Patents by Inventor David Drennen

David Drennen 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: 20170241526
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuator assembly having a ball nut comprising a helical track and a ball screw. The ball screw of the actuator assembly includes a first translation bearing track having a first diameter, wherein the helical track and the first translation bearing track form a first translation bearing raceway in which a first translation bearing ball is disposed. The ball screw further includes a second translation bearing track having a second diameter, wherein the helical track and the second translation bearing track form a second translation bearing raceway in which a second translation bearing ball is disposed. The first diameter and the second diameter are not equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus, Satinder Mann, Marc Georgin, Robert French
  • Publication number: 20170187265
    Abstract: An integrated actuator drive unit (ADU) assembly for an electric motor actuator is disclosed. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise at least one of an integrally formed ring gear, an integrally formed thrust bearing and integrally formed load cell. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise a portion of an electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator may be utilized for aircraft braking systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Patent number: 9641044
    Abstract: An integrated actuator drive unit (ADU) assembly for an electric motor actuator is disclosed. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise at least one of an integrally formed ring gear, an integrally formed thrust bearing and integrally formed load cell. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise a portion of an electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator may be utilized for aircraft braking systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Patent number: 9605723
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuator assembly comprising a ballnut having a helical track, an actuator drive unit (“ADU”) housing having an ADU track, and a ballscrew. In various embodiments, the ballscrew comprises a first translation bearing track, wherein the helical track and the first translation bearing track form a first translation bearing raceway in which a plurality of first translation bearing balls having a first diameter are disposed, and a second translation bearing track, wherein the helical track and the second translation bearing track form a second translation bearing raceway in which a plurality of second translation bearing balls having a second diameter are disposed, wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are not equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20170080906
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided comprising a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, an selective gearbox mechanically coupled to the rotor and disposed in the housing, a first output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a different speed than the rotor, and a second output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a same speed as the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Robert French
  • Patent number: 9586678
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods related to park brake systems and methods. In various embodiments, a park brake system may comprise a motor shaft having a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion having a greater diameter than the first diameter portion. A park brake system may further comprise a spring disposed at least partially around a circumference of the motor shaft, a wire coil disposed at least partially around a circumference of a bobbin, a one-way clutch disposed at least partially within the bobbin and coaxial to the motor shaft, an annular magnet disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and distal to at least a portion of the bobbin, and a clutch release mechanism disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and around the first diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Patent number: 9562579
    Abstract: A vented EMA may have a vent that allows gas to pass from into and out of the vented EMA, while preventing liquid from passing into and out of the vented EMA. The vented EMA may have a desiccant material inside the vented EMA that absorbs condensation from within the vented EMA. A vented EMA may also have an air flow path that conducts gas into and out of the vent during operation. As a result, the pressure inside the vented EMA may equalize with the pressure outside the vented EMA, but the deleterious ingress of liquids may be ameliorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, Harald Klode, David Drennen
  • Publication number: 20170023078
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuator assembly comprising a ballnut having a helical track, an actuator drive unit (“ADU”) housing having an ADU track, and a ballscrew. In various embodiments, the ballscrew comprises a first translation bearing track, wherein the helical track and the first translation bearing track form a first translation bearing raceway in which a plurality of first translation bearing balls having a first diameter are disposed, and a second translation bearing track, wherein the helical track and the second translation bearing track form a second translation bearing raceway in which a plurality of second translation bearing balls having a second diameter are disposed, wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are not equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20170021920
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for aircraft braking and taxiing systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. In this regard, a system may comprise an electric motor and a clutch. The electric motor may include a first output shaft and a second output shaft. The clutch may selectively engaging the motor to at least one of a driver transmission and a brake transmission, wherein, in response to engagement with the driver transmission, the electric motor drives, exclusively, an aircraft wheel via the first output shaft, wherein, in response to engagement with the brake transmission, the electric motor drives, exclusively, a brake clamping system via the second output shaft to apply force to an aircraft brake disk stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus
  • Patent number: 9545903
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided comprising a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, an selective gearbox mechanically coupled to the rotor and disposed in the housing, a first output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a different speed than the rotor, and a second output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a same speed as the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Robert French
