Patents by Inventor Matthew GADD
Matthew GADD 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).
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Publication number: 20240101268Abstract: A method of controlling an inerting system of an aircraft is disclosed. The inerting system feeds inert gas into a fuel tank of the aircraft, the method includes: a) obtaining a location of the aircraft, the location comprising a current location or an expected future location; b) assessing an environmental impact of releasing of fuel vapour at the location obtained in step a); and c) controlling the inerting system based on the assessment of step b).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Matthew GADD, Adam FALLON
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Publication number: 20240092499Abstract: A method of recovering fuel vapour from a fuel tank of an aircraft, is disclosed. The aircraft includes a fuel tank; a wing with an upper surface and a lower surface; and an opening in the lower surface of the wing. The method includes coupling an inlet of a vapour recovery system to the opening; capturing fuel vapour from the fuel tank which flows out of the opening with the inlet of the vapour recovery system; and collecting the captured fuel vapour in a vapour storage tank of the vapour recovery system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Matthew GADD, Adam FALLON
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Patent number: 11927496Abstract: An optical sensing system comprising an optical fiber, a light source, a first interrogator and a second interrogator. The optical fiber includes one or more optical sensors. The light source is placed at a first end of the optical fiber and is configured to direct light towards the one or more optical sensors. The first interrogator is placed at the first end of the optical fiber. The second interrogator placed at a second, opposite end of the optical fiber. The first interrogator is configured to receive reflected light from the one or more optical sensors, and the second interrogator is configured to receive transmitted light from the one or more optical sensors.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Airbus Operations LimitedInventor: Matthew Gadd
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Patent number: 11886181Abstract: A component life prediction system configured to predict the remaining life of a consumable component installed on an aircraft. The system includes a processor configured to: receive wear information indicative of a current wear state of the component; receive schedule information indicative of a future flight schedule for the aircraft; and determine the remaining life of the component based on the received wear information and the received schedule information.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Jonathan Cooper, Matthew Gadd
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Publication number: 20230348092Abstract: A fuel system for an aircraft is disclosed including a fuel tank; a valve; and a valve actuator with a control input. The valve actuator is configured to open and close the valve in response to command signals on the control input, and the opening of the valve ventilates the fuel tank. A control system is coupled to the control input and is configured to generate command signals and apply the command signals to the control input. A further aspect of the invention provides a method of ventilating a fuel system of an aircraft, the method comprising: assessing a suitability of a location of the aircraft or an environmental condition local to the aircraft for release of fuel vapour; and opening the valve on a basis of the assessment. The opening of the valve causes fuel vapour to be released from the fuel tank via the valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Matthew GADD, Adam FALLON
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Patent number: 11572045Abstract: A method for controlling the application of aircraft wheel brakes including: controlling the application of a first wheel brake of an aircraft and a second wheel brake of the aircraft in dependence upon a determined relationship to control the time taken for the first wheel brake and the second wheel brake to reach respective specified temperatures. The relationship is determined between a first cooling characteristic of the first wheel brake, according to which the first wheel brake cools when in a first retracted position within the aircraft, and a second cooling characteristic of the second wheel brake, according to which the second wheel brake cools when in a second retracted position within the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Airbus Operations LimitedInventors: Matthew Gadd, David Reid
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Publication number: 20220412827Abstract: An optical sensing system comprising an optical fiber, a light source, a first interrogator and a second interrogator. The optical fiber includes one or more optical sensors. The light source is placed at a first end of the optical fiber and is configured to direct light towards the one or more optical sensors. The first interrogator is placed at the first end of the optical fiber. The second interrogator placed at a second, opposite end of the optical fiber. The first interrogator is configured to receive reflected light from the one or more optical sensors, and the second interrogator is configured to receive transmitted light from the one or more optical sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventor: Matthew GADD
