Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Tail Rotor Actuation System
    Publication number: 20160200430
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an actuation system includes a an actuator assembly, a yoke, and a control rod. The actuator assembly comprises a first actuator. The first actuator is configured to extend in a first direction and retract in a second direction opposite of the first direction. The yoke is coupled to the first actuator at a first actuator end proximate to the first direction. The control rod is coupled to the yoke at a first control rod end and extends in the second direction past the actuator assembly to a second end in mechanical communication with an output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Corey Dickman, Carlos A. Fenny, David Schultz
  • Cable stripper and cutting assembly for stripping a cable
    Patent number: 9391435
    Abstract: A tool formed of a cable stripper and an associated cutting assembly is used for stripping a cable. Differently sized cutting assemblies can be easily and quickly mounted to and disassembled from the cable stripper. The cable stripper includes a depth stop assembly for setting the amount of cable seated within the cable stripper so that the cutting assembly is positioned in the desired position. The cable stripper include a one-way bearing which only allows the user to use the cable stripper in the intended direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: William Woodward
  • Estimating thickness of a material layer on an aircraft
    Patent number: 9389071
    Abstract: In some aspects, a wireless system is configured for estimating a thickness of a material layer on a surface of an aircraft. The wireless system includes a tag device located beneath a material layer. The tag device is capable of transmitting an electromagnetic signal in response to an electromagnetic signal. In some aspects, a transceiver device is configured to estimate the thickness of a material layer on a surface of an aircraft. The transceiver can be configured to communicate with a tag using electromagnetic signals. The transceiver can include one or more processors configured to measure signal strength and correlate the signal strength to the thickness of a material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Tucker, Paul Madej
  • Self pumping and priming adhesive joint system
    Patent number: 9382933
    Abstract: A tube form assembly includes an inner member and an outer member. Each of the inner and outer members has an offset which creates a cavity therebetween. During assembly of the tube form assembly, an adhesive is located in the cavity and squeezed out and through the adjacent bond lines between the inner member and outer member. The pressurization and flow of adhesive outward from the cavity facilitates removal of air bubbles, as well as prevents the introduction of air bubbles into the bond line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Sottiaux, Frank B. Stamps
  • Torque transfer system for a rotorcraft
    Patent number: 9382001
    Abstract: One example of a torque transfer system for a rotorcraft includes a first rotational joint connected to a rotorcraft rotary shaft. The first rotational joint receives a portion of a torque generated by rotation of the rotorcraft rotary shaft and transfers the portion of the torque to a rotorcraft rotating component. The torque transfer system also includes a second rotational joint of a different type connected to the rotorcraft rotary shaft. The second rotational joint receives a remainder of the torque generated by the rotation of the rotorcraft rotary shaft and transfers the remainder of the torque to the rotorcraft rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Foskey, Frank Bradley Stamps
  • System and method of manufacturing a composite structure in a closed cavity mold
    Patent number: 9381679
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method and system that can be utilized to manufacturing composite structures in a closed cavity mold. The tool system includes a closed cavity tool with spring members that when in compression apply pressure to a preform located within the closed cavity mold. During a curing cycle, the spring members provide substantially constant pressure to the preform, thereby preventing voids and porosity in the cured composite structure. Further, the substantially constant pressure, provided by the spring members, acts to more effectively conform the preform to the geometry defined by a void in the closed cavity mold during the curing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen K. Bishop, Robert J. Greenberg, Forrest W. Henry
  • Skin Impact Snubber
    Publication number: 20160185436
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an aircraft includes a structural assembly, a skin, and a snubber. The structural assembly comprises a first rigid element and a second rigid element. The first and second rigid elements are separated from each over by a void. The skin is disposed proximate to the structural assembly and adjacent to the void such that the skin would deflect into the void in response to an impact force received by the skin. The snubber is disposed in the void between the first and second rigid elements and positioned such that, when the skin deflects in response to the impact force, the skin contacts the snubber and the snubber reduces further deflection of the skin into the void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, JR., Philip J. Hannan, Maxx S. Lucas, Chandrashekhar Tiwari
  • Radial fluid device with variable phase and amplitude
    Patent number: 9376205
