positive and second measure
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne H. Oldenburg, Donald G. Kilroy