Patents by Inventor James E. Sobel

James E. Sobel 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).

  • Publication number: 20210403168
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a tiltrotor aircraft comprises one or more engines that provide thrust whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a first forward flight mode, one or more electrical or hydraulic power sources, and two or more pylon assemblies. Each pylon assembly houses one or more electric or hydraulic motors connected to the one or more electrical or hydraulic power sources and a proprotor. All or part of each pylon assembly is rotatable. The proprotors provide lift whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a hover mode, and provide thrust whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a second forward flight mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, James E. Sobel, Alan Hisashi Steinert, David Henderson Loe
  • Patent number: 9676478
    Abstract: In some aspects, a master cylinder assembly for vertical lift aircraft is configured to move pressurized fluid through a conduit in response to applied movement of an input lever. A low pressure relief valve can be connected to a first conduit to limit pressure to a low level. An isolation valve can be connected to the first conduit and configured to isolate the low pressure relief valve from the conduit when engaged. A high pressure relief valve can be connected to a second fluid conduit to limit pressure to a high level. In some aspects, a rotor brake actuator is fluidly connected to the first conduit and the second conduit and configured to engage a rotor brake in response to hydraulic fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Carl T. Elving, James E. Sobel, Michael Pujol
  • Patent number: 9399984
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons, a second plurality of pistons, a first cam, a second cam, and a cam rotation device. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The first cam is disposed about the first plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second cam is disposed about the second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The cam rotation device is coupled to the first cam and the second cam. The cam rotation device is operable to rotate the first cam in a first direction and the second cam in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Fenny, James E. Sobel
  • Patent number: 9303638
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons, a second plurality of pistons, a first cam, a second cam, and a coupling device. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The first cam is disposed about the first plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second cam is disposed about the second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The coupling device is operable to couple the cylinder block to a cylinder block of a second radial fluid device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Fenny, James E. Sobel
  • Patent number: 9228571
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons including a first piston, and a second plurality of pistons including a second piston. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second piston is configurable to begin its stroke at a different time relative to the first piston within the first cylinder pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Fenny, James E. Sobel
  • Publication number: 20150259064
    Abstract: In some aspects, a master cylinder assembly for vertical lift aircraft is configured to move pressurized fluid through a conduit in response to applied movement of an input lever. A low pressure relief valve can be connected to a first conduit to limit pressure to a low level. An isolation valve can be connected to the first conduit and configured to isolate the low pressure relief valve from the conduit when engaged. A high pressure relief valve can be connected to a second fluid conduit to limit pressure to a high level. In some aspects, a rotor brake actuator is fluidly connected to the first conduit and the second conduit and configured to engage a rotor brake in response to hydraulic fluid pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Carl T. Elving, James E. Sobel, Michael Pujol
  • Patent number: 9004614
    Abstract: In some aspects, a master cylinder assembly for vertical lift aircraft is configured to move pressurized fluid through a conduit in response to applied movement of an input lever. A low pressure relief valve can be connected to a first conduit to limit pressure to a low level. An isolation valve can be connected to the first conduit and configured to isolate the low pressure relief valve from the conduit when engaged. A high pressure relief valve can be connected to a second fluid conduit to limit pressure to a high level. In some aspects, a rotor brake actuator is fluidly connected to the first conduit and the second conduit and configured to engage a rotor brake in response to hydraulic fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Elving, James E. Sobel, Michael Pujol
  • Publication number: 20150084403
    Abstract: In some aspects, a master cylinder assembly for vertical lift aircraft is configured to move pressurized fluid through a conduit in response to applied movement of an input lever. A low pressure relief valve can be connected to a first conduit to limit pressure to a low level. An isolation valve can be connected to the first conduit and configured to isolate the low pressure relief valve from the conduit when engaged. A high pressure relief valve can be connected to a second fluid conduit to limit pressure to a high level. In some aspects, a rotor brake actuator is fluidly connected to the first conduit and the second conduit and configured to engage a rotor brake in response to hydraulic fluid pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Carl T. Elving, James E. Sobel, Michael Pujol
  • Publication number: 20130343915
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons, a second plurality of pistons, a first cam, a second cam, and a cam rotation device. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The first cam is disposed about the first plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second cam is disposed about the second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The cam rotation device is coupled to the first cam and the second cam. The cam rotation device is operable to rotate the first cam in a first direction and the second cam in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Fenny, James E. Sobel
  • Publication number: 20130343923
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons, a second plurality of pistons, a first cam, a second cam, and a coupling device. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The first cam is disposed about the first plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second cam is disposed about the second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The coupling device is operable to couple the cylinder block to a cylinder block of a second radial fluid device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Fenny, James E. Sobel
  • Publication number: 20130343914
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons including a first piston, and a second plurality of pistons including a second piston. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second piston is configurable to begin its stroke at a different time relative to the first piston within the first cylinder pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Fenny, James E. Sobel