Patents by Inventor Thomas E. McGuigan

Thomas E. McGuigan 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: 10072715
    Abstract: A yaw brake mechanism is described for maintaining a yawing structure, such as a nacelle of a fluid turbine, at a desired orientation or azimuthal heading about a reference or yaw axis. The yaw brake mechanism uses one or more rotor locks and one or more receptacles that cooperate with one another to achieve the locking function. One of the rotor locks is actuatable so that a portion thereof can be engaged in one of the receptacles to lock the yawing structure. The number of rotor locks and receptacles can be selected to allow the yawing structure to achieve any azimuth heading around the full 360 degrees of the yaw axis with various degrees of accuracy. The yaw brake mechanism allows the yawing structure to maintain multiple headings while being subjected to extreme moment and force loads in a low mass, low height, low cost solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Firkser, Thomas E. McGuigan
  • Publication number: 20160245258
    Abstract: A yaw brake mechanism is described for maintaining a yawing structure, such as a nacelle of a fluid turbine, at a desired orientation or azimuthal heading about a reference or yaw axis. The yaw brake mechanism uses one or more rotor locks and one or more receptacles that cooperate with one another to achieve the locking function. One of the rotor locks is actuatable so that a portion thereof can be engaged in one of the receptacles to lock the yawing structure. The number of rotor locks and receptacles can be selected to allow the yawing structure to achieve any azimuth heading around the full 360 degrees of the yaw axis with various degrees of accuracy. The yaw brake mechanism allows the yawing structure to maintain multiple headings while being subjected to extreme moment and force loads in a low mass, low height, low cost solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen FIRKSER, Thomas E. McGUIGAN
  • Patent number: 7836549
    Abstract: A hinge providing multi-directional motion to a hinged object. In one embodiment, the hinge includes a first hinge member having at least one first outwardly-protruding mounting projection and a second hinge member defining a recess for movably receiving the projection. In one embodiment, the recess and mounting projection are complementary configured for non-rotational linear movement of the projection in a first portion of the recess, and for rotational movement of the projection in a second portion of the recess. A preferred embodiment includes a pair of spaced-apart recesses and projections. The hinged object may be squarely slid into engagement with a supporting unit or frame via the first portion of the recess, yet rotated or pivoted via the second portion to provide access to the supporting unit. The supporting unit or frame in one embodiment may be part of a module in an active antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lockhead Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas E. McGuigan
  • Patent number: 7508338
    Abstract: An element support and thermal control arrangement for an active array antenna, preferably modular, using line-replaceable units (LRUs), includes a radiating-side liquid-cooled cold plate lying parallel with a liquid-cooled TR coldplate. Antenna elements are supported and cooled by the radiating cold plate, and a beamformer lies between the radiating and TR coldplates. A plurality of column coldplates are attached to the rear of the TR coldplate and define bays or volumes in which power LRUs can be fitted in thermal communication with the TR coldplate, the column coldplates, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Pluymers, Marc T. Angelucci, John Fraschilla, Stuart R. Ducker, IV, Thomas E. McGuigan, Robert B. Lewis, Richard J. Heinrich, Daniel W. Harris
  • Publication number: 20080169973
    Abstract: An element support and thermal control arrangement for an active array antenna, preferably modular, using line-replaceable units (LRUs), includes a radiating-side liquid-cooled cold plate lying parallel with a liquid-cooled TR coldplate. Antenna elements are supported and cooled by the radiating cold plate, and a beamformer lies between the radiating and TR coldplates. A plurality of column coldplates are attached to the rear of the TR coldplate and define bays or volumes in which power LRUs can be fitted in thermal communication with the TR coldplate, the column coldplates, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Pluymers, Marc T. Angelucci, John Fraschilla, Stuart R. Ducker,, Thomas E. McGuigan, Robert B. Lewis, Richard J. Heinrich, Daniel W. Harris