Patents by Inventor David Bockmiller

David Bockmiller 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: 11738879
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an aircraft that includes a fuselage and a rotatable wing disposed above the fuselage. At least one cross-wing driveshaft is disposed within the wing and is driven in rotation by a drive system connected to first and second engines that are located at respective sides of the fuselage beneath the wing. The drive system is so configured that one or both of the first engine and the second engine can drive the at least one cross-wing driveshaft in the event of failure of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Gilliland, David Bockmiller
  • Patent number: 11713804
    Abstract: An exemplary passive oil system includes a reservoir housing configured in operation to rotate around a rotational axis, the reservoir housing defining a reservoir between a top wall, a bottom wall, innermost side, and an outer sidewall; and an outlet positioned adjacent the outer sidewall to discharge a lubrication fluid contained in the reservoir in response to the reservoir housing rotating around the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Olson, David Bockmiller
  • Publication number: 20220106054
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an aircraft that includes a fuselage and a rotatable wing disposed above the fuselage. At least one cross-wing driveshaft is disposed within the wing and is driven in rotation by a drive system connected to first and second engines that are located at respective sides of the fuselage beneath the wing. The drive system is so configured that one or both of the first engine and the second engine can drive the at least one cross-wing driveshaft in the event of failure of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Gilliland, David Bockmiller
  • Patent number: 11230388
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an aircraft that includes a fuselage and a rotatable wing disposed above the fuselage. At least one cross-wing driveshaft is disposed within the wing and is driven in rotation by a drive system connected to first and second engines that are located at respective sides of the fuselage beneath the wing. The drive system is so configured that one or both of the first engine and the second engine can drive the at least one cross-wing driveshaft in the event of failure of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Gilliland, David Bockmiller
  • Publication number: 20210254705
    Abstract: An exemplary passive oil system includes a reservoir housing configured in operation to rotate around a rotational axis, the reservoir housing defining a reservoir between a top wall, a bottom wall, innermost side, and an outer sidewall; and an outlet positioned adjacent the outer sidewall to discharge a lubrication fluid contained in the reservoir in response to the reservoir housing rotating around the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen OLSON, David BOCKMILLER
  • Patent number: 11009116
    Abstract: An exemplary passive oil system includes a reservoir housing configured in operation to rotate around a rotational axis, the reservoir housing defining a reservoir between a top wall, a bottom wall, innermost side, and an outer sidewall; and an outlet positioned adjacent the outer sidewall to discharge a lubrication fluid contained in the reservoir in response to the reservoir housing rotating around the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Olson, David Bockmiller
  • Patent number: 10946954
    Abstract: A variable-speed gearbox for a tiltrotor with fixed engine and rotating proprotor includes an input shaft coupled to the respective fixed engine, an output shaft coupled to the respective proprotor; a high-speed clutch integrated into a high-speed gear train, the high-speed gear train having an input coupled to the input shaft and an output coupled to the output shaft; and a low-speed clutch integrated into a low-speed gear train, the low-speed gear train having an input coupled to the input shaft and an output coupled to the output shaft. The high-speed clutch and the low-speed clutch can be freewheeling clutches capable of disconnecting the output and the input of the respective gear train of the high and low-speed gear trains in an overrunning condition when the output rotates faster than the input of the respective gear train. The low-speed clutch can be permanently engaged. In accordance to some embodiments the variable-speed gearboxes may include an accessory drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Ehinger, David Bockmiller, Eric Sinusas
  • Publication number: 20190344877
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an aircraft that includes a fuselage and a rotatable wing disposed above the fuselage. At least one cross-wing driveshaft is disposed within the wing and is driven in rotation by a drive system connected to first and second engines that are located at respective sides of the fuselage beneath the wing. The drive system is so configured that one or both of the first engine and the second engine can drive the at least one cross-wing driveshaft in the event of failure of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Colton Gilliland, David Bockmiller
  • Publication number: 20190323596
    Abstract: An exemplary passive oil system includes a reservoir housing configured in operation to rotate around a rotational axis, the reservoir housing defining a reservoir between a top wall, a bottom wall, innermost side, and an outer sidewall; and an outlet positioned adjacent the outer sidewall to discharge a lubrication fluid contained in the reservoir in response to the reservoir housing rotating around the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen OLSON, David BOCKMILLER
  • Publication number: 20190016451
