Patents Assigned to Simmonds Precision
  • Publication number: 20130126612
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving output voltage data from an array of at least four thermopiles placed around the circumference of a projectile such that for any rotation of the projectile during flight thereof, at least a pair of the thermopile having upwardly-facing fields of view referenced to the earth-fixed coordinate system. The method includes determining the pair of upwardly-facing thermopiles based on the output voltage data from the array, with the respective pair of thermopiles including a thermopile p and next adjacent thermopile p+1. The method includes determining a ratio of the output voltage data from thermopiles p and p+1, and applying the ratio to a function associating, for any pair of thermopiles n and n+1, a ratio of output voltage data from thermopiles n and n+1, and a roll angle ?n of thermopile n referenced to the earth-fixed coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Robert Durkee
  • Publication number: 20130126249
    Abstract: In one aspect, column load cells are described herein. In some embodiments, a column load cell comprises a load bearing column, a plurality of first strain gauges coupled to surfaces of the load bearing column for determining axial strain and a load receiving surface comprising a plurality of load guides, the load guides substantially aligned with the first strain gauges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Edwy Buttolph
  • Publication number: 20130106333
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a controller configured to control operation of a salient-type, multiphase motor in accordance with a technique including periodic on and off-times, the motor including a stator and a rotor. The controller is configured to calculate or receive values representing changes in current to the motor during the respective on and off-times or measurements proportional thereto, and calculate an inductance of the motor as a function of the values and a supply voltage to the motor. And the controller is configured to determine a position of the rotor based on the inductance of the motor, and control operation of the motor based on the position of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Robert Durkee
  • Patent number: 8402844
    Abstract: A health and usage monitoring system for use in monitoring health and usage of one or more components of a vehicle. In various embodiments, the present invention uses at least one roving wireless sensor that can be temporarily placed in a first position to monitor one or more components of the vehicle and then moved to another position to monitor one or more other components of the vehicle, thus reducing the total number of sensors used to monitor the vehicle. In some embodiments, a system according to the present invention may comprise at least one or more roving wireless sensors. Other embodiments may comprise one or more roving wireless sensors used in conjunction with one or more wired sensors. The present invention also provides similar embodiments for a method of monitoring the health and usage of one or more components of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Radoslaw Romuald Zakrzewski, Michael Anthony Lynch, Robert Zeliff, Eric Robert Bechhoefer
  • Patent number: 8406217
    Abstract: Wireless communication may be provided between an access point and one or more wireless devices, such as wireless sensors used in avionics applications for sensing, monitoring and control systems. Synchronization of wireless devices may be required so that certain actions, such as data acquisition, are performed at precisely controlled time instances. The system described herein provides for rapid synchronization of wireless devices that does not require the use of prior timing data and that may be performed without communication directly between the wireless devices. Further, techniques are provided for addressing packet losses and packet propagation delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Radoslaw Romuald Zakrzewski
  • Patent number: 8400502
    Abstract: Detecting video phenomena, such as fire in an aircraft cargo bay, includes receiving a plurality of video images from a plurality of sources, compensating the images to provide enhanced images, extracting features from the enhanced images, and combining the features from the plurality of sources to detect the video phenomena. Extracting features may include determining an energy indicator for each of a subset of the plurality of frames. Detecting video phenomena may also include comparing energy indicators for each of the subset of the plurality of frames to a reference frame. The reference frame corresponds to a video frame taken when no fire is present, video frame immediately preceding each of the subset of the plurality of frames, or a video frame immediately preceding a frame that is immediately preceding each of the subset of the plurality of frames. Image-based and non-image based techniques are described herein in connection with fire detection and/or verification and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Radoslaw Romuald Zakrzewski, Mokhtar Sadok, Jeffrey James Shirer, Robert Lowell Zeliff
  • Patent number: 8380447
    Abstract: Determining health of a component includes using at least one processor to perform processes including acquiring a plurality of measured values corresponding to the condition indicators. Synchronous noise components are removed from the measured values to provide revised measured values, and the revised measured values are used to determine noise-filtered condition indicator values. The noise-filtered condition indicator values may be used in algorithms to determine the health of the component. Removing synchronous noise components may include determining a predicted value thereof using covariance and autocovariance of the measured values. The component may be a split torque gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Robert Bechhoefer
