Patents by Inventor Roy Romana

Roy Romana 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: 11919623
    Abstract: An airplane rudder and brake pedal assembly includes a rudder arm assembly having one rudder arm with first upper and lower arm portions, and another rudder arm with second upper and lower arm portions. The rudder arm assembly is assembled to a beam at an intersection of the first upper and lower arm portions, and an intersection of the second upper and lower arm portions. The first and second rudder arms are configured to rotate about the beam at the intersection. The rotation of the first and second rudder arms is configured to adjust control surfaces that control a yaw axis of the airplane. A brake pedal is attached to the first and second lower arm portions. Rotation of the brake pedal brakes the airplane. A rotary sensor is assembled to the brake pedal and the lower arm portion, and configured to determine an extent of the brake pedal rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Darryl S. Stachniak, Roy Romana
  • Patent number: 11592093
    Abstract: Methods and systems for nacelle door electromechanical actuation may include a power distribution unit comprising a motor and differential gears; and a plurality of electromechanical actuators, each coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the differential gears. Each of the electromechanical actuators may include a configurable brake and a mechanical output, where the power distribution unit may provide mechanical torque to one of the electromechanical actuators via the motor and the differential gears based on configuration of the configurable brakes in each of the electromechanical actuators. At least one of the configurable brakes may be an electrically configurable brake. At least one of the configurable brakes may be a mechanically configurable brake. The differential gears may include two or more differential gears for receiving an input torque and supplying an output torque to one of a plurality of outputs of the differential gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Lagger, Paul Smith, Mariusz Kuczaj, Roy Romana
  • Patent number: 11549573
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an epicyclic gear mechanism that includes a primary differential assembly to selectively drive the fore secondary differential assembly and the aft secondary differential assembly. The fore secondary differential assembly selectively drives one or more fore interfaces (e.g., output gears), whereas the aft secondary differential assembly selectively drives one or more aft interfaces (e.g., output gears). Each of the primary differential assembly, the fore and aft secondary differential assemblies, and the interfaces rotate about a common central axis. The primary differential assembly drives the fore secondary differential assembly via a first sun gear, and drives the aft secondary differential assembly via a second sun gear, both of which rotate about the common central axis. Further, one or more actuators are to activate or deactivate in order to drive or be driven by a selected interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Romana, Charles A. Crouch, Mariusz Kuczaj, Paul J. Smith
  • Patent number: 11467617
    Abstract: A cable-linked brake pedal assembly for an airplane. The assembly includes a first cable assembly with a first end attached to a pilot-side brake pedal and a second end attached to a first bell crank assembly, and a second cable assembly with a first end attached to a copilot-side brake pedal and a second end attached to a second bell crank assembly. A first connecting rod with a first rod end is attached to the first bell crank assembly and a second rod end is attached to the second bell crank assembly. The connection between the first and second cable assemblies, first and second bell crank assemblies, and first connecting rod is configured such that depressing the pilot-side brake pedal moves the first cable assembly, first connecting rod, and second cable assembly in such a way as to cause a corresponding depression of the copilot-side brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Roy Romana, Steven E. Rickenbrode
  • Patent number: 11396362
    Abstract: An airplane rudder and brake pedal assembly includes a rudder arm assembly having one rudder arm with first upper and lower arm portions, and another rudder arm with second upper and lower arm portions. The rudder arm assembly is assembled to a beam at an intersection of the first upper and lower arm portions, and an intersection of the second upper and lower arm portions. The first and second rudder arms are configured to rotate about the beam at the intersection. The rotation of the first and second rudder arms is configured to adjust control surfaces that control a yaw axis of the airplane. A brake pedal is attached to the first and second lower arm portions. Rotation of the brake pedal brakes the airplane. A rotary sensor is assembled to the brake pedal and the lower arm portion, and configured to determine an extent of the brake pedal rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Darryl S. Stachniak, Roy Romana
  • Publication number: 20220185453
    Abstract: An airplane rudder and brake pedal assembly includes a rudder arm assembly having one rudder arm with first upper and lower arm portions, and another rudder arm with second upper and lower arm portions. The rudder arm assembly is assembled to a beam at an intersection of the first upper and lower arm portions, and an intersection of the second upper and lower arm portions. The first and second rudder arms are configured to rotate about the beam at the intersection. The rotation of the first and second rudder arms is configured to adjust control surfaces that control a yaw axis of the airplane. A brake pedal is attached to the first and second lower arm portions. Rotation of the brake pedal brakes the airplane. A rotary sensor is assembled to the brake pedal and the lower arm portion, and configured to determine an extent of the brake pedal rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Darryl S. Stachniak, Roy Romana
  • Publication number: 20220025963
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an epicyclic gear mechanism that includes a primary differential assembly to selectively drive the fore secondary differential assembly and the aft secondary differential assembly. The fore secondary differential assembly selectively drives one or more fore interfaces (e.g., output gears), whereas the aft secondary differential assembly selectively drives one or more aft interfaces (e.g., output gears). Each of the primary differential assembly, the fore and aft secondary differential assemblies, and the interfaces rotate about a common central axis. The primary differential assembly drives the fore secondary differential assembly via a first sun gear, and drives the aft secondary differential assembly via a second sun gear, both of which rotate about the common central axis. Further, one or more actuators are to activate or deactivate in order to drive or be driven by a selected interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Roy Romana, Charles A. Crouch, Mariusz Kuczaj, Paul J. Smith
