Patents by Inventor Robert J. Atmur

Robert J. Atmur 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: 10116907
    Abstract: Methods, systems and components are disclosed relating to the exclusive optical addressing of information for image display systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Robert J. Atmur
  • Publication number: 20180306278
    Abstract: A mechanical virtual elliptical drive, including an input motor, a wobble plate, a stator gear, and an output plate. The input motor may have a rotation axis, a substantially flat surface, and a rounded protrusion extending from the flat surface. The wobble plate may have a wobble axis disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the rotation axis. The rounded protrusion of the motor may engage a substantially flat face of the wobble plate, thereby causing the wobble plate to nutate around the stator gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Publication number: 20180252279
    Abstract: An elliptically interfacing gear assisted braking system may include an input shaft with a coupled input gear, a wobble plate, a rotor with a reaction gear, and an actuated brake mechanism, or brake. The input shaft may define an axis of rotation and the wobble plate may have a wobble axis disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the rotation axis. A set of face teeth disposed on one surface of the wobble plate may partially mesh with the input gear, and a set of wobble teeth on an opposite surface of the wobble plate may partially mesh with the reaction gear. Rotation of the input shaft may thereby cause rotation of the wobble plate and rotor. The brake may mate with the rotor and when actuated, slow the rotor with respect to the input shaft. Rolling contact forces between the surfaces of the wobble teeth and reaction teeth may then induce nutation in the wobble plate, thereby dissipating rotational energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Publication number: 20180244290
    Abstract: An apparatus a housing structure and a magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly is configured to slide within the housing structure in a first direction associated with a direction of travel of the housing structure and in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction. The magnetic assembly includes a first pole plate having a first polarity and a second pole plate having a second polarity that is opposite of the first polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Deborah A. Beron-Rawdon, Robert J. Atmur, Douglas C. Cameron, JR., William P. Sargent
  • Patent number: 10024391
    Abstract: An elliptically interfacing gearbox system may include an input plate having a rotation axis and a plurality of input teeth. The gearbox system may include a wobble plate having a wobble axis disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the rotation axis, a rear face, and a plurality of face teeth disposed on the rear face. The wobble plate may further include a first plurality of wobble teeth disposed in a first plane perpendicular to the wobble axis and a second plurality of wobble teeth disposed in a second plane perpendicular to the wobble axis. The second plane may be spaced from the first plane along the wobble axis. The gearbox system may include a stator gear having a plurality of stator teeth and an output plate having an output axis substantially aligned with the rotation axis and a plurality of output teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Patent number: 10020716
    Abstract: A transverse flux induction motor (“TFIM”) is described in accordance with the present invention. The TFIM may be a linear induction motor or a rotary induction motor. The TFIM includes a primary motor element and secondary motor element. The primary motor element includes a plurality of coils and at least one magnetic element. The plurality of coils are arranged to generate a control flux along a first direction when power is applied to at least one coil of the plurality of coils and the at least one magnetic element is arranged to generate a bias flux in a second direction that is substantially transverse to the first direction. The secondary motor element is moveable in the first direction, relative to the primary motor element, in response to the control flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Atmur
  • Patent number: 9956969
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing structure and a magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly is configured to slide within the housing structure in a first direction associated with a direction of travel of the housing structure and in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction. The magnetic assembly includes a first pole plate having a first polarity and a second pole plate having a second polarity that is opposite of the first polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Deborah A. Beron-Rawdon, Robert J. Atmur, Douglas C. Cameron, Jr., William P. Sargent
  • Patent number: 9929623
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a reluctance motor. The apparatus comprises a stator and a plate. The stator includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils having an overlapped configuration. Applying multi-phase current to the plurality of electromagnetic coils generates a magnetic field. The plate forms a virtual pole when a portion of the plate contacts the stator in response to the magnetic field. Rotating the magnetic field about a center axis through the stator rotates the virtual pole about the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert J. Atmur
  • Publication number: 20180057149
    Abstract: Actuators for high lift devices on aircraft are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes an actuator for a high lift device of an aircraft including a motor and a transmission, where the transmission includes a first gear stage and a second gear stage, the first gear stage including a first worm gear and the second gear stage including a second worm gear, the first worm gear, the second worm gear and the motor operative to prevent backdrive of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher J. Heiberg, Patrick J. McCormick, Robert J. Atmur
  • Publication number: 20180034355
    Abstract: A stator assembly for an electric motor includes a drive plate, a first magnetic core and a second magnetic core. A first core slot is formed in the first magnetic core and a second slot is formed in the second magnetic core. The first and second magnetic cores each include two elongated members joined at one end by a base member which are defined by the respective core slots. The two elongated members extend from the base member substantially parallel to each other toward the drive plate. A stator coil is wound through the first core slot and the second core slot. An electrical current flowing in the stator coil generates a magnetic field about the stator coil that is absorbed by the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core to generate a magnetic flux in each of the magnetic cores that magnetically attracts the drive plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: James L. Peck, JR., Robert J. Atmur
  • Publication number: 20170317546
