Patents by Inventor Tom A. Utecht
Tom A. Utecht 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: 20240146056Abstract: A power supply system to provide power to a load connected between first and second connectors. The system includes a generator that produces an alternating current generator output and a rectifier that receives the alternating current generator output and converts it into a direct current output and provides the direct current (DC) output between the first and second connectors. The system also includes a filter connected to the rectifier and between the connectors and that smooths the DC output. The filter includes a midpoint configured to be connected to ground. The system also includes a fault clearing source connected to the first connector that provides a clearing voltage to the first connector when a ground fault occurs on the first connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Tom A. Utecht, William S. Heglund, Michael C. Harke
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Patent number: 11912427Abstract: An aircraft engine thermal management system includes a body having a coolant passage in thermal communication with an electronic device, wherein the body and the electronic device are located in a first portion of the aircraft. A generator is fluidically connected by a coolant path to the coolant passage wherein the generator is located in a second portion of the aircraft, with at least a portion of the coolant path is located within a cooling location having a lower average temperature than either the first portion or the second portion of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Debabrata Pal, Tom A. Utecht, Craig R. LeGros
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Patent number: 11881708Abstract: A system includes a generator. Three AC feeders are connected for feeding AC output from the generator. A rectifier is electrically connected to the three AC feeders and to a load via a first DC feeder and a second DC feeder. A first resistor connects between a first one of the DC feeders and ground. A first voltage sensor is operatively connected to detect voltage across the first resistor. A second resistor connects between the second DC feeder and ground. A second voltage sensor is operatively connected to detect voltage across the second resistor. A controller is configured to monitor for changes in common mode voltage based on the input from the first sensor and from the second sensor, and to determine presence of a fault if change in the common mode voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Kyle Stephen Ives, Michael C. Harke, Tom A. Utecht
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Publication number: 20230400496Abstract: A system includes a generator. Three AC feeders are connected for feeding AC output from the generator. A rectifier is electrically connected to the three AC feeders and to a load via a first DC feeder and a second DC feeder. A first resistor connects between a the first DC feeder and ground. A second resistor connects between the second DC feeder and ground. At least one of a first current sensor is operatively connected to detect current in the first DC feeder and/or a second current sensor is operatively connected to detect current in the second DC feeder. A controller is configured to monitor for changes in common mode current based on the input from the at least one current sensor, and to determine presence of a fault if change in the common mode current exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Kyle Stephen Ives, Tom A. Utecht, Michael C. Harke
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Publication number: 20230402837Abstract: A system includes a generator. Three AC feeders are connected for feeding AC output from the generator. A rectifier is electrically connected to the three AC feeders and to a load via a first DC feeder and a second DC feeder. A first resistor connects between a first one of the DC feeders and ground. A first voltage sensor is operatively connected to detect voltage across the first resistor. A second resistor connects between the second DC feeder and ground. A second voltage sensor is operatively connected to detect voltage across the second resistor. A controller is configured to monitor for changes in common mode voltage based on the input from the first sensor and from the second sensor, and to determine presence of a fault if change in the common mode voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Kyle Stephen Ives, Michael C. Harke, Tom A. Utecht
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Publication number: 20230402954Abstract: A system includes a generator. Three AC feeders are connected for feeding AC output from the generator. A rectifier is electrically connected to the three AC feeders and to a load via a first DC feeder and a second DC feeder. A first resistor connects between a the first DC feeder and ground. A second resistor connects between the second DC feeder and ground. At least one of a first current sensor is operatively connected to detect current in the first DC feeder and/or a second current sensor is operatively connected to detect current in the second DC feeder. A controller is configured to monitor for changes in common mode current based on the input from the at least one current sensor, and to determine presence of a fault if change in the common mode current exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2022Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Kyle Stephen Ives, Tom A. Utecht, Michael C. Harke
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Publication number: 20230400530Abstract: A system includes a generator. Three AC feeders are connected for feeding AC output from the generator. A rectifier is electrically connected to the three AC feeders and to a load via a first DC feeder and a second DC feeder. A first resistor connects between a first one of the DC feeders and ground. A first voltage sensor is operatively connected to detect voltage across the first resistor. A second resistor connects between the second DC feeder and ground. A second voltage sensor is operatively connected to detect voltage across the second resistor. A controller is configured to monitor for changes in common mode voltage based on the input from the first sensor and from the second sensor, and to determine presence of a fault if change in the common mode voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2022Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Kyle Stephen Ives, Michael C. Harke, Tom A. Utecht
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Publication number: 20230144976Abstract: A high voltage DC (HVDC) system can include a generator configured to output alternating current (AC), a rectifier connected to the generator via AC phase lines, the rectifier configured to convert the AC to DC to output the DC to DC feeder lines, and a crowbar system. The crowbar system can include a switch module operatively connected to the AC phase lines to prevent AC from flowing to the rectifier in a cutoff state. The crowbar system can be configured to determine whether at least one cutoff condition exists. The at least one cutoff condition can be or include one or more of a DC overcurrent downstream of the rectifier, a DC overvoltage downstream of the rectifier, an AC overcurrent from the generator, or an arc fault. The crowbar system can be configured to control the switch module to the cutoff state if the at least one cutoff condition exists.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Tom A. Utecht, John F. Defenbaugh, Robert L. Seagren
