Patents by Inventor Neal F. Gilleran

Neal F. Gilleran 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: 6302244
    Abstract: A brake squeal attenuator for use with aircraft wheel brake assemblies. The attenuator includes a housing having a piston member and a weight disposed therein. The piston member and weight are biased by a spring disposed within the housing. The housing includes a neck portion which is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuators of the brake assembly with which the attenuator is being used. The piston thus is biased on one side thereof by the biasing member and on an opposite side thereof by the hydraulic fluid pressure acting thereon. During braking, when torsional oscillations occur in the brake assembly which would otherwise cause objectionable brake squeal to occur, the entire housing of the attenuator, which is fixed to the housing of the wheel brake assembly, moves in accordance with the torsional oscillations which occur. The weight associated with the piston member causes movement of the piston member to lag behind movement of the attenuator housing as the attenuator begins oscillating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Alan C. Kernik, Neal F. Gilleran, Wilfred E. Boehringer