Patents by Inventor Steven Kirk Spears

Steven Kirk Spears 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).

  • LAYUP OF TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT TUBES
    Publication number: 20210156415
    Abstract: A composite shaft has a fiber orientation that is a combination of fibers perpendicular to each other and a longitudinal axis of the shaft; and a second composite layer disposed at an angle ranging between 25 to 45 degrees+/?3 degrees from the fibers in the first composite layer; a third composite layer disposed at an angle ranging between 7 to 13 degrees+/?3 degrees from the fibers in the second composite layer and each subsequent transition layer(s); a fourth composite layer disposed at an angle ranging between 25 to 45 degrees+/?3 degrees from the fibers in the third composite layer(s); and a fifth composite generally perpendicular +/?3 degrees to each other and the fibers in the fourth composite layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Scott David Poster, Steven Kirk Spears
  • Friction damper with centering flexure
    Patent number: 10287005
    Abstract: A tail rotor drive system (TRDS) has a shaft, a housing extending around the shaft, a mount coupled to the housing via a friction assembly and a flexure, and a bearing assembly disposed between the housing and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Kirk Spears, Andrea Cheri Chavez, Brad Jeffrey Ekstrom
  • Torsional anomalies detection system
    Patent number: 10259572
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining failure diagnosis of drive systems of rotorcrafts through measuring the spectral characteristics of rotational oscillations and torsional oscillations and steady windup of a drive shaft. Mechanical anomalies of the drive system will alter the spectral characteristics of rotational oscillations and torsional oscillations and steady windup as detected by a pair of variable reluctance sensors in conjunction with a radial grating mounted on the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Keith Hale, Steven Kirk Spears, Brian Tucker
  • Torsional Anomalies Detection System
    Publication number: 20160304192
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining failure diagnosis of drive systems of rotorcrafts through measuring the spectral characteristics of rotational oscillations and torsional oscillations and steady windup of a drive shaft. Mechanical anomalies of the drive system will alter the spectral characteristics of rotational oscillations and torsional oscillations and steady windup as detected by a pair of variable reluctance sensors in conjunction with a radial grating mounted on the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Rodney Keith Hale, Steven Kirk Spears, Brian Tucker
  • FRICTION DAMPER WITH CENTERING FLEXURE
    Publication number: 20160264237
    Abstract: A tail rotor drive system (TRDS) has a shaft, a housing extending around the shaft, a mount coupled to the housing via a friction assembly and a flexure, and a bearing assembly disposed between the housing and the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Steven Kirk Spears, Andrea Cheri Chavez, Brad Jeffrey Ekstrom