Patents Assigned to GE Aviation Systems Limited
  • Patent number: 11146058
    Abstract: A method and circuit for determining and extinguishing electrical faults includes a power supply, and electrical load, a controller module, and electrical sensors, and when the controller module does not extinguish the electrical fault, another switch blows a fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: John Oliver Collins, Russell Mark Compton
  • Patent number: 11139639
    Abstract: A modular power distribution apparatus and method includes a frame defined by a first set of parallel supports and a second set of parallel supports, the second set of parallel supports connecting the first set of parallel supports, the frame defining a generally planar assembly defining a first side and a second side opposite the first side, as well as a set of components extending from a side of the frame and operably coupled to the frame. The set of components includes a set of power modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Alexander James Rainbow, Michael James Smith
  • Patent number: 11101688
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for no-break power transfer in a power distribution system, including providing, from a first power source, a first power supply to a power bus, disabling the first power supply from the power bus, and providing, from a second power source, a second power supply to the power bus, the second power supply having the second set of electrical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventor: Colin John Halsey
  • Patent number: 11101643
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system that includes a direct current solid state power controller that includes a plurality of switching devices connected in parallel for performing switching, one or more main transient voltage suppressors (TVSs) to perform voltage clamping, a plurality of parasitic inductances each connected in series with a switching device of the plurality of switching devices, and a plurality of local TVSs each connected in parallel with a series connection of a switching device and at least one parasitic inductor of the plurality of parasitic inductances, to dissipate energy stored within the at least one parasitic inductor of the plurality of parasitic inductances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter James Handy, Peter Michael Tyler, Julian Peter Mayes
  • Patent number: 11081867
    Abstract: An avionics power management panel and door assembly where the panel includes a cabinet including a set of walls at least partially defining an interior with an open face and door assembly includes a central panel a front panel that includes a set of rows with apertures formed between two adjacent rows and where the set of rows have a crimped profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: John Michael Brett, Adrian John Hughes
  • Patent number: 11065973
    Abstract: A distributed converter for delivering power to a set of loads is provided. The distributed converter includes a converter battery distribution unit that includes a converter-modular power tile, and the converter-modular power tile includes a battery pack configured to deliver power to a load of the set of loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Russell Mark Compton, John Oliver Collins, Hao Huang, David Killin Roberts
  • Patent number: 11062532
    Abstract: A method and system for component maintenance including for avionics components including a light assembly provided at a component, the light assembly configured to provide an output indicative of a status of the component and a mobile device having a display and an optical sensor and configured to determine light emitted from the light assembly and determine the status of the component to define a determined status based on light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventor: Edmund Vaughan Culpin
  • Patent number: 11049671
    Abstract: A power distribution switch including a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) relay switch matrix disposed between a power source and an electrical load, and a controller module configured to operate the MEMS relay switch between a conducting and a non-conducting state, wherein the conducting state conducts power from the power source to the electrical load and the non-conducting state prevents power conduction from the power sources to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Russell Mark Compton, Glenn Scott Claydon, John Oliver Collins, Christopher Fred Keimel, Julian Peter Mayes
  • Patent number: 11040875
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage system includes a pressure-sealed storage unit defining an interior and having an outlet, an upper manifold and a lower manifold separated by a dividing plane having a set of ports, a set of chambers, and a hydrogen storage, wherein at least some hydrogen gas is supplied to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Colin John Halsey, Michael David Bailey, Ross Jonathan Williams
  • Publication number: 20210139167
    Abstract: A system and method for acquiring accurate vibration data, time of arrival, or other mechanical state for a mechanical system with rotary elements, such as a planetary gear system with multiple planet gears that rotate relative to a central sun gear, or blades in a turbine engine. Multiple vibration sensors are arranged at spaced intervals along the exterior of the gear system (such as along the ring gear of the system or the exterior housing of the system). Each vibration sensor is so situated as to periodically detect vibrations from each one of the planet gears in succession, as the planet gears rotate around the central sun gear. Using timing and gear-system configuration information, a determination is made as to which gear is being sensed by any one sensor at any time; also determined is which teeth of each gear are being sensed by a particular sensor at any one time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Dunning, Nicholas Keningley, Steven Bonnett, Timothy North, Matthew William Wiseman
  • Patent number: 11005254
    Abstract: An electrical power distribution system can distribute electricity from a source to a load, and can comprise at least one solid state power controller (SSPC) having an input coupled to the source and an output coupled to the load. The SSPC can include an open shunt switch connecting the input to ground. A control circuit can couple to the shunt switch and can be configured to detect a failure in the SSPC. A fuse can be connected between the source and the input. A failure can be detected in the SSPC and the control circuit can close the shunt switch to cause a short circuit that will blow the fuse and isolate the SSPC from the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Peter James Handy, Michael Glenny
  • Patent number: 11005262
