Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Fuller

Kenneth A. Fuller 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).

  • Methods and apparatus for measuring axial shaft displacement within gas turbine engines
    Patent number: 10125682
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a target member, a sensor and a mounting assembly. The target member is coupled to a shaft that is disposed within an engine housing and that rotates about an axis. The target member includes a target surface that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft. The sensor is configured to produce a signal associated with a distance between a sensor tip and the target surface. The mounting assembly is coupled to the sensor and the engine housing, and is configured to adjust the distance between the sensor and the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Fuller, Christopher E. LaMaster
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AXIAL SHAFT DISPLACEMENT WITHIN GAS TURBINE ENGINES
    Publication number: 20140241852
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a target member, a sensor and a mounting assembly. The target member is coupled to a shaft that is disposed within an engine housing and that rotates about an axis. The target member includes a target surface that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft. The sensor is configured to produce a signal associated with a distance between a sensor tip and the target surface. The mounting assembly is coupled to the sensor and the engine housing, and is configured to adjust the distance between the sensor and the target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Fuller, Christopher E. LaMaster