Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Patent number: 10196127
    Abstract: A wing pivot apparatus for rotating a wing between a flight orientation and a stowed orientation relative to a fuselage of a tiltrotor aircraft. The apparatus includes a stow ring that is rotatably mounted to the fuselage. Forward and aft wing attach assemblies are coupled respectively to forward and aft spars of the wing and are coupled to the stow ring. Forward and aft connecting assemblies are coupled respectively between the forward and aft wing attach assemblies and the stow ring and are selectively securable respectively to first and second fore-aft beams of the fuselage. A plurality of lock assemblies selectively secures the connecting assemblies to the fore-aft beams of the fuselage when the wing is in the flight orientation. An actuator coupled to the fuselage is operable to reversibly rotate the wing between the flight orientation and the stowed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Brian Dale Obert
  • Patent number: 10196151
    Abstract: A rotorcraft includes a fuselage having a fuel tank receiving assembly with a fuel tank positioned therein. The fuel tank including a plurality of interconnected fuel bags operable to contain liquid fuel. A network of straps is disposed about the fuel tank forming a restraint assembly. The network of straps includes at least one perimeter strap extending at least partially about at least two fuel bags and at least one surrounding strap extending at least partially about the at least two fuel bags. The at least one perimeter strap has at least two intersections with the at least one surrounding strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Peryea, Michael Reaugh Smith, Douglas Hamelwright, Jr., Albert G. Brand, Nicholas J. Plagianos, Joshua Emrich, Timothy Carr
  • Patent number: 10196139
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a drivelink comprising a housing including a socket, wherein the socket comprises a cross-sectional area, and a bearing cartridge disposed within the socket, wherein a cross-sectional area of the cartridge is less than the cross-sectional area of the socket. An apparatus comprising a drivelink comprising a housing having a socket, and a bearing cartridge positioned within the socket and comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to undergo compression when a load is applied to the drivelink, and wherein the second portion is configured to not be in tension when the load is applied to the drivelink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Emily Schofield, Chad Lewis Jarrett, Daniel P. Sottiaux, Frank Bradley Stamps
  • Patent number: 10195953
    Abstract: A charging system charges a lithium battery of a utility vehicle. The charging system includes a receptacle configured to couple with an external charger, a lithium battery configured to provide lithium battery power to a set of electrical loads of the utility vehicle, and control circuitry coupled with the receptacle and the lithium battery. The control circuitry is configured to detect connection between the external charger and the receptacle and, in response to detecting connection between the external charger and the receptacle, ascertain a charging state of the lithium battery. The control circuitry is further configured to output, based on the charging state, a control signal to the external charger through the receptacle, the control signal being configured to control charging output from the external charger to charge the lithium battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Norman R. Padgett, John Ledden
  • Publication number: 20190031331
    Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons extending therebetween and having a two-dimensional distributed thrust array of outboard propulsion assemblies attached thereto. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control a rotor speed and a thrust vector of each propulsion assembly. In a low thrust to weight configuration, transitions from the VTOL orientation to the biplane orientation include establishing a pitch down flight attitude while engaging in collective thrust vectoring of the outboard propulsion assemblies to maintain hover stability followed collectively reducing the thrust vector angles to initiate forward flight. In a high thrust to weight configuration, transitions from the VTOL orientation to the biplane orientation include maintaining a level flight attitude while collectively increasing the thrust vector angles of the outboard propulsion assemblies to initiate forward flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Publication number: 20190031316
    Abstract: A foldable wing system for an unmanned aerial system having a fuselage includes a left wing frame having an inboard gear rotatably coupled to the fuselage, a right wing frame having an inboard gear rotatably coupled to the fuselage and a wing actuator coupled to a linkage point on at least one of the wing frames. The wing frames are movable between a plurality of positions including a deployed position and a stowed position. The inboard gear of the left wing frame is engaged with the inboard gear of the right wing frame such that the wing frames move symmetrically between the plurality of positions in response to movement of the linkage point by the wing actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Levi Charles Hefner, Dakota Charles Easley, Danielle Lynn Moore
  • Publication number: 20190032491
    Abstract: In a first aspect, there is a method of making a rotor blade, including designing at least one of an upper skin, a lower skin, a support network, and components therefor; and forming at least one of the upper skin, the lower skin, a support network, and components therefor using an additive manufacturing process. In a second aspect, there is an airfoil member having a root end, a tip end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the airfoil member including an upper skin; a lower skin; and a support network having a plurality of interconnected support members in a lattice arrangement and/or a reticulated arrangement, the support network being configured to provide tailored characteristics of the airfoil member. Also provided are methods and systems for repairing an airfoil member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Nissen, Jared M. Paulson, Thomas S. Chiang
  • Publication number: 20190031334
    Abstract: A mission configurable aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons extending therebetween. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array is attached to the airframe. The thrust array including a plurality of inboard propulsion assemblies coupled to first and second inboard nacelle stations of the first and second wings. The thrust array also includes a plurality of outboard propulsion assemblies coupled to first and second outboard nacelle stations of the first and second wings. A flight control system is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A payload is coupled to the airframe. The inboard propulsion assemblies have a thrust type that is different from the thrust type of the outboard propulsion assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Publication number: 20190031371
    Abstract: A method for facilitating the design and manufacturing of a tiltrotor aircraft, including the steps of: determining a compatible mission data set; identifying lift propulsion module components for the compatible mission data set; determining compatible specifications; and generating a design for a lift propulsion module; wherein the lift propulsion module is configured to be connected to at least two different fuselages. There is also a method of designing a tiltrotor aircraft, comprising the step of modularizing a lift propulsion system, wherein the lift propulsion system is configured to be connected to at least two different fuselages. In another aspect, there is a tiltrotor aircraft including a fuselage; and a lift propulsion module, the lift propulsion module including a mounting surface; wherein the lift propulsion module is coupled to the fuselage on the mounting surface. Also included are methods of assembling and systems including a lift propulsion module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kendall Goodman, Steven R. Ivans
