Patents by Inventor Bret Alan Bowers

Bret Alan Bowers 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: 20230159183
    Abstract: A jam detection system for a flap of a wing of an aircraft includes a linkage coupled to the flap and a support of the wing, and a sensor configured to detect a position of at least a portion of the linkage. The sensor is further configured to compare the position of the least a portion of the linkage to a jam threshold to determine if a jam condition exists. The linkage can also be coupled to a carriage moveably coupled to the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Samuel L. Block, Bret Alan Bowers, Kevin R. Tsai
  • Patent number: 11479343
    Abstract: A gimbal having a split design, which can be used in an assembly for actuating an aerodynamic high lift device, is described. The gimbal enables a rotating load path when a force is transferred from the actuator to the high lift device via the gimbal. In particular, the split design can include two receivers which can be coupled to posts extending from a nut. The nut can be secured to a shaft which receives a force generated by the actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator can rotate the shaft to cause the gimbal to translate along the shaft. The split design provides a more compact form factor and is lighter in weight than traditional gimbal designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Tsai, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Patent number: 11192636
    Abstract: An actuation system for a control surface of an aircraft includes a drive lever. The drive lever includes a coupling end configured to pivotably couple to a plurality of wing attach fittings and a lever end. The lever end includes a first actuator fitting configured to pivotably couple to a first actuator on a forward side of the drive lever; a second actuator fitting configured to pivotably couple to a second actuator on an aft side of the drive lever; a first drive link fitting configured to couple, via a first drive link, to a control surface of an aircraft; and a second drive link fitting configured to couple, via a second drive link, to the control surface of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bret Alan Bowers, Scott Thomas Evoy
  • Publication number: 20210276694
    Abstract: An actuation system for a control surface of an aircraft includes a drive lever. The drive lever includes a coupling end configured to pivotably couple to a plurality of wing attach fittings and a lever end. The lever end includes a first actuator fitting configured to pivotably couple to a first actuator on a forward side of the drive lever; a second actuator fitting configured to pivotably couple to a second actuator on an aft side of the drive lever; a first drive link fitting configured to couple, via a first drive link, to a control surface of an aircraft; and a second drive link fitting configured to couple, via a second drive link, to the control surface of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Bret Alan Bowers, Scott Thomas Evoy
  • Patent number: 11097829
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control camber are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a flap support to be coupled to a flap of an aircraft, where the flap is rotatable relative to an aerodynamic surface, a drive arm linkage rotatably coupled to the flap support at a first pivot of the flap support, where the drive arm linkage includes a second pivot at an end opposite the first end, and a flap support actuator operatively coupled to the flap support, where the flap support actuator is to rotate the drive arm linkage. The example apparatus also includes a camber control actuator rotatably coupled to the flap support at a third pivot of the flap support, where the camber control actuator is to be rotatably coupled to the flap at a fourth pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bret Alan Bowers, Kevin Tsai
  • Patent number: 11001371
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydraulic droop control of an aircraft wing. One embodiment is a hydraulic droop panel system for an aircraft wing. The hydraulic droop panel system includes a first hydraulic actuator attached to a flap of the aircraft wing, and a second hydraulic actuator attached to a droop panel of the aircraft wing and fluidly coupled with the first hydraulic actuator. The second hydraulic actuator is configured to move the droop panel to a droop position corresponding with movement of the flap and the first hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bret Alan Bowers, Lisa Schleuter
  • Patent number: 10926864
    Abstract: A camber adjustment system for a wing of an aircraft includes a droop panel that is configured to moveably couple to a portion of the wing, a flap, a cam rod moveably coupled to the droop panel, a bell crank cam arm moveably coupled to the flap, and a jackscrew interface between the cam rod and the bell crank cam arm. The droop panel is configured to move in response to movement of the flap via the jackscrew interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin R. Tsai, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Publication number: 20200216168
    Abstract: A gimbal having a split design, which can be used in an assembly for actuating an aerodynamic high lift device, is described. The gimbal enables a rotating load path when a force is transferred from the actuator to the high lift device via the gimbal. In particular, the split design can include two receivers which can be coupled to posts extending from a nut. The nut can be secured to a shaft which receives a force generated by the actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator can rotate the shaft to cause the gimbal to translate along the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Tsai, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Patent number: 10669013
