Patents Assigned to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
  • Overload Inhibiting Torque Meter
    Publication number: 20200319042
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a drive shaft apparatus comprising a first rotary member and a second rotary member arranged coaxially with said first rotary member. The rotary members are fixedly connected at a first end so that they rotate together. Each rotary member has a set of elements spaced apart around its circumference at a second end. The elements on the first rotary member are spaced apart from the elements on the second rotary member at rest. The first rotary member undergoes torsion when a load is applied during rotation, which causes the first rotary member elements to move closer to the second rotary member elements. The first elements engage the second elements when a torque load less than a yield torque is applied to the first rotary member, which transfers at least a portion of the torque load to the second rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Keith Hale, Ron L. Woods
  • Fuselage embedded fuel tank
    Patent number: 10793285
    Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising fuel tank comprising a pressure vessel for storing fuel for a vehicle, the fuel tank disposed within a fuselage of the vehicle and extending a majority of a length of the fuselage, wherein a center of gravity of the fuel tank is substantially aligned with a center of gravity of the fuselage. The fuel tank may be disposed within the fuselage such that the fuel tank bears at least a portion of a load borne by the fuselage. Alternatively, the fuel tank may be disposed within the fuselage such that the fuel tank is isolated from loads borne by the fuselage. In certain embodiments, the fuel tank comprises a filament wound pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Greg Alan Whittaker, Bryan Keith Sugg
  • Masking tool system and method
    Patent number: 10792781
    Abstract: A masking tool system includes a first masking body and a second masking body. The first masking body includes a bore passing through a portion of the first masking body and a first sealing element disposed on a first end of the first masking body. The second masking body includes a bore passing through the second masking body and a second sealing element disposed on a first end of the second masking body. The system may also include a rod configured to pass through the bores of the first and second masking bodies and to secure the first and second masking bodies to a metallic article placed therebetween. A diagonal length of the masking tool system induces a wobbling rotation during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Lee Larson, Roland L. Walker, Jr., Mark Philip Vance, James Joseph Meyer, Edward P. Michaels, Jr.
  • Method for limiting interlaminar fatigue in composite laminate and a component incorporating the same
    Patent number: 10792896
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a rotor system for a rotorcraft includes a yoke, a blade, and a grip that is configured to couple the blade to the yoke. The grip has a plurality of baseline layers and a compliant layer. The baseline layers each have a plurality of fibers disposed in a first polymeric matrix. The compliant layer has a plurality of fibers disposed in a second polymeric matrix. The compliant layer is stronger than the baseline layer and the first polymeric matrix has a different chemical composition than the second polymeric matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Bogdan Roman Krasnowski, Robert Arnold Brack, Xiaoming Li, Robert Wardlaw
  • Articulating bifurcated integrated transition duct assembly
    Patent number: 10793283
    Abstract: A transition duct assembly includes a shared connector, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways for cooling one or more systems or components. Each primary cooling pathway includes a transition duct in fluid communication with the shared connector, and a transition connector in fluid communication with the transition duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Keith David Weaver, Michael Pujol, Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer, Nicholas Plagianos, Karl R. Burge, Thomas Mast
  • STRUCTURAL GASEOUS MATERIAL STORAGE TANK
    Publication number: 20200313209
    Abstract: A tank configured to store a pressurized gas therein and carry a structural load between components of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Dean Rainville, William Ben Johns
  • TILTROTOR CONTROLS SHIELD
    Publication number: 20200307773
    Abstract: A tiltrotor controls shield having a blade or wire substructure under a fragile spinner fairing improves bird strike durability. The present disclosure discloses a spinner wind fairing with a shield structure disposed thereunder for providing protection to the proprotor assembly components. The shield structure can segment a projectile, such as a bird, that penetrates the spinner fairing into a series of smaller and lower energy elements spread across a wider area, such that the rotor components can withstand the impact of the smaller elements without damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Michael Dearman, Terry Thompson
  • Variable directional thrust for helicopter tail anti-torque system
    Patent number: 10787253
    Abstract: The present invention includes an anti-torque assembly for a helicopter comprising a plurality of fixed blade pitch motors mounted on one or more pivots on the tail boom of the helicopter, wherein the plurality of fixed blade pitch motors on the one or more pivots are adapted to be oriented substantially in-plane with a tail boom of a helicopter during a first mode of operation that comprises a hover mode and wherein the fixed blade pitch motors are adapted to be oriented substantially off-plane from the tail boom of the helicopter during a second mode of helicopter operation that is different from the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Carlos Alexander Fenny, Erik John Oltheten
  • Electrical bus arrangement for ice protection systems
    Patent number: 10787267
    Abstract: The present invention includes a first barrier layer configured to cover a leading edge of the blade or wing; one or more electrical bus bars disposed on the first barrier layer proximate to and substantially parallel with the leading edge; a ground bus bar disposed on the first barrier layer proximate to and substantially parallel with the leading edge; a second barrier layer disposed over the one or more electrical bus bars and the ground bus bar; one or more heating elements disposed on the second barrier layer, and each heating element electrically connected to one of the electrical bus bars and to the ground bus bar; and a third barrier layer disposed over the one or more heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Jared Mark Paulson, Michael Christopher Burnett, Christopher E. Foskey
  • Semi-automatic rotor blade fold mechanism
    Patent number: 10787244
    Abstract: A blade-fold bushing system includes a splined bushing comprising a first plurality of teeth, a castellated bushing comprising a second plurality of teeth and a shaft portion configured to coaxially fit within the splined bushing, and a lock bushing coaxially aligned with the castellated bushing. A support tool for use with a blade-fold bushing system includes an outer head comprising a third plurality of teeth configured to mesh with the first plurality of teeth of the splined bushing, and an inner head comprising a fourth plurality of teeth configured to mesh with the second plurality of teeth of the castellated bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Glenn Alan Shimek
