Patents by Inventor William J. Godecker

William J. Godecker 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: 11667386
    Abstract: A system for communicating between passenger seats and an aircraft galley. The system may include a control unit including a display area for interfacing with a crew member. The system may include a plurality of devices, each positioned at a respective passenger seat. The control unit may be adapted to display on the display area data related to a particular order, including a location of an associated passenger seat. The control unit may be further adapted to transmit to a particular device associated with the order notifications concerning a status of the particular order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Patent number: 11332250
    Abstract: A system for communicating between passenger seats and an aircraft galley. The system may include a control unit including a display area for interfacing with a crew member. The system may include a plurality of devices, each positioned at a respective passenger seat. The control unit may be adapted to display on the display area data related to a particular order, including a location of an associated passenger seat. The control unit may be further adapted to transmit to a particular device associated with the order notifications concerning a status of the particular order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Publication number: 20200062402
    Abstract: A system for communicating between passenger seats and an aircraft galley. The system may include a control unit including a display area for interfacing with a crew member. The system may include a plurality of devices, each positioned at a respective passenger seat. The control unit may be adapted to display on the display area data related to a particular order, including a location of an associated passenger seat. The control unit may be further adapted to transmit to a particular device associated with the order notifications concerning a status of the particular order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Publication number: 20190382118
    Abstract: A system for communicating between passenger seats and an aircraft galley. The system may include a control unit including a display area for interfacing with a crew member. The system may include a plurality of devices, each positioned at a respective passenger seat. The control unit may be adapted to display on the display area data related to a particular order, including a location of an associated passenger seat. The control unit may be further adapted to transmit to a particular device associated with the order notifications concerning a status of the particular order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Patent number: 10488084
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a refrigeration system that cools a compartment includes a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, a condenser fan motor, an evaporator, an evaporator fan, an evaporator fan motor, and tubing adapted to transport refrigerant through the refrigeration system in a circulation order from the compressor to the condenser to the evaporator and back to the compressor again. The evaporator fan may be positioned in an air inlet path to the evaporator. The evaporator fan motor may be outside a chilled air circuit of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Qiao Lu, William J. Godecker, Richard Rigney
  • Patent number: 10450069
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes an air chiller, a liquid coolant line that couples the air chiller with a central liquid coolant cooling system of a vehicle, a storage compartment stowage area having an interior for stowing a plurality of removable storage compartments, and a duct system that circulates chilled air from the air chiller through the storage compartment stowage area. The air chiller includes a compressor, a liquid-cooled condenser, an evaporator, and a tubing to circulate refrigerant. The liquid-cooled condenser transfers heat from the refrigerant to the liquid coolant which is then cooled by the central liquid coolant cooling system of the vehicle. The air chiller is situated parallel to the storage compartment stowage area along a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the removable storage compartments are removed and replaced. The duct system circulates chilled air from the evaporator through the interior of the storage compartment stowage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Qiao Lu, William J. Godecker
  • Patent number: 10370105
    Abstract: A system for communicating between passenger seats and an aircraft galley. The system may include a control unit positioned in the galley, the control unit including a display area for interfacing with a crew member. The system may include a plurality of personal display screens, each positioned at a respective passenger seat. The system may include a communication bus providing a communication connection between the control unit and each of the personal display screens. The system may include an input on each of the personal display screens to receive a food or beverage order. The control unit may be adapted to display on the display area data related to a particular order, including a location of an associated passenger seat. The control unit may be further adapted to transmit to a particular personal display screen associated with the order notifications concerning a status of the particular order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Patent number: 10021970
    Abstract: An improved aircraft air chiller unit particularly suited for an aircraft galley that requires refrigerated or cooled beverage/meal carts and/or chilled storage compartments. The chiller of the present invention takes the form of a line replaceable unit (“LRU”) and incorporates a liquid-cooled refrigerant vapor compression cycle, arranged in a housing with a vertical orientation. Because of the vertical orientation, ducting on the rear surface of the chiller is omitted, reducing the overall footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Qiao Lu, William J. Godecker, James R. Forbes
  • Patent number: 9994319
    Abstract: An aircraft galley power and control system is disclosed having a plurality of electrical appliances within a monument, the galley control system including a control panel removed from the electrical appliances that include controls for operating each of the electrical appliances, The galley also includes a galley controller interface for receiving commands from a display screen on the control panel and communicating the commands to the electrical appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Patent number: 9840329
    Abstract: An integrated aircraft galley structure includes a service module having a plurality of galley inserts including at least one oven and at least one refrigeration unit. The service module is formed with a plurality of bays sized to receive the plurality of galley inserts, along with a human machine interface for controlling all of the galley inserts. The service module further includes a plurality of galley insert modules for controlling each galley insert, and an insert power and control unit for each galley insert for controlling power to said insert. The entire system is controlled by a galley power and control unit for controlling each of the insert galley power and control units, and an AC distribution unit for distributing power to the insert power and control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Grant J. West, Ralph B. Thayer
