Patents Assigned to Textron, Inc.
  • Systems and method for aligning augmented reality display with real-time location sensors
    Patent number: 10783671
    Abstract: A method for aligning displayed data in an augmented reality (AR) display includes determining a selected location context associated with a piece of equipment, determining a process element associated with the piece of equipment and according to a selected engineering process, determining, according to a digital representation of the equipment, a first location of the process element, receiving meta-sensor location data for one or more meta-sensors in the piece of equipment and indicating a second location for each of the meta-sensors with respect to the selected location context, determining a third location of the AR display with respect to the selected location context, determining overlay data for the process element, determining a display location according to the first location, the third location and the location data of each meta-sensor, and displaying the overlay data at the display location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BELL TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Robert Chavez, Daniel Wesley Rowe, Michael Eugene Moody, Brian Edward Tucker
  • ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTED PROPULSION WITH DIFFERENT ROTOR ROTATIONAL SPEEDS
    Publication number: 20200290735
    Abstract: An exemplary electric distributed propulsion system includes two or more rotors that are individually controlled by the rotational speed of associated motors, an input control connected to the associated motors to provide rotational speed control to the two or more rotors to produce a desired net thrust, and a logic connected to the input control and the associated motors, the logic for controlling speed and direction of the two or more rotors to achieve the desired net thrust and to avoid a motor speed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Alexander Acee, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Eric Albert Sinusas, Yann Lavallee, Albert G. Brand
  • DUCTED THRUSTERS
    Publication number: 20200290725
    Abstract: An aircraft has a ducted thruster. The ducted thruster includes a duct having an inner wall, a stator hub disposed within the duct, a first stator extending along a first longitudinal axis between the inner wall and the stator hub, and a second stator. The second stator extends along a second longitudinal axis between the inner wall and the stator hub. The second longitudinal axis is either (1) substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis or (2) substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis and offset from the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Lewis Jarrett, Frank Bradley Stamps, Daniel Bryan Robertson, Kirk Landon Groninga, Matthew Edward Louis, William Anthony Amante, Robert Vaughn, Joseph Richard Carpenter, JR.
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING ROTOR STATES
    Publication number: 20200292410
    Abstract: An example of a rotor-state determining method for a rotor system includes, by a flight control computer, collecting data from a first sensor positioned on a first component of the rotorcraft, wherein the first sensor is isolated from movement of a rotor blade, collecting data from a second sensor positioned on a second component of the rotor system, wherein the second sensor detects movement of the rotor blade, filtering the data collected by the first sensor to remove noise from the data collected by the first sensor, filtering the data collected by the second sensor to remove noise from the data collected by the second sensor, calculating a difference between the filtered first data and the filtered second data to determine a parameter of the rotor blade, and responsive to the motion of the rotor blade, taking a corrective action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Eric COVINGTON, Michael David TRANTHAM, Evan Butler BENNETT
  • TENSION-TORSION STRAP
    Publication number: 20200290732
    Abstract: A tension-torsion strap, for example for a rotor aircraft, including a continuous length of carbon fiber tow arranged in multiple loops to form an elongated member extending between opposing ends and a flexible cover encasing the carbon fiber tow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul HALDEMAN, Gary MILLER
  • Convertible Biplane Aircraft for Capturing Drones
    Publication number: 20200290737
    Abstract: An aircraft for capturing drones includes an airframe having a drone channel with first and second wings extending outboard thereof. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to each of the first and second wings such that the rotor disc of each propulsion assembly is outboard of the drone channel. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A mesh bag is coupled to the drone channel forming a drone capture net. The aircraft is configured to convert between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft is also configured to overtake a drone during flight in the biplane orientation such that the drone passes through the drone channel into the mesh bag, thereby capturing the drone in the drone capture net.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Ray Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst, Brent Chadwick Ross, John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Pilot and Passenger Seat
    Publication number: 20200290749
    Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as a pilot and passenger seating. An aircraft employs a pilot seat, comprising a contoured structure having ergonomically formed and padded surfaces, with left and right arm supports that include an articulated control knob, movable in three rectangular axes and rotatable about a vertical axis to provide one or more aircraft steering functions for an aircraft, and a touch-sensitive control surface for controlling one or more power system components. A passenger seat, having a contoured structure, having ergonomically formed and padded surfaces, a headrest, a seat, a left support member, and a right support member are adapted to cradle a portion of a passenger's body to support the passenger during travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Levi Bilbrey, Andrew Zahasky, Joshua Edler, Joseph Scott Drennan, Doug Fidler, Rares Halmagean
  • Dynamic rotor-phasing unit
    Patent number: 10773794
    Abstract: A dynamic rotor-phasing unit can phase rotors in-flight for dynamic rotor tuning and in an idle state for aircraft storage. The input and output shafts can be clocked (e.g., rotated) from 0 degrees apart to in excess of 360 degrees apart or from 0 degrees apart to 140 degrees apart. Such rotation can minimize the footprint of an aircraft for stowing purposes, as the rotor blades can be folded to fit within a smaller area without disconnecting the drive system. Additionally, the unit can allow tiltrotor blades to be clocked during flight, which can allow the live-tuning of the aircraft's rotor dynamics. A fail-safe rotary actuator can rotate a stationary planet carrier to clock the input shaft and the output shaft. Alternatively, an actuator can position a slider housing to clock the input shaft and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Gilliland, Tyson Henry
  • Rotor hub with blade-to-blade dampers attached to the pitch change axis
    Patent number: 10773798
