Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Stapleton
Thomas J. Stapleton 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).
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Publication number: 20230271194Abstract: A dust-mitigation device used in space exploration is a system for protecting the venting components of certain environments from the entry of lunar dust. The system enables ventilation while preventing dust from reaching sealing surfaces of a spacesuit's valves (SPVs).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Applicant: Innovative Aerospace LLCInventors: Thomas J. Stapleton, Lynne Ann Stapleton
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Publication number: 20230111950Abstract: A waste compaction apparatus may include a housing and a connector arm. The housing may define a drive chamber and a compaction chamber and the connector arm may include a drive piston portion movably positioned within the drive chamber and a compaction piston portion movably positioned within the compaction chamber. The drive chamber may be selectively fluidly coupleable to the near-vacuum of outer space, such that the compaction piston portion of the connector arm is configured to move within the compaction chamber to compact waste material contained within the compaction chamber in response to movement of the drive piston portion of the connector arm within the drive chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventor: Thomas J. Stapleton
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Patent number: 11548252Abstract: A waste compaction apparatus may include a housing and a connector arm. The housing may define a drive chamber and a compaction chamber and the connector arm may include a drive piston portion movably positioned within the drive chamber and a compaction piston portion movably positioned within the compaction chamber. The drive chamber may be selectively fluidly coupleable to the near-vacuum of outer space, such that the compaction piston portion of the connector arm is configured to move within the compaction chamber to compact waste material contained within the compaction chamber in response to movement of the drive piston portion of the connector arm within the drive chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventor: Thomas J. Stapleton
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Patent number: 11344084Abstract: A boot-binding system includes a sole plate, integrated into an inner boot, that mates to a second sole plate that may be integrated into the floor of a pressurized vehicle or integrated into an outer boot configuration also referred to as a surface boot, a spring loaded pin/bushing arrangement couples the sole plates, while a latching mechanism located on the surface boot sole plate captures the heel of the inner boot sole plate against a spring loaded heel plate integrated into the surface boot sole plate that presses upwards against the inner boot heel.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Inventors: Thomas J Stapleton, Lynne Ann Stapleton
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Patent number: 10994869Abstract: A waste handling system includes a urinal having a urinal outlet and first and second urine storage containers. Each of the first and second urine storage containers includes a cavity having a bag. A distribution system fluidly interconnects the urinal to the first and second urine storage containers. The distribution system includes a switching system selectively fluidly connecting the urinal outlet to at least one of the first and second urinal storage containers in response to an input. The switching system includes a flow diverter valve. The input corresponds to a command signal to the flow diverter valve. The command signal commands the flow diverter valve between first and second positions. The first position corresponds to a fluid connection between the first urine storage container and the urinal while blocking a fluid connection between the second urine storage container and the urinal.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Stapleton, Charles H. Todd, IV, Terrell Lee Morrison
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Patent number: 10859070Abstract: A dosing pump according to an exemplary aspect of this disclosure includes, among other things, a first chamber having an outlet fluidly coupled to a mixing area, and a second chamber having an outlet fluidly coupled to the mixing area. The dosing pump further includes a piston moveable between a suction position and a discharge position. The piston has a first head portion moveable within the first chamber, and a second head portion moveable with the second chamber. Further, movement of the piston from the suction position to the discharge position discharges fluid from the first and second chambers into the mixing area.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2015Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Thomas J. Stapleton
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Patent number: 10739070Abstract: A fluid extraction apparatus includes a first chamber within which waste material is configured to be disposed and a second chamber having a vacuum source interface. The first chamber may be in selective fluid communication with the second chamber. In various embodiments, the fluid extraction apparatus further includes an intermediate valve disposed on a conduit extending between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the intermediate valve is selectively actuatable to control the selective fluid communication. In various embodiments, the selective fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber is exclusively via the intermediate valve and the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin Elmer Bishop, Thomas J Stapleton, Miguel Angel Torres
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Patent number: 10687676Abstract: A microgravity urine collection apparatus may include a bellows defining an internal chamber having a selectively adjustable volume. The bellows may include an inlet and an outlet. The microgravity urine collection apparatus may further include a first valve coupled to the bellows and configured to selectively control fluid flow through the inlet. The microgravity urine collection apparatus may also include a second valve coupled to the bellows and configured to allow fluid flow out of the bellows via the outlet and prevent fluid flow into the bellows via the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Thomas J. Stapleton
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Patent number: 10653280Abstract: A method of treating fecal waste according to an example of the present disclosure includes bringing a reactor containing fecal matter to a first temperature and a first pressure, exposing the reactor to an environment with a second temperature and a second pressure such that the water in the fecal waste undergoes flash evaporation, and pyrolizing the fecal waste. A fecal waste processing unit is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Miguel Angel Torres, Thomas J. Stapleton
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Publication number: 20190285343Abstract: A fluid extraction apparatus includes a first chamber within which waste material is configured to be disposed and a second chamber having a vacuum source interface. The first chamber may be in selective fluid communication with the second chamber. In various embodiments, the fluid extraction apparatus further includes an intermediate valve disposed on a conduit extending between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the intermediate valve is selectively actuatable to control the selective fluid communication. In various embodiments, the selective fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber is exclusively via the intermediate valve and the conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2018Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin Elmer Bishop, Thomas J Stapleton, Miguel Angel Torres
