Patents by Inventor Kent W. Knechtel

Kent W. Knechtel 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: 7513119
    Abstract: Methods and systems for starting aircraft turbofan engines are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes an electrically-powered starter motor coupled to a turbofan engine to provide power to the turbofan engine during an engine start procedure. The system can further include an on-board, deployable, ram air driven turbine coupled to an electrical generator, which is in turn coupled to the starter motor to provide electrical power to the starter motor. In other embodiments, the ram air driven turbine can be replaced with a fuel cell or a battery. In still further embodiments, a single controller can control operation of both the engine starter and other motors of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward Zielinski, Alan T. Bernier, Kent W. Knechtel, Thomas A. Campbell, Jeffrey J. White, Mark D. Ralston