Patents by Inventor Kevin Rehfus

Kevin Rehfus 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).

  • Publication number: 20150114150
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (EMA) is disclosed. The EMA may comprise an EMA housing, a ball nut extending axially within the EMA housing, a ball screw extending axially within the ball nut, and/or an actuator drive unit (ADU) housing extending axially within the ball screw, the ADU housing having a proximal stop that extends radially outward of the ADU housing. The ball nut may be configured to translate axially in a proximal direction in response to a rotation by the ball screw, and the ball nut may be configured to be halted in the axially proximal translation in response to contact with the proximal stop. The proximal stop may be coupled to the ADU housing. The proximal stop may comprise a continuous annular structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David B. Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20150115778
    Abstract: An integrated actuator drive unit (ADU) assembly for an electric motor actuator is disclosed. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise at least one of an integrally formed ring gear, an integrally formed thrust bearing and integrally formed load cell. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise a portion of an electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator may be utilized for aircraft braking systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID DRENNEN, HARALD KLODE, KEVIN REHFUS
  • Publication number: 20150115779
    Abstract: A instrumented housing for an electric motor actuator is provided. The instrumented housing may have a ribbon gage coupled to a housing of an electrical motor actuator. The ribbon gage may have one or more strain gages. The strain gages may measure the tension on the housing when the electric motor actuator exerts a load. A cover may extend over at least a portion of the housing and ribbon gage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, Joseph E. Beason, David Drennen, Harald Klode, Thomas Freshour, Jantzen Hinton
  • Patent number: 9004233
    Abstract: A ring-shaped thrust bearing extending in an axial direction having an inner surface includes a first axial groove in the inner surface having a first flat wall and a second flat wall; and a first principal strain sensor positioned on the first flat wall of the first axial groove to measure compression in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Douglas Lee Simpson, Thomas Freshour
  • Patent number: 8931599
    Abstract: An electric braking apparatus is provided and includes an electromechanical actuator (EMA) configured to apply an axial load on a brake stack and a damping end-stop. The damping end-stop is configured to transmit torque into the EMA and includes an end cap, a screw disposed such that a longitudinal axis about which the screw is rotatable extends through the end cap, a nut threadably engaged with the screw and movable with the end cap relative to the screw with screw rotation and a spring element anchored on the end cap to resist the screw rotation beyond a predefined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Robert French, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20150007679
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (“EMA”) may comprise a ball screw having at least one tab extending from an inner surface thereof and/or an actuator drive unit (“ADU”) housing that interfaces with the at least one tab. The bail screw may include three tabs extending from the inner surface thereof. An outer surface of the ball screw may be threaded to mate with a threaded portion of an inner surface of the ADU housing, and/or the ADU housing may interface with the at least one tab, and the ball screw may be rotated to translate a ball nut situated concentrically over ball screw axially. The ADU housing may include a gear train assembly having a carrier plate, wherein the carrier plate includes at least one receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20150008091
    Abstract: A park brake system for an electric motor actuator is provided. The system may comprise a wrap spring that may rotatably engage the shaft. In this regard, the system may be configured to exert a radial force on a shaft of the electric motor actuator to lock the actuator. Moreover, in various embodiments, the system may be bi-stable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20150007675
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (“EMA”) comprising an actuator drive unit (“ADU”) housing and a ball screw is disclosed. The ball screw and ADU housing may interface to form a multi-row thrust bearing (MRTB). Further, the ball screw may be situated at least partially about the ADU housing, an outer surface of the ADU housing may include a first ADU raceway, and an inner surface of the ball screw may include a second inner ball screw raceway. Either or both raceways may comprise hemispherical structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20150001034
    Abstract: A park brake system for an electric motor actuator is provided. The system may comprise a micro-motor, and one or more gears. The system may be configured to exert a radial force on a shaft of the electric motor actuator to lock the actuator. Moreover, in various embodiments, the system may be bi-stable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: David Drennen, Robert French, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20140375179
