Patents by Inventor Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer
Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer 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).
-
Patent number: 11865382Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a rotorcraft comprising an airframe having an engine compartment, an engine disposed within the engine compartment, at least one fire bottle configured to hold a fire extinguishing agent, at least one agent tube coupled to the fire bottle and configured to carry the fire extinguishing agent to the engine compartment, and a nozzle on the at least one agent tube, the nozzle positioned above the engine and oriented in a downward-facing direction. The nozzle has at least one opening and is configured to allow liquid to drain out of the at least one opening instead of allowing the liquid to flow into the at least one agent tube. The nozzle may have a chamfer opening that faces downward.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Keith David Weaver, Chris James Ludtke, Paul Madej, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer
-
Publication number: 20230391464Abstract: A transition duct assembly includes a shared connector, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways for cooling one or more systems or components. Each primary cooling pathway includes a transition duct in fluid communication with the shared connector, and a transition connector in fluid communication with the transition duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Keith David Weaver, Michael Pujol, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Nicholas Plagianos, Karl Burge, Thomas Mast
-
Patent number: 11767125Abstract: A transition duct assembly includes a shared connector, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways for cooling one or more systems or components. Each primary cooling pathway includes a transition duct in fluid communication with the shared connector, and a transition connector in fluid communication with the transition duct.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventors: Keith David Weaver, Michael Pujol, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Nicholas Plagianos, Karl Burge, Thomas Mast
-
Publication number: 20220233898Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a rotorcraft comprising an airframe having an engine compartment, an engine disposed within the engine compartment, at least one fire bottle configured to hold a fire extinguishing agent, at least one agent tube coupled to the fire bottle and configured to carry the fire extinguishing agent to the engine compartment, and a nozzle on the at least one agent tube, the nozzle positioned above the engine and oriented in a downward-facing direction. The nozzle has at least one opening and is configured to allow liquid to drain out of the at least one opening instead of allowing the liquid to flow into the at least one agent tube. The nozzle may have a chamfer opening that faces downward.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2021Publication date: July 28, 2022Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Keith David Weaver, Chris James Ludtke, Paul Madej, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer
-
Patent number: 11255373Abstract: A thermal management system and method includes: a drive shaft; one or more fans or impellers in fluid communication with at least a portion of the drive shaft; and one or more air management baffles configured to direct air flow between the impeller and the portion of the drive shaft. In one embodiment, the system and method further includes insulation positioned about the at least a portion of the drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventors: Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Keith David Weaver, Jon Damon Bennett
-
Patent number: 10907723Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a shared cooling device for one or more systems or components, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways. Each of the primary cooling pathways includes a transition duct and a fan. The transition duct is in fluid communication with the shared cooling device. The fan is in fluid communication with the transition duct.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Keith David Weaver, Michael Pujol, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Nicholas Plagianos, Karl R. Burge, Scott David Poster, Thomas Mast
-
Publication number: 20210001995Abstract: A transition duct assembly includes a shared connector, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways for cooling one or more systems or components. Each primary cooling pathway includes a transition duct in fluid communication with the shared connector, and a transition connector in fluid communication with the transition duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Keith David Weaver, Michael Pujol, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Nicholas Plagianos, Karl Burge, Thomas Mast
-
Patent number: 10793283Abstract: A transition duct assembly includes a shared connector, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways for cooling one or more systems or components. Each primary cooling pathway includes a transition duct in fluid communication with the shared connector, and a transition connector in fluid communication with the transition duct.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Keith David Weaver, Michael Pujol, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Nicholas Plagianos, Karl R. Burge, Thomas Mast
-
Patent number: 10766631Abstract: A method of conducting an engine power assurance check includes performing a first engine power assurance check wherein the first engine power assurance check is judged as passing or failing based on power performance values calculated assuming the presence of a substantially clogged or blocked inlet barrier filter and in response to a fail result of the first engine power assurance check, performing a second engine power assurance check wherein the second power assurance check is judged as passing or failing based on power performance values calculated assuming at least one of no inlet barrier filter being installed and an open bypass of an installed inlet barrier filter.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Joshua Robert O'Neil, Martin Peryea, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer
-
Patent number: 10731553Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an engine compartment drainage system that allows fluid on an engine deck to exit an engine compartment, while shielding fluid from airflow. A fluid drainage apparatus utilizes a funnel member to direct fluid to an external drain line. A drain shield circumscribes the top end of the funnel member and upwardly extending therefrom and directs airflow away from the funnel member. A plurality of deck holes are disposed in the drain shield, such that fluid on the deck can enter the funnel member and exit the engine compartment. A fluid drainage system, disposes the fluid drainage apparatus in an engine deck to allow fluid on the deck to enter a funnel member of the apparatus and direct it toward the external drain line.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Chris James Ludtke, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Eric Christopher Terry
-
Publication number: 20190048795Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an engine compartment drainage system that allows fluid on an engine deck to exit an engine compartment, while shielding fluid from airflow. A fluid drainage apparatus utilizes a funnel member to direct fluid to an external drain line. A drain shield circumscribes the top end of the funnel member and upwardly extending therefrom and directs airflow away from the funnel member. A plurality of deck holes are disposed in the drain shield, such that fluid on the deck can enter the funnel member and exit the engine compartment. A fluid drainage system, disposes the fluid drainage apparatus in an engine deck to allow fluid on the deck to enter a funnel member of the apparatus and direct it toward the external drain line.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Chris James Ludtke, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Eric Christopher Terry
-
Publication number: 20180087651Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a shared cooling device for one or more systems or components, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways. Each of the primary cooling pathways includes a transition duct and a fan. The transition duct is in fluid communication with the shared cooling device. The fan is in fluid communication with the transition duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Keith David Weaver, Michael Pujol, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Nicholas Plagianos, Karl R. Burge, Scott David Poster, Thomas Mast
-
Publication number: 20180087444Abstract: A transition duct assembly includes a shared connector, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways for cooling one or more systems or components. Each primary cooling pathway includes a transition duct in fluid communication with the shared connector, and a transition connector in fluid communication with the transition duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Keith David Weaver, Michael Pujol, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Nicholas Plagianos, Karl R. Burge, Thomas Mast
-
Publication number: 20180087561Abstract: The present invention includes a thermal management system and method including: a drive shaft; one or more fans or impellers in fluid communication with at least a portion of the drive shaft; and one or more air management baffles configured to direct air flow between the impeller and the portion of the drive shaft. In one embodiment, the system and method further includes insulation positioned about the at least a portion of the drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Keith David Weaver, Jon Damon Bennett
-
Publication number: 20160347479Abstract: A method of conducting an engine power assurance check includes performing a first engine power assurance check wherein the first engine power assurance check is judged as passing or failing based on power performance values calculated assuming the presence of a substantially clogged or blocked inlet barrier filter and in response to a fail result of the first engine power assurance check, performing a second engine power assurance check wherein the second power assurance check is judged as passing or failing based on power performance values calculated assuming at least one of no inlet barrier filter being installed and an open bypass of an installed inlet barrier filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Joshua Robert O'Neil, Martin Peryea, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer