Patents by Inventor Peter C. Hightower

Peter C. Hightower 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: 9114877
    Abstract: A method and system for thermal management includes an engine heat exchanger configured to transfer waste heat from an engine to a heat transfer fluid and an engine exhaust heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with the engine heat exchanger wherein the engine exhaust heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from an exhaust of the propulsive engine to the pumped heat transfer fluid. A bypass valve is coupled in parallel with the engine exhaust heat exchanger wherein the bypass valve is selectable to modulate a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the engine exhaust heat exchanger and a plurality of accessory heat exchangers that are coupled in flow communication with at least one of the engine heat exchanger and the engine exhaust heat exchanger and each of the plurality of accessory heat exchangers flow is controllable using a modulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Kent I. Weber, Athanasios Kyriazopoulos, Peter C. Hightower, Lance F. Miller, Ronald J. Soave
  • Patent number: 8733110
    Abstract: A method and system for an integrated ejector valve assembly is provided. The integrated ejector valve assembly includes a first valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively lower pressure fluid from a first inlet port, a second valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively higher pressure fluid from a second inlet port, a first actuation chamber configured to close the first valve assembly, a second actuation chamber configured to close the second valve assembly, and a third actuation chamber configured to open the second valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Kent Weber, Athanasios Kyriazopoulos, Peter C. Hightower, Bradley J. Burie
  • Publication number: 20120304663
    Abstract: A method and system for an integrated ejector valve assembly is provided. The integrated ejector valve assembly includes a first valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively lower pressure fluid from a first inlet port, a second valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively higher pressure fluid from a second inlet port, a first actuation chamber configured to close the first valve assembly, a second actuation chamber configured to close the second valve assembly, and a third actuation chamber configured to open the second valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Kent Weber, Athanasios Kyriazopoulos, Peter C. Hightower, Bradley J. Burie
  • Patent number: 8267122
    Abstract: A method and system for an integrated ejector valve assembly is provided. The integrated ejector valve assembly includes a first valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively lower pressure fluid from a first inlet port, a second valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively higher pressure fluid from a second inlet port, a first actuation chamber configured to close the first valve assembly, a second actuation chamber configured to close the second valve assembly, and a third actuation chamber configured to open the second valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Kent Weber, Athanasios Kyriazopoulos, Peter C. Hightower, Bradley J. Burie
  • Publication number: 20120048509
    Abstract: A method and system for thermal management includes an engine heat exchanger configured to transfer waste heat from an engine to a heat transfer fluid and an engine exhaust heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with the engine heat exchanger wherein the engine exhaust heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from an exhaust of the propulsive engine to the pumped heat transfer fluid. A bypass valve is coupled in parallel with the engine exhaust heat exchanger wherein the bypass valve is selectable to modulate a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the engine exhaust heat exchanger and a plurality of accessory heat exchangers that are coupled in flow communication with at least one of the engine heat exchanger and the engine exhaust heat exchanger and each of the plurality of accessory heat exchangers flow is controllable using a modulating valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Kent I. Weber, Athanasios Kyriazopoulos, Peter C. Hightower, Lance F. Miller, Ronald J. Soave
  • Publication number: 20100326089
    Abstract: A method and system for an integrated ejector valve assembly is provided. The integrated ejector valve assembly includes a first valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively lower pressure fluid from a first inlet port, a second valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively higher pressure fluid from a second inlet port, a first actuation chamber configured to close the first valve assembly, a second actuation chamber configured to close the second valve assembly, and a third actuation chamber configured to open the second valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Kent Weber, Athanasios Kyriazopoulos, Peter C. Hightower, Bradley J. Burie
  • Patent number: 6651952
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a ventilation damper unit utilizing a direct coupled two-position rotary damper actuator with a DC solenoid is disclosed. The actuator acts to rotate the output coupling, and in turn, the damper shaft to open the damper. After approximately 95 degrees +/−3 degrees of output coupling rotation, a limit switch is activated and a DC solenoid equipped with a full way bridge rectifier extends to a brake rotor to lock the damper into position. Simultaneously power is shut-off to the actuator motor assembly to reduce electrical consumption. Upon complete power failure to the actuator unit, such as during a fire and smoke emergency, the DC solenoid is spring returned allowing the damper to be spring returned to a closed position, thus preventing flow of air and smoke through a building and starving a fire of oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Barber Colman Company
    Inventors: Peter C. Hightower, Hung-Sun Oh, Gary B. Burwell
  • Patent number: 5310021
    Abstract: An electric motor acts through a gear train to rotate an output shaft in one direction while a torsion spring rotates the shaft in the opposite direction when the motor is de-energized. When the output shaft stops abruptly at a limit position after being rotated by the spring, a lost-motion drive connection permits the output gear of the drive train to rotate relative to the shaft in order to dissipate kinetic energy through the gear train and to avoid impact loading of the gear train and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Barber-Colman Company
    Inventor: Peter C. Hightower