Barber Colman Company

Ge Aviation Systems Limited

Lance F Miller

Kenneth J Eakman

Julian Alexander Opificius

Terry L Coons

Peter C Hightower

Athanasios Kyriazopoulos

Kent I Weber

Nicholas F Campagna

Mike Andres

Michael Andres

Bryan E Schwichtenberg

Ronald J Soave

An apparatus and method for deicing a surface upon which ice accumulates, on for example an aircraft wing. The apparatus and method for the deicing module include an actuating component, a casing, and a movable member. The movable member breaks ice that has accumulated on a surface of the wing.

Deicing module for an aircraft and method for deicing

A method and system for thermal management includes an engine heat exchanger configured to transfer waste heat from an engine to a heat transfer fluid and an engine exhaust heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with the engine heat exchanger wherein the engine exhaust heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from an exhaust of the propulsive engine to the pumped heat transfer fluid. A bypass valve is coupled in parallel with the engine exhaust heat exchanger wherein the bypass valve is selectable to modulate a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the engine exhaust heat exchanger and a plurality of accessory heat exchangers that are coupled in flow communication with at least one of the engine heat exchanger and the engine exhaust heat exchanger and each of the plurality of accessory heat exchangers flow is controllable using a modulating valve.

Method and system for vehicle thermal management

A switched reluctance generator that can be used in an air cycle machine, where the generator uses the energy from the shaft of the air cycle machine to provide a back-up power supply to the magnetic bearings supporting the shaft. The generator includes circuitry for comparing the non-commutated excitation current with a command signal to regulate the excitation current, thereby regulating the generator output voltage.

Switched reluctance generator

A backup bearing for use with magnetic bearings to support a rotating shaft in the event that the magnetic bearings fail due to the loss of electric power. The backup bearing includes a housing and a fluid film bearing element which is adapted to passively float in the housing and with the shaft during normal operation of the magnetic bearings and which is adapted to support the rotating shaft on a film of fluid if the magnetic bearings fail.

Backup bearing for magnetic bearings

A plurality of electromagnetics in an array surround a shaft, with current controlled in the coils of the electromagnets to support the shaft at a desired position approximately centered between the electromagnets. Shaft position sensors provide feedback to a control system for modulating the current to the electromagnet coils, which are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the shaft. A drive circuit for each coil includes first and second switching transistors which connect the coil to the power supply to transfer a current pulse to the coil. A pair of circulating diodes begin conducting when the transistors turn off, and return power to the supply. A control circuit for the drive circuits interleaves on and off intervals for the coils in the electromagnet pairs so that one coil of the pair is being switched off at about the same time as the other coil of the pair is being switched on. The result is that the energy being returned to the power supply by the off-turning coil is diverted, at least in part, to the on-turning coil, thereby to reduce net current drain from the power supply.

Growing community of inventors

Rockford, IL, United States of America

Lance F Miller