    Abstract: A wobble plate motor includes a wobble plate and a stator. The wobble plate is made of magnetically susceptible material and has a wobble axis. The stator includes a permanent magnet and a set of electromagnetic coils and has a stator axis. The wobble plate is configured to nutate around the stator with the wobble axis precessing around the stator axis. The wobble plate has a mobile point of closest approach with respect to the stator. The mobile point of closest approach moves around the stator axis as the wobble plate nutates. The permanent magnet and the set of electromagnetic coils are configured to create a magnetic field having a flux density between the stator and the wobble plate with a highest flux density at a mobile location ahead of the mobile point of closest approach in an angular direction around the stator axis as the wobble plate nutates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Atmur
  • Publication number: 20170289506
    Abstract: Methods, systems and components are disclosed relating to the exclusive optical addressing of information for image display systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Robert J. Atmur
  • Publication number: 20170285572
    Abstract: Methods and systems and components made according to the methods and systems, are disclosed relating to the generation of a holographic image, including a color-containing holographic image, generated exclusively optically addressing information to a projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Robert J. Atmur
  • Patent number: 9768664
    Abstract: A wobble plate drive system may include a stator having a central axis, an upper surface perpendicular to the central axis, and a plurality of stator teeth disposed on the upper surface. The system may further include a wobble plate having a wobble axis disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the central axis, a lower wobble surface perpendicular to the wobble axis, and an upper wobble surface perpendicular to the wobble axis. A plurality of lower wobble teeth may be disposed on the lower wobble surface and a plurality of upper wobble teeth may be disposed on the upper wobble surface. The system may include an output gear having an output axis substantially aligned with the central axis and a lower surface perpendicular to the output axis. A plurality of output teeth may be disposed on the lower surface. The wobble plate may be configured to rotate as it nutates around the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Publication number: 20170191549
    Abstract: An elliptically interfacing gearbox system may include an input plate having a rotation axis and a plurality of input teeth. The gearbox system may include a wobble plate having a wobble axis disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the rotation axis, a rear face, and a plurality of face teeth disposed on the rear face. The wobble plate may further include a first plurality of wobble teeth disposed in a first plane perpendicular to the wobble axis and a second plurality of wobble teeth disposed in a second plane perpendicular to the wobble axis. The second plane may be spaced from the first plane along the wobble axis. The gearbox system may include a stator gear having a plurality of stator teeth and an output plate having an output axis substantially aligned with the rotation axis and a plurality of output teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Publication number: 20170122409
    Abstract: A wobble plate drive system may include a stator having a central axis and a plurality of stator teeth disposed on an inner cylindrical surface. The system may further include a wobble plate having a wobble axis disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the central axis, an outer cylindrical surface, and an upper annular surface. A plurality of wobble teeth may be disposed on the outer cylindrical surface and a plurality of face teeth may be disposed on the upper annular surface. The system may further include an output gear having an output axis substantially aligned with the central axis and a lower annular surface. A plurality of output teeth may be disposed on the lower annular surface. The wobble plate may be configured to rotate, the plurality of wobble teeth may be configured to engage with the plurality of stator teeth, and the plurality of face teeth may be configured to engage with the plurality of output teeth as the wobble plate nutates around the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Patent number: 9637144
    Abstract: A railway car for traveling within a switch of a railway track is disclosed. The railway car includes a body portion for containing goods and a truck portion that is a framework for carrying a plurality of wheels of the railway car. The truck portion is connected to the body portion and is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the body portion. The railway car also includes a rotational joint defining the axis of rotation which the truck portion is rotatable about. The rotational joint rotatably connects the truck portion to the body portion of the railway car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, Thorin Arthur Rogers
  • Patent number: 9617689
    Abstract: A passive switch for a railway track is disclosed. A railway car is moveable along the railway track in a facing direction. The passive switch includes a first track section and a second track section. The first track section includes a first main track, a first diverging track, and a first guard rail. The first guard rail is shaped to guide a first wheel of the railway car from the first main track onto the first diverging track as the first wheel travels in the facing direction within the passive switch. The second track section includes a second main track and a second diverging track. The second main track is shaped to guide a second wheel of the railway car from the second main track onto the second diverging track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, Thorin Arthur Rogers
  • Publication number: 20160344255
    Abstract: A wobble plate drive system may include a stator having a central axis, an upper surface perpendicular to the central axis, and a plurality of stator teeth disposed on the upper surface. The system may further include a wobble plate having a wobble axis disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the central axis, a lower wobble surface perpendicular to the wobble axis, and an upper wobble surface perpendicular to the wobble axis. A plurality of lower wobble teeth may be disposed on the lower wobble surface and a plurality of upper wobble teeth may be disposed on the upper wobble surface. The system may include an output gear having an output axis substantially aligned with the central axis and a lower surface perpendicular to the output axis. A plurality of output teeth may be disposed on the lower surface. The wobble plate may be configured to rotate as it nutates around the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Publication number: 20160318529
    Abstract: An apparatus a housing structure and a magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly is configured to slide within the housing structure in a first direction associated with a direction of travel of the housing structure and in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction. The magnetic assembly includes a first pole plate having a first polarity and a second pole plate having a second polarity that is opposite of the first polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Deborah A. Beron-Rawdon, Robert J. Atmur, Douglas C. Cameron, JR., William P. Sargent