Patents by Inventor Doug Kortum

Doug Kortum 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: 8360097
    Abstract: Embodiments of a valve actuator are provided for adjusting the position of a main valve element in relation to the pressure of a fluid supplied by a supply duct. The valve actuator includes a housing, a control pressure valve disposed in the housing, and a piston slidably disposed in the housing and mechanically coupled to the main valve element. The housing has a control pressure chamber therein, which is configured to be fluidly coupled to the supply duct. The control pressure valve is configured to substantially impede fluid flow into the control pressure chamber until the fluid pressure within the supply duct surpasses a minimum actuation pressure. The piston normally resides in a first position and is configured to move toward a second position as the pressure within the control pressure chamber increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Justin A. Tanner, Larry Blessing, Doug Kortum, Benjamin Tang
  • Patent number: 8146886
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided for converting rotary action into linear action, and includes an electric motor, a cable yoke, an output shaft, and a pair of cables. The electric motor is adapted to be selectively energized and is configured, upon being energized to generate a drive torque. The cable yoke is coupled to receive the drive torque and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate about a rotational axis. The output shaft is coupled to receive a drive force and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to translate along a linear axis that is disposed at least substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis. Each cable is wound, in pretension, on a portion of the cable yoke and around a portion of the output shaft. The pair of cables is configured, upon rotation of the cable yoke, to supply the drive force to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Casey Hanlon, Steve Abel, David M. Eschborn, Doug Kortum, Don Christensen
  • Publication number: 20110031424
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is provided for converting rotary action into linear action, and includes an electric motor, a cable yoke, an output shaft, and a pair of cables. The electric motor is adapted to be selectively energized and is configured, upon being energized to generate a drive torque. The cable yoke is coupled to receive the drive torque and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate about a rotational axis. The output shaft is coupled to receive a drive force and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to translate along a linear axis that is disposed at least substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis. Each cable is wound, in pretension, on a portion of the cable yoke and around a portion of the output shaft. The pair of cables is configured, upon rotation of the cable yoke, to supply the drive force to the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Casey Hanlon, Steve Abel, David M. Eschborn, Doug Kortum, Don Christensen
  • Publication number: 20090261279
    Abstract: Embodiments of a valve actuator are provided for adjusting the position of a main valve element in relation to the pressure of a fluid supplied by a supply duct. The valve actuator includes a housing, a control pressure valve disposed in the housing, and a piston slidably disposed in the housing and mechanically coupled to the main valve element. The housing has a control pressure chamber therein, which is configured to be fluidly coupled to the supply duct. The control pressure valve is configured to substantially impede fluid flow into the control pressure chamber until the fluid pressure within the supply duct surpasses a minimum actuation pressure. The piston normally resides in a first position and is configured to move toward a second position as the pressure within the control pressure chamber increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.,
    Inventors: Justin A. Tanner, Larry Blessing, Doug Kortum, Benjamin Tang