Patents by Inventor Robert Winchcomb

Robert Winchcomb 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: 10981675
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for propeller balancing of an aircraft comprising a propeller. Acceleration data is obtained from an acceleration sensor coupled to the aircraft. The acceleration data is filtered using a filter to obtain propeller-specific vibration data, the filter defining a range of acceptable frequencies associated with a frequency of rotation of the propeller. The propeller-specific vibration data is compared to trend data associated with the propeller. When the propeller-specific vibration data differs from the trend data beyond a predetermined threshold, an alert indicative of a balancing need for the propeller is issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Wirth, Robert Winchcomb, Bruce Calvert, Robert Wigny
  • Publication number: 20200198806
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for propeller balancing of an aircraft comprising a propeller. Acceleration data is obtained from an acceleration sensor coupled to the aircraft. The acceleration data is filtered using a filter to obtain propeller-specific vibration data, the filter defining a range of acceptable frequencies associated with a frequency of rotation of the propeller. The propeller-specific vibration data is compared to trend data associated with the propeller. When the propeller-specific vibration data differs from the trend data beyond a predetermined threshold, an alert indicative of a balancing need for the propeller is issued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Brian WIRTH, Robert Winchcomb, Bruce Calvert, Robert Wigny
  • Patent number: 10611501
    Abstract: There is described herein a propeller balancing system and method that selects at least a portion of received propeller vibration data by comparing received aircraft data collected concurrently with the propeller vibration data with at least one customizable flight criterion, and identifying the portion of the vibration data acquired at a time when the aircraft data meets the at least one customizable flight criterion. The selected portion of the propeller vibration data is analyzed to assess a vibration level of the propeller and a balancing need is signaled when the vibration level reaches a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Wirth, Robert Winchcomb, Bruce Calvert, Robert Wigny
  • Publication number: 20170275027
    Abstract: There is described herein a propeller balancing system and method that selects at least a portion of received propeller vibration data by comparing received aircraft data collected concurrently with the propeller vibration data with at least one customizable flight criterion, and identifying the portion of the vibration data acquired at a time when the aircraft data meets the at least one customizable flight criterion. The selected portion of the propeller vibration data is analyzed to assess a vibration level of the propeller and a balancing need is signaled when the vibration level reaches a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Richard Brian WIRTH, Robert WINCHCOMB, Bruce CALVERT, Robert WIGNY
  • Patent number: 9694915
    Abstract: There is described herein a propeller balancing system and method that determines a stable cruise condition of an aircraft during flight, and considers vibration data for propeller balancing collected while the aircraft is in the stable cruise condition. Parameters used to determine stable cruise condition may be unique for each flight and/or aircraft, and balancing solutions may be determined based on these unique parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Wirth, Robert Winchcomb, Bruce Calvert, Robert Wigny