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Publication number: 20190216271Abstract: A method of treating fecal waste according to an example of the present disclosure includes bringing a reactor containing fecal matter to a first temperature and a first pressure, exposing the reactor to an environment with a second temperature and a second pressure such that the water in the fecal waste undergoes flash evaporation, and pyrolizing the fecal waste. A fecal waste processing unit is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Miguel Angel Torres, Thomas J. Stapleton
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Publication number: 20190084697Abstract: A waste handling system includes a urinal having a urinal outlet and first and second urine storage containers. Each of the first and second urine storage containers includes a cavity having a bag. A distribution system fluidly interconnects the urinal to the first and second urine storage containers. The distribution system includes a switching system selectively fluidly connecting the urinal outlet to at least one of the first and second urinal storage containers in response to an input. The switching system includes a flow diverter valve. The input corresponds to a command signal to the flow diverter valve. The command signal commands the flow diverter valve between first and second positions. The first position corresponds to a fluid connection between the first urine storage container and the urinal while blocking a fluid connection between the second urine storage container and the urinal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Thomas J. Stapleton, Charles H. Todd, IV, Terrell Lee Morrison
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Patent number: 10173793Abstract: A waste handling system includes a urinal and first and second urine storage containers. A distribution system fluidly interconnects the urinal to the first and second urine storage containers. The distribution system includes a switching system that selectively fluidly connects the urinal outlet to at least one of the first and second urinal storage containers in response to an input.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Stapleton, Charles H. Todd, IV, Terrell Lee Morrison
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Publication number: 20180354218Abstract: A waste compaction apparatus may include a housing and a connector arm. The housing may define a drive chamber and a compaction chamber and the connector arm may include a drive piston portion movably positioned within the drive chamber and a compaction piston portion movably positioned within the compaction chamber. The drive chamber may be selectively fluidly coupleable to the near-vacuum of outer space, such that the compaction piston portion of the connector arm is configured to move within the compaction chamber to compact waste material contained within the compaction chamber in response to movement of the drive piston portion of the connector arm within the drive chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Thomas J. Stapleton
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Publication number: 20180353020Abstract: A microgravity urine collection apparatus may include a bellows defining an internal chamber having a selectively adjustable volume. The bellows may include an inlet and an outlet. The microgravity urine collection apparatus may further include a first valve coupled to the bellows and configured to selectively control fluid flow through the inlet. The microgravity urine collection apparatus may also include a second valve coupled to the bellows and configured to allow fluid flow out of the bellows via the outlet and prevent fluid flow into the bellows via the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Thomas J. Stapleton
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Publication number: 20160363387Abstract: A phase-change material heat exchanger includes a frame configured to define a chamber therein and house a first fluid, the first fluid being water. At least one heat exchange element is configured to have a second fluid pass through an interior of the heat exchange element, the at least one heat exchange element moveably retained within the chamber. When the second fluid passes through the heat exchange element at a first temperature, the first fluid changes from a liquid to a solid, and the second fluid exits the heat exchange element at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventor: Thomas J. Stapleton
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Publication number: 20160236802Abstract: A waste handling system includes a urinal and first and second urine storage containers. A distribution system fluidly interconnects the urinal to the first and second urine storage containers. The distribution system includes a switching system that selectively fluidly connects the urinal outlet to at least one of the first and second urinal storage containers in response to an input.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Thomas J. Stapleton, Charles H. Todd, IV, Terrell Lee Morrison
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Publication number: 20160206160Abstract: A dosing pump according to an exemplary aspect of this disclosure includes, among other things, a first chamber having an outlet fluidly coupled to a mixing area, and a second chamber having an outlet fluidly coupled to the mixing area. The dosing pump further includes a piston moveable between a suction position and a discharge position. The piston has a first head portion moveable within the first chamber, and a second head portion moveable with the second chamber. Further, movement of the piston from the suction position to the discharge position discharges fluid from the first and second chambers into the mixing area.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2015Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventor: Thomas J. Stapleton
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Patent number: 9352857Abstract: A waste handling system includes a waste processing unit that includes a urine inlet configured to receive urine from a urinal. A pumping element is fluidly connected between the urine inlet and the urine outlet. A distribution system with a differential pressure valve selectively fluidly connects the urine outlet to first and second urine storage containers. The distribution system includes a switching system that selectively fluidly connects the urinal to the first and second urinal storage containers in response to an input. Each urine storage containers includes a cavity with a bag. The bag is movable between first and second volumes. An electrical switch communicates with the bag and includes first and second contact elements biased apart from one another in a first condition that corresponds to the first volume. The first and second contact elements electrically engage one another in a second condition corresponding to the second volume.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND SPACE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Stapleton, Charles H. Todd, IV, Terrell Lee Morrison
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Patent number: 9187190Abstract: A concentric split flow filter may be configured to remove odor and/or bacteria from pumped air used to collect urine and fecal waste products. For instance, filter may be designed to effectively fill the volume that was previously considered wasted surrounding the transport tube of a waste management system. The concentric split flow filter may be configured to split the air flow, with substantially half of the air flow to be treated traveling through a first bed of filter media and substantially the other half of the air flow to be treated traveling through the second bed of filter media. This split flow design reduces the air velocity by 50%. In this way, the pressure drop of filter may be reduced by as much as a factor of 4 as compare to the conventional design.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND SPACE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Thomas J. Stapleton