Patents by Inventor Michael J. Rollins

Michael J. Rollins 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: 10252811
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft includes a turbine engine. An inlet includes an opening and a passageway between the opening and the turbine engine. An acoustic splitter is supported within the passageway for attenuating noise within the inlet. An inlet door is movable between a closed position and a fully open position. A portion of the inlet door aligns with a part of the passageway in at least a first position and divides the passageway to deflect ice and noise in at least a second position. An air inlet and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa A. Bell, Michael J. Rollins, Behzad Hagshenas, Jack V. Vitale
  • Publication number: 20160264251
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft includes a turbine engine. An inlet includes an opening and a passageway between the opening and the turbine engine. An acoustic aplitter is supported within the passageway for attenuating noise within the inlet. An inlet door is movable between a closed position and a fully open position. A portion of the inlet door aligns with a part of the passageway in at least a first position and divides the passageway to deflect ice and noise in at least a second position. An air inlet and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Melissa A. Bell, Michael J. Rollins, Behzad Hagshenas, Jack V. Vitale
  • Patent number: 8944216
    Abstract: An example lubricating transfer tube assembly includes a transfer tube having a bore extending from a fluid inlet portion to a fluid outlet portion. The transfer tube is configured to communicate a fluid through the bore between the fluid inlet portion and the fluid outlet portion within a gearbox. The transfer tube defines a spray aperture extending from the bore to an outer surface of the transfer tube. The spray aperture is configured to communicate at least some of the fluid from the bore to an area of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Rollins, Melissa A. Bell
  • Patent number: 8864067
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit is composed of a gas turbine engine, a gearbox, and a gearbox driven generator. A mount bracket is mechanically attached to the gearbox. The bracket is for connecting to an aircraft strut system. The aircraft strut system connects to the aircraft structure. The mount bracket has an upper mechanical attachment point and a lower mechanical attachment point to the gearbox. The gearbox includes an oil reservoir, and the lower attachment point is beneath the oil level within the oil reservoir such that said lower attachment point will be cooled by oil in the oil reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa A. Bell, Michael J. Rollins, Jason Peel, Greg R. Giddings
  • Patent number: 8845898
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit includes a gearbox housing portion and a filter housing portion providing an integral housing. A filter cavity is provided in the filter housing portion. A surface circumscribes the filter cavity. A scupper includes a passage extending from the surface to an opening on an exterior surface of the integral housing. A sealing region between the scupper and the filter cavity is configured to fluidly isolate the scupper and the fuel filter cavity from one another. In one example, the filter cavity receives a fuel filter cartridge. A cap is secured to the filter housing portion and encloses the filter cavity when in a secured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. DeDe, Michael J. Rollins, Melissa A. Bell, David Lau
  • Patent number: 8794107
    Abstract: A gearbox for an auxiliary power unit (APU) includes features that prevent submersion of gears in lubricant in extreme attitude orientations. The gearbox includes a plurality of gears that drive various pumps, generators and/or other aircraft systems. A shield surrounds a portion of one of the plurality of gears to prevent lubricant from submerging the gear. The shield defines at least a portion of an open chamber that is at least partially surrounded by lubricant at extreme attitude orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Rollins
  • Patent number: 8622176
    Abstract: A gearbox for use in an auxiliary power unit has a plurality of gears received within a housing. A lube pump is mounted within the housing, and delivers oil to the plurality of gears and bearings. The lube pump has an oil supply tube for supplying oil to the pump for delivery to the plurality of gears and bearings. An oil reservoir maintains a quantity of oil above a lowermost end of the inlet tube, and is shaped such that a cross-sectional area at a lower end of the inlet tube has a first cross-sectional area. Other cross-sectional areas spaced upwardly from the first cross-sectional area are greater. A ratio of the second cross-sectional area to the first cross-sectional area is less than 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa A. Bell, Michael J. Rollins
  • Publication number: 20130320134
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit is composed of a gas turbine engine, a gearbox, and a gearbox driven generator. A mount bracket is mechanically attached to the gearbox. The bracket is for connecting to an aircraft strut system. The aircraft strut system connects to the aircraft structure. The mount bracket has an upper mechanical attachment point and a lower mechanical attachment point to the gearbox. The gearbox includes an oil reservoir, and the lower attachment point is beneath the oil level within the oil reservoir such that said lower attachment point will be cooled by oil in the oil reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Melissa A. Bell, Michael J. Rollins, Jason Peel, Greg R. Giddings
  • Patent number: 8556577
    Abstract: A lube pump has a housing with a flange extending radially outwardly from a body of the housing. At least one rotor is received within the housing, and a shaft for powering the rotor extends away from the flange. A retention plate is positioned on an end of the flange closing the housing. A first set of bolts secure the flange to the retention plate. A second set of bolts secure the flange to the gearbox. The two sets of bolts extend in opposed directions. A gearbox including such a lube pump is also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa A. Bell, Michael J. Rollins