  • CYCLIC STICK SUPPORT AND FRICTION ADJUSTMENT
    Publication number: 20200301463
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a flight control stick support comprising a spherical bearing coupled to a flight control stick, a first plate having a first hole configured to receive a top portion of the spherical bearing, a second plate having a second hole configured to receive a bottom portion of the spherical bearing, and a clamping device configured to move the first plate relative to and the second plate to apply a variable force against the spherical bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Rogers, Joshua Emrich
  • ROTATING ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTED ANTI-TORQUE FIN
    Publication number: 20200298970
    Abstract: An exemplary anti-torque system for a helicopter includes two or more electric fans rotatably mounted on a tail boom, the two or more electric fans rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the tail boom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Alexander ACEE, Andrew Paul HALDEMAN
  • TENSION-TORSION STRAP
    Publication number: 20200290732
    Abstract: A tension-torsion strap, for example for a rotor aircraft, including a continuous length of carbon fiber tow arranged in multiple loops to form an elongated member extending between opposing ends and a flexible cover encasing the carbon fiber tow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul HALDEMAN, Gary MILLER
  • ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTED PROPULSION WITH DIFFERENT ROTOR ROTATIONAL SPEEDS
    Publication number: 20200290735
    Abstract: An exemplary electric distributed propulsion system includes two or more rotors that are individually controlled by the rotational speed of associated motors, an input control connected to the associated motors to provide rotational speed control to the two or more rotors to produce a desired net thrust, and a logic connected to the input control and the associated motors, the logic for controlling speed and direction of the two or more rotors to achieve the desired net thrust and to avoid a motor speed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Alexander Acee, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Eric Albert Sinusas, Yann Lavallee, Albert G. Brand
  • HYBRID ROTOR PROPULSION FOR ROTOR AIRCRAFT
    Publication number: 20200283139
    Abstract: A hybrid rotor propulsion system includes a motor having a rotational output connected to a rotor and a prime mover connected to the motor through a rotational input, the prime mover configured to apply a rotational input speed to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Albert G. BRAND, Eric Albert SINUSAS
  • Aircraft Door Structure
    Publication number: 20200283119
    Abstract: A door structure and method of assembling same. The door structure includes a door frame delimiting a door opening. The door frame has a latch housing portion defining a latch housing cavity extending along a length of the door frame. A door is mounted to the door frame and displaceable between an open position and a closed position. The door has a peripheral portion with an outer wall and an inner wall delimiting a cavity of the peripheral portion. A door latch assembly has a first latch member fixedly mounted to the door, and a door manipulator mounted to one of the door and the fuselage and coupled to a second latch member within the latch housing cavity of the door frame. The door manipulator is configured to be manipulated to displace the second latch member to engage and disengage the first latch member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Pier-Alexandre Pelletier, Guillaume Noiseux-Boucher
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ENGINE INLET FOR A RAM-AIR SYSTEM WITH AN ICING BYPASS
    Publication number: 20200284192
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and an engine housed in the fuselage. A ram-air engine inlet is formed on an exterior of the fuselage. The ram-air engine inlet is defined, at least in part, by a cowling door. The cowling door is moveable between a closed position and an open position. An intake duct fluidly couples the ram-air engine inlet to the engine. A filter is disposed across the intake duct. A bypass duct is formed in the ram-air engine inlet aft of the intake duct. The bypass duct is operable to be selectively opened and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David HAYNES, Thomas Dewey PARSONS, Shahryar FOTOVATI
  • Air inlet with integrated structural hand hold
    Patent number: 10766628
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an air inlet for an aircraft with an integrated hand hold. One innovative aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented as an air inlet on the exterior surface of a cowling for a rotorcraft, wherein the air inlet having a scoop that includes a bottom surface having a wide, flat, front edge that angles downward towards the back, an opening in the back for air to enter, and two lateral sides coupled to the bottom surface, where the two sides are planar on a top surface and become longer in height towards the opening in the back, and hand hold, where the hand hold is a trough or an indentation in the bottom surface of the scoop that extends along a side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Brent Scannell, Thomas Mast
  • FUEL CELL POWERED LINE-REPLACEABLE THRUST MODULE
    Publication number: 20200277069
    Abstract: A line-replaceable thrust module includes a nacelle configured to be mechanically connected to an anchoring location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an electric motor coupled to the nacelle, an electric speed controller configured to control the speed of the electric motor and configured to be electrically connected to a communication network of the UAV, and a fuel cell system configured to produce electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, a pressure regulator coupled to the hydrogen tank, and a supply line coupled between the pressure regulator and the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Dean Rainville, John Richard McCullough
  • THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE CURING PROCESS FOR COMPOSITE ROTORCRAFT STRUCTURE FABRICATION
    Publication number: 20200269556
    Abstract: A thermally conductive curing process adds conductive additives to create pathways for dissipating heat during a curing process, thereby reducing the cure time, increasing the output capability, and reducing cost. Conductive particles or short fibers can be dispersed throughout the resin system or composite fiber layers in pre-impregnated or RTM-processed composite material. By disposing conductive particles or short fibers in a resin as part of the curing process, heat generated during the curing process can dissipate more quickly from any type of composite, especially thick composites. Conductive additive examples include multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), graphene/graphite powder, buckyballs, short fibrous particulate, nano-clays, nano-particles, and other suitable materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Chiang, Jared M. Paulson