Patents Assigned to Textron
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Patent number: 12077213Abstract: A lightweight vehicle includes a first wheel assembly including a first wheel rotatable about an axis, a second wheel assembly including a second wheel rotatable about the axis, a platform including a chassis and a rear suspension assembly coupling the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly to the chassis, a first seat coupled to the chassis, and a second seat coupled to the chassis rearward of the first seat. At least a portion of the chassis has a planar shape. The second seat includes a bottom and a back. The back is positioned rearward of at least a portion of the bottom such that the second seat defines a forward-facing seating. At least a portion of the bottom of the second seat is positioned longitudinally rearward of a plane extending vertically upward from the axis about which the first wheel and the second wheel are rotatable.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2023Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Donny Lee Hammond, Jr., Sam Dean Smith, Trevor Douglas Roebuck, Landon Niles Ball
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Patent number: 12077212Abstract: A lightweight vehicle includes a pair of rear wheel assemblies, one or more front wheel assemblies, a universal assembly platform, and forward facing seating. The universal assembly platform includes a planar main vehicle chassis, a front suspension system connected to the planar main vehicle chassis and to which the one or more front wheel assemblies is mounted, and a rear suspension system connected to the planar main vehicle chassis and to which the pair of rear wheel assemblies is mounted. A front distal end of the one or more front wheel assemblies is longitudinally forward of a front end of the planar main vehicle chassis. The forward facing seating is mounted to the planar main vehicle chassis such that a portion of a seat bottom of the forward facing seating is located longitudinally rearward of an axis extending through a center of the pair of rear wheel assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2023Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Donny Lee Hammond, Jr., Sam Dean Smith, Trevor Douglas Roebuck, Landon Niles Ball
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Patent number: 12077211Abstract: A lightweight vehicle includes a pair of rear wheel assemblies, one or more front wheel assemblies, a universal assembly platform, and forward facing seating. The universal assembly platform includes a main vehicle chassis, a front suspension system coupled to the main vehicle chassis and to which the one or more front wheel assemblies is mounted, and a rear suspension system coupled to the main vehicle chassis and to which the pair of rear wheel assemblies is mounted. A front distal end of the one or more front wheel assemblies is longitudinally forward of a front end of the main vehicle chassis. The forward facing seating is mounted to the main vehicle chassis such that a portion of a seat bottom of the forward facing seating is located longitudinally rearward of an axis extending through a center of the pair of rear wheel assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2023Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Donny Lee Hammond, Jr., Sam Dean Smith, Trevor Douglas Roebuck, Landon Niles Ball
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Publication number: 20240286741Abstract: A universal-joint cross assembly includes a cross. Four compression rings are mounted at terminal positions of the cross. Each of the four compression rings is positioned at a 90° interval relative to adjacent ones of the four compression rings. The universal-joint cross assembly includes four inner balls. Each of the four inner balls is fixed to one of the four compression rings and forms a portion of a spherical bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: August 29, 2024Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Andrew Harloff, Andrew Maresh
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Patent number: 12071119Abstract: A technique controls an electric brake of a vehicle. The technique involves continuously providing power to the electric brake of the vehicle to continuously disengage the electric brake and allow the vehicle to move. The technique further involves, while power is continuously provided to the electric brake and the vehicle is moving, sensing a fault condition. The technique further involves, in response to sensing the fault condition, providing electric pulses to the electric brake in place of continuously providing power to the electric brake, the electric pulses having varying pulse timing that controls braking of the vehicle. Accordingly, the vehicle is able to provide a more consistent braking response regardless of variations in certain factors such as brake calibration and/or current wear, the current weight in the vehicle, the current temperature, etc.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2021Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Russell William King, Kevin Douglas Grove
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Patent number: 12071000Abstract: Fuel tank for a motor vehicle, —comprising a plastic wall which delimits a storage volume for storing fuel, —comprising one or more reinforcing elements for reinforcing the plastic wall, —with at least one reinforcing element being connected to an outer side of the plastic wall that faces away from the storage volume, characterized in that—a maximum thickness of at least one reinforcing element measured normal to the plastic wall is greater than the wall thickness of the plastic wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Ingo Ley, Frank Quant, Detlef Ankert