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Patent number: 11492136Abstract: An uplock is disclosed including a hook configured to engage a capture pin mounted on an aircraft component. The hook is mounted for movement between a closed position and an open position. The uplock further includes an indicator system configured to detect whether a pin is engaged with the hook when the hook is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Trevor Brighton, Matthew Gadd, Robert Thompson
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Publication number: 20220350325Abstract: A component life prediction system configured to predict the remaining life of a consumable component installed on an aircraft. The system includes a processor configured to: receive wear information indicative of a current wear state of the component; receive schedule information indicative of a future flight schedule for the aircraft; and determine the remaining life of the component based on the received wear information and the received schedule information.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Jonathan COOPER, Matthew GADD
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Patent number: 11136114Abstract: A control system has first and second processing modules for controlling retraction and extension of an aircraft landing gear assembly. The processing modules operate independently providing redundancy. Each processing module is configured to perform a first sequence of steps for retracting the landing gear assembly and a second sequence of steps for extending the landing gear assembly. A step of switching control from one processing module to the other (e.g. an avionics side changeover step) is performed (a) as part of the first sequence of steps, but only after the landing gear assembly has been retracted, or (b) as part of the second sequence of steps. By ensuring that the step of switching control is performed at such times, and not for example between initiation of the first sequence of steps and the retraction of the landing gear assembly, the landing gear assembly may be retracted sooner after such initiation.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Airbus Operations LimitedInventors: Martin Griffith Rowlands, Maxwell William Jones, Graham King, Trevor Anthony Brighton, Matthew Gadd
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Publication number: 20200377224Abstract: An uplock is disclosed including a hook configured to engage a capture pin mounted on an aircraft component. The hook is mounted for movement between a closed position and an open position. The uplock further includes an indicator system configured to detect whether a pin is engaged with the hook when the hook is in the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2018Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Trevor BRIGHTON, Matthew GADD, Robert THOMPSON
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Publication number: 20200079332Abstract: A method for controlling the application of aircraft wheel brakes including: controlling the application of a first wheel brake of an aircraft and a second wheel brake of the aircraft in dependence upon a determined relationship to control the time taken for the first wheel brake and the second wheel brake to reach respective specified temperatures. The relationship is determined between a first cooling characteristic of the first wheel brake, according to which the first wheel brake cools when in a first retracted position within the aircraft, and a second cooling characteristic of the second wheel brake, according to which the second wheel brake cools when in a second retracted position within the aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Matthew GADD, David REID
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Publication number: 20200055592Abstract: A control system has first and second processing modules for controlling retraction and extension of an aircraft landing gear assembly. The processing modules operate independently providing redundancy. Each processing module is configured to perform a first sequence of steps for retracting the landing gear assembly and a second sequence of steps for extending the landing gear assembly. A step of switching control from one processing module to the other (e.g. an avionics side changeover step) is performed (a) as part of the first sequence of steps, but only after the landing gear assembly has been retracted, or (b) as part of the second sequence of steps. By ensuring that the step of switching control is performed at such times, and not for example between initiation of the first sequence of steps and the retraction of the landing gear assembly, the landing gear assembly may be retracted sooner after such initiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Martin Griffith ROWLANDS, Maxwell William JONES, Graham KING, Trevor Anthony BRIGHTON, Matthew GADD
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Publication number: 20190263507Abstract: A system for moving an aircraft door from an open position towards a closed position. The system includes an aircraft door actuator, an input receiving primary power from a primary power supply to power movement of the aircraft door from the open position towards the closed position, a secondary power supply to power the aircraft door actuator to move the aircraft door from the open position towards the closed position, and a controller configured to cause the secondary power supply to power the aircraft door actuator to cause the aircraft door actuator to move the aircraft door from the open position towards the closed position, on the basis of a determination that insufficient primary power is available from the primary power supply via the input to move the aircraft door from the open position towards the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Mark HUDSON, Matthew GADD, Trevor BRIGHTON, Graham KING, Oliver MCCAMBRIDGE, Yann NICOLAS