Patents by Inventor Michael Troy Heeren

Michael Troy Heeren 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).

  • Publication number: 20250256839
    Abstract: A pneumo-mechanical landing gear deployment system includes a dual-stage handle operatively connected to a pressurized tank, a nose landing gear pneumatically connected to the pressurized tank, and a main landing gear pneumatically connected to the pressurized tank. Actuation of the dual-stage handle to a first position opens the pressurized tank thereby deploying the nose landing gear. Actuation of the dual-stage handle to a second position causes further opening of the pressurized tank thereby deploying the main landing gear. The system may be employed as a backup landing gear deployment system in the case of a primary landing gear system failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hill, Michael R. DePinto, Matthew J. Allmond, Michael Troy Heeren, Dennis Scarberry
  • Publication number: 20250242910
    Abstract: An emergency autoland braking system for aircraft includes an electromechanical actuator configured to provide a braking force to rudder pedals for actuating a braking system without altering the existing braking system of the aircraft. An equalized braking force may be applied to both rudder pedals via a force balancing mechanism and a single linear actuator, or differential braking force may be applied via independent linear actuators. The system is compatible with both open and closed loop control for commanding a braking force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Stephen M. Eddy, Robert Glynn Wiegers, Michael Troy Heeren
  • Patent number: 12280866
    Abstract: A pneumo-mechanical landing gear deployment system includes a dual-stage handle operatively connected to a pressurized tank, a nose landing gear pneumatically connected to the pressurized tank, and a main landing gear pneumatically connected to the pressurized tank. Actuation of the dual-stage handle to a first position opens the pressurized tank thereby deploying the nose landing gear. Actuation of the dual-stage handle to a second position causes further opening of the pressurized tank thereby deploying the main landing gear. The system may be employed as a backup landing gear deployment system in the case of a primary landing gear system failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hill, Michael R. DePinto, Matthew J. Allmond, Michael Troy Heeren, Dennis Scarberry
  • Publication number: 20240002040
    Abstract: A pneumo-mechanical landing gear deployment system includes a dual-stage handle operatively connected to a pressurized tank, a nose landing gear pneumatically connected to the pressurized tank, and a main landing gear pneumatically connected to the pressurized tank. Actuation of the dual-stage handle to a first position opens the pressurized tank thereby deploying the nose landing gear. Actuation of the dual-stage handle to a second position causes further opening of the pressurized tank thereby deploying the main landing gear. The system may be employed as a backup landing gear deployment system in the case of a primary landing gear system failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hill, Michael R. DePinto, Matthew J. Allmond, Michael Troy Heeren, Dennis Scarberry
  • Patent number: 10300896
    Abstract: Disclosed is a brake system for aircraft that uses a control unit that is configured to control actuators at each wheel using one channel operating an associated brake control module, and other actuators at the same wheel using a second module operated completely independently using a second module. The use of the first and second groups of actuators are alternated periodically, e.g., for each flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrin Michael Jones, Michael Troy Heeren, Dennis Stephen Bradfield
  • Publication number: 20180099650
    Abstract: Disclosed is a brake system for aircraft that uses a control unit that is configured to control actuators at each wheel using one channel operating an associated brake control module, and other actuators at the same wheel using a second module operated completely independently using a second module. The use of the first and second groups of actuators are alternated periodically, e.g., for each flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Darrin Michael Jones, Michael Troy Heeren, Dennis Stephen Bradfield