    Abstract: A circuit to mitigate arc failures in an electrical power distribution system can include a solid state distribution system connected to a source of power and to a load, a solid state power controller (SSPC) having a set of field effect transistors (FETs) responsive to command signals from the SSPC wherein an arc in a wire bond of a failed FET can trigger a predetermined sequence to quench the arc and isolate remaining wire bond material in the failed FET from contaminating a creepage path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Peter James Handy, Ross Jonathan Williams
  • Patent number: 10996793
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting a vibration-induced error on a touch screen display device on an aircraft are provided. A method can include providing a user interface for display on a touch screen display device. The user interface can include one or more virtual elements associated with functions to be performed by a component of the aircraft. The method can include receiving data indicative of an actual user interaction with the touch screen display device. The method can include receiving data indicative of an intended user interaction. The method can include receiving data indicative of a sensed vibration. The method can include determining a corrected user interaction corresponding to a selected virtual element based on the data received. The method can also include sending one or more command signals to one or more components to perform a function associated with the selected virtual element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: George R. Henderson, Paul Richard Hickman, Luke Patrick Bolton
  • Patent number: 10984972
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a printed circuit board having a substrate, an electrical component disposed on the substrate and connected to an input, a wire bond connecting the electrical component to an output, and a gas-generating fuel disposed on the substrate proximate to the wire bond to account for an arc fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventor: David Killin Roberts
  • Patent number: 10983155
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing the detection of faults in a wiring system. The wiring system is made up of supply wires and can include return wires. The supply wire connects a power supply to a load end. The fault detecting apparatus is positioned along the wire between the power supply and the load end and can include a first and second resistor, a voltage monitor, and an indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: John Oliver Collins, Russell Mark Compton, Peter James Handy, Denis Vaughan Weale
  • Patent number: 10983495
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a control module circuit having a circuit communication input port, a circuit communication output port, a first controllable unit that has a first controller module, and a second controllable unit having a second controller module. The first controller module has a first communication input port connected with the circuit communication input port and a first communication output port. The second controller module has a second communication input port connected with the first communication output port and a second communication output port connected with the circuit communication output port. The first and second controllable units are adapted to be identified with a permanent identity by way of a transmittable data signal receivable at the communication input port and sequentially received by the first and second controllable units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: David Alan Elliott, James Angelo Elder, Peter James Handy, Denis Vaughan Weale
  • Publication number: 20210107679
    Abstract: A system and method relates to analysing data indicative of system performance for a vehicular transport system. More particularly, the present invention relates to integrating aircraft management, monitoring, and maintenance systems, such as Health & Usage Monitoring/Management Systems (HUMS), On-board Maintenance Systems (OMS), Cockpit Voice & Flight Data Recorders (CVFDR), and/or Quick Access Recorder (QAR) previously distributed over multiple systems, into a single circuit card assembly (CCA). The single circuit card may consist of the electronics needed for data acquisition, processing, storage and transmission to support all of the above systems and similar. The present system and method is further related to running the software to perform aircraft management, monitoring, and maintenance functions on the single common CCA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Dunning, Steven Bonnett, Timothy North, Daniel Lee
  • Patent number: 10979993
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing time reference synchronization for an aircraft are provided. In one embodiment, a method can include receiving, by one or more computing devices associated with a data acquisition system of an aircraft, a signal comprising time synchronization information, wherein the signal comprises a first signal portion and a second signal portion. The method can include filtering, by the one or more computing devices, the signal comprising the time synchronization information to distinguish the first signal portion and the second signal portion from noise associated with the signal. The method can include determining, by the one or more computing devices, the time synchronization information based at least in part on the first signal portion and the second signal portion. The method can include synchronizing, by the one or more computing devices, a set of data acquired by the data acquisition system with the time synchronization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Timothy Robert North, Tod Alexander Gilbert, Steven Bonnett
  • Patent number: 10972087
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling voltage sharing between a set of switching components can include applying power from a current source with a positive lead and a negative lead, closing the set of switching components to connect power from the current source to an electrical load, detecting a set of voltage values for the set of switching components, and controlling a current limiting function of at least one of the set of switching components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Peter James Handy, Peter Michael Tyler
  • Publication number: 20210097782
    Abstract: A system and method preserves raw vibration data for a physical event involving a transport vehicle such as a helicopter, plane, boat, car, or truck. The event may involve unexpected mechanical stresses on the vehicle. The system and method preserves raw vibration data for parts of the transport vehicle, such as from multiple points along the drive train. The preserved raw vibration data includes data from time prior to the physical event. In an embodiment, the system and method continuously detects vibration data, and stores the most recent vibration data in a circular memory buffer. The buffer is continually updated with the most current vibration data. When an event is automatically detected or manually triggered, the most recently saved vibration data is transferred from the buffer to permanent storage, along with vibration data obtained subsequent to the event. This allows for a more thorough post-event analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Dunning, Steven Bonnett, Timothy North, Daniel Lee