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Publication number: 20240278909Abstract: An tiltrotor aircraft includes a rotor position control system (RPCS). The RPCS includes an electric motor configured to selectively rotate the rotor blade, a target marker kinematically associated with the rotor blade, a sensor configured to sense a position of the target marker, and a flight control computer configured to selectively control the electric motor in a normal mode of operation in which the rotor blade provides thrust and a phase lock mode of operation in which the electric motor maintains the rotor blade in a predetermined indexed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2023Publication date: August 22, 2024Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Guy Bernard
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Publication number: 20240278935Abstract: A fixture for installing a bearing race around a mast at a particular location is described. The fixture includes a plurality of vertical rails; a mast retention assembly positioned in between the plurality of rails and connected to inner surfaces of the rails, the mast retention assembly including a mast retention opening for receiving the mast therethrough, the mast retention assembly maintaining the mast in a vertical orientation when the mast is disposed through the mast retention opening; and a shuttle translatably connected to inner surfaces of the rails, the shuttle configured to retain the bearing race in a bearing race retention opening of the shuttle and to translate the bearing race from an upper end of the mast as the mast is disposed through the mast retention opening, wherein the mast passes through an inner opening of the bearing race, and to the particular position on the mast.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2023Publication date: August 22, 2024Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Gregory Alan Spruce
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Patent number: 12065256Abstract: An aircraft that includes a fuselage, an electric motor driven propulsion system, and a fuel cell system configured to provide electricity to the electric motor. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, an air channel, and a cathode switch. The cathode switch being configured to convert between an air mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing air from the air channel, and an oxygen mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing oxygen from the oxygen tank.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Joseph Dean Rainville
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Publication number: 20240274020Abstract: Methods and systems are described for increasing the safety of unmanned vehicles. Failure rates of components can be combined and adjusted if necessary given sensor data or statistical or historical data that impacts failure rates. The failure rates of components can be combined to give an overall failure or success rate for a vehicle and can be compared to an accepted failure or success rate in connection with a hazard. Hazards with heightened safety requirements can be avoided by a contingency maneuver if the unmanned vehicle's failure or success rate is not acceptable.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Applicant: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, Joshua A. Edler, Alan H. Steinert, Joshua A. Duckett
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Publication number: 20240271564Abstract: A rotatable nacelle includes an engine inlet configured to receive air and an inlet air management system (IAMS). The IAMS includes a primary inlet configured to selectively allow air to flow into a duct associated with the engine air inlet via the primary inlet and a secondary inlet configured to selectively allow air to flow into the duct associated with the engine air inlet via the secondary inlet. The secondary inlet is configured to receive an air filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Daniel John Simpson, Tim Nobel, Mitchell Jay Griffith, Henry Roger Bredenkamp, Jr., David H. Loe, Paul Park
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Patent number: 12060910Abstract: An adjustable length crank arm includes a first component having a longitudinal length, a second component coupled to the first component, the second component having a longitudinal length. A total length of the crank arm can be adjusted by changing an amount of longitudinal overlap that exists between the first component and the second component. The adjustable length crank arm can include a first wedge and a second wedge and at least a portion of each of the first wedge and the second wedge is longitudinally captured between the first component and the second component.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Lancer Drake Halcom
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Patent number: 12060159Abstract: A system and method for reducing data noise for vehicle monitoring sensors using parameter-based correction. The system includes a sensor operable to make a sensor reading and generate a sensor signal, and a data server operable to acquire a condition indicator model correlating operational parameters with condition indicators, and to acquire a current condition indicator according to the sensor signal, the data server further operable to generate an adjusted condition indicator by adjusting the current condition indicator according to the condition indicator model, and to determine whether an alert condition is indicated, according to at least the adjusted condition indicator, by a condition indicator set that includes the adjusted condition indicator, and to provide an alert in response to determining that the alert condition is indicated.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2021Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventors: Brian Edward Tucker, Matthew Curtis Ledbetter, Silvio Mario Lopez, Drew Franklin Waller, Jobin J. Thomas