  • Publication number: 20190031337
    Abstract: An aerial imaging aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween. The airframe has a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis in the VTOL orientation. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array is coupled to the airframe. The thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies each operable for variable speed and omnidirectional thrust vectoring. A payload is coupled to the airframe and includes an aerial imaging module. A flight control system is operable to independently control the speed and thrust vector of each of the propulsion assemblies such that in a level or inclined flight attitude, the flight control system is operable to maintain the orientation of the aerial imaging module toward a focal point of a ground object while translating the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Publication number: 20190031361
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly for an aircraft includes a nacelle having a rapid connection interface, at least one battery disposed within the nacelle, a speed controller coupled to the battery and a propulsion system coupled to the speed controller and the battery. The propulsion system includes an electric motor having an output drive and a rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor blades that are rotatable with the output drive of the electric motor in a rotational plane to generate thrust. The electric motor is operable to rotate responsive to power from the battery at a speed responsive to the speed controller. The rapid connection interface of the nacelle is couplable to a rapid connection interface of an airframe nacelle station to provide structural and electrical connections therebetween that are operable for rapid in-situ assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Publication number: 20190031338
    Abstract: Systems and methods of prioritizing the use of flight attitude controls of aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. A method includes determining an optimal flight attitude state for the aircraft during flight, the aircraft including first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween forming an airframe with a two-dimensional distributed thrust array and a plurality of aerosurfaces coupled to the airframe; monitoring the current flight attitude state of the aircraft; identifying deviations between the current flight attitude state and the optimal flight attitude state; ordering the flight attitude controls of the aircraft based upon the flight attitude control authority of each in the current flight attitude state; and implementing the highest order flight attitude control to bias the aircraft from the current flight attitude state toward the optimal flight attitude state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Publication number: 20190031336
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automated configuration of mission specific aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Publication number: 20190031339
    Abstract: An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons extending therebetween. The first and second wings each having first and second outboard nacelle stations. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array is attached to the airframe. The thrust array including a plurality of outboard propulsion assemblies coupled to the first and second outboard nacelle stations of the first and second wings. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A cargo hook module is coupled to the airframe. The cargo hook module is operable for external load operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Publication number: 20190031335
    Abstract: A man portable aircraft system includes first and second wings with first and second pylons couplable between pylon stations thereof to form an airframe. Each of a plurality of propulsion assemblies is couplable to one of a plurality of nacelle stations of the wings to form a two-dimensional distributed thrust array. A flight control system is couplable to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A payload is couplable between payload stations of the first and second pylons. A man portable container is operable to receive the wings, pylons, propulsion assemblies, flight control system and payload in a disassembled configuration. The connections between the wings, pylons, propulsion assemblies and payload are operable for rapid in-situ assembly. In an assembled configuration, the aircraft is operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Publication number: 20190031333
    Abstract: An aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and a forward flight mode. The aircraft includes a fuselage and a dual tiltwing assembly having a vertical lift orientation and a forward thrust orientation relative to the fuselage. The dual tiltwing assembly includes a forward wing and an aft wing coupled together and to the fuselage by a quadrilateral linkage. A distributed propulsion system is coupled to the dual tiltwing assembly and includes a plurality of forward propulsion assemblies coupled to the forward wing and a plurality of aft propulsion assemblies coupled to the aft wing. A flight control system is operably associated with the distributed propulsion system and the dual tiltwing assembly. The flight control system is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies and is operable to transition the dual tiltwing assembly between the vertical lift orientation and the forward thrust orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Landon Groninga, Daniel Bryan Robertson
  • Patent number: 10190458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a storage tank (1) in a motor vehicle for receiving an aqueous urea solution for the SCR of nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas. The storage tank (1) comprises a tank body which forms a storage volume (2) for the urea solution. The storage tank (1) furthermore comprises a filling pipe for filling the storage volume (2) and means for venting the storage volume (2) during the refuelling, wherein the filling pipe (3) has a filling head (9) at a remote end, and the filling head (9) forms an orifice stub (10). The orifice stub (10) defines an orifice (11) for receiving a fuel pump nozzle. Said orifice stub furthermore has an external thread for receiving a complementary union thread of a refuelling cylinder for refuelling by the gas displacement method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ibrahim Koukan, Holger Luehn, Nicolai Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10190672
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, a drive system that can be operated to rotate the rotor blade, and an emergency valve control unit. The drive system contains a first gearbox assembly, a second gearbox assembly, a first lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly, and a second lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly. The drive system also contains an emergency valve that can be opened to deliver lubricant from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly. The emergency valve control unit can instruct the emergency valve to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: Ryan T. Ehinger
  • Publication number: 20190024779
    Abstract: A method of avoiding gear tooth interference in a planetary gear system includes designing and building a planetary gear system comprising a selected base pitch and tooth length for planet gears, breaking a rim of one of the planet gears, and verifying whether tooth tip interference occurs during operation of the planetary gear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Ron Woods
  • Patent number: D840063
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Peterson, Matthew Jayne