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator housing assembly comprising a reinforcement ring is disclosed herein. The design of the electromechanical actuator housing assembly may be directed to improving load measurement accuracy. The design of the electromechanical actuator housing assembly may be directed to reducing housing deflections. A method of manufacture of an EMA housing assembly is also disclosed herein. This method may include an electromechanical actuator housing assembly having a reinforcement ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: JANTZEN HINTON, KEVIN REHFUS, DAVID DRENNEN
  • Publication number: 20140290409
    Abstract: A ballscrew assembly may include a ballnut configured to combat the negative effects of thermal expansion of dissimilar materials used within the ballscrew assembly. Moreover, the ballscrew assembly described herein may have a decreased coefficient of friction as compared with a steel on steel housing and ballnut configuration. A ballscrew assembly may comprise a ballnut made from a first material, a ballnut housing made from a second material, and a sleeve made from a third material. The sleeve may be positioned between the exterior of the ballnut and an interior of the ballnut housing to reduce friction between the exterior surface of the ballnut and an interior surface of the ballnut housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David Drennen, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20140158474
    Abstract: A ring-shaped thrust bearing extending in an axial direction having an inner surface includes a first axial groove in the inner surface having a first flat wall and a second flat wall; and a first principal strain sensor positioned on the first flat wall of the first axial groove to measure compression in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Douglas Lee Simpson, Thomas Freshour
  • Publication number: 20140116820
    Abstract: An electric braking apparatus is provided and includes an electromechanical actuator (EMA) configured to apply an axial load on a brake stack and a damping end-stop. The damping end-stop is configured to transmit torque into the EMA and includes an end cap, a screw disposed such that a longitudinal axis about which the screw is rotatable extends through the end cap, a nut threadably engaged with the screw and movable with the end cap relative to the screw with screw rotation and a spring element anchored on the end cap to resist the screw rotation beyond a predefined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: David Drennen, Harald Klode, Robert French, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20130068053
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for use in a ballscrew assembly. In this regard, a ballscrew assembly is provided comprising a ballscrew having a ballscrew stop, a ballnut having a ballnut stop, wherein contact between the ballnut stop and the ballscrew stop impede rotation of the ballscrew relative to the ballnut. The ballnut stop may comprise an axial mating surface and the ballscrew stop may comprise an axial mating surface. Additionally, the ballnut may comprise threads axially spaced a first distance apart and the ballnut stop comprises a surface having length equal to the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric D. Cahill, David Bernard Drennen, Harald Klode, Kevin Rehfus
  • Patent number: 7093505
    Abstract: A speed sensor (B, C) produces a signal that reflects the angular velocity of a shaft (4) which rotates in a case (2) having a mounting surface (10), beyond which the shaft projects to provide a target (6), and threaded holes (12) which open out of the mounting surface. The speed sensor includes a housing (20) and a sensing element (22) which is embedded in the housing. The housing, which is formed from a deformable material, has slots (44, 60) which align with the threaded holes in the case, and receive screws (24, 66) which thread into the holes to secure the speed sensor to the case. The speed sensor is positioned such that the proper air gap exists between its sensing element and the target. The screws, which extend through the slots, produce indentations (56, 74) in the deformable material of the housing, and these indentations receive the screws, so that the position of the sensor is fixed. Thus, the sensor, if removed, may be reinstalled in the same location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Wayne V. Denny, Richard Smith, Kevin Rehfus
  • Publication number: 20060048573
    Abstract: A speed sensor (B, C) produces a signal that reflects the angular velocity of a shaft (4) which rotates in a case (2) having a mounting surface (10), beyond which the shaft projects to provide a target (6), and threaded holes (12) which open out of the mounting surface. The speed sensor includes a housing (20) and a sensing element (22) which is embedded in the housing. The housing, which is formed from a deformable material, has slots (44, 60) which align with the threaded holes in the case, and receive screws (24, 66) which thread into the holes to secure the speed sensor to the case. The speed sensor is positioned such that the proper air gap exists between its sensing element and the target. The screws, which extend through the slots, produce indentations (56, 74) in the deformable material of the housing, and these indentations receive the screws, so that the position of the sensor is fixed. Thus, the sensor, if removed, may be reinstalled in the same location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Wayne Denny, Richard Smith, Kevin Rehfus