Patents by Inventor Robert G. Thompson

Robert G. Thompson 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: 7367193
    Abstract: An adjustment method and system for an auxiliary power unit (APU) allows the APU speed to vary based on the inlet air temperature to the APU compressor. The APU is controlled by a control law that allows the APU speed to float within a selected range based on speed and electric power generators phase matching criteria that provides smooth power transfer between the APU and a main engine generator. The specific APU mechanical speed for a given temperature may be determined from a compressor map that identifies the optimum combination of pressure ratio, flow rate and efficiency for a given inlet temperature, and avoids running the APU near mechanical resonant vibration conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7137240
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit (APU) inlet muff anti-icing system that uses high pressure, high temperature APU compressor delivery air to melt any accumulation of ice and snow near the bottom of the muff with a tracer line coupled to a perforated gull wing fairing mounted within the inlet muff and that uses the compressor delivery air as the primary stream for an ejector to suck ice and snow melt accumulating near the fairing overboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7117683
    Abstract: A main engine electric start system for gas turbine propelled aircraft that employs a low-power AC electrical power system to serve as an independent grid to control the functions of induction-type dynamoelectric machines coupled to the main propulsion engines and APU as a starter or generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7104072
    Abstract: A starting system for starting the propulsion engines of gas turbine powered aircraft that combines power sources delivered by the APU so that essentially then entire power delivered by the APU for pneumatic, hydraulic and electric power is applied to corresponding starters on each propulsion engine during MES simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7093447
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for aircraft with a load compressor that delivers cabin air free of oil contamination by supporting a drive shaft for the load compressor with oil-free bearings and coupling the load compressor to a gearbox and power head for the auxiliary power unit through a synchronous magnetic torque coupling on an opposite side of the gearbox to which the power is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Thompson, Bezhad Hagshenas
  • Patent number: 6868664
    Abstract: A main engine mounted auxiliary power unit comprises an auxiliary power unit integrated with a primary gas turbine engine into a single power plant suited for aircraft applications. The auxiliary power unit can be mounted within an engine core compartment of the main engine or at the main engine aft center body. The integration of the auxiliary power unit provides for installation and certification cost savings to the airframer by eliminating the need for mounting an auxiliary power unit to the tail section of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Albero, Richard Dussault, Robert G. Thompson, Patrick Germain, Michael K. Sahm, Eric Tremaine
  • Publication number: 20040211166
    Abstract: A main engine mounted auxiliary power unit comprises an auxiliary power unit integrated with a primary gas turbine engine into a single power plant suited for aircraft applications. The auxiliary power unit can be mounted within an engine core compartment of the main engine or at the main engine aft center body. The integration of the auxiliary power unit provides for installation and certification cost savings to the airframer by eliminating the need for mounting an auxiliary power unit to the tail section of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Jose Albero, Richard Dussault, Robert G. Thompson, Patrick Germain, Michael K. Sahm, Eric Tremaine
  • Patent number: 6735951
    Abstract: An APU system includes a gas turbine engine having a low pressure spool, a high pressure spool and an electrical generator. The electrical generator is driven by the high pressure spool which is governed to a constant speed. Conversely, the low pressure spool is not governed at all, but is allowed to seek a speed that balances the power developed by the low pressure turbine (LPT) and power absorbed by the low pressure compressor (LPC). A step increase/decrease in electrical power demand is met with a step increase/decrease in fuel flow, which results in an overshoot/undershoot of the new equilibrium turbine inlet temperature TIT. The TIT returns to the new equilibrium when the LP spool has achieved it's new shaft speed and new equilibrium power balance. The HP Spool and generator maintain essentially constant speed and frequency, while the LP Spool responds to restore equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6634596
    Abstract: An integrated aircraft system which comprises an aircraft frame, a nacelle cowl mounted to the aircraft frame, a primary gas turbine engine mounted within the nacelle cowl, a secondary power system incorporated within the nacelle cowl and being driven by a flow of air created by or through the engine, and an electrical power and cooling unit for supplying electrical power and cabin cooling air. The electrical power and cooling unit is pneumatically driven by engine bleed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventors: Jose Albero, Louis J. Bruno, Richard Dussault, Charles E. Lents, Wayne A. Thresher, Michael K. Sahm, Robert G. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20030126864
    Abstract: An APU system includes a gas turbine engine having a low pressure spool, a high pressure spool and an electrical generator. The electrical generator is driven by the high pressure spool which is governed to a constant speed. Conversely, the low pressure spool is not governed at all, but is allowed to seek a speed that balances the power developed by the low pressure turbine (LPT) and power absorbed by the low pressure compressor (LPC). A step increase/decrease in electrical power demand is met with a step increase/decrease in fuel flow, which results in an overshoot/undershoot of the new equilibrium turbine inlet temperature TIT. The TIT returns to the new equilibrium when the LP spool has achieved it's new shaft speed and new equilibrium power balance. The HP Spool and generator maintain essentially constant speed and frequency, while the LP Spool responds to restore equilibrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20020162914
