Patents by Inventor Kevin Worrell

Kevin Worrell 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: 8500597
    Abstract: A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Carlos A. Fenny, Charles J. Kilmain, Eric A. Sinusas, Kevin Worrell
  • Patent number: 8454475
    Abstract: A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T Ehinger, Carlos A Fenny, Charles J Kilmain, Eric A Sinusas, Kevin Worrell
  • Patent number: 8449432
    Abstract: A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T Ehinger, Carlos A Fenny, Charles J Kilmain, Eric A Sinusas, Kevin Worrell
  • Publication number: 20120214642
    Abstract: A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: RYAN T. EHINGER, Carlos A. Fenny, Charles J. Kilmain, Eric A. Sinusas, Kevin Worrell
  • Publication number: 20120208673
    Abstract: A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Carlos A. Fenny, Charles J. Kilmain, Eric A. Sinusas, Kevin Worrell
  • Publication number: 20120208670
    Abstract: A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: RYAN T. EHINGER, Carlos A. Fenny, Charles J. Kilmain, Eric A. Sinusas, Kevin Worrell
  • Patent number: 8133155
    Abstract: A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Carlos A. Fenny, Charles J. Kilmain, Eric A. Sinusas, Kevin Worrell
  • Publication number: 20110015034
    Abstract: A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: RYAN T. EHINGER, CARLOS A. FENNY, CHARLES J. KILMAIN, ERIC A. SINUSAS, KEVIN WORRELL