Patents by Inventor Robert J. Norris

Robert J. Norris 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: 11413484
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring pressure in a fire suppression system of an aircraft, the method providing: receiving a first pressure-vessel measured pressure from a first pressure-vessel pressure transducer connected to a first pressure-vessel; receiving a second pressure-vessel measured temperature from a second pressure-vessel temperature sensor connected to a second pressure-vessel; calculating a first pressure-vessel estimated pressure from the second pressure-vessel measured temperature; comparing the first pressure-vessel measured pressure With the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure; and providing a depressurization alert when a difference between the first pressure-vessel measured pressure and the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure is greater than a threshold thereby avoiding unscheduled aircraft downtime due to an erroneous or missing temperature measurement in the first pressure-vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Tadd F. Herron
  • Patent number: 11237067
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for detecting uncertainty in temperature detection systems. The system includes a temperature sensor including a ground sheath and a central conductor surrounded by the ground sheath, the ground sheath and the central conductor being electrically coupled to one another through a temperature dependent resistive element. The system includes a controller connected to the temperature sensor and adapted to detect an electrical parameter of the temperature dependent resistive element, the controller operable upon execution to output an uncertainty indication when the electrical parameter of the temperature dependent resistive element is not within an expected value range based on an aircraft status indication, a historical value of the electrical parameter, and the electrical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Tadd F. Herron, Scott Kenneth Newlin
  • Patent number: 11099083
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments including a system for performing aircraft overheat detection using fiber optic monitoring of light reflectance changing temperature strips. Embodiments also include a sensing strip configured to detect a temperature of an object, a controller configured to monitor the sensing strip, and a fiber optic cable configured to transmit or receive a light signal to the sensing strip, wherein the fiber optic cable is operably coupled to the sensing strip and the controller. Embodiments also include a method for operating an aircraft overheat detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Norris
  • Publication number: 20210055169
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for detecting uncertainty in temperature detection systems. The system includes a temperature sensor including a ground sheath and a central conductor surrounded by the ground sheath, the ground sheath and the central conductor being electrically coupled to one another through a temperature dependent resistive element. The system includes a controller connected to the temperature sensor and adapted to detect an electrical parameter of the temperature dependent resistive element, the controller operable upon execution to output an uncertainty indication when the electrical parameter of the temperature dependent resistive element is not within an expected value range based on an aircraft status indication, a historical value of the electrical parameter, and the electrical parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Tadd F. Herron, Scott Kenneth Newlin
  • Publication number: 20210023407
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring pressure in a fire suppression system of an aircraft, the method providing: receiving a first pressure-vessel measured pressure from a first pressure-vessel pressure transducer connected to a first pressure-vessel; receiving a second pressure-vessel measured temperature from a second pressure-vessel temperature sensor connected to a second pressure-vessel; calculating a first pressure-vessel estimated pressure from the second pressure-vessel measured temperature; comparing the first pressure-vessel measured pressure With the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure; and providing a depressurization alert when a difference between the first pressure-vessel measured pressure and the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure is greater than a threshold thereby avoiding unscheduled aircraft downtime due to an erroneous or missing temperature measurement in the first pressure-vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Tadd F. Herron
  • Patent number: 10782191
    Abstract: A system configured to monitor temperature in a plurality of zones of an aircraft includes an optical fiber with first and second ends, first and second connectors, and a first interrogator. The optical fiber includes a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings disposed in the optical fiber. The first connector is disposed on the first end of the optical fiber and the second connector is disposed on the second end of the optical fiber. The first interrogator is connected to the first connector and includes an optical switch. The optical switch is in optical communication with the first connector of the optical fiber and is configured to selectively block transmission of the optical signal to the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sherwood Miller, Robert J. Norris, Lei Liu
  • Publication number: 20200292398
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments including a system for performing aircraft overheat detection using fiber optic monitoring of light reflectance changing temperature strips. Embodiments also include a sensing strip configured to detect a temperature of an object, a controller configured to monitor the sensing strip, and a fiber optic cable configured to transmit or receive a light signal to the sensing strip, wherein the fiber optic cable is operably coupled to the sensing strip and the controller. Embodiments also include a method for operating an aircraft overheat detection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventor: Robert J. Norris
  • Publication number: 20190311594
    Abstract: A battery container includes a battery housing and an end cap. The battery housing is configured to house a battery. The battery housing comprises an opening configured to receive the battery into the battery housing. The end cap is configured to seal the opening of the battery housing. The end cap comprises two or more discharge holes configured to release expanding gas from the battery housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Terry Simpson
  • Publication number: 20190277709
    Abstract: A system configured to monitor temperature in a plurality of zones of an aircraft includes an optical fiber with first and second ends, first and second connectors, and a first interrogator. The optical fiber includes a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings disposed in the optical fiber. The first connector is disposed on the first end of the optical fiber and the second connector is disposed on the second end of the optical fiber. The first interrogator is connected to the first connector and includes an optical switch. The optical switch is in optical communication with the first connector of the optical fiber and is configured to selectively block transmission of the optical signal to the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Sherwood Miller, Robert J. Norris, Lei Liu
  • Patent number: 10210733
    Abstract: A smoke detector of an aircraft cargo container includes a status light emitting diode (LED), at least one accelerometer, and one or more processors. The at least one accelerometer is configured to sense movement of the aircraft cargo container and provide a sensor signal representative of the sensed movement. The one or more processors is configured to receive the sensor signal and adjust a blinking rate of the status LED based upon the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Norris, Terry Simpson
  • Patent number: 9823154
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a duct leak detection system of an aircraft is disclosed. A sensor of the duct leak detection system is selected at an interface of the duct leak detection system. An alternating current is sent through the selected sensor and a resistance of the selected sensor is measured using the alternating current. An indicative signal is generated at the interface when the measured resistance of the selected sensor is outside of a specification of the selected sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Norris
  • Publication number: 20160131551
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a duct leak detection system of an aircraft is disclosed. A sensor of the duct leak detection system is selected at an interface of the duct leak detection system. An alternating current is sent through the selected sensor and a resistance of the selected sensor is measured using the alternating current. An indicative signal is generated at the interface when the measured resistance of the selected sensor is outside of a specification of the selected sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventor: Robert J. Norris
  • Publication number: 20120139550
    Abstract: An example arc fault detection system includes an electrical system, an electrical controller, a sensor, and a master controller. The electrical controller detects a voltage of the electrical system, a current of the electrical system, or both. The sensor detects an ultraviolet light level of the electrical system. The master controller is configured to communicate with the electrical controller and the sensor. The master controller isolates the electrical system in response to receiving a signal from the electrical controller and the sensor. An example method of isolating an arc fault in an electrical system includes detecting a voltage level, a current level, and an ultraviolet light level of the electrical system. The method isolates an arc fault based on the voltage level or the current level, and the ultraviolet light level from the detecting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas M. Gillis, Robert L. Fillmore, William Boyd Hubbard, Richard T. Wetzel, Robert J. Norris