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Patent number: 12054276Abstract: A method of assembling an aircraft gearbox. The method includes mounting an outer race and a plurality of rollers of a roller bearing in an opening of a gearbox housing, mating a cylindrical guide sleeve having a lead-in chamfer with a gear assembly having a gear and a cylindrical shaft such that a trailing shoulder of the guide sleeve is positioned proximate a leading shoulder of the shaft, the shaft including an inner race of the roller bearing, axially passing the lead-in chamfer of the guide sleeve through the plurality of rollers, radially outwardly urging the rollers toward the outer race with the guide sleeve, axially passing the leading shoulder of the shaft through the plurality of rollers, positioning the inner race relative to the plurality of rollers to form the roller bearing and removing the guide sleeve from the gear assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2022Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: John Nathan Maxwell
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Patent number: 12054245Abstract: In an embodiment, an aircraft includes a drive system, a main engine coupled to the drive system to provide first power, and a supplemental engine coupled to the drive system to provide second power additive to the first power. The aircraft also includes a control system to control the main engine and the supplemental engine to optimize usage of the supplemental engine. The control system is operable to maintain the supplemental engine in a reduced power state at least until a determination is made that supplemental power is needed to satisfy a total power demand of the drive system. The control system is also operable to determine that supplemental power is needed to satisfy the total power demand of the drive system. The control system is further operable to increase a power level of the supplemental engine in response to the determination that supplemental power is needed.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2022Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Charles Eric Covington, Kent E. Donaldson, Andrew Thomas Carter
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Patent number: 12054244Abstract: A system and method for protecting a rotorcraft from entering a vortex ring state, the method including monitoring a vertical speed of a rotorcraft, comparing the vertical speed to a vertical speed safety threshold, and performing vortex ring state (VRS) avoidance in response to the vertical speed exceeding the vertical speed safety threshold. The performing the VRS avoidance includes determining a power margin available from one or more engines of the rotorcraft, limiting the vertical speed of the rotorcraft in response to the power margin exceeding a threshold, and increasing a forward airspeed of the rotorcraft in response to the power margin not exceeding the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2023Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventors: Albert Gerard Brand, Ronald Lorenz Kisor
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Patent number: 12053941Abstract: A manufacturing tool for forming composite structures includes at least one interchangeable mold template having a plurality of incorporated part shapes, and a backbone that connects to and supports the at least one interchangeable mold template during a process of laying up prepreg composite material to form a plurality of three-dimensional structures corresponding to the plurality of incorporated part shapes.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2021Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Lawrence Arthur Gintert, Isaac William Nelson, Herbert Lee Skidmore, Michael Preston McKown, Larry Gene Stephens
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Patent number: 12054277Abstract: An aircraft fuel system includes a fuel cell adapted to contain fuel. A fuel cell receiving assembly has an inner surface adapted to receive the fuel cell. A shaped foam substrate is machined from a foam substrate to fit between the inner surface of the fuel cell receiving assembly and the fuel cell. A polyurea spray coating substantially covers the shaped foam substrate to form a fuel cell cushion. The polyurea spray coating is sprayable onto the shaped foam substrate such that the fuel cell cushion is substantially nonabsorbent of fuel. The fuel cell cushion is interposable between the inner surface of the fuel cell receiving assembly and the fuel cell to cushion the fuel cell from damage.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Suvankar Mishra, Ronald James Turner
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Patent number: 12049992Abstract: An entry step lighting system for a deployable aircraft stairway. The system includes steps that having integrated light sources that direct and provide illumination to the steps. Some light sources illuminate strip lenses which indicate proximity to the step edges. Light emitted by a second group of light sources is directed into an angled face established on a riser wall between each step. The light bounces off of each angled face to illuminate the step below.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2023Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Edward Francis Funke, Rebecca Rae Groninga, Allan Dale Schrag
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Patent number: 12049304Abstract: A tail rotor isolation system for rotorcraft includes a secondary engine, first and second freewheeling units, an isolation assembly and a tail rotor system. The secondary engine is coupled to the input race of the first freewheeling unit. A main rotor system is coupled to the output race of the second freewheeling unit. The isolation assembly is coupled to the output race of the first freewheeling unit and has a fully engaged position coupling the input and output races of the second freewheeling unit and a partially engaged position coupled to the input race but decoupled from the output race of the second freewheeling unit. The tail rotor system is coupled to the input race of the second freewheeling unit such that in the partially engaged position of the isolation assembly, the overrunning mode of the second freewheeling unit isolates the tail rotor system from the main rotor system.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2022Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Eric Stephen Olson