    Abstract: A gimbal having a split design, which can be used in an assembly for actuating an aerodynamic high lift device, is described. The gimbal enables a rotating load path when a force is transferred from the actuator to the high lift device via the gimbal. In particular, the split design can include two receivers which can be coupled to posts extending from a nut. The nut can be secured to a shaft which receives a force generated by the actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator can rotate the shaft to cause the gimbal to translate along the shaft. The split design provides a more compact form factor and is lighter in weight than traditional gimbal designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Tsai, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Publication number: 20200047874
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydraulic droop control of an aircraft wing. One embodiment is a hydraulic droop panel system for an aircraft wing. The hydraulic droop panel system includes a first hydraulic actuator attached to a flap of the aircraft wing, and a second hydraulic actuator attached to a droop panel of the aircraft wing and fluidly coupled with the first hydraulic actuator. The second hydraulic actuator is configured to move the droop panel to a droop position corresponding with movement of the flap and the first hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Bret Alan Bowers, Lisa Schleuter
  • Publication number: 20200031453
    Abstract: A camber adjustment system for a wing of an aircraft includes a droop panel that is configured to moveably couple to a portion of the wing, a flap, a cam rod moveably coupled to the droop panel, a bell crank cam arm moveably coupled to the flap, and a jackscrew interface between the cam rod and the bell crank cam arm. The droop panel is configured to move in response to movement of the flap via the jackscrew interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin R. Tsai, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Publication number: 20190315449
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control camber are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a flap support to be coupled to a flap of an aircraft, where the flap is rotatable relative to an aerodynamic surface, a drive arm linkage rotatably coupled to the flap support at a first pivot of the flap support, where the drive arm linkage includes a second pivot at an end opposite the first end, and a flap support actuator operatively coupled to the flap support, where the flap support actuator is to rotate the drive arm linkage. The example apparatus also includes a camber control actuator rotatably coupled to the flap support at a third pivot of the flap support, where the camber control actuator is to be rotatably coupled to the flap at a fourth pivot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Bret Alan Bowers, Kevin Tsai
  • Patent number: 10444128
    Abstract: A load path status detection system comprising a primary fastener, a load sensor, a primary structural link, and a secondary structural link. The primary fastener extends through the primary structural link. The load sensor is associated with the primary structural link. The primary structural link carries a load when a primary load path, formed by the primary fastener and the primary structural link, is functioning. The secondary structural link is parallel to the primary structural link, wherein the secondary structural link does not carry a load when the primary load path is functioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lisa G. Schleuter, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Patent number: 10386254
    Abstract: A fastener status detection system is presented. The fastener status detection system comprises a primary fastener, a secondary fastener, and a sensor. The secondary fastener is configured to be a back-up to the primary fastener. The sensor is positioned to measure at least a portion of a load between the primary fastener and the secondary fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lisa G. Schleuter, Kevin Christopher Klohe, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Publication number: 20190248474
    Abstract: A gimbal having a split design, which can be used in an assembly for actuating an aerodynamic high lift device, is described. The gimbal enables a rotating load path when a force is transferred from the actuator to the high lift device via the gimbal. In particular, the split design can include two receivers which can be coupled to posts extending from a nut. The nut can be secured to a shaft which receives a force generated by the actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator can rotate the shaft to cause the gimbal to translate along the shaft. The split design provides a more compact form factor and is lighter in weight than traditional gimbal designs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Tsai, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Publication number: 20180100790
    Abstract: A load path status detection system comprising a primary fastener, a load sensor, a primary structural link, and a secondary structural link. The primary fastener extends through the primary structural link. The load sensor is associated with the primary structural link. The primary structural link carries a load when a primary load path, formed by the primary fastener and the primary structural link, is functioning. The secondary structural link is parallel to the primary structural link, wherein the secondary structural link does not carry a load when the primary load path is functioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Lisa G. Schleuter, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Publication number: 20170305529
    Abstract: A fastener status detection system is presented. The fastener status detection system comprises a primary fastener, a secondary fastener, and a sensor. The secondary fastener is configured to be a back-up to the primary fastener. The sensor is positioned to measure at least a portion of a load between the primary fastener and the secondary fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Lisa G. Schleuter, Kevin Christopher Klohe, Bret Alan Bowers