Patents Examined by Andrew H Nguyen
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Patent number: 11614052Abstract: An active locking system of a movable element for a thrust reverser of an aircraft nacelle includes an active locking device of the movable element, movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, an actuator of the locking device controlled by a command for actuating the locking device, a blocking device for blocking the locking device in the unlocked position, movable between a blocking position and an unblocking position, and a device for displacing the blocking device. The actuation command controls the closure of the movable element, and the device for displacing the blocking device displaces the blocking device in the unblocking position when the movable element is at a predetermined position.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Safran NacellesInventors: Pierre Charles Caruel, Alexandre Francois Paul Louis Descamps
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Patent number: 11608784Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a low speed input shaft drives a first plurality of accessories. A high speed input shaft drives a second plurality of accessories. The first plurality of accessories rotating about a first set of rotational axes perpendicular to a first plane. The second plurality of accessories rotating about a second set rotational axes perpendicular to a second plane. The first and second planes extending in opposed directions away from a drive input axis. Compressed air is tapped and passes through a heat exchanger, then to a boost compressor, and then to at least one rotatable components in a main compressor section and a main turbine section. The boost compressor driven on a boost axis, which is non-parallel to the first set of rotational axes and the second set of rotational axes.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Hung Duong, Marc J. Muldoon, Gabriel L. Suciu
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Patent number: 11591986Abstract: An actuation system includes a power drive unit that drives a plurality of drive shafts that each has a first end individually connected to the power drive unit. The power drive unit includes a geartrain including a plurality of individual gears that are offset relative to each other along the gearbox, and a motor-driven rotation of one of the plurality of individual gears drives rotation of the other individual gears, and each of the plurality of individual gears rotates to drive rotation of a respective one of the plurality of drive shafts. A plurality of torque brakes is mounted to the gearbox, the torque brakes being mechanically coupled to respective individual gears and drive shafts. When the torque being passed through is above a predetermined threshold value, a locking of one of the torque brakes stops rotation of all gears simultaneously to maintain positional symmetry in the actuation system.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Parker-Hannifin CorporationInventor: Eric A. Polcuch
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Patent number: 11572805Abstract: A system for supplying lubricant to a component of a gas turbine engine having a fan shaft is provided. The system includes a pump drivably couplable to the fan shaft for pumping lubricant to the component. The pump includes an inlet for receiving lubricant from a lubricant source, an outlet for outputting lubricant to the component and a swashplate movable between at least a first position and a second position. The system also includes a swashplate actuator for actuating the swashplate between the first position and the second position according to whether the fan shaft is rotating in a forward direction or a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Alan R. Maguire, Richard Sharpe, Neil J. Davies
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Patent number: 11566585Abstract: A thrust reverser includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, a first reverser door pivotally mounted to the frame, a second reverser door pivotally mounted to the frame, a crank pivotally mounted to the frame, a first link connecting the crank to the first reverser door, and a second link connecting the crank to the second reverser door. In various embodiments, both the first reverser door and the second reverser door are driven by a single actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Rohr, IncInventors: Timothy Gormley, Stephane Dion
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Patent number: 11555470Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an assembly that includes a piston having a piston inner surface defining a cylindrical cavity and includes a first axial portion, a piston face at a first end of the first axial portion, a second axial portion at a second end of the first axial portion, and a helical piston thread defined upon the piston inner surface, a bushing configured to contact the piston inner surface, and a lock nut configured to engage the piston and the bushing.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Seth Berger, Joseph Thomas Kopecek
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Patent number: 11549462Abstract: A turbojet engine nacelle having a cascade-type thrust reverser includes a movable frame surrounding a cold air flow path, guided axially by longitudinal rails fixed to an intermediate casing surrounding the cold air flow path and supporting cascades of thrust-reversal guide vanes and mobile rear cowls. The nacelle has a passage of ancillaries opening radially towards the outside of the movable frame, in a zone with no bearing structure passing radially across the cold air flow path. The movable frame is cut in an axial plane at the passage for the passage of ancillaries, and each edge of the cut of the movable frame is connected to the intermediate casing by a slide rail fitted on a longitudinal rail arranged each on one side of this passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignees: Safran Nacelles, SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventors: Sébastien Michel Thierry Guillemant, Pierre Caruel, Olivier Kerbler, Alexis Heau, Mathieu Lerouvreur, Antoine Elie Hellegouarch
