Patents by Inventor Steven A. Spears

Steven A. Spears 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: 9841077
    Abstract: Some examples of rotating shaft damping with electro-rheological fluid can be implemented as a method. At least a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft is surrounded with multiple hollow members. Each hollow member includes an electro-rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid. A vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft is controlled by changing the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid in response to the electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Brian S. M. Modrezejewski, Steven Spears
  • Publication number: 20150369326
    Abstract: Some examples of rotating shaft damping with electro-rheological fluid can be implemented as a method. At least a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft is surrounded with multiple hollow members. Each hollow member includes an electro-rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid. A vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft is controlled by changing the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid in response to the electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Brian S.M. Modrezejewski, Steven Spears
  • Patent number: 8840062
    Abstract: A pylon mounting system with vibration isolation is provided. The system generally includes a housing that defines a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a fluid disposed within the fluid chambers; a piston assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, and a tuning passage defined by the piston assembly for providing fluid communication between the fluid chambers. The piston assembly has a first arm and a second arm, and each arm has a tubeform bearing for providing pitch and roll stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Steven Spears, Frank B. Stamps, Michael S. Seifert
  • Patent number: 8550408
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for dual Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) port small satellite designs. The apparatus and method provide payload volume for larger satellites. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus and method include a plurality of small satellite components, a payload adaptor ring, and at least one pivoting hinge system. In at least one embodiment, the plurality of small satellite components includes at least one payload, one bus, and/or one solar panel. The small satellite components are mounted on the payload adaptor ring. At least one pivoting hinge system connects together at least two of the small satellite components. Upon deployment of the small satellite components from the payload adaptor ring, at least one pivoting hinge system combines together at least two small satellite components, thereby creating at least one single larger satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Tamaira Emily Ross, Greg G. Berg, Ward Steven Spear
  • Publication number: 20130105621
    Abstract: A pylon mounting system with vibration isolation is provided. The system generally includes a housing that defines a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a fluid disposed within the fluid chambers; a piston assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, and a tuning passage defined by the piston assembly for providing fluid communication between the fluid chambers. The piston assembly has a first arm and a second arm, and each arm has a tubeform bearing for providing pitch and roll stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Steven Spears, Frank B. Stamps, Michael S. Seifert
  • Publication number: 20120012711
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for dual Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) port small satellite designs. The apparatus and method provide payload volume for larger satellites. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus and method include a plurality of small satellite components, a payload adaptor ring, and at least one pivoting hinge system. In at least one embodiment, the plurality of small satellite components includes at least one payload, one bus, and/or one solar panel. The small satellite components are mounted on the payload adaptor ring. At least one pivoting hinge system connects together at least two of the small satellite components. Upon deployment of the small satellite components from the payload adaptor ring, at least one pivoting hinge system combines together at least two small satellite components, thereby creating at least one single larger satellite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Tamaira Emily Ross, Greg Berg, Ward Steven Spear
  • Patent number: 7694910
    Abstract: A wire/fiber ring having two layers applied in four clock positions. Each layer includes a first material strand having a first diameter and a second material strand having a second diameter different from the first diameter. A second or any subsequent layer is disposed such that there is unambiguous nesting between strands in adjacent layers. After the array is built-up, wire is over-wrapped around the array to hold it in place during subsequent consolidation steps, which take place after the built-up array is sealed in an air-tight container and evacuated. After heating and application of pressure a wire/fiber array having a void content of about 12% and a fiber content of between about 0% to 70% and preferably between about 30% and 45% can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sequa Corporation
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Steven Spear, Charles Rowe, Jeffery Parnell
  • Patent number: 7377465
