Patents by Inventor Douglas E. Ferguson

Douglas E. Ferguson 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: 12021272
    Abstract: Systems for suppressing adverse exothermic reactions in an energy storage container. One energy storage system includes a container configured to support a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of battery cells disposed inside and supported by the container; an agent supply port attached to the container; and a tube disposed inside the container and having a closed end and an open end. The open end of the tube is in fluid communication with the agent supply port. The tube comprises fusible portions which are designed to melt or soften at a temperature which is lower than the melting or softening temperature of another portion of the tube. In response to melting or softening of the fusible portions of the tube, pressurized exothermic reaction-suppressing agent is distributed inside the container via the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Stephen D. Griffin, Douglas E. Ferguson, Aaron J. Kutzmann, John A. Trela, Frederic Lacaux
  • Publication number: 20220320697
    Abstract: Systems for suppressing adverse exothermic reactions in an energy storage container. One energy storage system includes a container configured to support a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of battery cells disposed inside and supported by the container; an agent supply port attached to the container; and a tube disposed inside the container and having a closed end and an open end. The open end of the tube is in fluid communication with the agent supply port. The tube comprises fusible portions which are designed to melt or soften at a temperature which is lower than the melting or softening temperature of another portion of the tube. In response to melting or softening of the fusible portions of the tube, pressurized exothermic reaction-suppressing agent is distributed inside the container via the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Stephen D. Griffin, Douglas E. Ferguson, Aaron J. Kutzmann, John A. Trela, Frederic Lacaux
  • Publication number: 20210370111
    Abstract: Described herein are zonal fire suppression systems and methods of using such systems for suppressing fires in cargo aircraft. A system is configured to individually monitor the temperature in each of multiple cargo zones in the cargo area. The system is also configured to selectively activate one or more of multiple zone distribution components to distribute a fire suppressant material, based at least on the temperature monitoring. The zonal approach to the temperature monitoring and to the fire suppressant material distribution allows reducing the fire suppressant material amount needed on the cargo aircraft, which, in turn, reduces the aircraft load. Furthermore, in some examples, the zonal approach eliminates unnecessary contact between the cargo (e.g., in the zones unaffected by fire) and the fire suppressant material. In some examples, this fire suppression involves depressurizing of the cargo area, in addition to or instead of the fire suppressant material distribution material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Derek Tyler Diaz, Douglas E. Ferguson, Patrick Thomas Baker, George A. McEachen
  • Patent number: 10343003
    Abstract: A fire suppression system for an aircraft having a compartment, the fire suppression system including an inert gas source in selective fluid communication with the compartment and a fire suppression agent source in selective fluid communication with the compartment, wherein an inert gas from the inert gas source and a fire suppression agent from the fire suppression agent source are at least partially combined to form a fire suppression mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Patrick T. Baker, Douglas E. Ferguson, Mike R. Madden
  • Patent number: 10238901
    Abstract: A cargo-fire-suppression agent distribution system and methods are presented. A fire-warning signal indicating presence of fire in a cargo compartment onboard a class E cargo aircraft at a first altitude is received. An initial fire-suppression agent is distributed in the cargo compartment at the first altitude sufficient to suppress fire for an initial fire suppression time interval during a depressurization phase during which the class E cargo aircraft flies to a second altitude below the first altitude. A re-enforcing fire-suppression agent is distributed in the cargo compartment during a re-pressurization phase when a cabin altitude is below a predetermined cabin pressure level (PL) during which the class E cargo aircraft flies from the second altitude to a landing, after the initial fire-suppression time interval elapses. The re-enforcing fire-suppression agent distribution is maintained during a re-enforcing fire-suppression time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Douglas E. Ferguson, Arthur L. Tutson
  • Publication number: 20170072235
    Abstract: A cargo-fire-suppression agent distribution system and methods are presented. A fire-warning signal indicating presence of fire in a cargo compartment onboard a class E cargo aircraft at a first altitude is received. An initial fire-suppression agent is distributed in the cargo compartment at the first altitude sufficient to suppress fire for an initial fire suppression time interval during a depressurization phase during which the class E cargo aircraft flies to a second altitude below the first altitude. A re-enforcing fire-suppression agent is distributed in the cargo compartment during a re-pressurization phase when a cabin altitude is below a predetermined cabin pressure level (PL) during which the class E cargo aircraft flies from the second altitude to a landing, after the initial fire-suppression time interval elapses. The re-enforcing fire-suppression agent distribution is maintained during a re-enforcing fire-suppression time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas E. Ferguson, Arthur L. Tutson
  • Patent number: 9526931
    Abstract: A cargo-fire-suppression agent distribution system and methods are presented. A fire-warning signal indicating presence of fire in a cargo compartment onboard a class E cargo aircraft at a first altitude is received. An initial fire-suppression agent is distributed in the cargo compartment at the first altitude sufficient to suppress fire for an initial fire suppression time interval during a depressurization phase during which the class E cargo aircraft flies to a second altitude below the first altitude. A re-enforcing fire-suppression agent is distributed in the cargo compartment during a re-pressurization phase when a cabin altitude is below a predetermined cabin pressure level (PL) during which the class E cargo aircraft flies from the second altitude to a landing, after the initial fire-suppression time interval elapses. The re-enforcing fire-suppression agent distribution is maintained during a re-enforcing fire-suppression time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Douglas E. Ferguson, Arthur L. Tutson
  • Publication number: 20160096051
    Abstract: A fire suppression system for an aircraft having a compartment, the fire suppression system including an inert gas source in selective fluid communication with the compartment and a fire suppression agent source in selective fluid communication with the compartment, wherein an inert gas from the inert gas source and a fire suppression agent from the fire suppression agent source are at least partially combined to form a fire suppression mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick T. Baker, Douglas E. Ferguson, Mike R. Madden
  • Publication number: 20140158382
    Abstract: A cargo-fire-suppression agent distribution system and methods are presented. A fire-warning signal indicating presence of fire in a cargo compartment onboard a class E cargo aircraft at a first altitude is received. An initial fire-suppression agent is distributed in the cargo compartment at the first altitude sufficient to suppress fire for an initial fire suppression time interval during a depressurization phase during which the class E cargo aircraft flies to a second altitude below the first altitude. A re-enforcing fire-suppression agent is distributed in the cargo compartment during a re-pressurization phase when a cabin altitude is below a predetermined cabin pressure level (PL) during which the class E cargo aircraft flies from the second altitude to a landing, after the initial fire-suppression time interval elapses. The re-enforcing fire-suppression agent distribution is maintained during a re-enforcing fire-suppression time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Douglas E. Ferguson, Arthur L. Tutson