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated aircraft system which comprises an aircraft frame, a nacelle cowl mounted to the aircraft frame, a primary gas turbine engine mounted within the nacelle cowl, a secondary power system incorporated within the nacelle cowl and being driven by a flow of air created by or through the engine, and an electrical power and cooling unit for supplying electrical power and cabin cooling air. The electrical power and cooling unit is pneumatically driven by engine bleed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Jose Albero, Louis J. Bruno, Richard Dussault, Charles E. Lents, Wayne A. Thresher, Michael K. Sahm, Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6417164
    Abstract: Methods for treating non-insulin-taking Type II diabetes mellitus which comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of an amylin agonist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Orville G. Kolterman, Robert G. Thompson, John F. Mullane
  • Patent number: 6143718
    Abstract: Methods for treating non-insulin-taking Type II diabetes mellitus which comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of an amylin agonist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Orville G. Kolterman, Robert G. Thompson, John F. Mullane
  • Patent number: 6102081
    Abstract: An improved reed for weaving machines includes upper and lower channel members having an outer width and an inner channel width. A plurality of spaced apart dents have end portions held in the upper and lower channel members. Each of the dents comprises an upper leg portion adjacent to the upper channel member and a lower leg portion adjacent to the lower channel member wherein the lower leg portion has a width greater than the width of the upper leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Steel Heddle Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson, III
  • Patent number: 6039087
    Abstract: A reed assembly for use in a textile loom includes a plurality of individual dents held in a top channel and a bottom channel. The reed has a length defined by the ends of the top and bottom channels. The bottom channel is rigidly mounted in a slay for reciprocating movement. A brace member is mounted to the top channel. The brace member defines a recess corresponding essentially to the width and depth of the top channel so as to contact and extend along opposite sides and wrap around the end of the top channel. The brace member may include a vertical portion extending to and contacting with the bottom channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Steel Heddle Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Robert G. Thompson, III, William L. Stenhouse
  • Patent number: 6019139
    Abstract: An improved reed for weaving machines includes upper and lower channel members having an outer width and an inner channel width. A plurality of spaced apart dents have end portions held in the upper and lower channel members. Each of the dents comprises an upper leg portion adjacent to the upper channel member and a lower leg portion adjacent to the lower channel member wherein the lower leg portion has a width greater than the width of the upper leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Stell Heddle Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson, III
  • Patent number: 5491308
    Abstract: In order to reduce noise transmission through the air inlet duct (16) of a turbine engine (10), the air inlet duct (16) provides a non-linear path defined by a bend (24) for air from a source, and the turbine engine (10) includes a sound attenuation assembly (26) in the form of a splitter dissipative silencer disposed near the bend (24) in the air inlet duct (16). More specifically, the turbine engine (10) is such that the splitter dissipative silencer (26) can be formed as a modular assembly (42) removably securable near the bend (24) in the air inlet duct (16) upstream of a radial compressor (12) for removal and/or replacement or availability as an optional component of the turbine engine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Napier, Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5140819
    Abstract: In order to reduce noise transmission through the air inlet duct (16) of a turbine engine (10), the air inlet duct (16) provides a non-linear path defined by a bend (24) for air from a source, and the turbine engine (10) includes a sound attenuation assembly (26) in the form of a splitter dissipative silencer disposed near the bend (24) in the air inlet duct (16). More specifically, the turbine engine (10) is such that the splitter dissipative silencer (26) can be formed as a modular assembly (42) removably securable near the bend (24) in the air inlet duct (16) upstream of a radial compressor (12) for removal and/or replacement or availability as an optional component of the turbine engine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Napier, Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5094082
    Abstract: In order to provide an expansive central recirculating gas zone (40) in a combustor (10), and in a manner wherein the combustion chamber (20) is of compact volume, a stored energy combustor (10) comprises a vessel (12) having narrow, spaced-apart inlet and outlet ends (14, 16) interconnected by a wall (18) defining a relatively wise combustion chamber (20). The combustion chamber (20) is generally annular and a wall (18) defining the combustion chamber (20) includes an upstream wall region (18a) and a downstream wall region (18c) interconnected by a generally annular side wall region (18b). The inlet end (14) and outlet end (16) are generally tubular extensions of the vessel (12) leading to and from the combustion chamber (20) and oxidant is swirled in the tubular extension (14) leading to the combustion chamber (20) and directed in a swirling annulus into the combustion chamber (20) outwardly of a fuel injector (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Thompson, Colin Rodgers, Nipulkumar Shah, Jack R. Shekleton
  • Patent number: D297676
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Inventors: Ian W. Ross, Robert G. Thompson