Patents Assigned to Textron
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Patent number: 9604355Abstract: A handle for a hydraulically driven tool is provided reduces the amount of heat transmitted to the user of the tool as a result of the high temperature fluid flowing through the inner body of the handle. The inner body is formed of a heat transmissive material which has at least one channel through which the fluid flows. The handle has a number of properties which reduces heat transmission to the user, including standoffs, ribs and fastener receiving extensions.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2012Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventor: Gerald Jonathan Tully
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Patent number: 9604713Abstract: According to some embodiments, a door system includes a door attachment device and a receiver. The door attachment device may be coupled to a door, and the receiver may be coupled to a door frame. A receiving surface of the receiver may be configured to at least partially receive the door attachment device along a first axis. The receiving surface may have a non-planar portion curved relative to the first axis such that the receiving surface responds to movement of the door attachment device in a direction parallel to a second axis, the second axis perpendicular to the first axis, by repositioning the door attachment device in a third direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the first axis and the second axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventor: Steve Pothier
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Patent number: 9597826Abstract: A method of the present disclosure includes of repairing a core stiffened structure with structural foam. Another method includes splicing core members together using structural foam. Another method includes joining a core member to a structure using structural foam. Another method includes using structural foam to stabilize a core member during a machining process. Another method includes stabilizing a core member with structural foam to prevent the core member from crushing in autoclave pressure. The present disclosure further includes a core stiffened structure have a core member with structural foam therein.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Suvankar Mishra, Carl May, Robert Mark Chris
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Patent number: 9599212Abstract: A fluid system includes an emergency subsystem and a main subsystem in fluid communication with a working element. The main subsystem is in fluid communication with the emergency subsystem. The system operates in a standard mode and an emergency mode. During standard mode, both the main and emergency subsystems jointly provide fluid to the working element. During emergency mode, the emergency subsystem is configured for independently providing fluid to the working element.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Scott Poster
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Patent number: 9597845Abstract: In one particular embodiment, a method for making a fiber-reinforced, composite article having an internal passageway includes providing a layup tool, fiber placing a base layup onto the layup tool, and generating a groove in the base layup. The method further includes placing a mandrel in the groove, fiber placing a top layup onto the base layup and the mandrel, curing the base layup and the top layup, and removing the mandrel from the base layup and the top layup. In another particular embodiment, the mandrel is replaced with a non-removable tube.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: David A. Elliott, Charles J. Kilmain, Sherman S. Lin, Ron Measom, Walter Riley
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Publication number: 20170072598Abstract: A method of manufacturing a self-supporting, monolithic fuselage body, including engaging peripheral mandrel sections around at least one central mandrel section, placing uncured composite material on the mold surface, curing the composite material on the mold surface, and sliding the central mandrel section(s) out of engagement with the peripheral mandrel sections and disengaging the peripheral mandrel sections from the cured composite material without collapsing the mandrel sections. The peripheral mandrel sections each include a shape-retaining core of a thermally insulating material and an outer layer on an outer surface of the shape-retaining core. The outer layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion within the range of variation of that of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite material. A mandrel for layup and cure of a predetermined composite material in the manufacture of a monolithic fuselage is also discussed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Sylvain TESSIER, Richard GINGRAS, Jacques DIONNE, Felix BEDNAR
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Publication number: 20170072597Abstract: A method of manufacturing a monolithic component having internal wall(s), including separately placing uncured composite material on a mold parts, placing the mold parts on a support plate with a portion of the uncured composite material extending between and in contact with the adjacent mold parts, interconnecting the adjacent mold parts through a connection allowing limited relative movement on the support plate along a direction corresponding to a thickness of the uncured composite material therebetween, biasing the adjacent mold part toward each other along the limited relative movement to provide a compressive force on the uncured composite material extending therebetween, and curing the composite material to obtain the monolithic component with each internal wall being formed between adjacent mold parts. The bias causes the adjacent mold parts to move toward each other as the thickness of uncured material extending therebetween reduces during curing. A tool assembly is also discussed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Richard GINGRAS, Steven ROY, Marc-André OCTEAU, Pascal FORGET
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Publication number: 20170075639Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cockpit display system includes display tiles that together form a single, continuous display screen, a content generation unit configured to generate content instructions that instruct the display screen to display content comprising a plurality of information portions, a display feedback unit, and a content prioritization unit. Each information portion of the plurality of information portions is to be displayed on one or more display tiles of the plurality of display tiles. The display feedback unit is configured to detect a malfunction of one or more malfunctioning display tiles of the plurality of display tiles. The content prioritization unit is configured to instruct the content generation unit to generate updated content instructions. The updated content instructions move at least some of the information portions associated with the one or more malfunctioning display tiles to one or more display tiles that are not experiencing the malfunction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2015Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Jeremy R. Chavez
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Patent number: 9594058Abstract: One aspect of a process of inspecting a joint that connects two parts includes directing an ultrasonic beam from an ultrasonic beam transmitter at a joint that connects two parts, the ultrasonic beam forming an angle between at least 14 degrees and at most 21 degrees with a joint axis of the joint, wherein the ultrasonic beam passes through a joint thickness of the joint. The process also includes determining a quality of the joint based, in part, on a difference between a strength of the ultrasonic beam directed at the joint and a strength of a portion of the ultrasonic beam that passed through the joint thickness.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Robert James Barry
