Patents by Inventor Michael E. Larson, JR.

Michael E. Larson, JR. 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: 10787274
    Abstract: A ram air turbine system includes a ram air turbine and an actuator to move the ram air turbine between a stowed position and a deployed position. The actuator is in fluid communication with an aircraft hydraulic system configured to return the ram air turbine to the stowed position from the deployed position during operation of the aircraft utilizing hydraulic fluid pressure from the aircraft hydraulic system. A method of operating a ram air turbine system includes slowing or stopping rotation of the ram air turbine during flight of the aircraft, directing hydraulic fluid pressure from an aircraft hydraulic system to a ram air turbine actuator to urge movement of the actuator from a deployed position to a stowed position and urging movement of the ram air turbine from a deployed position to a stowed position via movement of the actuator from the deployed position to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. Larson, Jr., Gary Sasscer, Scott J. Marks
  • Patent number: 10703502
    Abstract: A ram air turbine (RAT) system is provided. The RAT system includes a main generator, a RAT power generation unit, first circuitry, a storage device and second circuitry. The main generator and the RAT power generation unit are connectable to an aircraft bus by the first circuitry. The first circuitry includes a first switch which is controllable such that power is selectively provided to the aircraft bus from one of the main generator and the RAT power generation unit. The storage device is connectable to the aircraft bus by the second circuitry. The second circuitry includes a second switch which is controllable such that power is selectively provided to the aircraft bus from the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. Larson, Jr., Timothy Scott Konicek
  • Patent number: 10683105
    Abstract: A ram air turbine has a turbine having blades to be extended into an airflow adjacent to an aircraft. The turbine is operable to drive a power generation rotor. A module receives sensed information from a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors are associated with locations on the ram air turbine, sense conditions at the locations, and send information with regard to the sensed conditions to the module. The module is operable to compare sensed conditions to limits and identify a potential condition of concern based upon the comparison. A method of testing a ram air turbine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Scott J. Marks, Michael E. Larson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190291888
    Abstract: A ram air turbine (RAT) system is provided. The RAT system includes a main generator, a RAT power generation unit, first circuitry, a storage device and second circuitry. The main generator and the RAT power generation unit are connectable to an aircraft bus by the first circuitry. The first circuitry includes a first switch which is controllable such that power is selectively provided to the aircraft bus from one of the main generator and the RAT power generation unit. The storage device is connectable to the aircraft bus by the second circuitry. The second circuitry includes a second switch which is controllable such that power is selectively provided to the aircraft bus from the storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Michael E. Larson, JR., Timothy Scott Konicek
  • Patent number: 10214297
    Abstract: A pump system includes an actuator which can be retracted by a fluid in the pump system. Also included is a pump with a first drive coupling and a rotational power device with a second drive coupling. The second drive coupling is configured to removably mate with the first drive coupling for powering the pump. A spool valve that is spring loaded and in fluid connection with the pump when the spool valve is in a stow position is also included. In addition, the pump system includes both a relief valve and a reservoir both in fluid connection with the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Larson, Jr., Gary Sasscer
  • Publication number: 20180050813
    Abstract: A ram air turbine system includes a ram air turbine and an actuator to move the ram air turbine between a stowed position and a deployed position. The actuator is in fluid communication with an aircraft hydraulic system configured to return the ram air turbine to the stowed position from the deployed position during operation of the aircraft utilizing hydraulic fluid pressure from the aircraft hydraulic system. A method of operating a ram air turbine system includes slowing or stopping rotation of the ram air turbine during flight of the aircraft, directing hydraulic fluid pressure from an aircraft hydraulic system to a ram air turbine actuator to urge movement of the actuator from a deployed position to a stowed position and urging movement of the ram air turbine from a deployed position to a stowed position via movement of the actuator from the deployed position to the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. Larson, JR., Gary Sasscer, Scott J. Marks
  • Publication number: 20170210490
    Abstract: A ram air turbine has a turbine having blades to be extended into an airflow adjacent to an aircraft. The turbine is operable to drive a power generation rotor. A module receives sensed information from a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors are associated with locations on the ram air turbine, sense conditions at the locations, and send information with regard to the sensed conditions to the module. The module is operable to compare sensed conditions to limits and identify a potential condition of concern based upon the comparison. A method of testing a ram air turbine is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Scott J. Marks, Michael E. Larson, JR.
  • Patent number: 9296487
    Abstract: A distributed heating system for a power train of a ram air turbine, which ram air turbine has a stowed position and a deployed position, has at least one electrical resistance heater element, with each electrical resistance heater element located proximate at least one respective lubrication surface for the power train; and an electrical controller for coupling electrical power to each electrical resistance heater element when the ram air turbine is in the stowed position and ambient temperature falls below a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sunstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. Larson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160039532
    Abstract: A pump system includes an actuator which can be retracted by a fluid in the pump system. Also included is a pump with a first drive coupling and a rotational power device with a second drive coupling. The second drive coupling is configured to removably mate with the first drive coupling for powering the pump. A spool valve that is spring loaded and in fluid connection with the pump when the spool valve is in a stow position is also included. In addition, the pump system includes both a relief valve and a reservoir both in fluid connection with the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Michael E. Larson, JR., Gary Sasscer
  • Publication number: 20140050582
    Abstract: A distributed heating system for a power train of a ram air turbine, which ram air turbine has a stowed position and a deployed position, has at least one electrical resistance heater element, with each electrical resistance heater element located proximate at least one respective lubrication surface for the power train; and an electrical controller for coupling electrical power to each electrical resistance heater element when the ram air turbine is in the stowed position and ambient temperature falls below a desired level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventor: Michael E. Larson, JR.
  • Patent number: 8641379
    Abstract: An example a ram air turbine assembly (RAT) is mounted to an airframe and provides both electric power and hydraulic pressure. A turbine drives a drive shaft about an axis transverse to rotation of the turbine. The drive shaft in turn drives both a generator and a hydraulic pump at a common speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David Everett Russ, Michael E. Larson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110236218
    Abstract: An example a ram air turbine assembly (RAT) is mounted to an airframe and provides both electric power and hydraulic pressure. A turbine drives a drive shaft about an axis transverse to rotation of the turbine. The drive shaft in turn drives both a generator and a hydraulic pump at a common speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: David Everett Russ, Michael E. Larson, JR.