    Abstract: A wire/fiber ring having two layers applied in four clock positions. Each layer includes a first material strand having a first diameter and a second material strand having a second diameter different from the first diameter. A second or any subsequent layer is disposed such that there is unambiguous nesting between strands in adjacent layers. After the array is built-up, wire is over-wrapped around the array to hold it in place during subsequent consolidation steps, which take place after the built-up array is sealed in an air-tight container and evacuated. After heating and application of pressure a wire/fiber array having a void content of about 12% and a fiber content of between about 0% to 70% and preferably between about 30% and 45% can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Sequa Corporation
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Steven Spear, Charles Rowe, Jeffery Parnell
  • Patent number: 7287719
    Abstract: A wire/fiber ring having two layers applied in four clock positions. Each layer includes a first material strand having a first diameter and a second material strand having a second diameter different from the first diameter. A second or any subsequent layer is disposed such that there is unambiguous nesting between strands in adjacent layers. After the array is built-up, wire is over-wrapped around the array to hold it in place during subsequent consolidation steps, which take place after the built-up array is sealed in an air-tight container and evacuated. After heating and application of pressure a wire/fiber array having a void content of about 12% and a fiber content of between about 0% to 70% and preferably between about 30% and 45% can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sequa Corporation
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Steven Spear, Charles Rowe, Jeffery Parnell
  • Publication number: 20070196210
    Abstract: A droop stop mechanism for a helicopter rotor blade includes a pair of opposing stops disposed on opposite sides of the blade's flap hinge. An interposer is mounted at the end of an arm on a rotatable shaft for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the hinge. A torsion spring disposed concentrically about the shaft has a first end that is fixed and a second end coupled to the shaft to bias the interposer to a position disposed between the stops, thereby limiting blade droop. A weight is attached to the shaft such that, with rotation of the rotor, centrifugal forces acting on the weight cause the shaft and arm to rotate so as to overcome the bias of the spring and urge the interposer out from between the stops, thereby allowing greater blade droop. The spring and shaft are sealed in a canister for protection from the elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Steven Carbaugh, Steven Spear
  • Publication number: 20070181733
    Abstract: A wire/fiber ring having two layers applied in four clock positions. Each layer includes a first material strand having a first diameter and a second material strand having a second diameter different from the first diameter. A second or any subsequent layer is disposed such that there is unambiguous nesting between strands in adjacent layers. After the array is built-up, wire is over-wrapped around the array to hold it in place during subsequent consolidation steps, which take place after the built-up array is sealed in an air-tight container and evacuated. After heating and application of pressure a wire/fiber array having a void content of about 12% and a fiber content of between about 0% to 70% and preferably between about 30% and 45% can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: SEQUA CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Steven Spear, Charles Rowe, Jeffery Parnell
  • Publication number: 20070068619
    Abstract: A wire/fiber ring having two layers applied in four clock positions. Each layer includes a first material strand having a first diameter and a second material strand having a second diameter different from the first diameter. A second or any subsequent layer is disposed such that there is unambiguous nesting between strands in adjacent layers. After the array is built-up, wire is over-wrapped around the array to hold it in place during subsequent consolidation steps, which take place after the built-up array is sealed in an air-tight container and evacuated. After heating and application of pressure a wire/fiber array having a void content of about 12% and a fiber content of between about 0% to 70% and preferably between about 30% and 45% can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: SEQUA CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Steven Spear, Charles Rowe, Jeffery Parnell
  • Publication number: 20060286377
    Abstract: A wire/fiber ring having two layers applied in four clock positions. Each layer includes a first material strand having a first diameter and a second material strand having a second diameter different from the first diameter. A second or any subsequent layer is disposed such that there is unambiguous nesting between strands in adjacent layers. After the array is built-up, wire is over-wrapped around the array to hold it in place during subsequent consolidation steps, which take place after the built-up array is sealed in an air-tight container and evacuated. After heating and application of pressure a wire/fiber array having a void content of about 12% and a fiber content of between about 0% to 70% and preferably between about 30% and 45% can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: SEQUA CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Steven Spear, Charles Rowe, Jeffery Parnell
  • Patent number: 7118063