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Patent number: 11542889Abstract: A ducted fan turbine engine with a nacelle and a duct for a secondary flow. The nacelle comprises a fixed structure. A mobile cowl is able to move between a forward position and a backward position to define an opening between the duct and the outside. A plurality of rollers are mounted to freely rotate on the mobile cowl. For each roller there is a flexible screen with a first edge fixed to the roller and a second edge, in which the screen is able to adopt a furled position, wound around the roller, or a deployed position deployed across the duct. A deployment mechanism is arranged to move each second edge to move the screen from the furled position to the deployed position. A furling mechanism is arranged to drive each roller in rotation to move the associated screen from the deployed position to the furled position.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SASInventors: Benjamin Thubert, Kevin Windhols
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Patent number: 11542027Abstract: A thrust reverser of a nacelle may include a translating sleeve and an inner fixed structure a pressure relief assembly. A pressure relief mechanism may include a pressure relief door coupled via a hinge and a latch to the inner fixed structure. Alternatively, a pressure relief door may be coupled to a frame via a hinge and a latch to the inner fixed structure. The pressure relief assembly may limit deflections between the thrust reverser and the pylon in response to a burst duct. The pressure relief door may release from the latch automatically in response to an over pressurization event.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Rohr, Inc.Inventors: Michael Sean Pretty, Walter J. Heim
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Patent number: 11535390Abstract: An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This assembly includes a cowl door movable between a closed position and an open position. The cowl door includes a structural panel and a mount. The structural panel includes an inner skin, an outer skin and a cellular core. The cellular core is connected to and arranged between the inner skin and the outer skin. The mount includes a base and a coupler. The base is connected to and arranged between the inner skin and the outer skin. The coupler projects out from the base.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Rohr, Inc.Inventors: Kristopher B. Shaner, Thomas Sommer, Joseph R. Lundin
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Patent number: 11536223Abstract: A thrust reverser actuation system for a jet propulsion engine for a vehicle, the thrust reverser actuation system comprising: a plurality of hydraulically-driven thrust reverser actuators for actuating one or more thrust reverser components of the jet propulsion engine, each actuator comprising: a hydraulic circuit; and a bi-directional electrically-driven pump configured to pump hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic circuit, wherein the hydraulic circuit and the pump are configured such that the direction of the pump dictates the direction of the actuation of the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Tim Hudson, Nicholas Sloane
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Patent number: 11522412Abstract: A housing for a gas turbine engine accessory includes an enclosure having a drive end with an opening and a closure. The closure is seated in the opening, defines therethrough a shaft aperture and has a v-band flange extending about a periphery of the closure to limit load carried by the enclosure when the engine accessory is mounted to an accessory gearbox mount in a cantilevered arrangement. Engine accessories for gas turbine engines and mounting arrangements for gas turbine engine accessories are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Craig J. Wojcik, Ted A. Martin, Paul Henry Verstrate
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Patent number: 11519362Abstract: A turbofan has a nacelle delimiting a duct for a bypass flow and comprises a fixed structure comprising a guide vane support with guide vanes, a mobile cowl able to move in translation between an advanced position and a retracted position, arms, each one being mobile in rotation between a stowed position and a deployed position and comprising a distal end and a proximal end, a flexible screen, of which an exterior edge is attached to the guide vane support rearward of the guide vanes, and wherein the distal end of each arm is fixed along the interior edge, actuators to cause the mobile cowl to move, and an operating system which moves each arm. Replacing the reversal doors and their drive mechanisms with the flexible screen and the set of rotationally-mobile arms allows a reduction in weight.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Airbus Operations SASInventors: Lionel Czapla, Benjamin Thubert, Julien Le Fanic
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Patent number: 11506571Abstract: A method for gathering flight load data for a gas turbine engine includes providing a plurality of blocker doors rotatably mounted to a translating sleeve and a plurality of blocker door islands, each blocker door island disposed between circumferentially adjacent blocker doors of the plurality of blocker doors and mounted to at least one mounting point of the translating sleeve, wherein a blocker door island of the plurality of blocker door islands is a data acquisition unit; and connecting the data acquisition unit to at least one sensor in communication with the translating sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Rohr, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Kestler, Kevin W. Teets
