Patents by Inventor William E. Luce
William E. Luce 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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Patent number: 11536306Abstract: A landing gear system includes a composite tube. The composite tube comprises at least one of (i) a filament wound composite tube, (ii) a filament braided tube, and (iii) a composite tube of laid up filament. The landing gear system further comprises a first lug cluster mounted to the composite tube and a second lug cluster mounted to the composite tube. The first lug cluster and the second lug cluster are oriented at an angle to one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E. Luce
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Patent number: 11130564Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling aircraft shock strut shrink are provided. The system may comprise a shock strut comprising a shrink piston, an accumulator comprising a gas piston and a hydraulic chamber, wherein the gas piston is configured to apply gas pressure to the hydraulic chamber, and a first valve in fluid communication with the accumulator. The system may further comprise a second valve, wherein the second valve is in fluid communication with a vent, the pneumatic cylinder, and the gas piston, wherein the first valve is in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber and the shrink piston.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventors: William E Luce, Adam J. Ditzler
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Patent number: 11059573Abstract: A method of operating an uplocking system includes contacting with a latchable member a first surface of an opening of a hook biased in a first rotational direction relative to a body, rotating the hook in a second rotational direction with the contacting, moving the hook out of a first position relative to the body, rotating the hook in the first rotational direction after release of the contacting with the latchable member, moving the hook into a second position relative to the body, the first position and the second position being stable when the hook is biased in the first rotational direction without contact being made against the first surface, and retaining the latchable member with a second surface of the hook when the hook is in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Goodrich Aerospace Services Private LimitedInventors: Nilesh R. Walke, Amar Patel, William E. Luce
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Publication number: 20210190110Abstract: A landing gear system includes a composite tube. The composite tube comprises at least one of (i) a filament wound composite tube, (ii) a filament braided tube, and (iii) a composite tube of laid up filament. The landing gear system further comprises a first lug cluster mounted to the composite tube and a second lug cluster mounted to the composite tube. The first lug cluster and the second lug cluster are oriented at an angle to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E. Luce
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Patent number: 10974819Abstract: A latch assembly for a shock strut may comprise a first linkage coupled to a strut cylinder and a shrink piston of the shock strut. A second linkage may be coupled to the strut cylinder. The second linkage may be configured to rotate the first linkage in response to the shock strut translating between a landing gear up position and a landing gear down position.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E. Luce
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Patent number: 10968933Abstract: The present disclosure describes lug clusters for composite tubes and methods for making such lug clusters. Lug clusters of the present disclosure may include a first side, a second side, and a saddle. The saddle may be placed in adjacent contact with a tube and a filament may be wound around the lug cluster and tube. The wound lug cluster and tube may be resin transfer molded. Machining may follow to remove material and finalize the shape of the lug cluster and/or tube. Thus, a lug cluster may be attached to a composite tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E. Luce
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Patent number: 10829207Abstract: A non jamming shrink latch is provided and may comprise a cradle, a first rocker arm, a first inboard pivot, and a first outboard pivot, wherein the first inboard pivot is coupled to the first rocker arm at a first end and the first outboard pivot is coupled to the first rocker arm at a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the cradle is coupled to the first outboard pivot. In various embodiments, a non jamming shrink latch may further comprise a second rocker arm coupled to the cradle at a second outboard pivot and a second inboard pivot coupled to the second rocker arm opposite the second outboard pivot.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventor: William E. Luce
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Patent number: 10766606Abstract: A landing gear arrangement may comprise a lever configured to be coupled between an axle and a strut piston of a shock strut, a load damper configured to be externally coupled between the shock strut and the lever, wherein the load damper is configured to increase a length of the landing gear arrangement in response to an extension force of the load damper increasing above a ground force reacted through the landing gear arrangement. The load damper may be located externally from the strut piston.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventors: Charles J. Spink, Ian Kopp, Dennis W. Martin, William E. Luce
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Patent number: 10717520Abstract: A shock strut may comprise a strut cylinder, a strut piston operatively coupled to the strut cylinder, a shrink piston disposed at least partially within the strut cylinder, and a shrink chamber at least partially defined by the shrink piston. The shrink piston may comprise a shrink piston head, a sleeve extending from the shrink piston head, and a mechanical stop. A hydraulic fluid may be moved into the shrink chamber to compress the shrink piston and the strut piston into the strut cylinder to reduce an overall length of the shock strut.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E. Luce
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Patent number: 10641685Abstract: A method for monitoring a shock strut may comprise measuring a first shock strut pressure, measuring a first shock strut temperature, measuring a second shock strut pressure, measuring a second shock strut temperature, measuring a shock strut stroke, and determining a servicing condition of the shock strut based upon the first shock strut pressure, the first shock strut temperature, the second shock strut pressure, the second shock strut temperature, and the shock strut stroke and taking into account at least one of an absorption of a gas with a fluid and desorption of the gas with the fluid. In various embodiments, the method may further comprises measuring a third shock strut pressure, measuring a third shock strut temperature, wherein the servicing condition is further based upon the third shock strut pressure and the third shock strut temperature.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventors: William E Luce, Amir Fazeli