  • Patent number: 11137057
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an epicyclic gear mechanism that includes a primary differential assembly to selectively drive the fore secondary differential assembly and the aft secondary differential assembly. The fore secondary differential assembly selectively drives one or more fore interfaces (e.g., output gears), whereas the aft secondary differential assembly selectively drives one or more aft interfaces (e.g., output gears). Each of the primary differential assembly, the fore and aft secondary differential assemblies, and the interfaces rotate about a common central axis. The primary differential assembly drives the fore secondary differential assembly via a first sun gear, and drives the aft secondary differential assembly via a second sun gear, both of which rotate about the common central axis. Further, one or more actuators are to activate or deactivate in order to drive or be driven by a selected interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Romana, Charles A. Crouch, Mariusz Kuczaj, Paul J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210140526
    Abstract: Methods and systems for nacelle door electromechanical actuation may include a power distribution unit comprising a motor and differential gears; and a plurality of electromechanical actuators, each coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the differential gears. Each of the electromechanical actuators may include a configurable brake and a mechanical output, where the power distribution unit may provide mechanical torque to one of the electromechanical actuators via the motor and the differential gears based on configuration of the configurable brakes in each of the electromechanical actuators. At least one of the configurable brakes may be an electrically configurable brake. At least one of the configurable brakes may be a mechanically configurable brake. The differential gears may include two or more differential gears for receiving an input torque and supplying an output torque to one of a plurality of outputs of the differential gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Lagger, Paul Smith, Mariusz Kuczaj, Roy Romana
  • Publication number: 20210129975
    Abstract: An airplane rudder and brake pedal assembly includes a rudder arm assembly having one rudder arm with first upper and lower arm portions, and another rudder arm with second upper and lower arm portions. The rudder arm assembly is assembled to a beam at an intersection of the first upper and lower arm portions, and an intersection of the second upper and lower arm portions. The first and second rudder arms are configured to rotate about the beam at the intersection. The rotation of the first and second rudder arms is configured to adjust control surfaces that control a yaw axis of the airplane. A brake pedal is attached to the first and second lower arm portions. Rotation of the brake pedal brakes the airplane. A rotary sensor is assembled to the brake pedal and the lower arm portion, and configured to determine an extent of the brake pedal rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Darryl S. Stachniak, Roy Romana
  • Publication number: 20200370632
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an epicyclic gear mechanism that includes a primary differential assembly to selectively drive the fore secondary differential assembly and the aft secondary differential assembly. The fore secondary differential assembly selectively drives one or more fore interfaces (e.g., output gears), whereas the aft secondary differential assembly selectively drives one or more aft interfaces (e.g., output gears). Each of the primary differential assembly, the fore and aft secondary differential assemblies, and the interfaces rotate about a common central axis. The primary differential assembly drives the fore secondary differential assembly via a first sun gear, and drives the aft secondary differential assembly via a second sun gear, both of which rotate about the common central axis. Further, one or more actuators are to activate or deactivate in order to drive or be driven by a selected interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Roy Romana, Charles A. Crouch, Mariusz Kuczaj, Paul J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10816070
    Abstract: Methods and systems for nacelle door electromechanical actuation may include a power distribution unit comprising a motor and differential gears; and a plurality of electromechanical actuators, each coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the differential gears. Each of the electromechanical actuators may include a configurable brake and a mechanical output, where the power distribution unit may provide mechanical torque to one of the electromechanical actuators via the motor and the differential gears based on configuration of the configurable brakes in each of the electromechanical actuators. At least one of the configurable brakes may be an electrically configurable brake. At least one of the configurable brakes may be a mechanically configurable brake. The differential gears may include two or more differential gears for receiving an input torque and supplying an output torque to one of a plurality of outputs of the differential gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Lagger, Paul Smith, Mariusz Kuczaj, Roy Romana
  • Publication number: 20200096085
    Abstract: Methods and systems for nacelle door electromechanical actuation may include a power distribution unit comprising a motor and differential gears; and a plurality of electromechanical actuators, each coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the differential gears. Each of the electromechanical actuators may include a configurable brake and a mechanical output, where the power distribution unit may provide mechanical torque to one of the electromechanical actuators via the motor and the differential gears based on configuration of the configurable brakes in each of the electromechanical actuators. At least one of the configurable brakes may be an electrically configurable brake. At least one of the configurable brakes may be a mechanically configurable brake. The differential gears may include two or more differential gears for receiving an input torque and supplying an output torque to one of a plurality of outputs of the differential gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Lagger, Paul Smith, Mariusz Kuczaj, Roy Romana