    Abstract: An aircraft rotor assembly has a yoke and a plurality of rotor blade assemblies coupled thereto. Each of the rotor blade assemblies include a rotor blade, a bearing, and a blade grip coupling the rotor blade to the bearing. Each of the rotor blades is rotatable about a lead-lag axis, flap axis, and a pitch change axis, wherein all the axes intersect within the bearing. Adjacent pairs of rotor blade assemblies are coupled together via a damper assembly that is coupled to the pitch change axis of each of the rotor blade assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Haldeman, Dalton T. Hampton, Bryan Marshall, Frank Bradley Stamps
  • Aircraft Door Structure
    Publication number: 20200283119
    Abstract: A door structure and method of assembling same. The door structure includes a door frame delimiting a door opening. The door frame has a latch housing portion defining a latch housing cavity extending along a length of the door frame. A door is mounted to the door frame and displaceable between an open position and a closed position. The door has a peripheral portion with an outer wall and an inner wall delimiting a cavity of the peripheral portion. A door latch assembly has a first latch member fixedly mounted to the door, and a door manipulator mounted to one of the door and the fuselage and coupled to a second latch member within the latch housing cavity of the door frame. The door manipulator is configured to be manipulated to displace the second latch member to engage and disengage the first latch member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Pier-Alexandre Pelletier, Guillaume Noiseux-Boucher
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ENGINE INLET FOR A RAM-AIR SYSTEM WITH AN ICING BYPASS
    Publication number: 20200284192
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and an engine housed in the fuselage. A ram-air engine inlet is formed on an exterior of the fuselage. The ram-air engine inlet is defined, at least in part, by a cowling door. The cowling door is moveable between a closed position and an open position. An intake duct fluidly couples the ram-air engine inlet to the engine. A filter is disposed across the intake duct. A bypass duct is formed in the ram-air engine inlet aft of the intake duct. The bypass duct is operable to be selectively opened and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David HAYNES, Thomas Dewey PARSONS, Shahryar FOTOVATI
  • HYBRID ROTOR PROPULSION FOR ROTOR AIRCRAFT
    Publication number: 20200283139
    Abstract: A hybrid rotor propulsion system includes a motor having a rotational output connected to a rotor and a prime mover connected to the motor through a rotational input, the prime mover configured to apply a rotational input speed to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Albert G. BRAND, Eric Albert SINUSAS
  • Auxiliary cargo storage bin
    Patent number: 10766538
    Abstract: A vehicle auxiliary storage compartment comprising a floor, a back wall that extends upward from the floor, and a front wall that extends upward from floor opposite the back wall, and a pair of opposing sidewalls disposed at opposing ends of the front wall and the back wall. The front wall is defined by a back side of a seating structure of a vehicle in which the auxiliary storage compartment is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Jhant, Matthew Baekelandt, Christopher Furman
  • Air inlet with integrated structural hand hold
    Patent number: 10766628
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an air inlet for an aircraft with an integrated hand hold. One innovative aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented as an air inlet on the exterior surface of a cowling for a rotorcraft, wherein the air inlet having a scoop that includes a bottom surface having a wide, flat, front edge that angles downward towards the back, an opening in the back for air to enter, and two lateral sides coupled to the bottom surface, where the two sides are planar on a top surface and become longer in height towards the opening in the back, and hand hold, where the hand hold is a trough or an indentation in the bottom surface of the scoop that extends along a side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Brent Scannell, Thomas Mast
  • Tail Rotor Gearbox Support Assemblies for Helicopters
    Publication number: 20200277049
    Abstract: A tail rotor assembly coupled to a tailboom of a helicopter includes a tail rotor gearbox having top, bottom and aft sides and a shroud surrounding the tail rotor gearbox. The shroud includes a shroud airframe having top and bottom portions. The tail rotor assembly includes a tail rotor gearbox support assembly configured to support the tail rotor gearbox within the shroud. The tail rotor gearbox support assembly includes a support column coupling the aft side of the tail rotor gearbox between the top and bottom portions of the shroud airframe, an upper support crossbar coupling the top side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe and a lower support crossbar coupling the bottom side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael Edwin Rinehart
  • FUEL CELL POWERED LINE-REPLACEABLE THRUST MODULE
    Publication number: 20200277069
    Abstract: A line-replaceable thrust module includes a nacelle configured to be mechanically connected to an anchoring location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an electric motor coupled to the nacelle, an electric speed controller configured to control the speed of the electric motor and configured to be electrically connected to a communication network of the UAV, and a fuel cell system configured to produce electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, a pressure regulator coupled to the hydrogen tank, and a supply line coupled between the pressure regulator and the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Dean Rainville, John Richard McCullough
  • Vibration control with active lag damper
    Patent number: 10759530
    Abstract: A rotor system includes a hub assembly, a first, second, and third rotor blade rotatably attached to the hub assembly, a first, second, and third damper pivotally attached to the hub assembly and pivotally attached to the first, second, and third rotor blade, respectively, and a control system operably associated with the first, second, and third damper. A method to control vibratory forces exerted on the hub assembly via the first and second rotor blade includes separately controlling a dynamic spring rate of each of the first and second dampers with the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Frank B. Stamps, Michael Smith
  • Aircraft
    Patent number: D894814
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Michael Edwin Rinehart, Lynn Francis Eschete, Jason Paul Winter, Derek Ray Eddins, Steven Allen Robedeau, Jr., Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Mark Loring Isaac, Andrew Thomas Carter, Aaron Alexander Acee, Glenn Alan Shimek, Jared Mark Paulson, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Brent Chadwick Ross, Steven Ray Ivans
  • Aircraft landing gear
    Patent number: D895528
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Loring Isaac
  • Combined aircraft fuselage and empennage
    Patent number: D896730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Michael Edwin Rinehart, Lynn Francis Eschete, Jason Paul Winter, Derek Ray Eddins, Steven Allen Robedeau, Jr., Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Andrew Thomas Carter, Aaron Alexander Acee, Andrew Paul Haldeman