  • Patent number: 9548643
    Abstract: A instrumented housing for an electric motor actuator is provided. The instrumented housing may have a ribbon gage coupled to a housing of an electrical motor actuator. The ribbon gage may have one or more strain gages. The strain gages may measure the tension on the housing when the electric motor actuator exerts a load. A cover may extend over at least a portion of the housing and ribbon gage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, Joseph E Beason, David Drennen, Harald Klode, Thomas Freshour, Jantzen Hinton
  • Patent number: 9527584
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator in an aircraft brake system may include a stationary body, an actuator drive unit in an actuator drive unit housing, a ball screw coupled to the actuator drive unit, and a ball nut piston coupled to the ball screw. A supplemental back drive mechanism may be disposed between the ball screw and the stationary body. The supplemental back drive mechanism may comprise a spring and a clutch. The spring may store back drive potential energy when the electromechanical actuator is actuated to drive the ball nut piston forward, and may supply back drive energy to the retract the ball nut piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen
  • Patent number: 9482326
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (“EMA”) may comprise a ball screw having at least one tab extending from an inner surface thereof and/or an actuator drive unit (“ADU”) housing that interfaces with the at least one tab. The bail screw may include three tabs extending from the inner surface thereof. An outer surface of the ball screw may be threaded to mate with a threaded portion of an inner surface of the ADU housing, and/or the ADU housing may interface with the at least one tab, and the ball screw may be rotated to translate a ball nut situated concentrically over ball screw axially. The ADU housing may include a gear train assembly having a carrier plate, wherein the carrier plate includes at least one receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Patent number: 9482325
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (“EMA”) comprising an actuator drive unit (“ADU”) housing and a ball screw is disclosed. The ball screw and ADU housing may interface to form a multi-row thrust bearing (MRTB). Further, the ball screw may be situated at least partially about the ADU housing, an outer surface of the ADU housing may include a first ADU raceway, and an inner surface of the ball screw may include a second inner ball screw raceway. Either or both raceways may comprise hemispherical structures. Further, the first raceway and the second raceway may interface to form a multi-row thrust bearing (“MRTB”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20160305501
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electromechanical brake actuator system comprising an electromechanical brake actuator coupled to a derived position sensor, the derived position sensor comprising a controller, a rotation sensor, and an output drive circuit. In various embodiments, the derived position sensor may be configured to receive a first motor shaft angular velocity at a first time, receive a second motor shaft angular velocity at a second time, calculate a linear translation distance, and sum the linear translation distance and a previous ram position to obtain an actual ram position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, Joseph E. Beason, David Drennen
  • Publication number: 20160223415
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes the use of a smart load cell in a system for controlling an electromechanical actuator. A load cell may be positioned along the outer surface of the electromechanical actuator. Further, the load cell may utilize strain gages and a microcontroller. The load cell may be configured to transmit data to an electric brake actuator controller which includes calibration for operating temperature of the electromechanical actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph E. Beason, Kevin Rehfus, Albert Keith Pant, Thomas Freshour, Scott Streng, David Drennen
  • Publication number: 20160221555
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided comprising a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, an selective gearbox mechanically coupled to the rotor and disposed in the housing, a first output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a different speed than the rotor, and a second output of the selective gearbox configured to rotate at a same speed as the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Robert French
  • Publication number: 20160207613
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods related to park brake systems and methods. In various embodiments, a park brake system may comprise a motor shaft having a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion having a greater diameter than the first diameter portion. A park brake system may further comprise a spring disposed at least partially around a circumference of the motor shaft, a wire coil disposed at least partially around a circumference of a bobbin, a one-way clutch disposed at least partially within the bobbin and coaxial to the motor shaft, an annular magnet disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and distal to at least a portion of the bobbin, and a clutch release mechanism disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and around the first diameter portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20160207614
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator in an aircraft brake system may include a stationary body, an actuator drive unit in an actuator drive unit housing, a ball screw coupled to the actuator drive unit, and a ball nut piston coupled to the ball screw. A supplemental back drive mechanism may be disposed between the ball screw and the stationary body. The supplemental back drive mechanism may comprise a spring and a clutch. The spring may store back drive potential energy when the electromechanical actuator is actuated to drive the ball nut piston forward, and may supply back drive energy to the retract the ball nut piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen
  • Patent number: 9359069
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator including an aircraft parking brake may include a motor shaft, a park brake disk, and a voice coil assembly. The voice coil assembly may include a bobbin configured to translate between an engaged position and a disengaged position. An engagement feature may be coupled to the bobbin. The engagement feature may contact the park brake disk in the engaged position. The engagement feature may be magnetically coupled to a voice coil magnet and washer in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Robert French, Albert Keith Pant, Joseph E. Beason, Harald Klode