Patents by Inventor Gerald V. Brown

Gerald V. Brown 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).

  • Self-tuning impact damper for rotating blades
    Patent number: 6827551
    Abstract: A self-tuning impact damper is disclosed that absorbs and dissipates vibration energy in the blades of rotors in compressors and/or turbines thereby dramatically extending their service life and operational readiness. The self-tuning impact damper uses the rotor speed to tune the resonant frequency of a rattling mass to an engine order excitation frequency. The rattling mass dissipates energy through collisions between the rattling mass and the walls of a cavity of the self-tuning impact damper, as well as through friction between the rattling mass and the base of the cavity. In one embodiment, the self-tuning impact damper has a ball-in-trough configuration with tire ball serving as the rattling mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Kirsten P. Duffy, Gerald V. Brown, Ronald L. Bagley
  • Magnetic heat pumping
    Patent number: 4392356
    Abstract: The method of the invention employs ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic elements, preferably of rare-earth based material, for example gadolinium, and preferably employs a regenerator. The steps of the method comprise controlling the temperature and applied magnetic field of the element to cause the state of the element as represented on a temperature-magnetic entropy diagram repeatedly to traverse a loop. The loop may have a first portion of concurrent substantially isothermal or constant temperature and increasing applied magnetic field, a second portion of lowering temperature and constant applied magnetic field, a third portion of isothermal and decreasing applied magnetic field, and a fourth portion of increasing temperature and constant applied magnetic field. Other loops may be four-sided, with, for example, two isotherms and two adiabats (constant entropy portions).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Gerald V. Brown
  • Magnetic heat pumping
    Patent number: 4069028
    Abstract: The method of the invention employs ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic elements, preferably of rare-earth based material, for example, gadolinium, and preferably employs a regenerator. The steps of the method comprise controlling the temperature and applied magnetic field of the element to cause the state of the element as represented on a temperature-magnetic entropy diagram repeatedly to traverse a loop. The loop may have a first portion of concurrent substantially isothermal or constant temperature and increasing applied magnetic field, a second portion of lowering temperature and constant applied magnetic field, a third portion of isothermal and decreasing applied magnetic field, and a fourth portion of increasing temperature and constant applied magnetic field. Other loops may be four-sided, with, for example, two isotherms and two adiabats (constant entropy portions).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Gerald V. Brown