Patents by Inventor Brad Ekstrom

Brad Ekstrom 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).

  • Composite top case with embedded heat pipes
    Patent number: 10408544
    Abstract: A system and method to transfer heat energy through a composite structure. The system includes a heat pipe extending through a thickness of the composite material. The method includes extending a heat pipe through the composite material from a first surface exposed to the heat energy to a second surface exposed to airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventors: Doug Mueller, Brian S. Modrzejewski, Brad Ekstrom, Scott Gardner, David Elliott
  • Composite and metal hybrid gear
    Patent number: 10371243
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a gear includes a steel portion that is oriented on a center axis. The steel portion includes a hub, a cylindrical rim, a web, and a plurality of engagement features. The hub is centered about the center axis. The rim has an exterior surface and an interior surface that surrounds the hub and is centered about the center axis. The web extends from an exterior surface of the hub to the interior surface of the rim. The engagement features are on the exterior surface of the cylindrical rim. The gear also includes a first composite piece adjacent to a first side of the web, the first composite piece extending from the hub to the interior surface of the rim, wherein the first composite piece does not extend past the hub towards the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Modrzejewski, Doug Mueller, Brad Ekstrom, Robert P. Wardlaw
  • COMPOSITE AND METAL HYBRID GEAR
    Publication number: 20160363206
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a gear includes a steel portion that is oriented on a center axis. The steel portion includes a hub, a cylindrical rim, a web, and a plurality of engagement features. The hub is centered about the center axis. The rim has an exterior surface and an interior surface that surrounds the hub and is centered about the center axis. The web extends from an exterior surface of the hub to the interior surface of the rim. The engagement features are on the exterior surface of the cylindrical rim. The gear also includes a first composite piece adjacent to a first side of the web, the first composite piece extending from the hub to the interior surface of the rim, wherein the first composite piece does not extend past the hub towards the center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Modrzejewski, Doug Mueller, Brad Ekstrom, Bob Wardlaw
  • COMPOSITE TOP CASE WITH EMBEDDED HEAT PIPES
    Publication number: 20150338170
    Abstract: A system and method to transfer heat energy through a composite structure. The system includes a heat pipe extending through a thickness of the composite material. The method includes extending a heat pipe through the composite material from a first surface exposed to the heat energy to a second surface exposed to airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Doug Mueller, Brian S. Modrzejewski, Brad Ekstrom, Scott Gardner, David Elliott