Patents by Inventor Keith Towers Brown

Keith Towers 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).

  • Patent number: 8181905
    Abstract: A nacelle for a turbofan aircraft engine having a fan case with a fan case forward edge includes an inlet inner barrel having an inner barrel forward edge and an inner barrel aft edge. The inner barrel aft edge is configured to be affixed to the fan case forward edge in a stationary position on the engine. The nacelle also includes a translating inlet cowl having an inlet lip with an aft inlet lip edge and an outer skin with rear edge. The translating inlet cowl is configured to be movably attached to one or more stationary portions of the engine such that the inlet cowl is selectively movable between a stowed flight position and an extended service position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Patrick McDonough, Keith Towers Brown, Scott Gilzean
  • Patent number: 7923668
    Abstract: An engine nacelle inlet lip includes both acoustic treatment and electric heating for ice protection. The inlet lip has a composite outer skin and a composite inner skin, with the composite outer skin having at least one integrated heater element embedded in the composite material. An acoustic cellular core positioned between the outer and inner skin acts to attenuate fan noise from the engine. Covering the outer skin and overlying the acoustic core is a perforated erosion shield having a first set of openings that pass entirely thorough its thickness. The composite outer skin includes a second set of openings such that sound waves can pass from an inner barrel portion of the inlet lip through the erosion shield, outer skin, and heater element to the underlying acoustic cellular core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Layland, Keith Towers Brown, Claude Marc Hubert, Daniel P. Christy
  • Publication number: 20100148012
    Abstract: A nacelle for a turbofan aircraft engine having a fan case with a fan case forward edge includes an inlet inner barrel having an inner barrel forward edge and an inner barrel aft edge. The inner barrel aft edge is configured to be affixed to the fan case forward edge in a stationary position on the engine. The nacelle also includes a translating inlet cowl having an inlet lip with an aft inlet lip edge and an outer skin with rear edge. The translating inlet cowl is configured to be movably attached to one or more stationary portions of the engine such that the inlet cowl is selectively movable between a stowed flight position and an extended service position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Patrick McDonough, Keith Towers Brown, Scott Gilzean
  • Patent number: 7513458
    Abstract: An aircraft engine nacelle inlet is provided with an inlet cowling. The inlet cowling includes an inner lip, an outer lip, and a leading edge portion connecting the inner and outer lips. Heating elements are provided proximate the leading edge, either on an inside surface of the cowling or on an outside surface. An inner barrel portion and an outer barrel portion of the nacelle inlet define a space therebetween. Ice protection-related equipment such as controllers, cables, switches, connectors, and the like, may reside in this space. One or more access openings are formed in the outer barrel to enable an operator to gain access to this equipment. The inlet cowling attaches to the inner and outer barrels with its outer lip extending sufficiently far in the aft direction to cover the access opening. When the cowling is removed, the access opening is uncovered, thereby permitting access to the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Layland, Keith Towers Brown
  • Patent number: 7469862
    Abstract: An aircraft engine nacelle inlet is provided with an inlet cowling. The inlet cowling includes an inner lip, an outer lip, and a leading edge portion connecting the inner and outer lips. Heating elements are provided proximate the leading edge, either on an inside surface of the cowling or on an outside surface. An inner barrel portion and an outer barrel portion of the nacelle inlet define a space therebetween. Ice protection-related equipment such as controllers, cables, switches, connectors, and the like, may reside in this space. One or more access openings are formed in the outer barrel to enable an operator to gain access to this equipment. The inlet cowling attaches to the inner and outer barrels with its outer lip extending sufficiently far in the aft direction to cover the access opening. When the cowling is removed, the access opening is uncovered, thereby permitting access to the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Michael John Layland, Keith Towers Brown