Patents by Inventor Robert Kyle Schmidt

Robert Kyle Schmidt 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).

  • Publication number: 20140374538
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear having a strut having an upper portion for mechanically coupling to an aircraft and a lower portion movably mounted with respect to the upper portion. A bogie beam is pivotally coupled to the lower strut. A bogie control linkage is mechanically coupled to the bogie at a first connection point, and to the strut at a second connection point. The bogie control linkage has: an actuator including a locking system that inhibits actuation of the actuator; a sensor linkage mechanically coupled to the lower strut and arranged to change between first and second conditions in accordance with movement of the upper strut relative to the lower strut; and an actuator control linkage arranged to operate the locking system when the sensor linkage is in the first condition and arranged not to operate the locking system when the sensor linkage is in the second condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Messier-Dowty Limited
    Inventor: Robert Kyle Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8863510
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrohydraulic actuator comprising a body (1) that defines a cylindrical cavity (2) in which a piston (3) slides in leaktight manner and divides an inside volume of the cavity into two chambers (A, B) of variable volume, the piston being associated with at least one rod (4) passing in leaktight manner through an end wall of the cavity, the actuator including a bidirectional pump (5) having two ports (P1, P2), each connected to one of the chambers, an electric motor (8) for selectively driving the pump in one direction or the other, the pump being placed inside the piston of the actuator so as to move together therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventor: Robert Kyle Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140263832
    Abstract: A multifunction device for an undercarriage, the device comprising at least a first shaft rotatably mounted on the aircraft to rotate about an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to a hinge axis hinging the undercarriage to the aircraft, a telescopic second shaft rotatably mounted in the undercarriage and extending down along the undercarriage to the proximity of wheels carried thereby, and motor means adapted to cause the first shaft to rotate. The telescopic second shaft is a single shaft and it extends inside the undercarriage to the proximity of an axle carrying the wheels of the undercarriage, being connected to a differential connected to the wheels via drive shafts extending inside the axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Robert Kyle SCHMIDT, Jean-Luc ALLEAU
  • Patent number: 8740140
    Abstract: A multifunction electromechanical device for an aircraft undercarriage. The device comprises a first shaft (10) mounted to rotate on the aircraft about an axis of rotation (R) that is substantially parallel to a hinge axis (X) of the undercarriage relative to the aircraft and a telescopic second shaft (20) mounted to rotate on the undercarriage extending downwards to the proximity of the wheels carried thereby. The device also includes a transmission (19) for transmitting rotary motion from the first shaft to the second shaft and a transmission (21) for transmitting rotary motion from the second shaft to at least one wheel carried by the undercarriage. With this configuration, if the wheel is not fitted with a brake, there is a specific brake (30) for braking one of the shafts relative to the undercarriage, and a motor (11, 15) for causing the first shaft to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Alleau, Robert Kyle Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120326894
    Abstract: A method of protecting an aircraft undercarriage (1) while it is being towed by means of a tow bar (13) hitched to a steerable bottom portion of the undercarriage, the method including the step of generating an alarm when a towing force imposed by the tow bar on the undercarriage reaches or exceeds a predetermined force threshold. The threshold is caused to vary as a function of an orientation of the steerable bottom portion of the undercarriage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Robert Kyle Schmidt, Jean-Luc Alleau
  • Patent number: 8181532
    Abstract: The present invention provides a structural deflection and load measuring device for mounting on an axle. The device includes at least one light beam emitting device connected to the axle and able to emit at least one light beam and at least one light position sensing device connected to the axle. The sensing device is located relative to the light beam emitting device for receiving at least one light beam from the light beam emitting device thereon and is operable to calculate the position of the light beam received on its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Messier-Dowty Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kyle Schmidt, Nader Abu El-samid
  • Publication number: 20110233328
    Abstract: The invention provides a multifunction electromechanical device for an aircraft undercarriage, the device comprising at least: a first shaft (10) mounted to rotate on the aircraft about an axis of rotation (R) that is substantially parallel to a hinge axis (X) of the undercarriage relative to the aircraft; a telescopic second shaft (20) mounted to rotate on the undercarriage extending down therealong to the proximity of the wheels carried thereby; transmission means (19) for transmitting rotary motion from the first shaft to the second shaft; transmission means (21) for transmitting rotary motion from the second shaft to at least one wheel carried by the undercarriage; if the wheel is not fitted with a brake, specific brake means (30) for braking one of the shafts relative to the undercarriage; and motor means (11, 15) for causing the first shaft to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: MESSIER-DOWTY SA
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Alleau, Robert Kyle Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110154907
    Abstract: The present invention provides a structural deflection and load measuring device for mounting on an axle. The device includes at least one light beam emitting device connected to the axle and able to emit at least one light beam and at least one light position sensing device connected to the axle. The sensing device is located relative to the light beam emitting device for receiving at least one light beam from the light beam emitting device thereon and is operable to calculate the position of the light beam received on its surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: MESSIER-DOWTY, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Kyle Schmidt, Nader Abu El-samid
  • Publication number: 20110146262
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrohydraulic actuator comprising a body (1) that defines a cylindrical cavity (2) in which a piston (3) slides in leaktight manner and divides an inside volume of the cavity into two chambers (A, B) of variable volume, the piston being associated with at least one rod (4) passing in leaktight manner through an end wall of the cavity, the actuator including a bidirectional pump (5) having two ports (P1, P2), each connected to one of the chambers, an electric motor (8) for selectively driving the pump in one direction or the other, the pump being placed inside the piston of the actuator so as to move together therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: MESSIER-DOWTY SA
    Inventor: Robert Kyle Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7680630
    Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring a parameter associated with a structural component comprises a module (1) which is attachable to the structural component and which is associated with a sensor (2) for making measurements of said parameter. The module incorporates a power supply (7) for powering the apparatus; a memory (4) for storing data from the sensor, and a processor (3) to process measurement signals from the sensor (2) and to store data in said memory (4). A display (5) for displaying measurements made by the sensor (2) may also be provided. The processor may make use of an algorithm such as a rainflow counting algorithm to reduce data stored. For energy saving, the sensor (2) is only powered on as required to take a measurement. The sensor (3) is interfaced to the processor through a signal processing subsystem (6) consisting of an amplifier and A to D converter, and each is turned on and off as required to power the sensor (2) for measuring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Messier-Dowty Limited
    Inventor: Robert Kyle Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20090091476
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lock sensor for use in an actuator such as is used in aircraft landing gear systems. The lock sensor comprises at least one field emitting device (46) mounted on a locking actuator pressure vessel where the field emitting device (46) monitors the position of at least one target (48). The field emitting device (46) emits a field that when breached by the target sends a signal to indicate that the actuator is in a locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: MESSIER-DOWTY, INC.
    Inventors: Gary Stephen Ataman, Mark Coffin, Robert Kyle Schmidt