Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Extruded part, battery housing having an extruded part, method for producing an extruded part, extrusion tool
    Patent number: 11981051
    Abstract: An extruded part is formed by extrusion of at least one polymer melt, wherein the polymer melt or polymer melts has/have two melt fronts, which form two material inner edges of the extruded part when the polymer melt or polymer melts is/are in the solidified state; —the two material inner edges are integrally bonded to each other and define a linear binding seam of the extruded part. The binding seam is situated in a connection region of the extruded part; and—the extruded part has at least one fiber grid, which is situated in the connection region of the extruded part and is connected to the extruded part such that the fiber grid bridges the two material inner edges. The extruded part may be a part of a battery housing for a traction battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, Weber Fibertech GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut Wolf, Norbert Stötzner
  • Electrochemical machining of geometrically complex passages
    Patent number: 11980959
    Abstract: An electrochemical machining assembly for boring a passage in an electrically conductive workpiece. The electrochemical machining assembly includes an electrochemical machining tool having a telescoping collar with an articulating head coupled thereto. The telescoping collar is actuated between a contracted configuration and an extended configuration to advance the telescoping collar stepwise in the passage. The articulating head is tiltable relative to the telescoping collar to determine a direction of the passage. The electrochemical machining assembly is configured to remove material from the workpiece upon application of a voltage between the articulating head and the workpiece via a circulating electrolyte fluid to lengthen the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Monahan
  • Integrated flight battery cargo platform
    Patent number: 11981452
    Abstract: An exemplary integrated battery cargo platform includes a housing having an exterior surface and a structural strength to support cargo for transit on a top surface, a battery enclosed in the housing with power contacts exposed at the exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Landry
  • Electric tiltrotor aircraft with fixed motors
    Patent number: 11975826
    Abstract: A rotor system for an aircraft includes an open rotor assembly comprising an open rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades connected to a rotor mast, wherein the rotor assembly is tiltable relative to a wing of the aircraft between a first position corresponding to an airplane mode of the aircraft and a second position corresponding to a helicopter mode of the aircraft; and a drive system for providing rotational energy to the open rotor assembly via the rotor mast. The drive system includes at least one electric motor for generating rotational energy to a motor shaft; and a gearbox connected to receive rotational energy from the at least one electric motor via the motor shaft and to provide rotational energy to the rotor mast via a rotor shaft, wherein the at least one electric motor is fixed relative to the wing of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Knoll, George Matthew Thompson, Charles Hubert Speller, Grant Michael Beall
  • Reduced-engine operation technique for rotorcraft
    Patent number: 11975860
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to an aircraft having a multi-engine configuration with multiple engines. The aircraft may have a flight control system coupled to the multiple engines with a multi-engine interface. The flight control system may be configured to shutdown at least one engine of the multiple engines during reduced-engine operation by continuously calculating altitude for the reduced-engine operation based on one or more of an aircraft descent rate of the aircraft and an engine restart time of the at least one engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Dewey Parsons
  • System and method of monitoring reduced performance
    Patent number: 11975868
    Abstract: A reduced performance monitoring system for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a physical component of the tiltrotor aircraft configured to displace over time in response to an input, a simulation component configured to generate a simulated displacement response of the physical component, and a comparison module configured to compare a measured physical displacement response of the physical component to the simulated displacement response of the physical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Keith B Leffler, Guy Bernard, Randy Aloysius, Michael Logies
  • Hybrid power systems for aircraft
    Patent number: 11975851
    Abstract: A hybrid power system for a vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) aircraft including a first power source operable to provide a power output for at least a forward flight mode; and a second power source configured to provide a high specific power output for an altitude adjustment flight mode, the second power source including an auxiliary gas generator coupled to a turbine and a drive system. In other aspects, there is provided a VTOL aircraft and methods for providing power to a VTOL aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Troy C. Schank
  • Two position door handle with push-push mechanism
    Patent number: 11976496
    Abstract: A handle assembly for an access panel is described and includes a support structure attached to the access panel; a handle engaging with the support structure, the handle comprising a grip portion and upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion; and a retention/extension mechanism for retaining the handle in a first position and for transitioning the handle to a second position after pressure is applied to and subsequently released from the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: William Anthony Amante, Arunkumar Koppa Siddalingappa
  • System and method for calibrating torque measurements
    Patent number: 11975828
