Patents by Inventor Douglas M. Nark

Douglas M. Nark 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: 11353240
    Abstract: Systems and devices of the various embodiments may provide a low-drag, variable-depth acoustic liner having shared inlet volumes. Various embodiments may include a low-drag, variable-depth acoustic liner providing aircraft noise reduction. Acoustic liners according to the various embodiments may be used in engine nacelles and/or on external surfaces of an aircraft to reduce acoustic radiation. Acoustic liners according to various embodiments may provide increased broadband acoustic performance with less drag than conventional liners. Various embodiments may provide an acoustic liner with a reduced open area of the facesheet, and therefore reduced drag of the liner, when compared with conventional acoustic liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Noah H. Schiller, Michael G Jones, Brian M. Howerton, Douglas M. Nark
  • Publication number: 20200103139
    Abstract: Systems and devices of the various embodiments may provide a low-drag, variable-depth acoustic liner having shared inlet volumes. Various embodiments may include a low-drag, variable-depth acoustic liner providing aircraft noise reduction. Acoustic liners according to the various embodiments may be used in engine nacelles and/or on external surfaces of an aircraft to reduce acoustic radiation. Acoustic liners according to various embodiments may provide increased broadband acoustic performance with less drag than conventional liners. Various embodiments may provide an acoustic liner with a reduced open area of the facesheet, and therefore reduced drag of the liner, when compared with conventional acoustic liners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Noah H. Schiller, Michael G. Jones, Brian M. Howerton, Douglas M. Nark
  • Patent number: 9623952
    Abstract: Acoustic liners for aircraft noise reduction include one or more chambers that are configured to provide a pressure-release surface such that the engine noise generation process is inhibited and/or absorb sound by converting the sound into heat energy. The size and shape of the chambers can be selected to inhibit the noise generation process and/or absorb sound at selected frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
    Inventors: Michael G. Jones, Russell H. Thomas, Douglas M. Nark, Brian M. Howerton, Michael J. Czech
  • Patent number: 9334059
    Abstract: An acoustic panel liner includes a face sheet, back plate, and liner core positioned therebetween, which may be used in an engine nacelle. Elongated chambers contain variable amounts of septa at a calibrated depth or depths. The septa may have varying DC flow resistance. The chambers may have a hexagonal or other polygonal cross sections. The septa, such as mesh caps, may be bonded to an inner wall of a corresponding chamber. The insertion depths may be the same or different. If different, the pattern of distribution of the depths may be randomized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Michael G. Jones, Douglas M. Nark, Earl Ayle, Fumitaka Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 9245089
    Abstract: A broadband liner design optimization includes utilizing in-duct attenuation predictions with a statistical fan source model to obtain optimum impedance spectra over a number of flow conditions for one or more liner locations in a bypass duct. The predicted optimum impedance information is then used with acoustic liner modeling tools to design liners having impedance spectra that most closely match the predicted optimum values. Design selection is based on an acceptance criterion that provides the ability to apply increasing weighting to specific frequencies and/or operating conditions. One or more broadband design approaches are utilized to produce a broadband liner that targets a full range of frequencies and operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Douglas M. Nark, Michael G. Jones
  • Patent number: 8111832
    Abstract: A method is provided for making localized decisions and taking localized actions to achieve a global solution. In an embodiment of the present invention, acoustic impedances for impedance-tunable acoustic segments are adjusted. A first acoustic segment through an N-th acoustic segment are defined. To start the process, the first acoustic segment is designated as a leader and a noise-reducing impedance is determined therefor. This is accomplished using (i) one or more metrics associated with the acoustic wave at the leader, and (ii) the metric(s) associated with the acoustic wave at the N-th acoustic segment. The leader, the N-th acoustic segment, and each of the acoustic segments exclusive of the leader and the N-th acoustic segment, are tuned to the noise-reducing impedance. The current leader is then excluded from subsequent processing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Kennie H Jones, Douglas M. Nark, Michael G. Jones, Tony L. Parrott, Kenneth N. Lodding
  • Publication number: 20100006368
    Abstract: A method is provided for making localized decisions and taking localized actions to achieve a global solution. In an embodiment of the present invention, acoustic impedances for impedance-tunable acoustic segments are adjusted. A first acoustic segment through an N-th acoustic segment are defined. To start the process, the first acoustic segment is designated as a leader and a noise-reducing impedance is determined therefor. This is accomplished using (i) one or more metrics associated with the acoustic wave at the leader, and (ii) the metric(s) associated with the acoustic wave at the N-th acoustic segment. The leader, the N-th acoustic segment, and each of the acoustic segments exclusive of the leader and the N-th acoustic segment, are tuned to the noise-reducing impedance. The current leader is then excluded from subsequent processing steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicants: Space Administration
    Inventors: Kennie H. Jones, Douglas M. Nark, Michael G. Jones, Tony L. Parrott, Kenneth N. Lodding