Patents by Inventor Aaron F. Rickis

Aaron F. Rickis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200340411
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which includes a continuously variable drive assembly having a driving portion operatively associated with a gearbox of the gas turbine and a driven portion operatively associated with a fuel pump of the gas turbine, and a governor for controlling a drive ratio of the drive assembly to vary fuel pump flow performance over a range of engine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Richard J. Carpenter, Lubomir A. Ribarov, Brandon T. Kovach, Zachary Allen Ray Le Duc, Aaron F. Rickis, Charles E. Reuter, Michael D. Schelonka, William D. Hodge, Christopher J. Davis
  • Patent number: 10711903
    Abstract: A transfer valve includes a spool comprising a first circumferential flow channel at a first axial position of the spool and a second circumferential flow channel at a second axial position of the spool. The first circumferential flow channel and the second circumferential flow channel have different circumferential positions and are defined only partially circumferentially, and a sleeve disposed over the spool. The sleeve includes at least three flow windows defined through the sleeve at an axial position of the sleeve, each flow window having different circumferential positions on the sleeve. The spool is configured to translate within the sleeve between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Aaron F. Rickis, Francis P. Marocchini, Glenn Gradischer, Richard H. Bostiga, Ryan Susca
  • Patent number: 10677658
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor body with a proximal end and a distal end. The sensor body includes a radially extending flange positioned between the proximal end and the distal end. The radially extending flange of the sensor body includes a flange surface. A sleeve is positioned radially outward from the sensor body surrounding the proximal end of the sensor body. The sleeve has a radially extending end flange with an end surface configured to contact the flange surface of the radially extending flange of the sensor body to transfer a load between the sleeve and the sensor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Aaron F. Rickis, Jorge Luis Vega
  • Publication number: 20200131994
    Abstract: A method of modifying an existing valve assembly has the step of placing a supplemental sleeve within a housing. The housing has a housing inlet window and a housing outlet window, and the supplemental sleeve has a sleeve inlet window and a sleeve outlet window. The method includes the step of placing an existing piston/sleeve set within the supplemental sleeve. A spool valve is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Richard J. Carpenter, Scott J. Beloncik, Aaron F. Rickis, Zachary Allen Ray Le Duc, Michael Ferrarotti
  • Patent number: 10450961
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine shut-down system includes a pump configured to draw a flow of fuel from a source, a fuel nozzle configured to receive the flow of fuel from the pump, a fuel shut-off valve in fluid communication with the pump, a recirculation circuit for circulating excess fuel to a location upstream of the pump; a solenoid valve in communication with the pump and the recirculation circuit; and a fuel-bypass valve. The fuel-bypass valve includes a first opening connected to the fuel pump, a second opening connected to the fuel shut-off valve, a third opening connected to the recirculation circuit, a fourth opening connected to the solenoid valve, and a piston disposed within the fuel-bypass valve and movable between a plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Francis P. Marocchini, Aaron F. Rickis, Elise N. Zimmerman, Gerald P. Dyer
  • Patent number: 10428743
    Abstract: A spool and sleeve assembly for a metering valve comprises a spool body defining a center axis, and a sleeve body having a bore that receives the spool body. The sleeve body includes at least one metering window open to the bore and is moveable between a metering position to control flow through the metering window and a shutoff position where flow is prevented from exiting an outlet end of the bore. A seal assembly reacts between the spool body and the sleeve body to provide at least a first sealing interface and a second sealing interface axially spaced from the first sealing interface when the spool body is in the shutoff position. A metering valve for a fuel system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Francis P. Marocchini, Aaron F. Rickis
  • Patent number: 10371267
    Abstract: A valve with a rotationally adjustable flow area can include a first member defining a first wall having a first opening therein, and a second member defining a second wall having a second opening therein, the first member being rotatable relative to the second member, and flow area through the valve being defined by fluidic communication between the first opening and the second opening that varies with relative rotational position between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Peter M. Ballard, Aaron F. Rickis
  • Publication number: 20190195092
    Abstract: A mount according to an example of the present disclosure includes a locating pin, a load pin, a fastener, the fastener configured to retain a component on at least one of the locating pin and the load pin, the fastener including a bolt, a mounting boss and a spring, the spring allowing the mounting boss to move with respect to the bolt, and wherein the bolt is held captive in the mounting boss with a captive feature. A gas turbine engine and a method of mounting a component are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron F. Rickis, Elise N. Zimmerman, Gary R. Marconi, Glenn Gradischer, August M. Coretto, Francis P. Marocchini
  • Patent number: 10330019
    Abstract: A bleed valve includes a valve body, a first flapper body movable relative to the valve body between an open position and a closed position, and a second flapper body movable relative to the valve body between an open position and a closed position. A resilient member biases the first and second flapper bodies to the open position to vent bleed air. The first and second flapper bodies move to the closed position when a pressure load across the first and second flapper bodies exceeds a biasing force of the resilient member. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Francis P. Marocchini, Aaron F. Rickis, Robert Goodman
  • Publication number: 20180355984
    Abstract: A transfer valve includes a spool comprising a first circumferential flow channel at a first axial position of the spool and a second circumferential flow channel at a second axial position of the spool. The first circumferential flow channel and the second circumferential flow channel have different circumferential positions and are defined only partially circumferentially, and a sleeve disposed over the spool. The sleeve includes at least three flow windows defined through the sleeve at an axial position of the sleeve, each flow window having different circumferential positions on the sleeve. The spool is configured to translate within the sleeve between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Aaron F. Rickis, Francis P. Marocchini, Glenn Gradischer, Richard H. Bostiga, Ryan Susca