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Publication number: 20230041836Abstract: A system including a thermal management body attached to an electronics equipment, a cavity within the thermal management body storing a coolant, and a cold plate separating the cavity and the electronics equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Debabrata Pal, Tom A. Utecht, Craig R. LeGros
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Patent number: 11428168Abstract: A starter/generator arrangement includes a starter/generator, a power converter electrically connected to the starter/generator, and coolant circuit with a pump and a condenser in fluid communication with the power converter. The power converter is arranged to flow start mode electrical power in a first direction in a start mode and a second direction in a generate mode. The coolant circuit fluidly couples the pump to the condenser for storing heat in a coolant disposed within the coolant circuit while flowing the start mode electrical power in the first direction. Gas turbine engines and methods of cooling starter/generator arrangements are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Debabrata Pal, Craig R. LeGros, Tom A. Utecht
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Publication number: 20220001997Abstract: An aircraft engine thermal management system includes a body having a coolant passage in thermal communication with an electronic device, wherein the body and the electronic device are located in a first portion of the aircraft. A generator is fluidically connected by a coolant path to the coolant passage wherein the generator is located in a second portion of the aircraft, with at least a portion of the coolant path is located within a cooling location having a lower average temperature than either the first portion or the second portion of the aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Debabrata Pal, Tom A. Utecht, Craig R. LeGros
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Publication number: 20210352832Abstract: An thermal management system including, a body having a coolant passage in thermal communication with an electronic device, a first heat exchanger fluidically connected to the coolant passage configured to receive the coolant from the coolant passage, a second heat exchanger fluidically connected to the first heat exchanger, and a generator fluidically connected to the second heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Debabrata Pal, Craig R. LeGros, Tom A. Utecht
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Patent number: 11134585Abstract: An electrical power unit cooling system including at least one cooling fin configured to be thermally connected to a bus housing of the electrical power unit, the bus housing being configured to be attached to a surface of an aircraft fan housing such that the at least one cooling fin protrudes through the fan housing in order to be cooled by air flow within the fan housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Craig R. LeGros, Tom A. Utecht, Debabrata Pal
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Publication number: 20210245887Abstract: A system including a thermal management body attached to an electronics equipment, a cavity within the thermal management body storing a coolant, and a cold plate separating the cavity and the electronics equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Debabrata Pal, Tom A. Utecht, Craig R. LeGros
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Publication number: 20210207542Abstract: A starter/generator arrangement includes a starter/generator, a power converter electrically connected to the starter/generator, and coolant circuit with a pump and a condenser in fluid communication with the power converter. The power converter is arranged to flow start mode electrical power in a first direction in a start mode and a second direction in a generate mode. The coolant circuit fluidly couples the pump to the condenser for storing heat in a coolant disposed within the coolant circuit while flowing the start mode electrical power in the first direction. Gas turbine engines and methods of cooling starter/generator arrangements are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Debabrata Pal, Craig R. LeGros, Tom A. Utecht
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Patent number: 10868483Abstract: A system including a variable frequency generator (VFG) including a generator configured to conduct alternating current to a first rectifier configured to convert alternating current from the VFG to direct current and drive it to an HVDC Bus Network, a variable frequency second generator including a second generator configured to conduct alternating current to a second rectifier configured to convert alternating current from the second generator to direct current and conduct it to the HVDC Bus Network, a speed correcting gearbox operatively connected to the VFG configured to align generator frequency to the second generator frequency, and a VFG control unit operatively connected to the generator configured to control the VFG, and a second generator control unit operatively connected to the second generator and the HVDC Bus Network configured to control the second generator.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Craig R. LeGros, Tom A. Utecht
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Publication number: 20200383233Abstract: An electrical power unit cooling system including at least one cooling fin configured to be thermally connected to a bus housing of the electrical power unit, the bus housing being configured to be attached to a surface of an aircraft fan housing such that the at least one cooling fin protrudes through the fan housing in order to be cooled by air flow within the fan housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Craig R. LeGros, Tom A. Utecht, Debabrata Pal
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Publication number: 20200382030Abstract: A system including a variable frequency generator (VFG) including a generator configured to conduct alternating current to a first rectifier configured to convert alternating current from the VFG to direct current and drive it to an HVDC Bus Network, a variable frequency second generator including a second generator configured to conduct alternating current to a second rectifier configured to convert alternating current from the second generator to direct current and conduct it to the HVDC Bus Network, a speed correcting gearbox operatively connected to the VFG configured to align generator frequency to the second generator frequency, and a VFG control unit operatively connected to the generator configured to control the VFG, and a second generator control unit operatively connected to the second generator and the HVDC Bus Network configured to control the second generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Craig R. LeGros, Tom A. Utecht