Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Layne

Thomas R. Layne 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).

  • Variable area inlet for vehicle thermal control
    Patent number: 5894987
    Abstract: A variable area inlet structure for a vehicle utilizing ram air for coolant is described which comprises a variable area inlet device in the ram air inlet in the form of a butterfly valve, damper, shutter, or similar structure, a temperature sensor in thermal contact with a component within the vehicle to be cooled by ram air flow, a controller and actuator, responsive to the temperature sensor and operatively connected to the variable area device, for controlling the inlet area in response to the component temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Thomas R. Layne, Milton E. Franke, Darrell B. Ridgely