  • Patent number: 10088057
    Abstract: A valve has a sleeve with at least one outlet port in a radially outer surface. A piston is moveable within the sleeve along an axis. The piston has a lip on a radially outer portion extending forwardly to an axially forward most end and a recess radially inward from the lip with respect to an axis of the piston. A vane pump is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron F. Rickis, Francis P. Marocchini
  • Patent number: 10088068
    Abstract: A flexure includes a flexure body with an inner ring defining a main axis and an outer ring extending about the inner ring that is outboard of the inner ring with respect to the main axis. One or more flexure members having respective lengths that are greater than a radial offset distance defined between the inner ring and the outer ring connects the inner ring to the outer ring. A valve includes a valve member connected to a valve body by the flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventors: Francis P. Marocchini, Aaron F. Rickis, Elise N. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10077747
    Abstract: A fuel control system includes a high pressure relief valve fluidly connected to a fuel pump outlet. The high pressure relief valve includes a closure and a nozzle. The closure has an opening and a locking notch defined by a circumferential wall. The nozzle has a base portion that is received within the opening and has a rim extending between a first surface and a second surface. The nozzle has a tab extending from the rim that is received within the locking notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron F. Rickis, Elise N. Zimmerman, Glenn Gradischer, Francis P. Marocchini
  • Publication number: 20180258864
    Abstract: A spool and sleeve assembly for a metering valve comprises a spool body defining a center axis, and a sleeve body having a bore that receives the spool body. The sleeve body includes at least one metering window open to the bore and is moveable between a metering position to control flow through the metering window and a shutoff position where flow is prevented from exiting an outlet end of the bore. A seal assembly reacts between the spool body and the sleeve body to provide at least a first sealing interface and a second sealing interface axially spaced from the first sealing interface when the spool body is in the shutoff position. A metering valve for a fuel system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Francis P. Marocchini, Aaron F. Rickis
  • Publication number: 20180209547
    Abstract: A valve with a rotationally adjustable flow area can include a first member defining a first wall having a first opening therein, and a second member defining a second wall having a second opening therein, the first member being rotatable relative to the second member, and flow area through the valve being defined by fluidic communication between the first opening and the second opening that varies with relative rotational position between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Peter M. Ballard, Aaron F. Rickis
  • Patent number: 10030779
    Abstract: A fluid metering valve includes a flow circuit defined by the valve and a valve member disposed in the flow circuit, the valve member having a sealing portion and configured to be moved by a solenoid between a closed position and one or more open positions. The valve includes a seat member defining one or more fluid outlets, the seat member configured to receive the sealing portion in the closed position to seal the fluid outlets, and an internal porting path defined through the sealing portion that is configured to fluidly connect a downstream side of the sealing portion with an upstream portion of the flow circuit in the closed position to reduce the effective pressure area of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron F. Rickis, August M. Coretto, Francis P. Marocchini
  • Patent number: 9964223
    Abstract: A bleed valve for a gas turbine engine compressor has a valve body and a flapper. The valve body defines a flow path and includes a flapper seat. The flow path extends through the valve body. The flapper is pivotally connected to the valve body and is movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the flapper seats against the flapper seat and blocks the flow path. In the open position the flapper is angled towards the valve body inlet such that fluid moving through the valve body exerts force on the flapper, urging the flapper towards the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Francis P. Marocchini, Aaron F. Rickis, Robert Goodman
  • Patent number: 9933080
    Abstract: A multi-bend control circuit for fluid communication with an outlet port of a valve includes a first circuit leg extending in a first direction and a second circuit leg extending at an angle from the first circuit leg in a second direction. A third circuit leg extends at an angle from the second circuit leg in a third direction different from the second direction. A sense line tap is in fluid communication with at least one of the first, second or third legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron F. Rickis, Gary R. Marconi
  • Publication number: 20180066997
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor body with a proximal end and a distal end. The sensor body includes a radially extending flange positioned between the proximal end and the distal end. The radially extending flange of the sensor body includes a flange surface. A sleeve is positioned radially outward from the sensor body surrounding the proximal end of the sensor body. The sleeve has a radially extending end flange with an end surface configured to contact the flange surface of the radially extending flange of the sensor body to transfer a load between the sleeve and the sensor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Aaron F. Rickis, Jorge Luis Vega
  • Publication number: 20180045118
    Abstract: A sleeve for a pressure regulating valve includes a sleeve body surrounding a central axis and defined by an overall length extending from a first end to a second end. The sleeve body has a central sleeve bore extending from the first end to the second end. The sleeve body includes a first set of windows circumferentially spaced about the central axis and a second set of windows axially spaced from the first set of windows and circumferentially spaced about the central axis. Each window of the first set of windows is defined by a plurality of small holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Aaron F. Rickis