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).

  • Patent number: 10259568
    Abstract: A non-jamming shrink latch assembly for retractable aircraft landing gear is disclosed. The non-jamming shrink latch assembly may comprise a rod; a hook pivotally coupled to a first rod end of the rod; a lower link having a first lower link end and a second lower link end, wherein the first lower link end is pivotally coupled to the hook; and an upper link pivotally coupled to the second lower link end of the lower link. The hook may be configured to move from a locked position to an open position in response to receiving a mechanical load from the lower link. The hook may also be configured to move from the open position to the locked position in response to receiving a mechanical load from a roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Patent number: 10239607
    Abstract: A method for actuating a landing gear arrangement may include supplying a first pressure to an actuator, applying, by the actuator, a moment on a latch to rotate the latch in a first rotational direction, disengaging a first roller pin, engaging a stopper on a link, rotating the link in the first rotational direction about a pivot, the link coupled between a trailing arm and a shock strut, rotating the shock strut about a second end of the shock strut, rotating the trailing arm about a first end, and engaging a second roller pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20190023381
    Abstract: Systems and methods for uplock systems are provided. An uplock system may comprise a body, a hook having an opening defining at least a first surface and a second surface, the hook being rotationally engaged with the body, a first biasing member configured to bias the hook in a first rotational direction relative to the body, and a cam in operable communication with the hook and the body such that the hook has at least a first stable position and a second stable position relative to the body when biased in the first rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: GOODRICH AEROSPACE SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Nilesh R Walke, Amar Patel, William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20190016447
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: William E. Luce, Poly Puthur John, Anupkumar Salunke
  • Patent number: 10124884
    Abstract: Systems and methods for uplock systems are provided. An uplock system may comprise a body, a hook having an opening defining at least a first surface and a second surface, the hook being rotationally engaged with the body, a first biasing member configured to bias the hook in a first rotational direction relative to the body, and a cam in operable communication with the hook and the body such that the hook has at least a first stable position and a second stable position relative to the body when biased in the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GOODRICH AEROSPACE SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Nilesh R. Walke, Amar Patel, William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20180257763
    Abstract: A method for actuating a landing gear arrangement may include supplying a first pressure to an actuator, applying, by the actuator, a moment on a latch to rotate the latch in a first rotational direction, disengaging a first roller pin, engaging a stopper on a link, rotating the link in the first rotational direction about a pivot, the link coupled between a trailing arm and a shock strut, rotating the shock strut about a second end of the shock strut, rotating the trailing arm about a first end, and engaging a second roller pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20180194460
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Patent number: 10000279
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for retractable landing gear. A landing gear arrangement may comprise: a trailing arm; a shock strut; a link rotatably coupled to a first end of the shock strut and rotatably coupled to the trailing arm, the link including a pivot; a rotatable latch rotatably coupled to the link; and an actuator coupled between the rotatable latch and the trailing arm, the rotatable latch configured to rotate about the pivot, the pivot located between a first end and a second end of the rotatable latch, the rotatable latch configured to rotate in a first direction in response to the actuator extending and configured to rotate in a second direction in response to the actuator compressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20180162522
    Abstract: A non-jamming shrink latch assembly for retractable aircraft landing gear is disclosed. The non-jamming shrink latch assembly may comprise a rod; a hook pivotally coupled to a first rod end of the rod; a lower link having a first lower link end and a second lower link end, wherein the first lower link end is pivotally coupled to the hook; and an upper link pivotally coupled to the second lower link end of the lower link. The hook may be configured to move from a locked position to an open position in response to receiving a mechanical load from the lower link. The hook may also be configured to move from the open position to the locked position in response to receiving a mechanical load from a roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20180079496
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20180080486
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20180058985
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Luce, Amir Fazeli
  • Patent number: 9897122
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20180043998
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Patent number: 9776711
    Abstract: A landing gear is provided. The landing gear includes a composite strut tube having a first lug and a second lug thereon. A first brace is coupled to the composite strut tube with a first two-force member via the first lug and a second brace is coupled to the composite strut tube with a second two-force member via the second lug. A method for assembling the landing gear is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Patent number: 9771147
    Abstract: The landing gear systems, methods and apparatuses disclosed herein may comprise a shrink pump and a shrink valve that are capable of shrinking a landing gear by up to 40% of its available stroke, or more depending on the air spring configuration. The shrink pump may be configured to pump fluid (e.g., a hydraulic fluid) between an oil chamber, where hydraulic fluid is likely present and a shrink chamber to shrink the landing gear. Moreover, the shrink pump and shrink valve may be part of a strut shrink system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20170101172
    Abstract: a Systems and methods for uplock systems are provided. An uplock system may comprise a body, a hook having an opening defining at least a first surface and a second surface, the hook being rotationally engaged with the body, a first biasing member configured to bias the hook in a first rotational direction relative to the body, and a cam in operable communication with the hook and the body such that the hook has at least a first stable position and a second stable position relative to the body when biased in the first rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: GOODRICH AEROSPACE SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Nilesh R. Walke, Amar Patel, William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20170036757
    Abstract: A landing gear is provided. The landing gear includes a composite strut tube having a first lug and a second lug thereon. A first brace is coupled to the composite strut tube with a first two-force member via the first lug and a second brace is coupled to the composite strut tube with a second two-force member via the second lug. A method for assembling the landing gear is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: WILLIAM E. LUCE
  • Publication number: 20160341228
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Publication number: 20160280361
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for retractable landing gear. A landing gear arrangement may comprise: a trailing arm; a shock strut; a link rotatably coupled to a first end of the shock strut and rotatably coupled to the trailing arm, the link including a pivot; a rotatable latch rotatably coupled to the link; and an actuator coupled between the rotatable latch and the trailing arm, the rotatable latch configured to rotate about the pivot, the pivot located between a first end and a second end of the rotatable latch, the rotatable latch configured to rotate in a first direction in response to the actuator extending and configured to rotate in a second direction in response to the actuator compressing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce