Patents by Inventor Kristin E. Grimlund

Kristin E. Grimlund 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: 7051509
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing foreign object debris ingestion into aircraft engines. The apparatus includes a door disposed at a forward end portion of a housing portion of the engine. The door is movable with respect to the engine between a first position in which a first engine inlet is open and a second engine inlet is substantially blocked by the door, and a second position in which the second engine inlet is open and the first engine inlet is substantially blocked by the door. Accordingly, moving the door to its first position during taxiing, takeoff, and landing substantially reduces the risk of foreign object debris ingestion into the second engine inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kristin E. Grimlund
  • Patent number: 6910327
    Abstract: Apparatus for varying inlet lip geometry of a inlet formed at forward end portion of a jet engine housing. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a variable camber skin portion hingedly coupled to the forward end portion of the housing. The apparatus also includes a linkage assembly coupled to the forward end portion and the skin portion. The linkage assembly operates to rotate the skin portion relative to the forward end portion and to alter a curvature of the skin portion to thereby configure the skin portion into a corresponding one of a plurality of configurations. The plurality of configurations include at least a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the skin portion forms a rounded inlet lip portion extending forwardly of the inlet. In the second configuration, the linkage assembly and the skin portion are retracted within a recessed area in the housing to form an aerodynamically smooth outer surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Seiya Sakurai, Stephen J. Fox, Kristin E. Grimlund
  • Publication number: 20040144097
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing foreign object debris ingestion into aircraft engines. The apparatus includes a door disposed at a forward end portion of a housing portion of the engine. The door is movable with respect to the engine between a first position in which a first engine inlet is open and a second engine inlet is substantially blocked by the door, and a second position in which the second engine inlet is open and the first engine inlet is substantially blocked by the door. Accordingly, moving the door to its first position during taxiing, takeoff, and landing substantially reduces the risk of foreign object debris ingestion into the second engine inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Kristin E. Grimlund