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Patent number: 9592901Abstract: A structural joint includes a first member having a first base portion and a first leg portion. The structural joint further includes a second member having a second base portion and a second base portion. The first base portion and the second base portion are coupled together at an overlapping portion. The first leg portion and the second leg portion form a cavity for structurally coupling to a structural member.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: John R. McCullough, David Gordon Carlson, James Donn Hethcock, Paul K. Oldroyd, Carl A. May
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Patent number: 9592919Abstract: One example of an aircraft fuel line assembly clamp member includes a c-shaped outer shell and a plurality of spokes. The c-shaped outer shell is sized to be positioned within an outer tube of an aircraft fuel line assembly. The plurality of spokes is arranged on an inner surface of the outer shell. The plurality of spokes protrudes from the inner surface towards a center of the outer shell to define a shape to receive an inner tube of the aircraft fuel line assembly. The plurality of spokes is also spaced apart on the inner surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Joseph Leachman
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Publication number: 20170067814Abstract: In one example embodiment, a filter condition measurement device features an engine data repository, one or more sensor units, and a measurement unit. The measurement system is configured to identify a first flow value corresponding to a sensed engine power value from the engine data repository, determine a filter coefficient for the filter as a function of the first flow value and the sensed delta-pressure value; identify a second engine power value from the plurality of stored engine power values and a second flow value corresponding to the second engine power value; and determine a second delta-pressure value for the air filter as a function of the filter coefficient and the second flow value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Alan H. Steinert
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Publication number: 20170067769Abstract: In one example embodiment, an engine flow measurement device features an engine data repository, one or more sensor units, and a measurement unit. The measurement system is configured to identify, from performance data, a maneuver performed during operation of the aircraft and to measure, for the identified maneuver, a plurality of maneuver flow values achieved during performance of the maneuver. The plurality of maneuver flow values correspond to a plurality of maneuver engine power values. Each of the plurality of maneuver flow values represent a volume of air flow through the air filter at a particular moment during performance of the maneuver.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Alan H. Steinert
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Patent number: 9586695Abstract: A system and method for illuminating one or more sidestick controllers within a cockpit of an aircraft is described. In some embodiments, the system includes a sidestick controller having lighting components that display lighting behaviors representing the movement and/or control of an aircraft. In some embodiments, the system illuminates various different lighting components on a sidestick controller based on information received from aircraft control systems, cockpit lighting systems, and other systems associated with an aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Robert Edward Voros
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Patent number: 9585198Abstract: A heater system includes a bag forming a cavity, a fluid bladder carried within the cavity and forming a fluidly sealed chamber. The fluid bladder being configured to store electrorheological fluid within a fluidly sealed chamber. The heater system further including an electrical wire in fluid communication with the electrorheological fluid and a heater blanket carried within the cavity. The method includes altering the electrorheological fluid with a current and providing heat with a heater blanket.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Brian S. Modrzejewski, Carlos Fenny
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Patent number: 9584086Abstract: A method of controlling an audio system includes generating a situation response model for a situation parameter, determining a situation parameter value, and at least one of (1) providing an audio system output as a function of the situation response model and the situation parameter value and (2) receiving an audio system input as a function of the situation response model and the situation parameter value.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: James M. McCollough, Tom Brooks, David Steinhoff, Lynn Morgan
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Patent number: 9575493Abstract: An air/ground contact logic management system for use with fly-by-wire control systems in an aircraft. The system includes a first sensor configured to provide an output signal to determine when the aircraft is in a transition region. A logic management system is in communication with the first sensor and is configured to receive and process the output signal and classify a mode of the aircraft. A controller receives signal data from the logic management system and communicates with a control axis actuator to regulate a level of control authority provided to a pilot. The control authority is individually regulated within each integrator as a result of the individual landing gear states.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Shyhpyng Jack Shue
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Patent number: 9574497Abstract: One example of an engine mounted inlet plenum for a rotorcraft includes an inlet flange, an outlet flange and a plenum duct that connects the inlet flange and the outlet flange. The inlet flange, which defines an inlet to flow air into a barrier filtration system, is configured to be substantially aligned with a closed cowl door assembly of the rotorcraft. In some implementations, the plenum duct is configured to extend to an outer mold line (OML) of the rotorcraft such that the inlet flange is aligned with the OML. The outlet flange defines an outlet to flow air filtered by the barrier filtration system into an engine of the rotorcraft. The plenum duct allows air to flow from the inlet to the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Zachary Dailey, Thomas Mast
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Patent number: 9566597Abstract: A system for simulating wet runway conditions by using a liquid container that is placed inside an aircraft. The liquid container is connected to a nozzle that sprays water in front of the wheels of the aircraft. A valve is used to control the flow of water from the nozzle. Systems, such as the braking system of the aircraft, can then be tested in wet runway conditions simulated by the system. The amount of water sprayed from the nozzle can also be electronically controlled in relation to the speed of the aircraft, such that the nozzle sprays a nearly uniform layer of liquid in front of the wheels. The system can also be modified to include two tanks to manipulate the center of gravity of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.Inventor: Gary E. McKay
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Patent number: D780627Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Textron Inc.Inventors: Philip Jhant, Matthew Baekelandt