Patents by Inventor Steven E. Rickenbrode
Steven E. Rickenbrode 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: 11467617Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Roy Romana, Steven E. Rickenbrode
-
Patent number: 10875628Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a control apparatus includes a first mounting member, an elongate member having a first elongate portion, a second elongate portion, a first axis member between the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion, pivotally mounting the elongate member to the first mounting member and defining a first axis, a track configured as an arc defined about the first axis, and a first feedback assembly supported upon the second elongate portion and providing a first interface device configured to travel along the track in response to movement of the second elongate portion partly about the first axis, wherein the mass of the second elongate portion and the first feedback assembly substantially offsets the mass of the first elongate portion about the first axis member.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Steven E. Rickenbrode, Alexander Ramos, Randall E. Gebka
-
Patent number: 10483824Abstract: A self-releasing lock mechanism is provided and is configured to lock a driveshaft that is in mechanical communication with a rotor to mechanical ground via a flange in a motor housing. The self-releasing lock mechanism includes a ground lock housing having a locking arrangement configured to selectively engage a second end of the rotor. Locking pins extend from the ground lock housing and are configured to pass through the flange region of the motor housing. A locking plate includes the driveshaft and locking sites that are adapted to selectively receive the locking pins. A biasing member is disposed between the ground lock housing and the flange region to bias the ground lock housing away from the flange region. The locking arrangement engages the second end of the rotor to overcome the bias from the biasing member when the locking pins are received in locking sites.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Christopher R. Jarr, Steven E. Rickenbrode
-
Publication number: 20190031320Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a control apparatus includes a first mounting member, an elongate member having a first elongate portion, a second elongate portion, a first axis member between the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion, pivotally mounting the elongate member to the first mounting member and defining a first axis, a track configured as an arc defined about the first axis, and a first feedback assembly supported upon the second elongate portion and providing a first interface device configured to travel along the track in response to movement of the second elongate portion partly about the first axis, wherein the mass of the second elongate portion and the first feedback assembly substantially offsets the mass of the first elongate portion about the first axis member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Steven E. Rickenbrode, Alexander Ramos, Randall E. Gebka
-
Publication number: 20180331595Abstract: A self-releasing lock mechanism is provided and is configured to lock a driveshaft that is in mechanical communication with a rotor to mechanical ground via a flange in a motor housing. The self-releasing lock mechanism includes a ground lock housing having a locking arrangement configured to selectively engage a second end of the rotor. Locking pins extend from the ground lock housing and are configured to pass through the flange region of the motor housing. A locking plate includes the driveshaft and locking sites that are adapted to selectively receive the locking pins. A biasing member is disposed between the ground lock housing and the flange region to bias the ground lock housing away from the flange region. The locking arrangement engages the second end of the rotor to overcome the bias from the biasing member when the locking pins are received in locking sites.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2017Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Christopher R. Jarr, Steven E. Rickenbrode
-
Patent number: 10118688Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a control apparatus includes a first mounting member, an elongate member having a first elongate portion, a second elongate portion, a first axis member between the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion, pivotally mounting the elongate member to the first mounting member and defining a first axis, a track configured as an arc defined about the first axis, and a first feedback assembly supported upon the second elongate portion and providing a first interface device configured to travel along the track in response to movement of the second elongate portion partly about the first axis, wherein the mass of the second elongate portion and the first feedback assembly substantially offsets the mass of the first elongate portion about the first axis member.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Steven E. Rickenbrode, Alexander Ramos, Randall E. Gebka
-
Publication number: 20170050721Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a control apparatus includes a first mounting member, an elongate member having a first elongate portion, a second elongate portion, a first axis member between the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion, pivotally mounting the elongate member to the first mounting member and defining a first axis, a track configured as an arc defined about the first axis, and a first feedback assembly supported upon the second elongate portion and providing a first interface device configured to travel along the track in response to movement of the second elongate portion partly about the first axis, wherein the mass of the second elongate portion and the first feedback assembly substantially offsets the mass of the first elongate portion about the first axis member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey T. Voiles, Steven E. Rickenbrode, Alexander Ramos, Randall E. Gebka
-
Patent number: 9352824Abstract: A yoke for controlling the attitude of an aircraft is provided. The yoke includes a chassis, a pitch hub, a roll hub, a support column, a control wheel and a connection arrangement. The pitch hub rotatably mounts to the chassis. The roll hub rotatably mounts to the chassis for motion being generally parallel to the pitch hub. The support column attaches to the pitch hub for rotational motion with the pitch hub relative to the chassis. The control wheel pivotally attaches to the support column for rotational motion about a control wheel pivot axis being generally perpendicular to the pitch and roll hubs. The connection arrangement couples the control wheel to the roll hub and is configured to rotate the roll hub about the roll axis when the control wheel is rotated about the control wheel pivot axis. A system including interconnected yokes is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Woodward MPC, Inc.Inventors: Maciej J. Piotrowski, Steven E. Rickenbrode, Ronald Albin Wilcox
-
Publication number: 20150203188Abstract: A yoke for controlling the attitude of an aircraft is provided. The yoke includes a chassis, a pitch hub, a roll hub, a support column, a control wheel and a connection arrangement. The pitch hub rotatably mounts to the chassis. The roll hub rotatably mounts to the chassis for motion being generally parallel to the pitch hub. The support column attaches to the pitch hub for rotational motion with the pitch hub relative to the chassis. The control wheel pivotally attaches to the support column for rotational motion about a control wheel pivot axis being generally perpendicular to the pitch and roll hubs. The connection arrangement couples the control wheel to the roll hub and is configured to rotate the roll hub about the roll axis when the control wheel is rotated about the control wheel pivot axis. A system including interconnected yokes is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: WOODWARD MPC, INC.Inventors: Maciej J. Piotrowski, Steven E. Rickenbrode, Ronald Albin Wilcox