Patents by Inventor Daniel James Bickley

Daniel James Bickley 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: 10669943
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel pumping arrangement comprises a first fuel pump, an electrically powered motor operable to drive the first fuel pump to deliver fuel to an outlet, a second fuel pump, a gas driven turbine operable to drive the second fuel pump to deliver fuel to the outlet, and a controller operable to control the operation of the gas driven turbine to determine the rate at which the second fuel pump is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Christopher John William Weir, Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20170167387
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel pumping arrangement comprises a first fuel pump, an electrically powered motor operable to drive the first fuel pump to deliver fuel to an outlet, a second fuel pump, a gas driven turbine operable to drive the second fuel pump to deliver fuel to the outlet, and a controller operable to control the operation of the gas driven turbine to determine the rate at which the second fuel pump is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Christopher John William Weir, Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 9267477
    Abstract: A fuel system comprises a fuel pump operable to deliver fuel through a supply line to a pressure raising valve, the pressure raising valve including a control chamber, the fuel pressure within the control chamber controlling a minimum pump pressure differential, and an actuator control servo-valve operable to control the supply of fuel from the supply line to an actuator control line, wherein the actuator control servo-valve further controls the pressure of fuel applied to the control chamber of the pressure raising valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CONTROLS AND DATA SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 9163563
    Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a fuel metering unit of the type incorporating a temperature sensor is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of: sensing a change in temperature; using the sensed change in temperature to derive a fast temperature correction factor; using the sensed change in temperature to derive a slow temperature correction factor; using the fast and slow temperature correction factors in combination with a fuel demand to determine a metering valve position; and moving the metering valve to the determined metering valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 8991186
    Abstract: A fuel control system comprises a metering valve operable to control the flow of fuel between a supply line and a delivery line, a spill valve operable to control fuel flow within the supply line, a pressure raising valve connected to the delivery line, and a control servo valve movable between a thrust control mode in which it modifies the control of the spill valve to reduce the fuel flow delivered via the metering valve and an outlet of the pressure raising valve, and a windmill relight position in which it modifies the control of the pressure raising valve to allow fuel delivery through the outlet of the pressure raising valve at a reduced system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Engine Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Daniel James Bickley, Michael Griffiths
  • Patent number: 8789353
    Abstract: A fuel system comprises a first, variable displacement fuel pump operable to supply fuel through a metering valve to an engine, a control servo operable to control the operation of the first pump, a pressure drop control valve (PDCV) responsive to a pressure drop across the metering valve, a second fuel pump, and a spill valve movable between an open position in which substantially all of the fuel supplied by the second fuel pump is returned to an inlet side thereof, and a closed position, or partially closed position, wherein a proportion of the fuel supplied by the second pump is delivered to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20130263826
    Abstract: A fuel system comprises a fuel pump operable to deliver fuel through a supply line to a pressure raising valve, the pressure raising valve including a control chamber, the fuel pressure within the control chamber controlling a minimum pump pressure differential, and an actuator control servo-valve operable to control the supply of fuel from the supply line to an actuator control line, wherein the actuator control servo-valve further controls the pressure of fuel applied to the control chamber of the pressure raising valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20120210716
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel pumping arrangement comprises a first fuel pump, an electrically powered motor operable to drive the first fuel pump to deliver fuel to an outlet, a second fuel pump, a gas driven turbine operable to drive the second fuel pump to deliver fuel to the outlet, and a controller operable to control the operation of the gas driven turbine to determine the rate at which the second fuel pump is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE GOODRICH ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Christopher John William Weir, Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20120085421
    Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a fuel metering unit of the type incorporating a temperature sensor is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of: sensing a change in temperature; using the sensed change in temperature to derive a fast temperature correction factor; using the sensed change in temperature to derive a slow temperature correction factor; using the fast and slow temperature correction factors in combination with a fuel demand to determine a metering valve position; and moving the metering valve to the determined metering valve position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Goodrich Engine Control Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20110146823
    Abstract: A fuel control system comprises a metering valve operable to control the flow of fuel between a supply line and a delivery line, a spill valve operable to control fuel flow within the supply line, a pressure raising valve connected to the delivery line, and a control servo valve movable between a thrust control mode in which it modifies the control of the spill valve to reduce the fuel flow delivered via the metering valve and an outlet of the pressure raising valve, and a windmill relight position in which it modifies the control of the pressure raising valve to allow fuel delivery through the outlet of the pressure raising valve at a reduced system pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Goodrich Engine Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael Griffiths, Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 7827796