    Abstract: A variable-speed gearbox for a tiltrotor with fixed engine and rotating proprotor includes an input shaft coupled to the respective fixed engine, an output shaft coupled to the respective proprotor; a high-speed clutch integrated into a high-speed gear train, the high-speed gear train having an input coupled to the input shaft and an output coupled to the output shaft; and a low-speed clutch integrated into a low-speed gear train, the low-speed gear train having an input coupled to the input shaft and an output coupled to the output shaft. The high-speed clutch and the low-speed clutch can be freewheeling clutches capable of disconnecting the output and the input of the respective gear train of the high and low-speed gear trains in an overrunning condition when the output rotates faster than the input of the respective gear train. The low-speed clutch can be permanently engaged. In accordance to some embodiments the variable-speed gearboxes may include an accessory drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan EHINGER, David BOCKMILLER, Eric SINUSAS
  • Patent number: 9541468
    Abstract: A method of modifying a workpiece includes providing a workpiece, determining a load stress profile associated with a load condition, the load stress profile comprising a load stress greater than a material stress limit of the workpiece, determining a residual stress profile, the residual stress profile comprising a residual stress less than the material stress limit of the workpiece, and providing the workpiece with the residual stress profile, wherein a sum of the load stress and the residual stress is less than the material stress limit of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Ron Woods, David Bockmiller
  • Patent number: 9309917
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first shaft member including a first material and having a first shaft axis, a first distal end having a first diameter, and a first proximate end, and a second shaft member including a second material different from the first material, and having a second shaft axis, a second proximate end having a second diameter, and a second distal end. A joint permanently affixes the first distal end of the first shaft member to the second proximate end of the second shaft member such that the first shaft axis is aligned with the second shaft axis, where the first distal end substantially abuts the second proximate end, and wherein the first diameter is substantially identical to the second diameter. The second shaft member protrudes through a housing, the housing including a seal sealing against an outer diameter of the second shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Poster, David Bockmiller, Mark Przybyla
  • Publication number: 20150219524
    Abstract: A method of modifying a workpiece includes providing a workpiece, determining a load stress profile associated with a load condition, the load stress profile comprising a load stress greater than a material stress limit of the workpiece, determining a residual stress profile, the residual stress profile comprising a residual stress less than the material stress limit of the workpiece, and providing the workpiece with the residual stress profile, wherein a sum of the load stress and the residual stress is less than the material stress limit of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Ron Woods, David Bockmiller
  • Patent number: 9068908
    Abstract: A method of modifying a workpiece includes providing a workpiece, determining a load stress profile associated with a load condition, the load stress profile comprising a load stress greater than a material stress limit of the workpiece, determining a residual stress profile, the residual stress profile comprising a residual stress less than the material stress limit of the workpiece, and providing the workpiece with the residual stress profile, wherein a sum of the load stress and the residual stress is less than the material stress limit of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Ron Woods, David Bockmiller
  • Publication number: 20140256458
    Abstract: A bimetallic shaft for use in gearbox applications wherein the member of shaft that protrudes from the gearbox is designed and constructed from a corrosion-resistant metallic compound to prevent corrosion and wear to exposed shaft material. A gearbox comprising a bimetallic shaft having a corrosion-resistant material on the portion of the bimetallic shaft that protrudes from a gearbox housing, wherein a gearbox shaft seal radially surrounds the bimetallic shaft. A method of providing a bimetallic gearbox shaft comprising: a first shaft member comprising a non-corrosion-resistant material and having a first shaft axis, a second shaft member comprising a corrosion-resistant material and having a second shaft axis, and a joint that permanently affixes the first shaft member to the second shaft member such that the first shaft axis is aligned with the second shaft axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Poster, David Bockmiller, Mark Przybyla
  • Patent number: 8721462
    Abstract: A bimetallic shaft for use in gearbox applications wherein the member of shaft that protrudes from the gearbox is designed and constructed from a corrosion-resistant metallic compound to prevent corrosion and wear to exposed shaft material. A gearbox comprising a bimetallic shaft having a corrosion-resistant material on the portion of the bimetallic shaft that protrudes from a gearbox housing, wherein a gearbox shaft seal radially surrounds the bimetallic shaft. A method of providing a bimetallic gearbox shaft comprising: a first shaft member comprising a non-corrosion-resistant material and having a first shaft axis, a second shaft member comprising a corrosion-resistant material and having a second shaft axis, and a joint that permanently affixes the first shaft member to the second shaft member such that the first shaft axis is aligned with the second shaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Poster, David Bockmiller, Mark Przybyla