Patents by Inventor Michael L. Hahn

Michael L. Hahn 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: 12203419
    Abstract: A system and method of in situ verification of operational status of control components in a redundant flow control system is provided. The flow control system includes a primary electro-hydraulic servo valve (EHSV) and a secondary EHSV. Only the primary EHSV includes a position sensor. The redundant EHSVs are coupled via a transfer valve to control a position of a metering valve supplying fluid flow to at least one downstream system. The downstream system may be, e.g., a combustor, an actuator, an end effector, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Hahn
  • Publication number: 20240175399
    Abstract: A system and method of in situ verification of operational status of control components in a redundant flow control system is provided. The flow control system includes a primary electro-hydraulic servo valve (EHSV) and a secondary EHSV. Only the primary EHSV includes a position sensor. The redundant EHSVs are coupled via a transfer valve to control a position of a metering valve supplying fluid flow to at least one downstream system. The downstream system may be, e.g., a combustor, an actuator, an end effector, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Hahn
  • Patent number: 11994076
    Abstract: Embodiments of a fuel system are disclosed. The fuel system includes a bypass valve (BPV), a fuel metering valve (FMV), a flow sense valve (FSV), and an actuator regulating valve (ARV). The BPV includes a BPV valve member that regulates fuel flow from a BPV inlet to a BPV outlet. The position of the BPV valve member is controlled by pressures at an inlet and an outlet of the FMV. The FSV includes an FSV valve member that regulates fuel flow from an FSV inlet to an FSV outlet. The ARV includes an ARV inlet that is in fluid communication with the FSV outlet, and fuel flow through an ARV outlet regulates downstream actuators. The position of the FSV valve member to produce fuel flow through the FSV outlet to the ARV inlet is controlled at least in part by a pressure at the BPV outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Hahn
  • Patent number: 11808287
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a system designed to compensate for flow disturbances when changing a flow rate in the system. The system includes a flow source device having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to receive fluid at a first pressure, and the outlet is configured to output the fluid at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure. The system also includes a fluid control device having an inlet port and a drain port. The inlet port of the fluid control device is configured to receive flow from the outlet of the flow source device. Further, the system includes a constant flow regulator configured to provide a leakage flow to a drain output. The constant flow regulator is configured to decrease the leakage flow in response to the drain port of the fluid control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Hahn, Brett Flannery
  • Publication number: 20230151829
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes controlling, by a first fluid valve, a first fluid flow to a first fluid actuator, actuating, by the first fluid actuator, an output, controlling, by a second fluid valve, a second fluid flow to a second fluid actuator, and actuating, by the second fluid actuator, the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: Michael L. Hahn
  • Patent number: 11643970
    Abstract: A passive flow splitting system for use in a turbine engine control system to provide split fuel flow to two fuel manifolds to supply primary and secondary fuel injectors for the particular combustion zones thereof utilizing intentionally different split ratios dependent on ascending or descending combustion fuel flow is provided. The system includes a passive fuel divider valve (FDV) that includes a primary piston and a secondary piston. The primary piston is moveable independently from the secondary piston during a portion of its stroke, and is hydro-locked to the secondary piston during another portion of its stroke. An ecology valve is also provided to purge the fuel from the primary and/or secondary manifolds during different modes of operation. A transfer valve is included to control the position of ecology piston of the ecology valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Carthel C. Baker, Brett Flannery, Robert Mazza, Austin Wade Mueller, Michael L. Hahn, Grzegorz Pelc
  • Publication number: 20230107881
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a system designed to compensate for flow disturbances when changing a flow rate in the system. The system includes a flow source device having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to receive fluid at a first pressure, and the outlet is configured to output the fluid at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure. The system also includes a fluid control device having an inlet port and a drain port. The inlet port of the fluid control device is configured to receive flow from the outlet of the flow source device. Further, the system includes a constant flow regulator configured to provide a leakage flow to a drain output. The constant flow regulator is configured to decrease the leakage flow in response to the drain port of the fluid control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Hahn, Brett Flannery
  • Publication number: 20220316411
    Abstract: Embodiments of a fuel system are disclosed. The fuel system includes a bypass valve (BPV), a fuel metering valve (FMV), a flow sense valve (FSV), and an actuator regulating valve (ARV). The BPV includes a BPV valve member that regulates fuel flow from a BPV inlet to a BPV outlet. The position of the BPV valve member is controlled by pressures at an inlet and an outlet of the FMV. The FSV includes an FSV valve member that regulates fuel flow from an FSV inlet to an FSV outlet. The ARV includes an ARV inlet that is in fluid communication with the FSV outlet, and fuel flow through an ARV outlet regulates downstream actuators. The position of the FSV valve member to produce fuel flow through the FSV outlet to the ARV inlet is controlled at least in part by a pressure at the BPV outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Hahn
  • Patent number: 11346281