    Abstract: A rotary metering valve arrangement comprises a rotary metering valve arranged to control the supply of fuel to a Pressure Raising and Shut-Off Valve (PRSOV), the metering valve comprising a valve plate provided with first and second latching ports and an angularly movable valve element provided with a recess registrable, in use, with the first and second latching ports to control communication therebetween, the PRSOV comprising a valve member slidable within a bore provided with third and fourth latching ports the valve member being provided with a recess registrable, in use, with the third and fourth latching ports to control communication therebetween, the second and third latching ports communicating with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Robert Paul Jones, Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 7497083
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine comprises a first positive displacement pump (16), a second positive displacement pump (27), said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) being operable simultaneously for the supply of fuel from a low pressure source, and switching valve means (14) downstream of said first positive displacement pump (16) for changing a connection mode between said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) between a series mode and a parallel mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Martin Kenneth Yates, Daniel James Bickley, Michael Griffiths
  • Patent number: 7481102
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system to determine the extent of internal wear of a fuel pump thereof comprises driving the fuel pump, moving a metering valve member to a closed position in which the metering valve bears against a resilient stop, increasing the operating speed of the fuel pump to increase the pressure applied to the metering valve member urging the valve member towards the resilient stop to a point beyond which further movement of the metering valve member occurs, sensing when the further movement of the metering valve member occurs, and sensing the operating speed of the pump at the time when the further movement occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20080236549
    Abstract: A fuel system comprises a first, variable displacement fuel pump operable to supply fuel through a metering valve to an engine, a control servo operable to control the operation of the first pump, a pressure drop control valve (PDCV) responsive to a pressure drop across the metering valve, a second fuel pump, and a spill valve movable between an open position in which substantially all of the fuel supplied by the second fuel pump is returned to an inlet side thereof, and a closed position, or partially closed position, wherein a proportion of the fuel supplied by the second pump is delivered to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20080067463
    Abstract: A rotary metering valve arrangement comprises a rotary metering valve arranged to control the supply of fuel to a Pressure Raising and Shut-Off Valve (PRSOV), the metering valve comprising a valve plate provided with first and second latching ports and an angularly movable valve element provided with a recess registrable, in use, with the first and second latching ports to control communication therebetween, the PRSOV comprising a valve member slidable within a bore provided with third and fourth latching ports the valve member being provided with a recess registrable, in use, with the third and fourth latching ports to control communication therebetween, the second and third latching ports communicating with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Paul Jones, Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 7337761
    Abstract: A fuel system comprises a spill valve 38 operable to relieve the fuel pressure differential across at least one positive displacement pump 16, 18, a shut-off valve 32 operable to control the supply of fuel to an engine 84, and a two stage servo-valve 62 operable to control the operation of the shut-off valve 32, the spill valve 38 having a control chamber 40 the fluid pressure within which is controlled so as to be held at an intermediate level during engine shut-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 7204076
    Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine fuel metering unit incorporating a memory device for storing data relevant to that unit, and an electrical connection arrangement whereby data can be read from and/or written to said memory device by an associated electronic engine controller, said stored data including data relating to at least one of the performance, the identification, the health, and the service life of that fuel metering unit. The invention further resides in an aircraft gas turbine engine fuel supply system and a method of operating such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Griffiths, Paul Bernard Green, Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 7178335
    Abstract: A pressure regulator includes a housing, a metering spool, a first pressure chamber at a reference pressure to which one end of the metering spool is exposed, a spring within the first pressure chamber acting against the one end of the metering spool, a second pressure chamber containing hydraulic fluid at the regulated pressure acting against the opposite end of the metering spool, wherein the position of the metering spool relative to the housing is a position of equilibrium that changes to maintain a predetermined pressure difference between the reference pressure and the regulated pressure. An abutment against which the opposite end of the spring reacts is provided and a third pressure chamber at a control pressure acts on the abutment, such that the control pressure can be changed to adjust the position of the abutment to change the pre-load of the spring to adjust the value the predetermined pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20040068974
    Abstract: A fuel system of a staged combustion engine comprising primary and secondary burners, the fuel system comprising; a metering valve arrangement for regulating fuel flow from a pump to the engine, a pressure raising shut off valve arrangement for controlling the supply of metered fuel to primary and secondary delivery lines for communication with the primary and secondary burners respectively, wherein the pressure raising shut off valve arrangement is operable between an open position in which fuel flow is permitted to both the primary and the secondary burners, and a closed position in which fuel flow through the pressure raising valve arrangement to the primary and secondary burners is prevented, and, a start valve means provided with by-pass flow means which is operable to permit an initial bypass flow of fuel to the primary burners upon engine start-up when the pressure raising shut of valve arrangement is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley