Patents by Inventor Peter A. Padilla

Peter A. Padilla 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: 9764853
    Abstract: A motionless skew detection system for an aircraft is disclosed, and includes a flight control surface of an aircraft wing, two drive mechanisms for operating the flight control surface, a first load sensor and a second load sensor for each of the two drive mechanisms, and a control module. Each of the two drive mechanisms are located on opposing sides of the flight control surface and each of the two drive mechanisms include at least a first linkage including a first outer surface and a second linkage including a second outer surface. The first load sensor is disposed along the first outer surface of the first linkage and the second load sensor is disposed along the second outer surface of the second linkage. The control module is in signal communication with the first load sensor and the second load sensor of each drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Peter A. Padilla
  • Publication number: 20160288921
    Abstract: A motionless skew detection system for an aircraft is disclosed, and includes a flight control surface of an aircraft wing, two drive mechanisms for operating the flight control surface, a first load sensor and a second load sensor for each of the two drive mechanisms, and a control module. Each of the two drive mechanisms are located on opposing sides of the flight control surface and each of the two drive mechanisms include at least a first linkage including a first outer surface and a second linkage including a second outer surface. The first load sensor is disposed along the first outer surface of the first linkage and the second load sensor is disposed along the second outer surface of the second linkage. The control module is in signal communication with the first load sensor and the second load sensor of each drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventor: Peter A. Padilla
  • Patent number: 9193479
    Abstract: Monitoring of high-lift systems for aircraft. In one configuration, a method for monitoring a high-lift system includes monitoring a first current draw of a first drive station of the high-lift system, and monitoring a second current draw of a second drive station of the high-lift system. The method further includes comparing the first current draw and the second current draw to determine if a differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds a threshold, and generating a failure signal if the differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: George Moy, Peter A. Padilla
  • Publication number: 20150197347
    Abstract: Monitoring of high-lift systems for aircraft. In one configuration, a method for monitoring a high-lift system includes monitoring a first current draw of a first drive station of the high-lift system, and monitoring a second current draw of a second drive station of the high-lift system. The method further includes comparing the first current draw and the second current draw to determine if a differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds a threshold, and generating a failure signal if the differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: George Moy, Peter A. Padilla
  • Patent number: 9073643
    Abstract: Monitoring of high-lift systems for aircraft. In one configuration, a method for monitoring a high-lift system includes monitoring a first current draw of a first drive station of the high-lift system, and monitoring a second current draw of a second drive station of the high-lift system. The method further includes comparing the first current draw and the second current draw to determine if a differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds a threshold, and generating a failure signal if the differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: George Moy, Peter A. Padilla