Patents by Inventor Chris D. Eick

Chris D. Eick 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: 7902999
    Abstract: A system and method of at least reducing the likelihood of a rotor lock in an aircraft gas turbine engine is provided. A determination is made that each propulsion gas turbine engine on an aircraft has experienced a flameout. The rotational speed of each propulsion gas turbine engine is compared to a predetermined threshold rotational speed and, if the rotational speed of each propulsion gas turbine engine is below the predetermined threshold rotational speed, a warning is supplied to a flight crew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Chris D. Eick
  • Publication number: 20090261989
    Abstract: A system and method of at least reducing the likelihood of a rotor lock in an aircraft gas turbine engine is provided. A determination is made that each propulsion gas turbine engine on an aircraft has experienced a flameout. The rotational speed of each propulsion gas turbine engine is compared to a predetermined threshold rotational speed and, if the rotational speed of each propulsion gas turbine engine is below the predetermined threshold rotational speed, a warning is supplied to a flight crew.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Chris D. Eick
  • Patent number: 7552582
    Abstract: A turbofan gas turbine propulsion engine includes a system to transfer power from the low pressure turbine to the high pressure turbine and/or extract additional load from the low pressure turbine during certain turbofan engine operational conditions. The systems include a hydrostatic power transfer system that includes a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor coupled to the low pressure and high pressure turbine, respectively. The systems additionally include a mechanical and electrical load shifting/loading sharing systems that use clutches and gear assemblies to share and/or shift load between the turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Chris D. Eick, Louie T. Gaines, Mitchell J. Laidlaw, Dwayne M. Benson, Larry A. Portolese, Brian L. Flaherty, Wayne T. Pearson
  • Patent number: 7484522
    Abstract: The present invention provides a relatively simple way to automatically turn on and off the fuel to a starter/generator cooling system during engine start. The present invention takes advantage of a fuel pressure rise provided by an engine fuel boost pump during the period from engine start to engine idle conditions. This pressure rise is used to stroke a shutoff valve in a fuel return to tank valve (FRTTV), which shuts off the starter generator cooling fuel flow. This shutoff occurs automatically with no other external input from, for example, an engine controller. A check valve is also included that prevents back flow through the FRTTV in the event of an engine start with no aircraft pumps running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Chris D. Eick, Paul W. Futa, Jr., Mitchell J. Laidlaw, Anthony C. Libera, Donald M. Purcell
  • Patent number: 7252068
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a relatively simple system and method to reduce fuel system pumping by automatically turning on and off servo flow to various non-needed devices or “start lockout” servos during engine start. The invention takes advantage of a fuel pressure rise provided by the fuel pump during the period from engine start until the pump speed is greater than windmill. This pressure rise is used to move a pressure activated piston in a servo shutoff valve from a normally closed position to an open position, which at higher pressures allow servo flow to the “start lockout” servos through the servo lockout valve. When the pressure is reduce, the piston return to a normally closed position due to a biasing spring closing the servo lockout valve. This opening and closing of the servo lockout valve occurs automatically with no other external input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris D. Eick, Paul W. Futa, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7237535
    Abstract: A valve assembly having a position control characteristic that is represented by an N-th order polynomial equation includes a valve housing a valve element, and a valve characterization circuit. The valve housing has at least a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a flow passage between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet. The valve element is mounted on the valve housing, is disposed at least partially within the valve housing flow passage, and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The valve characteristic circuit is mounted on the valve housing, and includes a plurality of resistors. Each resistor has a resistance value representative of at least one digit in the N-th order polynomial equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Chris D. Eick, Dugan Shelby, John R. Harkey