Patents by Inventor Alankar Gupta
Alankar Gupta 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).
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Patent number: 9114886Abstract: A fuel vapor removal method for an aircraft includes removing an ullage mixture from ullage of a fuel tank of an aircraft, exposing the ullage mixture to adsorption media on the aircraft to reduce its fuel-air ratio, and returning the reduced fuel-air ratio ullage mixture to the fuel tank. A fuel vapor removal system onboard an aircraft includes a fuel tank, having ullage containing an ullage mixture, a pumping device, configured to pump the ullage mixture in a closed loop from the fuel tank ullage and back, an adsorption system, interposed in the closed loop, and a controller, including a microprocessor and system memory. The adsorption system includes an adsorber having adsorption media capable of adsorbing fuel vapor from the ullage mixture, and the controller is programmed to activate the pumping device, to pump the ullage mixture from the ullage, through the adsorption system, and return a reduced fuel-air ratio ullage mixture back to the ullage.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 9016078Abstract: A system for reducing flammability has a heat exchanger that cools ullage from a tank, condenses vapors within the ullage, and returns the cooled ullage and vapors to the tank.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2011Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 8808428Abstract: A fuel vapor removal method includes removing fuel vapor from ullage of a fuel tank of a vehicle, adsorbing the fuel vapor removed from the ullage onto adsorption media on the vehicle, and desorbing the fuel vapor from the adsorption media while on the vehicle. A fuel vapor removal method includes purging fuel vapor from ullage of a fuel tank using air added into the ullage, reducing a fuel-air ratio in the ullage using the air purging, and adsorbing the purged fuel vapor onto adsorption media. A fuel vapor removal system includes a fuel tank having ullage, an adsorption system including fuel vapor adsorption media fluidically connected to the ullage and to an ullage purging system, and a controller. The controller includes a flammability determination system and is configured to start fuel vapor removal by the purging system from the ullage onto the adsorption media before the ullage exhibits flammability.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20140208943Abstract: A fuel vapor removal method for an aircraft includes removing an ullage mixture from ullage of a fuel tank of an aircraft, exposing the ullage mixture to adsorption media on the aircraft to reduce its fuel-air ratio, and returning the reduced fuel-air ratio ullage mixture to the fuel tank. A fuel vapor removal system onboard an aircraft includes a fuel tank, having ullage containing an ullage mixture, a pumping device, configured to pump the ullage mixture in a closed loop from the fuel tank ullage and back, an adsorption system, interposed in the closed loop, and a controller, including a microprocessor and system memory. The adsorption system includes an adsorber having adsorption media capable of adsorbing fuel vapor from the ullage mixture, and the controller is programmed to activate the pumping device, to pump the ullage mixture from the ullage, through the adsorption system, and return a reduced fuel-air ratio ullage mixture back to the ullage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20130255493Abstract: A fuel vapor removal method includes removing fuel vapor from ullage of a fuel tank of a vehicle, adsorbing the fuel vapor removed from the ullage onto adsorption media on the vehicle, and desorbing the fuel vapor from the adsorption media while on the vehicle. A fuel vapor removal method includes purging fuel vapor from ullage of a fuel tank using air added into the ullage, reducing a fuel-air ratio in the ullage using the air purging, and adsorbing the purged fuel vapor onto adsorption media. A fuel vapor removal system includes a fuel tank having ullage, an adsorption system including fuel vapor adsorption media fluidically connected to the ullage and to an ullage purging system, and a controller. The controller includes a flammability determination system and is configured to start fuel vapor removal by the purging system from the ullage onto the adsorption media before the ullage exhibits flammability.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventor: Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20130126193Abstract: A system for reducing flammability has a heat exchanger that cools ullage from a tank, condenses vapors within the ullage, and returns the cooled ullage and vapors to the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2011Publication date: May 23, 2013Inventor: Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 8192532Abstract: A fuel tank safety system includes a heat exchanger in flow communication with a cabin conditioning system, a blower configured to withdraw a quantity of ullage gas from a vehicle fuel tank for routing through the heat exchanger, and conduit interconnecting the fuel tank, the blower, and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to reduce a temperature of the ullage gas using cooling providing by the cabin conditioning system and thus reduce the fuel content (or fuel-air ratio) of the ullage below threshold required for combustion.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 8128739Abstract: A fuel tank safety system includes an ullage cooling assembly and a system controller. The ullage cooling assembly includes a compressor configured to extract a quantity of ullage gas from the fuel tank, a heat exchanger coupled in flow communication downstream of the compressor, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive the quantity of ullage gas from the compressor and reduce a temperature of the ullage gas. The ullage cooling assembly includes a turbine coupled in flow communication downstream of the heat exchanger, wherein the turbine is configured to further reduce the temperature of the ullage gas and facilitate channeling the ullage gas to the fuel tank. The system controller is operatively coupled to the ullage cooling assembly and is configured to transmit to the ullage cooling assembly one of a start signal to activate the ullage cooling assembly or a stop signal to deactivate the ullage cooling assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 7965201Abstract: A method for detecting ambient conditions conducive to ice formation. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of a static pressure, a total pressure, a total temperature, a dew point temperature, and a liquid water content, and determining whether ambient conditions are conducive to ice formation based on the measured parameter.