  • Publication number: 20170217590
    Abstract: An aircraft galley power and control system is disclosed having a plurality of electrical appliances within a monument, the galley control system including a control panel removed from the electrical appliances that include controls for operating each of the electrical appliances, The galley also includes a galley controller interface for receiving commands from a display screen on the control panel and communicating the commands to the electrical appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: William J. GODECKER, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Patent number: 9676483
    Abstract: A chiller for an aircraft galley that is sized to be disposed in a compartment for housing beverage carts, the chiller comprising a vapor cycle refrigeration system with a liquid cooled condenser located within the housing and a liquid cooling unit located within the housing. Further, the vapor cycle refrigeration system and the liquid cooling unit have a combined footprint that is less than a footprint of a food and beverage cart within the housing, such that the space occupied by the chiller displaces no more than one beverage cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Qiao Lu, Torsten Trumper
  • Publication number: 20170038122
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for cooling a plurality of compartments includes a chiller and a duct providing fluid communication between the chiller and a plurality of compartments. The refrigeration system additionally includes a plurality of individually controllable fans that individually draw cooling fluid through the duct from the chiller and into a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments. A plurality of sensors monitors the temperature and pressure of the cooling fluid circulating through the chiller. A controller individually controls each of the plurality of individually controlled fans based on the corresponding temperature inside each of the plurality of compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Qiao Lu, William J. Godecker
  • Publication number: 20160332730
    Abstract: An aircraft galley power and control system is disclosed having a plurality of electrical appliances within a monument, the galley control system including a control panel removed from the electrical appliances that include controls for operating each of the electrical appliances. The galley also includes a galley controller interface for receiving commands from a display screen on the control panel and communicating the commands to the electrical appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Publication number: 20160244168
    Abstract: An integrated aircraft galley structure includes a service module having a plurality of galley inserts including at least one oven and at least one refrigeration unit. The service module is formed with a plurality of bays sized to receive the plurality of galley inserts, along with a human machine interface for controlling all of the galley inserts. The service module further includes a plurality of galley insert modules for controlling each galley insert, and an insert power and control unit for each galley insert for controlling power to said insert. The entire system is controlled by a galley power and control unit for controlling each of the insert galley power and control units, and an AC distribution unit for distributing power to the insert power and control units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Grant J. West, Ralph B. Thayer
  • Patent number: 9415872
    Abstract: An aircraft galley power and control system is disclosed having a plurality of electrical appliances within a monument, the galley control system including a control panel removed from the electrical appliances that include controls for operating each of the electrical appliances, The galley also includes a galley controller interface for receiving commands from a display screen on the control panel and communicating the commands to the electrical appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Nicolaas Van Zwieten, Michael Kemery, Eid-Beng Goh
  • Publication number: 20160231030
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a refrigeration system that cools a compartment includes a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, a condenser fan motor, an evaporator, an evaporator fan, an evaporator fan motor, and tubing adapted to transport refrigerant through the refrigeration system in a circulation order from the compressor to the condenser to the evaporator and back to the compressor again. The evaporator fan may be positioned in an air inlet path to the evaporator. The evaporator fan motor may be outside a chilled air circuit of the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Qiao Lu, William J. Godecker, Richard Rigney
  • Patent number: 9399516
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit for an aircraft galley comprises a frame establishing a main compartment, and a side window that receives a side access compartment, where a the dividing wall separates the side compartment interior space from a main chilled compartment. A side door mounted to the side access compartment allows access to the side compartment but not the main compartment, allowing segregation of snacks and items accessible to passengers via self-serve from those that are only distributed by flight attendants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron B. Hawkins, Jesse R. Peck, William J. Godecker, Victor A. Zankich
  • Patent number: 9352838
    Abstract: An aircraft galley is disclosed having a stand-alone beverage station and a stand-alone food preparation station. Each station is equipped with extendable work decks and integrated equipment for plug and play exchange. The beverage station is equipped with brewing stations and a top loading refuse compartment, and the food preparation station is configured with multiple ovens and refrigeration units. The galley further includes a side refrigeration unit which can be used as a self-service beverage area for passengers, and both stations may further be configured with LED displays for communicating with passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Peter John Leslie Burd, William D. Aronson, Nicolaas J. van Zwieten, Sebastian Petry, Christopher I. Pirie, Mike Kemery, Aaron Hawkins, Erik Nilsen, Eddie Goh
  • Patent number: 9340290
    Abstract: An integrated aircraft galley structure includes a service module having a plurality of galley inserts including at least one oven and at least one refrigeration unit. The service module is formed with a plurality of bays sized to receive the plurality of galley inserts, along with a human machine interface for controlling all of the galley inserts. The service module further includes a plurality of galley insert modules for controlling each galley insert, and an insert power and control unit for each galley insert for controlling power to said insert. The entire system is controlled by a galley power and control unit for controlling each of the insert galley power and control units, and an AC distribution unit for distributing power to the insert power and control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Godecker, Grant J. West, Ralph B. Thayer