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Patent number: 11499504Abstract: A propulsion assembly for an aircraft includes a pylon, a turbofan including a structure fixed to the pylon, and at least one thrust reverser, each having a top beam extending parallel to a longitudinal direction and mobile in rotation on the structure around a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. For each thrust reverser, an actuator is provided, a first end of which is articulated on the pylon and a second end of which is articulated on the top beam of the thrust reverser and the articulation axis of the actuator on the top beam is not coaxial with the rotation axis. Such assembly allows a positioning of the actuator in the upper part of the turbofan between the top beam of the thrust reverser and the pylon to free some space.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)Inventor: Laurent Cazeaux
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Patent number: 11499503Abstract: A translating cowl thrust reverser system with efflux management includes a support structure, a transcowl, a cowl shield, and a single cascade structure. The transcowl and cowl shield are moveable together between a first position, in which the transcowl abuts the support structure, and a second position, in which an aperture is formed between the transcowl and the support structure. The cowl shield has cowl shield turning vanes. The single cascade structure is disposed within the aperture and includes a forward wall, a curved vane, internal turning vanes, and external turning vanes. In the first position, each cowl shield turning vane is disposed between a different pair of external turning vanes. The cowl shield turning vanes, the internal turning vanes, and the external turning vanes turn the airflow so that it is directed substantially perpendicular to, and vertically outboard relative to, a plane of symmetry.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Shawn Alstad, Robert L. Hoover
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Patent number: 11492999Abstract: A bypass turbofan engine comprising a nacelle surrounding a flow path for a secondary flow and comprising a fixed structure, a mobile assembly with a slide capable of translational movement on the fixed structure and bearing a mobile cowl and a frame capable of translational movement on the fixed structure and bearing deflectors. The mobile assembly is able to move between a forward position and a retreated position making it possible to open a passage between the flow path and the outside through the deflectors. A differentiation mechanism ensures a length of travel of the slide that is different from the length of travel of the frame, and actuators providing a translational travel of the slide. Fitting a differentiation mechanism means that the length of travel of the deflectors with respect to the length of travel of the mobile cowl can be regulated.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SASInventors: Fabien Menou, Stéphanie Fesquet
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Patent number: 11492998Abstract: Flexible aft cowls are disclosed. In some examples, an aircraft engine having a flexible aft cowl is disclosed. In some examples, the aircraft engine comprises an aft cowl having a flexible portion defining a throat area adjacent an engine core nozzle of the aircraft engine. In some examples, the flexible portion to move radially between a first radial position in response to pressure within a nacelle not exceeding a pressure threshold and a second radial position in response to pressure within the nacelle exceeding the pressure threshold. In some examples, the throat area defined by the flexible portion is greater when the flexible portion is in the second radial position than when the flexible portion is in the first radial position.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: Luke D. Torjesen
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Patent number: 11486334Abstract: Locking actuators for thrust reverser actuation systems, engines and aircraft including the same, and associated methods. A locking actuator includes an actuator housing, an extension element, and a lock assembly. The extension element is configured to translate along an actuator axis to transition between a retracted state and an extended state. The lock assembly transitions between a locked state and an unlocked state independent of transitioning the extension element between the retracted and extended states. In examples, a thrust reverser actuation system includes an actuator assembly with the locking actuator and a hydraulic control assembly. In examples, an engine includes a thrust generator, a nacelle, a transcowl, and the thrust reverser actuation system. In examples, a method of operating a thrust reverser actuation system includes transitioning a lock assembly from a locked state to an unlocked state and transitioning an extension element from a retracted state to an extended state.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Michael John Burgess
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Patent number: 11486333Abstract: A thrust reverser for an aircraft propulsion assembly includes a movable structure provided with external covers connected to hinges through a pivot connection allowing the external covers to rotate between a closed position and a maintenance position. The hinges are connected to secondary rails rigidly attached to an engine pylon through a sliding connection allowing the external covers to move in translation between a direct thrust position and a reverse thrust position. The hinges and the secondary rails are independent of beams to which the parts of the movable structure other than the external covers are connected. A method for maintaining an aircraft propulsion unit is also disclosed. The method includes positioning of the external covers in maintenance position followed by a placement of the beams and of the parts of the movable structure other than the external covers.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Safran NacellesInventors: Pierre Caruel, Shwetanjana Anand, Patrick Boileau