Patents by Inventor Mark E. Lacour

Mark E. Lacour 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: 10711734
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine engine, a method for controlling a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The control system may include a nozzle scheduler for determining an exhaust nozzle position goal based on a nozzle schedule of exhaust nozzle positions related to flight conditions. The control system may further include a control module for determining a control command for the gas turbine engine. The control command may include, at least, a fuel flow command and an exhaust nozzle position command and the control command may be based on, at least, the exhaust nozzle position goal and an estimated thrust value. The control system may further include an actuator for controlling the gas turbine engine based on the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley, Mark E. Lacour, David Lei Ma
  • Publication number: 20200025130
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine engine, a method for controlling a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The control system may include a nozzle scheduler for determining an exhaust nozzle position goal based on a nozzle schedule of exhaust nozzle positions related to flight conditions. The control system may further include a control module for determining a control command for the gas turbine engine. The control command may include, at least, a fuel flow command and an exhaust nozzle position command and the control command may be based on, at least, the exhaust nozzle position goal and an estimated thrust value. The control system may further include an actuator for controlling the gas turbine engine based on the control command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley, Mark E. Lacour, David Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 10253725
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine engine, a method for controlling a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The control system may include a nozzle scheduler for determining an exhaust nozzle position goal based on a nozzle schedule of exhaust nozzle positions related to flight conditions. The control system may further include a control module for determining a control command for the gas turbine engine. The control command may include, at least, a fuel flow command and an exhaust nozzle position command and the control command may be based on, at least, the exhaust nozzle position goal and an estimated thrust value. The control system may further include an actuator for controlling the gas turbine engine based on the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley, Mark E. Lacour, David L. Ma
  • Publication number: 20160138523
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine engine, a method for controlling a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The control system may include a nozzle scheduler for determining an exhaust nozzle position goal based on a nozzle schedule of exhaust nozzle positions related to flight conditions. The control system may further include a control module for determining a control command for the gas turbine engine. The control command may include, at least, a fuel flow command and an exhaust nozzle position command and the control command may be based on, at least, the exhaust nozzle position goal and an estimated thrust value. The control system may further include an actuator for controlling the gas turbine engine based on the control command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley, Mark E. Lacour, David L. Ma
  • Patent number: 8195311
    Abstract: A control system comprises an actuator, a control law and a processor. The actuator positions a control surface and the control law controls the actuator. The processor comprises an open loop module, a corrector, a comparator, and an estimator, and generates model output to direct the control law. The open loop module generates the model output as a function of a model state and a model input. The corrector generates a corrector output as a function of the model output. The comparator generates an error by comparing the corrector output to the model input. The estimator generates the model state as a function of the error, such that the error is minimized as a function of single-input, single-output gain matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Richard P. Meisner, Mark E. Lacour
  • Patent number: 8131384
    Abstract: A control system comprises an actuator, a control law and a processor. The actuator positions a control surface and the control law controls the actuator. The processor comprises an open loop module, a corrector, a comparator, and an estimator, and generates an output vector to direct the control law. The open loop module generates the output vector as a function of a state vector and an input vector. The corrector generates a corrector vector as a function of the output vector. The comparator generates an error vector by comparing the corrector vector to the input vector. The estimator generates the state vector as a function of the error vector, such that the error vector is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Richard P. Meisner, Mark E. Lacour
  • Patent number: 8090456
    Abstract: A control system comprises a controller for positioning an actuator in a working fluid flow and a model processor for directing the controller as a function of a model feedback. The model processor comprises an output module, a comparator and an estimator. The output module generates the model feedback as a function of a constraint, a model state and a model input describing fluid parameters measured along the working fluid flow. The comparator generates an error by comparing the model feedback to the model input. The estimator generates the constraint and the model state, such that the error is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Richard P. Meisner, Mark E. Lacour
  • Publication number: 20110231021
    Abstract: A control system comprises an actuator, a control law and a processor. The actuator positions a control surface and the control law controls the actuator. The processor comprises an open loop module, a corrector, a comparator, and an estimator, and generates model output to direct the control law. The open loop module generates the model output as a function of a model state and a model input. The corrector generates a corrector output as a function of the model output. The comparator generates an error by comparing the corrector output to the model input. The estimator generates the model state as a function of the error, such that the error is minimized as a function of single-input, single-output gain matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Richard P. Meisner, Mark E. Lacour
  • Publication number: 20110230981
    Abstract: A control system comprises an actuator, a control law and a processor. The actuator positions a control surface and the control law controls the actuator. The processor comprises an open loop module, a corrector, a comparator, and an estimator, and generates an output vector to direct the control law. The open loop module generates the output vector as a function of a state vector and an input vector. The corrector generates a corrector vector as a function of the output vector. The comparator generates an error vector by comparing the corrector vector to the input vector. The estimator generates the state vector as a function of the error vector, such that the error vector is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Richard P. Meisner, Mark E. Lacour
  • Publication number: 20110077783
    Abstract: A control system comprises a controller for positioning an actuator in a working fluid flow and a model processor for directing the controller as a function of a model feedback. The model processor comprises an output module, a comparator and an estimator. The output module generates the model feedback as a function of a constraint, a model state and a model input describing fluid parameters measured along the working fluid flow. The comparator generates an error by comparing the model feedback to the model input. The estimator generates the constraint and the model state, such that the error is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Richard P. Meisner, Mark E. Lacour