Patents by Inventor Christopher Steven Sawyer

Christopher Steven Sawyer 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: 8720183
    Abstract: A translating sleeve assembly for use with an aircraft engine thrust reverser broadly comprises a slider track, a lifting bolt, and a hinge. The slider track may include a tubular sidewall and a guide channel formed therein that follows a curved path along a length thereof. The lifting bolt may be slidably positioned within the slider track. The hinge may include a first hinge element with a base coupled to an outer cowl shroud, a second hinge element with a hinge rod slidably positioned within the guide channel, and a pin about which the first hinge element and the second hinge element pivot. During deployment of the thrust reverser, the lifting bolt slides aftward and the hinge rod slides within the guide channel, urging the lifting bolt to pivot and the hinge to open, thereby lifting the outer cowl shroud away from the center of the aircraft engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Welch, Christopher Steven Sawyer
  • Publication number: 20130075492
    Abstract: A translating sleeve assembly for use with an aircraft engine thrust reverser broadly comprises a slider track, a lifting bolt, and a hinge. The slider track may include a tubular sidewall and a guide channel formed therein that follows a curved path along a length thereof. The lifting bolt may be slidably positioned within the slider track. The hinge may include a first hinge element with a base coupled to an outer cowl shroud, a second hinge element with a hinge rod slidably positioned within the guide channel, and a pin about which the first hinge element and the second hinge element pivot. During deployment of the thrust reverser, the lifting bolt slides aftward and the hinge rod slides within the guide channel, urging the lifting bolt to pivot and the hinge to open, thereby lifting the outer cowl shroud away from the center of the aircraft engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John Michael Welch, Christopher Steven Sawyer
  • Publication number: 20120187214
    Abstract: A blocker door system to be used with an aircraft engine thrust reverser comprises a push ring, a plurality of connecting rods, a plurality of crankshafts, a plurality of blocker doors, and a plurality of linking elements. The push ring may encircle the aircraft engine. The connecting rods may connect along the circumference of the push ring. The crankshafts may rotatably couple to the connecting rods. The blocker doors may be positioned adjacent one another around the circumference of the aircraft engine wherein at least a portion of one blocker door covers at least a portion of the adjacent blocker door. The linking elements may connect one blocker door to the adjacent blocker door and may be operable to guide the motion of the blocker doors relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Welch, Christopher Steven Sawyer