Patents by Inventor Chris Kettering

Chris Kettering 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: 11130561
    Abstract: Airflow-dependent deployable fences for aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a fence of a wing of an aircraft. The fence includes a base that is coupled to the wing and a panel that is movable relative to the base and the wing between a stowed position in which the panel extends along a skin of the wing, and a deployed position in which the panel extends at an upward angle away from the skin. The panel is configured to impede a spanwise airflow along the wing when the panel is in the deployed position. The panel is configured to move from the deployed position to the stowed position in response to an aerodynamic force exerted on the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Chris Kettering
  • Patent number: 11066149
    Abstract: Airflow-dependent deployable fences for aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a fence coupled to a wing of an aircraft. The fence is movable relative to the wing between a stowed position in which a panel of the fence extends along a skin of the wing, and a deployed position in which the panel extends at an upward angle away from the skin. The panel is configured to impede a spanwise airflow along the wing when the fence is in the deployed position. The fence is configured to move from the deployed position to the stowed position in response to an aerodynamic force exerted on the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Chris Kettering
  • Patent number: 11059565
    Abstract: Airflow-dependent deployable fences for aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a fence coupled to a wing of an aircraft. The fence is movable relative to the wing between a stowed position in which a panel of the fence extends along a skin of the wing, and a deployed position in which the panel extends at an upward angle away from the skin. The panel is configured to impede a spanwise airflow along the wing when the fence is in the deployed position. The fence is configured to move from the stowed position to the deployed position in response to an aerodynamic force exerted on a deployment vane of the fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Chris Kettering
  • Patent number: 11059564
    Abstract: Automated deployable fences for aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a fence, a latching actuator, and a biasing actuator. The fence is coupled to a wing of an aircraft. The fence is movable relative to the wing between a stowed position in which a panel of the fence extends along a skin of the wing, and a deployed position in which the panel extends at an upward angle away from the skin. The panel impedes a spanwise airflow along the wing when the fence is in the deployed position. The latching actuator is movable between a first position in which the latching actuator maintains the fence in the stowed position, and a second position in which the latching actuator releases the fence from the stowed position. The latching actuator moves from the first position to the second position in response to a control signal received at the latching actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Chris Kettering
  • Publication number: 20200156762
    Abstract: Airflow-dependent deployable fences for aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a fence coupled to a wing of an aircraft. The fence is movable relative to the wing between a stowed position in which a panel of the fence extends along a skin of the wing, and a deployed position in which the panel extends at an upward angle away from the skin. The panel is configured to impede a spanwise airflow along the wing when the fence is in the deployed position. The fence is configured to move from the stowed position to the deployed position in response to an aerodynamic force exerted on a deployment vane of the fence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Chris Kettering
  • Publication number: 20200156760
    Abstract: Airflow-dependent deployable fences for aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a fence coupled to a wing of an aircraft. The fence is movable relative to the wing between a stowed position in which a panel of the fence extends along a skin of the wing, and a deployed position in which the panel extends at an upward angle away from the skin. The panel is configured to impede a spanwise airflow along the wing when the fence is in the deployed position. The fence is configured to move from the deployed position to the stowed position in response to an aerodynamic force exerted on the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Chris Kettering
  • Publication number: 20200156763
    Abstract: Airflow-dependent deployable fences for aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a fence of a wing of an aircraft. The fence includes a base that is coupled to the wing and a panel that is movable relative to the base and the wing between a stowed position in which the panel extends along a skin of the wing, and a deployed position in which the panel extends at an upward angle away from the skin. The panel is configured to impede a spanwise airflow along the wing when the panel is in the deployed position. The panel is configured to move from the deployed position to the stowed position in response to an aerodynamic force exerted on the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Chris Kettering
  • Publication number: 20200156761
    Abstract: Automated deployable fences for aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a fence, a latching actuator, and a biasing actuator. The fence is coupled to a wing of an aircraft. The fence is movable relative to the wing between a stowed position in which a panel of the fence extends along a skin of the wing, and a deployed position in which the panel extends at an upward angle away from the skin. The panel impedes a spanwise airflow along the wing when the fence is in the deployed position. The latching actuator is movable between a first position in which the latching actuator maintains the fence in the stowed position, and a second position in which the latching actuator releases the fence from the stowed position. The latching actuator moves from the first position to the second position in response to a control signal received at the latching actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Chris Kettering
  • Patent number: 7462225
    Abstract: An agitator assembly for use in a gas separator includes a central hub and at least one blade affixed to the central hub. The blade includes a leading end, a trailing end, a first curved portion adjacent to the leading end and a second curved portion adjacent to the trailing end. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second curved portions are substantially parabolic and have foci on opposite sides of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Wood Group ESP, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Ketter, Raymond E. Floyd, Chengbao Wang
  • Publication number: 20060245957
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bottom-intake pumping system that includes a pump assembly and a motor that drives the pump assembly with a driveshaft assembly. The bottom-intake pumping system includes a first thrust bearing that supports the driveshaft assembly on a first side of the pump assembly and a second thrust bearing that supports the driveshaft assembly on a second side of the pump assembly. The bottom-intake pumping system also includes a shroud assembly and a discharge pipe. The shroud assembly has a lower shroud hanger configured for rigid attachment at a selected location on the pump assembly, a shroud body connectable to the lower shroud hanger and an upper shroud hanger connectable to the shroud body. The upper shroud hanger is configured for sliding engagement with a discharge pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: Wood Group ESP, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Berry, Chris Ketter