    Abstract: A passive flow splitting system for use in a turbine engine control system to provide split fuel flow to two fuel manifolds to supply primary and secondary fuel injectors for the particular combustion zones thereof utilizing intentionally different split ratios dependent on ascending or descending combustion fuel flow is provided. The system includes a passive fuel divider valve (FDV) that includes a primary piston and a secondary piston. The primary piston is moveable independently from the secondary piston during a portion of its stroke, and is hydro-locked to the secondary piston during another portion of its stroke. An ecology valve is also provided to purge the fuel from the primary and/or secondary manifolds during different modes of operation. A transfer valve is included to control the position of ecology piston of the ecology valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Carthel C. Baker, Brett Flannery, Robert Mazza, Austin Wade Mueller, Michael L. Hahn, Grzegorz Pelc
  • Patent number: 11307069
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a fluid flow measurement apparatus includes an inlet configured to flow a dynamic fluid flow, an outlet configured to flow the dynamic fluid flow, a first fluid conduit fluidically connected between the inlet and the outlet, configured with a first predetermined geometry, and configured to flow a first portion of the dynamic fluid flow, a second fluid conduit fluidically connected between the inlet and the outlet, configured with a second predetermined geometry, and configured to flow a second portion of the dynamic fluid flow, and a first flow meter configured to measure the second portion of the dynamic fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Loren Loos, Gregory Warren Pulley, Austin Wade Mueller, Michael L. Hahn
  • Publication number: 20220099029
    Abstract: A passive flow splitting system for use in a turbine engine control system to provide split fuel flow to two fuel manifolds to supply primary and secondary fuel injectors for the particular combustion zones thereof utilizing intentionally different split ratios dependent on ascending or descending combustion fuel flow is provided. The system includes a passive fuel divider valve (FDV) that includes a primary piston and a secondary piston. The primary piston is moveable independently from the secondary piston during a portion of its stroke, and is hydro-locked to the secondary piston during another portion of its stroke. An ecology valve is also provided to purge the fuel from the primary and/or secondary manifolds during different modes of operation. A transfer valve is included to control the position of ecology piston of the ecology valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Carthel C. Baker, Brett Flannery, Robert Mazza, Austin Wade Mueller, Michael L. Hahn, Grzegorz Pelc
  • Publication number: 20220056848
    Abstract: A passive flow splitting system for use in a turbine engine control system to provide split fuel flow to two fuel manifolds to supply primary and secondary fuel injectors for the particular combustion zones thereof utilizing intentionally different split ratios dependent on ascending or descending combustion fuel flow is provided. The system includes a passive fuel divider valve (FDV) that includes a primary piston and a secondary piston. The primary piston is moveable independently from the secondary piston during a portion of its stroke, and is hydro-locked to the secondary piston during another portion of its stroke. An ecology valve is also provided to purge the fuel from the primary and/or secondary manifolds during different modes of operation. A transfer valve is included to control the position of ecology piston of the ecology valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Carthel C. Baker, Brett Flannery, Robert Mazza, Austin Wade Mueller, Michael L. Hahn, Grzegorz Pelc
  • Publication number: 20220034695
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method of sensing that includes activating a first emitter to emit at least one incident wave, transmitting the incident wave along a buffer rod having a first axial end abutted to the first emitter and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, reflecting a first echo of the incident wave by a gap defined along a portion of the buffer rod, detecting the first echo, determining a first amplitude of the first echo, reflecting a second echo of the incident wave by the second axial end, detecting the second echo, determining a second amplitude of the second echo, and determining a reflection coefficient based on the first amplitude and the second amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jordan Loren Loos, Gregory Warren Pulley, Michael L. Hahn
  • Patent number: 11181406
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method of sensing that includes activating a first emitter to emit at least one incident wave, transmitting the incident wave along a buffer rod having a first axial end abutted to the first emitter and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, reflecting a first echo of the incident wave by a gap defined along a portion of the buffer rod, detecting the first echo, determining a first amplitude of the first echo, reflecting a second echo of the incident wave by the second axial end, detecting the second echo, determining a second amplitude of the second echo, and determining a reflection coefficient based on the first amplitude and the second amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Loren Loos, Gregory Warren Pulley, Michael L. Hahn
  • Publication number: 20210278262
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a fluid flow measurement apparatus includes an inlet configured to flow a dynamic fluid flow, an outlet configured to flow the dynamic fluid flow, a first fluid conduit fluidically connected between the inlet and the outlet, configured with a first predetermined geometry, and configured to flow a first portion of the dynamic fluid flow, a second fluid conduit fluidically connected between the inlet and the outlet, configured with a second predetermined geometry, and configured to flow a second portion of the dynamic fluid flow, and a first flow meter configured to measure the second portion of the dynamic fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Loren Loos, Gregory Warren Pulley, Austin Wade Mueller, Michael L. Hahn
  • Publication number: 20210164816
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method of sensing that includes activating a first emitter to emit at least one incident wave, transmitting the incident wave along a buffer rod having a first axial end abutted to the first emitter and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, reflecting a first echo of the incident wave by a gap defined along a portion of the buffer rod, detecting the first echo, determining a first amplitude of the first echo, reflecting a second echo of the incident wave by the second axial end, detecting the second echo, determining a o second amplitude of the second echo, and determining a reflection coefficient based on the first amplitude and the second amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Loren Loos, Gregory Warren Pulley, Michael L. Hahn