    Abstract: A wire/fiber ring having two layers applied in four clock positions. Each layer includes a first material strand having a first diameter and a second material strand having a second diameter different from the first diameter. A second or any subsequent layer is disposed such that there is unambiguous nesting between strands in adjacent layers. After the array is built-up, wire is over-wrapped around the array to hold it in place during subsequent consolidation steps, which take place after the built-up array is sealed in an air-tight container and evacuated. After heating and application of pressure a wire/fiber array having a void content of about 12% and a fiber content of between about 0% to 70% and preferably between about 30% and 45% can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sequa Corporation
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Steven Spear, Charles Rowe, Jeffery Parnell
  • Publication number: 20060167738
    Abstract: A system and method for managing workflow is provided. The system includes one or more computer devices which execute workflow software to assign tasks to medical staff. The workflow software may be configured to assign tasks to persons on the medical staff based on a set of criteria including a path length determined by a shortest-path algorithm. The system may include portable wireless communication devices and an interactive voice recognitions (IVR) subsystem to permit persons on the staff to communicate information by voice to the computer devices via the portable wireless communication devices and to receive audio messages from the computer devices via the wireless communication devices. The workflow software may be configured to display a staff screen in which the displayed data is filtered by medical staff role and sorted by medical staff identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Steven Spear, Wendy Larson, Jeffery Martin
  • Publication number: 20060024466
    Abstract: A wire/fiber ring having two layers applied in four clock positions. Each layer includes a first material strand having a first diameter and a second material strand having a second diameter different from the first diameter. A second or any subsequent layer is disposed such that there is unambiguous nesting between strands in adjacent layers. After the array is built-up, wire is over-wrapped around the array to hold it in place during subsequent consolidation steps, which take place after the built-up array is sealed in an air-tight container and evacuated. After heating and application of pressure a wire/fiber array having a void content of about 12% and a fiber content of between about 0% to 70% and preferably between about 30% and 45% can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: SEQUA CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Steven Spear, Charles Rowe, Jeffery Parnell
  • Patent number: 6568061
    Abstract: A method of retaining composite preforms in the nature of fiber/metal matrix composites in position during processing, comprising the steps of positioning a predetermined assembly of fibers and metal matrix on a mandrel. The metal matrix may be in the form of wires, powder or foil. A retaining wire of a suitable heat resistant metal, such as titanium is spirally wound under tension over the fiber/metal matrix assembly to retain the assembly in a predetermined position on the mandrel during subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Atlantic Research Corporation
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Jeffery Parnell, Charles Rowe, Steven Spear
  • Publication number: 20030056355
    Abstract: A method of retaining composite preforms in the nature of fiber/metal matrix composites in position during processing, comprising the steps of positioning a predetermined assembly of fibers and metal matrix on a mandrel. The metal matrix may be in the form of wires, powder or foil. A retaining wire of a suitable heat resistant metal, such as titanium is spirally wound under tension over the fiber/metal matrix assembly to retain the assembly in a predetermined position on the mandrel during subsequent processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: William Hanusiak, Lisa Hanusiak, Jeffery Parnell, Charles Rowe, Steven Spear
  • Patent number: 6087789
    Abstract: A magnetic deflection amplifier implemented using a linear amplifier connected to a first side of a deflection coil and a three pole switch connected to a second side of the deflection coil. The three pole switch connects the coil to ground during the active scan and connects the coil to a positive or negative high voltage rail depending of the polarity of the retrace current resulting in fast retrace time and reduced voltage requirements on the linear amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventors: Steven Spears, David Walker
  • Patent number: 5797624
    Abstract: An integral label/gasket for use in crimped sealing engagement with an airbag inflator. The integral label/gasket combines a flat, generally annular label, an annular, deformable outer gasket seal and an annular, deformable inner gasket seal into one component. The outer gasket seal is secured to and extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the label adjacent an outer edge of the label, and the inner gasket seal is secured to and extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the label adjacent an inner edge of the label. The label, for printing handling and operational warnings and other information thereon, has adhesive on a top surface thereof for securing the label to a baseplate of an airbag inflator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Lang, Brian H. Fulmer, Todd S. Parker, Harry W. Miller, II, Scott A. Jackson, Steven A. Spear, Graig S. Oba