    Abstract: A torque measurement system determines torque on a shaft by monitoring angular deflection of the shaft under load using phase shift measurements. Calibration of the system uses a defined offset that is determined using a reference operating condition. The offset calibration value is determined for a rotorcraft using the following steps: defining a reference operational condition in which the shaft is rotating, estimating the torque at the reference condition based on aerodynamic knowledge of the rotors coupled to the shaft, operating the shaft at the reference operational condition, capturing sensor data to determine the phase difference at the operational condition, and associating the phase difference and an estimated torque as a calibration value to enable calculation of torque in the torque measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Eric Covington, Brian E. Tucker
  • Over-centering blade lock
    Patent number: 11975831
    Abstract: An exemplary blade lock for a tiltrotor aircraft to enable and disable a folding degree of freedom and a pitching degree of freedom of a rotor blade assembly includes a link pivotally connected to a lever and a bellcrank, where the link is in a center position when the lever is in a locked position disabling the folding degree of freedom and the lever is secured in the locked position when the link is positioned in an over-center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Andrew Maresh
  • Turn into wind method and system
    Patent number: 11975817
    Abstract: A method for reducing form drag on a tailsitter aircraft during at least one of takeoff or landing includes vertically taking off from the ground in a tailsitter orientation. The method also includes determining an actual pitch of the tail sitter aircraft in the tailsitter orientation. The method also includes determining a difference between the actual pitch and a predetermined pitch. The method also includes adjusting a heading of the tailsitter aircraft based on the difference to minimize a pitch angle to reduce the form drag on the tailsitter aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, Jr., Russell C. Peters, Nathaniel G. Lundie
  • Spline with expendable spherical alignment head
    Patent number: 11975825
    Abstract: A spline assembly, including a spline shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is splined to engage a spline receiver of a primary drive system and includes a substantially spherical alignment head, wherein the spherical alignment head comprises an expendable hydrocarbon material that is caused to melt by operation of the primary drive system over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Ross Bernklau
  • ENERGY ATTENUATING AIRCRAFT WINDSHIELD CORNER SUPPORTS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20240140586
    Abstract: In an aircraft, the airframe includes a windshield frame, with an energy attenuating windshield corner support extending across a corner of the windshield frame. The energy attenuating windshield corner support is configured to deform upon an impact to a windshield disposed in the windshield frame. This energy attenuating windshield corner support may be shaped and/or sized to enable, and/or comprised of a material that enables, the aircraft windshield corner support to deform upon the impact to the windshield disposed in the windshield frame, attenuating energy of the impact to the windshield disposed in the windshield frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Turgeon, Anthony Dionne, Sebastien Duval
  • Hybrid propulsion drive train system for tiltrotor aircraft
    Patent number: 11970277
    Abstract: The present invention includes a hybrid propulsion system for an aircraft comprising: an engine disposed within a fuselage of the aircraft, two electrical generators disposed within the fuselage and connected to the engine, and two nacelles. Each nacelle comprises a proprotor, and each nacelle houses two electric motors connected to the proprotor. Each electrical generator is connected to the two electric motors in each nacelle. The proprotors provide lift for vertical takeoff and landing in a helicopter mode. A fan is coupled to the fuselage and connected to two additional electric motors. Each additional electric motor is connected to one of the two electric generators. The fan provides thrust for forward flight during an airplane mode. The airplane mode includes increasing power to the fan while decreasing power to the proprotors to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Alexander Fenny, John Robert Wittmaak, Jr., Mike John Ryan, Joseph Scott Drennan
  • Unmanned aircraft vehicle state awareness
    Patent number: 11972692
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, Jr., Joshua A. Edler, Alan H. Steinert, Joshua A Duckett
  • Probeless airspeed and angle of attack measurements for propeller driven vehicles
    Patent number: 11970284
    Abstract: An exemplary method to determine an airspeed and an angle of attack of a propeller powered vehicle includes determining the power delivered to the propeller, the air density, a propeller power coefficient, an advance ratio for the propeller, and the airspeed using the advance ratio and determining the angle of attack using the airspeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Kip Gregory Campbell
  • Dual motor input with overrunning clutch
    Patent number: 11970283
    Abstract: A dual-motor system includes a first motor rotationally coupled to a first drive shaft. The first drive shaft is coupled to a common shaft couplable to a rotationally driveable member. The dual-motor system also includes a second motor rotationally coupled to a second drive shaft. The second drive shaft is coupled to the common shaft. The first motor and the second motor are coaxially aligned with the first drive shaft passing through the second drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Anisotropic magneto-resistive sensor flap-measuring systems
    Patent number: 11971277
    Abstract: A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system includes a rotor hub, a plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements interoperably coupled to the rotor hub and operable to measure flapping of the rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades connected to the rotor hub, and at least one flight control computer interoperably coupled to the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Patrick Smith, Troy Cyril Schank, Brady Garrett Atkins, Kynn Jerald Schulte
  • Winglet
    Patent number: D1026788
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Gonzalo Eduardo Mendoza, Corey Wailes Hagemeister, Kelly Ray Laflin
  • Winglet
    Patent number: D1026789
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Gonzalo Eduardo Mendoza, Corey Wailes Hagemeister, Kelly Ray Laflin