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Patent number: 10612617Abstract: A shock strut may comprise an orifice plate comprising a metering pin aperture and a percolation aperture. The percolation aperture may be configured to allow a gas to move from a first chamber to a second chamber in response to the shock strut moving from a retracted position to a deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventors: William E. Luce, Alvin Fong
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Patent number: 10486802Abstract: A landing gear arrangement may comprise a shock strut, a retraction actuator, and a shrink actuator. The retraction actuator may move the shock strut between a stowed position and a deployed position. The shrink actuator may move between a shrink position and an unshrink position in response to the shock strut moving between the stowed position and the deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E. Luce
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Patent number: 10464663Abstract: A remote hydraulic system for an aircraft may provide hydraulic fluid to nose landing gear while being isolated from the main landing gear and other main hydraulic systems of the aircraft. A supply pressure accumulator may be configured to supply hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic load of the nose gear. A pressure sensor may be configured to detect a hydraulic pressure in the supply pressure accumulator. A pump may be in fluid communication with the supply pressure accumulator and configured to switch on in response to the hydraulic pressure below a threshold value. A return pressure accumulator may be configured to store the hydraulic fluid returning from the hydraulic load. The pump may drive fluid from the return pressure accumulator to the supply pressure accumulator.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E. Luce
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Patent number: 10457386Abstract: A damper is provided for responding to relative movement of arms to which the damper is coupled. The damper includes a member, springs, a first housing and a second housing. The first housing includes a first body and first bellows affixed to the member and the first body by first joints to define a first interior. The second housing includes a second body and second bellows affixed to the member and the second body by second joints to define a second interior. The first and second interiors are configured to contain fluid charged therein and the member is configured to permit bi-directional flows of the fluid between the first and second interiors responsive to the relative movement of the arms and in opposition to an elasticity of the springs.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventors: William E. Luce, Poly Puthur John, Anupkumar Salunke
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Patent number: 10384769Abstract: A landing detection system for a landing gear assembly of an aircraft may comprise a moveable member mechanically coupled between an aircraft wheel and a strut piston, wherein the moveable member is in communication with a strut chamber pressure of the landing gear assembly, wherein the moveable member moves relative to the strut piston in response to a first force applied to the aircraft wheel and the strut piston strokes in response to a second force applied to the aircraft wheel.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E Luce
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Publication number: 20190233092Abstract: A method of operating an uplocking system includes contacting with a latchable member a first surface of an opening of a hook biased in a first rotational direction relative to a body, rotating the hook in a second rotational direction with the contacting, moving the hook out of a first position relative to the body, rotating the hook in the first rotational direction after release of the contacting with the latchable member, moving the hook into a second position relative to the body, the first position and the second position being stable when the hook is biased in the first rotational direction without contact being made against the first surface, and retaining the latchable member with a second surface of the hook when the hook is in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: GOODRICH AEROSPACE SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITEDInventors: Nilesh R. Walke, Amar Patel, William E. Luce
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Publication number: 20190203796Abstract: A shock strut may comprise an orifice plate comprising a metering pin aperture and a percolation aperture. The percolation aperture may be configured to allow a gas to move from a first chamber to a second chamber in response to the shock strut moving from a retracted position to a deployed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventors: William E. Luce, Alvin Fong
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Publication number: 20190193846Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling aircraft shock strut shrink are provided. The system may comprise a shock strut comprising a shrink piston, an accumulator comprising a gas piston and a hydraulic chamber, wherein the gas piston is configured to apply gas pressure to the hydraulic chamber, and a first valve in fluid communication with the accumulator. The system may further comprise a second valve, wherein the second valve is in fluid communication with a vent, the pneumatic cylinder, and the gas piston, wherein the first valve is in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber and the shrink piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2017Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventors: William E. Luce, Adam J. Ditzler
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Publication number: 20190185147Abstract: A latch assembly for a shock strut may comprise a first linkage coupled to a strut cylinder and a shrink piston of the shock strut. A second linkage may be coupled to the strut cylinder. The second linkage may be configured to rotate the first linkage in response to the shock strut translating between a landing gear up position and a landing gear down position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventor: William E. Luce
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Publication number: 20190185146Abstract: A non jamming shrink latch is provided and may comprise a cradle, a first rocker arm, a first inboard pivot, and a first outboard pivot, wherein the first inboard pivot is coupled to the first rocker arm at a first end and the first outboard pivot is coupled to the first rocker arm at a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the cradle is coupled to the first outboard pivot. In various embodiments, a non jamming shrink latch may further comprise a second rocker arm coupled to the cradle at a second outboard pivot and a second inboard pivot coupled to the second rocker arm opposite the second outboard pivot.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: Goodrich CorporationInventor: William E. Luce