  • Patent number: 8376088
    Abstract: A twin lubrication oil tank filling system with a single oil fill port that prevents overfilling of both a primary oil tank and a secondary oil with a gravity fill system by directing oil primarily into the secondary oil tank by means of a special oil diverter, a float valve for the secondary oil tank that closes when the oil level in the secondary tank reaches a full level to cause additional oil flow to pour into the primary oil tank and a float valve for the primary oil tank that closes when the oil level in the primary tank reaches a full level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney
    Inventors: Michael J. Rollins, Mark N. Shatz, Jeffrey C. Brill
  • Patent number: 8366809
    Abstract: An example deaerator assembly includes a deaerating member disposed within a housing. The deaerating member includes an apertured stem extending from a pedestal. The apertured stem is configured to communicate air away from a mixture of air and coolant when the mixture of air and coolant is communicated about the apertured stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Rollins, Melissa A. Bell
  • Publication number: 20120260769
    Abstract: An example lubricating transfer tube assembly includes a transfer tube having a bore extending from a fluid inlet portion to a fluid outlet portion. The transfer tube is configured to communicate a fluid through the bore between the fluid inlet portion and the fluid outlet portion within a gearbox. The transfer tube defines a spray aperture extending from the bore to an outer surface of the transfer tube. The spray aperture is configured to communicate at least some of the fluid from the bore to an area of the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Michael J. Rollins, Melissa A. Bell
  • Publication number: 20120234174
    Abstract: An example deaerator assembly includes a deaerating member disposed within a housing. The deaerating member includes an apertured stem extending from a pedestal. The apertured stem is configured to communicate air away from a mixture of air and coolant when the mixture of air and coolant is communicated about the apertured stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Michael J. Rollins, Melissa A. Bell
  • Publication number: 20120017722
    Abstract: A gearbox for use in an auxiliary power unit has a plurality of gears received within a housing. A lube pump is mounted within the housing, and delivers oil to the plurality of gears and bearings. The lube pump has an oil supply tube for supplying oil to the pump for delivery to the plurality of gears and bearings. An oil reservoir maintains a quantity of oil above a lowermost end of the inlet tube, and is shaped such that a cross-sectional area at a lower end of the inlet tube has a first cross-sectional area. Other cross-sectional areas spaced upwardly from the first cross-sectional area are greater. A ratio of the second cross-sectional area to the first cross-sectional area is less than 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Melissa A. Bell, Michael J. Rollins
  • Publication number: 20120020781
    Abstract: A lube pump has a housing with a flange extending radially outwardly from a body of the housing. At least one rotor is received within the housing, and a shaft for powering the rotor extends away from the flange. A retention plate is positioned on an end of the flange closing the housing. A first set of bolts secure the flange to the retention plate. A second set of bolts secure the flange to the gearbox. The two sets of bolts extend in opposed directions. A gearbox including such a lube pump is also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Melissa A. Bell, Michael J. Rollins
  • Publication number: 20120006151
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit includes a gearbox housing portion and a filter housing portion providing an integral housing. A filter cavity is provided in the filter housing portion. A surface circumscribes the filter cavity. A scupper includes a passage extending from the surface to an opening on an exterior surface of the integral housing. A sealing region between the scupper and the filter cavity is configured to fluidly isolate the scupper and the fuel filter cavity from one another. In one example, the filter cavity receives a fuel filter cartridge. A cap is secured to the filter housing portion and encloses the filter cavity when in a secured position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Brian C. DeDe, Michael J. Rollins, Melissa A. Bell, David Lau
  • Publication number: 20110271792
    Abstract: A gearbox for an auxiliary power unit (APU) includes features that prevent submersion of gears in lubricant in extreme attitude orientations. The gearbox includes a plurality of gears that drive various pumps, generators and/or other aircraft systems. A shield surrounds a portion of one of the plurality of gears to prevent lubricant from submerging the gear. The shield defines at least a portion of an open chamber that is at least partially surrounded by lubricant at extreme attitude orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Michael J. Rollins
  • Publication number: 20100230003
    Abstract: A twin lubrication oil tank filling system with a single oil fill port that prevents overfilling of both a primary oil tank and a secondary oil with a gravity fill system by directing oil primarily into the secondary oil tank by means of a special oil diverter, a float valve for the secondary oil tank that closes when the oil level in the secondary tank reaches a full level to cause additional oil flow to pour into the primary oil tank and a float valve for the primary oil tank that closes when the oil level in the primary tank reaches a full level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Rollins, Mark N. Shatz, Jeffrey C. Brill