  • Patent number: 8374601
    Abstract: A wireless sensor system for an aircraft including a central access point and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a star network in which the central access point wirelessly exchanges data with the slave nodes in a bidirectional manner. At least one of the antenna at the central access point and the antenna of each of the slave nodes is circularly polarized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Mokhtar Sadok, Michael A. Lynch, Scott Thomas Fusare
  • Patent number: 8355879
    Abstract: In vibration based mechanical diagnostics, algorithms may extract some feature of a component which may be used as a statistic of the components' health. A measured condition indicator corresponding to the analysis of the components' health may be a function of transmission error (TE). Because there exists a relationship between TE and the CI for a component that is faulted, the CI is correlated with power transmitted. In drive train components, power may be proportional to measured torque. In terms of diagnostics or trending of a component, it is desirable to reduce the scatter in the measured CI and account for this torque. The relationship between measured CI and torque may be captured over time. An increase in the correlation of torque with the CI would indicate an increase of TE which indicates the propagation of a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Robert Bechhoefer
  • Patent number: 8338769
    Abstract: A fin retention and deployment mechanism includes a detent in each of a plurality of fins, a mechanism that engages the detent, and at least one spring clip that maintains each of the fins in a non-deployed position. The mechanism also includes a gas generator, a manifold, coupled to the gas generator and having a plurality of cylinders in fluid communication with gas from the gas generator, and a plurality of pistons disposed in the cylinders. A bottom of each of the pistons is coupled to each of the fins to provide deployment thereof when a corresponding top of each of the pistons is acted upon by gas from the gas generator. In response to the gas generator expelling gas, the pistons may move the fins to a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Sankovic
  • Publication number: 20120313565
    Abstract: A sensor system for providing control of an electric motor having an inductive angle sensor system including a first inductive coil configured for affixation to a rotor shaft of the electric motor wherein rotation of the rotor shaft causes corresponding rotation of the first inductive coil. A second inductive coil fixedly mounted in spaced relationship to the first inductive coil. An evaluation circuit coupled to the second inductive coil and to the electric motor operative to determine a rotor shaft angle for the rotor shaft of the electric motor through evaluation of an induced magnetic field between the first and second inductive coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ortman, William L. Kenly, V
  • Publication number: 20120234971
    Abstract: An aircraft sensor system including a primary module configured to be attached to an aircraft portion and operative to transmit electrical power wirelessly. A secondary module configured to be attached to an aircraft component, the secondary module operative to receive electrical power wirelessly from the primary module. At least one sensor configured to be operatively attached to a portion of the aircraft component and electrically coupled to the secondary module, wherein the at least one sensor is operative to measure a desired parameter of the aircraft component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Bugash, Scott T. Fusare
  • Publication number: 20120192908
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sinkless electric generator for generating electrical power from temperature cycles encountered by the structure of an aircraft. The sinkless electric generator includes a thermoelectric generator which is in thermal contact with the structure of the aircraft (e.g., the aircraft's skin); an insulated housing containing a thermal mass; and a circuit for providing the energy generated by the thermoelectric generator during the temperature cycles encountered by the structure of the aircraft to a device. The insulated housing is positioned in thermal contact with the thermoelectric generator; wherein during the temperature cycles encountered by the structure of the aircraft, energy is created by the thermoelectric generator when heat is released from the thermal mass contained within the housing through the thermoelectric generator to the aircraft's structure and when heat is supplied from the aircraft's structure through the thermoelectric generator to the thermal mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce R. Kline
  • Patent number: 8183508
    Abstract: A fin retention and deployment mechanism includes a detent in each of a plurality of fins, a mechanism that engages the detent, and at least one spring clip that maintains each of the fins in a non-deployed position. The mechanism also includes a gas generator, a manifold, coupled to the gas generator and having a plurality of cylinders in fluid communication with gas from the gas generator, and a plurality of pistons disposed in the cylinders. A bottom of each of the pistons is coupled to each of the fins to provide deployment thereof when a corresponding top of each of the pistons is acted upon by gas from the gas generator. In response to the gas generator expelling gas, the pistons may move the fins to a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Sankovic
