Patents by Inventor Bert J. Smith

Bert J. Smith 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: 5263846
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a main rotor collective pitch control assly for rotary wing aircraft. The assembly uses segmented rotor blades. The collective pitch of each movable segment may be independently varied, or may be adjusted in unison with one or more other segments on the same or different rotor blades. Control inputs may be made manually by the pilot or may be made by a computer which interprets data pertaining to the vibrational level and velocity of each rotor span. The pilot may override the computer in the event of system failure or if otherwise desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Bert J. Smith
  • Patent number: 4953811
    Abstract: In order to compensate for the torque component generated by the main rotor f a helicopter, the helicopter engine turns a tail rotor while it is turning the main rotor. Tail rotors, while essential components, take power from the engine, introduce a drag force, add weight, and increase rotor noise. Since the engine is as close as possible to the main rotor, the complexity, number of parts, weight and efficiency of the remote tail rotor have gone unchanged. By this invention, those parts, and hence their added weights, have been eliminated. A self-driving tail rotor for a helicopter is provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Bert J. Smith