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anil D. Shah, Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 7955424Abstract: A fuel tank safety system includes an ullage cooling assembly and a system controller. The ullage cooling assembly includes a compressor configured to extract a quantity of ullage gas from the fuel tank, a heat exchanger coupled in flow communication downstream of the compressor, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive the quantity of ullage gas from the compressor and reduce a temperature of the ullage gas. The ullage cooling assembly includes a turbine coupled in flow communication downstream of the heat exchanger, wherein the turbine is configured to further reduce the temperature of the ullage gas and facilitate channeling the ullage gas to the fuel tank. The system controller is operatively coupled to the ullage cooling assembly and is configured to transmit to the ullage cooling assembly one of a start signal to activate the ullage cooling assembly or a stop signal to deactivate the ullage cooling assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 7918358Abstract: A method and system used to make a fuel tank inert that includes a chiller assembly coupled in flow communication with a vehicle fuel tank, and a system controller assembly operatively coupled to the chiller assembly. More specifically, the chiller assembly includes a pump configured to extract a quantity of a fluid from the vehicle fuel tank, and an evaporator configured to receive a flow of the extracted quantity of fluid from the pump and further configured to reduce a temperature of the fluid. The chiller assembly also includes a chiller controller configured to activate and deactivate the pump. The system controller assembly is operatively coupled to chiller controller, wherein the system controller assembly is configured to transmit to the chiller controller one of a start signal to start chiller operations or a stop signal to stop chiller operations.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20100108692Abstract: A method and system used to make a fuel tank inert that includes a chiller assembly coupled in flow communication with a vehicle fuel tank, and a system controller assembly operatively coupled to the chiller assembly. More specifically, the chiller assembly includes a pump configured to extract a quantity of a fluid from the vehicle fuel tank, and an evaporator configured to receive a flow of the extracted quantity of fluid from the pump and further configured to reduce a temperature of the fluid. The chiller assembly also includes a chiller controller configured to activate and deactivate the pump. The system controller assembly is operatively coupled to chiller controller, wherein the system controller assembly is configured to transmit to the chiller controller one of a start signal to start chiller operations or a stop signal to stop chiller operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventor: Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20100108811Abstract: A fuel tank safety system includes an ullage cooling assembly and a system controller. The ullage cooling assembly includes a compressor configured to extract a quantity of ullage gas from the fuel tank, a heat exchanger coupled in flow communication downstream of the compressor, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive the quantity of ullage gas from the compressor and reduce a temperature of the ullage gas. The ullage cooling assembly includes a turbine coupled in flow communication downstream of the heat exchanger, wherein the turbine is configured to further reduce the temperature of the ullage gas and facilitate channeling the ullage gas to the fuel tank. The system controller is operatively coupled to the ullage cooling assembly and is configured to transmit to the ullage cooling assembly one of a start signal to activate the ullage cooling assembly or a stop signal to deactivate the ullage cooling assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventor: Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20090321576Abstract: A method for detecting ambient conditions conducive to ice formation. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of a static pressure, a total pressure, a total temperature, a dew point temperature, and a liquid water content, and determining whether ambient conditions are conducive to ice formation based on the measured parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anil D. Shah, Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 7628359Abstract: A method for detecting ambient conditions conducive to ice formation. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of a static pressure, a total pressure, a total temperature, a dew point temperature, and a liquid water content, and determining whether ambient conditions are conducive to ice formation based on the measured parameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anil D. Shah, Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20070267546Abstract: A method for detecting ambient conditions conducive to ice formation. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of a static pressure, a total pressure, a total temperature, a dew point temperature, and a liquid water content, and determining whether ambient conditions are conducive to ice formation based on the measured parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2007Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anil Shah, Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 7175136Abstract: A method for detecting ambient conditions conducive to ice formation. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of a static pressure, a total pressure, a total temperature, a dew point temperature, and a liquid water content, and determining whether ambient conditions are conducive to ice formation based on the measured parameter.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2003Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anil D. Shah, Alankar Gupta
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Patent number: 6935433Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods adaptable to all gaseous agents including Helium to suppress fire in at least one enclosed space. Suppressants are delivered by a dedicated subsystem connected to cargo compartments or to engine nacelles, or by an integrated system connected to cargo compartments and engine nacelles. For example, at least a first reservoir stores fire suppressant composition for knocking down a fire in an enclosed space. Piping delivers the composition from the at least first reservoir to the enclosed space. A pressure sensor senses pressure of the composition in the piping, and a controllable purging device permits air to exit the enclosed space responsive to sensed pressure in the piping of the composition.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20040206854Abstract: A method for detecting ambient conditions conducive to ice formation. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of a static pressure, a total pressure, a total temperature, a dew point temperature, and a liquid water content, and determining whether ambient conditions are conducive to ice formation based on the measured parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2003Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anil D. Shah, Alankar Gupta
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Publication number: 20040020665Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods adaptable to all gaseous agents including Helium to suppress fire in at least one enclosed space. Suppressants are delivered by a dedicated subsystem connected to cargo compartments or to engine nacelles, or by an integrated system connected to cargo compartments and engine nacelles. For example, at least a first reservoir stores fire suppressant composition for knocking down a fire in an enclosed space. Piping delivers the composition from the at least first reservoir to the enclosed space. A pressure sensor senses pressure of the composition in the piping, and a controllable purging device permits air to exit the enclosed space responsive to sensed pressure in the piping of the composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventor: Alankar Gupta