  • Publication number: 20120095622
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring aircraft health and status using a situation-aware sensing system. The system includes an independent power source, a sensor that continuously measures a signal of interest to yield sensor data, and a processor that compares the sensor data to threshold data. The processor adjusts an operational parameter of the situation-aware sensing system to conserve power when the sensor data does not exceed the threshold data. The processor further adjusts the operational parameter of the situation-aware sensing system to stop conserving power when the sensor data exceeds the threshold data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Lynch, Radoslaw R Zakrzewski
  • Publication number: 20120078544
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor track and balance system for rotorcraft that includes a data processing unit, a tachometer sensor and at least one accelerometer. The tachometer sensor is located remotely from the data processing unit and is mounted proximate to the rotating blades of the rotorcraft. The tachometer sensor is adapted to measure the speed and position of the rotating blades and to wirelessly transmit speed and position data to the data processor. The at least one accelerometer is also located remotely from the data processing unit and is mounted proximate the rotating blades of the rotorcraft. Each accelerometer is adapted to measure vibration anomalies in the rotating blades and to wirelessly transmit vibration data to the data processor. The data processing unit synchronizes the wireless data transmitted from the tachometer sensor and the wireless accelerometer(s) and determines necessary adjustments to be made in order to reduce the vibration anomalies in the rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Lynch, Mokhtar Sadok, Radoslaw R. Zakrzewski
  • Patent number: 8131420
    Abstract: A health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) and method for monitoring the health and/or usage of one or more components of a vehicle. In various embodiments, the present invention uses a plurality of wireless sensors configured, when activated by a vibration of the vehicle, to monitor one or more components of the vehicle and to communicate health and/or usage data of the one or more components of the vehicle to a data access point. The data access point may relay real-time health and/or usage data to an operator of the vehicle, or the health and/or usage data may accessed later. Such a system allows critical components of the vehicle to be monitored so as to reduce failures, and so that repairs to, or replacements of, the critical components of the vehicle may be planned, thus reducing unscheduled downtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Lynch, Robert Zeliff, Eric Robert Bechhoefer
  • Patent number: 8117909
    Abstract: A system for an icing resistant sensor port assembly includes shaped and patterned features for resisting the formation and propagation of ice around a sensor port, such as for a pressure sensor in an aircraft fuel tank. Water may be present in fuel tanks due to condensation and other factors. The water, being heavier than fuel, such as jet fuel, sinks to the bottom of the tank and may be present around the sensor port. If the water completely fills the pressure port, it may damage the sensor. In various embodiments, an inlet assembly having a cone-shaped countersink, sharp edges that reduce surface area, anti-wetting coatings, and slots to allow fluid flow within the inlet assembly, among other features, may be used to help resist ice formation and propagation around a sensor port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Downing LaClair, Robert L. Zeliff
  • Patent number: 8071926
    Abstract: Rolling airframe projectile guidance and stability systems are disclosed. Flight control surfaces, such as canards and/or tail fins are attached to a projectile airframe that is designed to roll during flight. Stepper motors are attached to the flight control surfaces and move the flight control surfaces in discrete increments. A control system generates signals that control the flight control surfaces. The control system may include a neural network that is trained to generate control signals in response to received inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L Alford
  • Patent number: 8023443
    Abstract: Providing wireless communication between an access point and a wireless device includes the wireless device operating in a first reduced power mode for a first period of time, where the wireless device does not receive communications while operating in the first reduced power mode and includes the wireless device operating in a full power mode for a second period of time, where the wireless device transitions back into the first reduced power mode in response to there being no communication from the access point to the wireless device during the second period of time. The wireless device may be a wireless sensor. In response to the access point directing the wireless sensor to collect data at a particular collection time, the wireless sensor may enter the first reduced power mode for a time prior to the collection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Radoslaw Romuald Zakrzewski