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, first and second pluralities of pistons, a first cam disposed about the first plurality of radially extending cylinders, and a second cam disposed about the second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The direction of rotation of the second cam is independent of the direction of rotation of the first cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos A. Fenny
  • Tiltrotor aircraft with inboard wing mounted fixed engine arrangement
    Patent number: 9376206
    Abstract: A rotor system for tilt rotor aircraft comprises an engine disposed at a first fixed position on a wing member, and a prop-rotor pylon mechanically coupled to the engine along a drive path extending through the wing member. The engine is disposed adjacent a fuselage of the tilt rotor aircraft, and the prop-rotor pylon is configured to selectively rotate between a vertical position and a horizontal position. The prop-rotor pylon is coupled to a plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, David R. Bockmiller, Mark L. Isaac, Brian J. Cox
  • Circuit for conduit bender
    Patent number: 9375773
    Abstract: A conduit bender having a unitary frame is mounted to a wheeled base which provides for transportation of the bender. A braking assembly provides for simplified locking of the wheels to secure the bender in a location. The bender is mounted to the base through a pivoting assembly which allows for bending of conduit in either a horizontal or vertical plane. A circuit is provided for controlling the bending operation. An auto-sensing portion of the circuit receives information regarding the characteristics of the conduit to be bent upon placement of the conduit in the bender. A feed back portion of the circuit is used to provide a precise bending operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Plummer, Sean A. Daugherty
  • Industrial cart with interchangeable accessories
    Patent number: 9370969
    Abstract: An industrial cart has an accessory mounted thereon. A locking mechanism is provided for securing the cart and accessory together. The locking mechanism can be disengaged to remove the accessory from the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: John Wayne Kroening, Zachary Tate Lamoreux, Andrew M. Battermann
  • OPERATING FLUID CONTAINER HAVING A STIFFENING ELEMENT
    Publication number: 20160167506
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an operating fluid container (10) made of thermoplastic material for a motor vehicle and a method for equipping an operating fluid container with a stiffening element (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO., KG
    Inventors: Klaus GEBERT, Ulrich KARSCH, Burkhard MARXEN
  • Method of machining a thin-walled structure
    Patent number: 9364930
    Abstract: A method of manipulating a thin-walled structure includes providing a thin-walled structure in a first unconstrained configuration, constraining the thin-walled structure to a first constrained configuration in which a first feature of the thin-walled structure is spatially located relative to the a second feature of the thin-walled structure in a predetermined manner, wherein an open volume of the thin-walled structure is constrained to maintain a predetermined open volume shape, and machining the thin-walled structure to a second constrained configuration in which the first feature of the thin-walled structure remains spatially located relative to the second feature of the thin-walled structure in the predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: J. Donn Hethcock, Scott Wolthuis, Robert Brack, Paul Oldroyd
  • System and method of post-cure processing of composite core
    Patent number: 9365022
    Abstract: A method of joining a first bulk composite core and a second bulk composite core by applying an adhesive to a surface network of the first bulk composite core; inserting a plurality of mandrels into a plurality of cell members of the first bulk composite core and a plurality of cell members of the second composite core, thereby aligning the cell members of the first bulk composite core to the cell members of the second bulk composite core; pressing the respective surface networks of the first bulk composite core and the second bulk composite core together with the adhesive located therebetween; and curing the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Kendrick, S. Brent Woychesin
  • Blade-pitch control system with indexing swashplate
    Patent number: 9365288
    Abstract: The present application includes a blade-pitch control system with an indexing swashplate. A swashplate assembly has a non-rotating portion and a rotating portion and an indexing portion of the mast. The swashplate assembly is translatably affixed to the indexing portion. A pitch link connects the rotating portion of the swashplate assembly to each blade. Translation of the swashplate assembly along the indexing portion causes a change in pitch of the blades and a corresponding indexing of the rotating portion of the swashplate assembly relative to the mast, the indexing causing a change in an angular orientation of each pitch link, thus providing for selected pitch-flap coupling between flapping motion of the yoke and pitch motion of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard E. Rauber
  • Helicopter transmission mount system
    Patent number: 9365294
    Abstract: A mount system for supporting a transmission in an aircraft can include a first link coupled between a structure of the aircraft and the transmission, the first link having a first axis; a second link coupled between the structure of the aircraft and the transmission, the second link having second axis; a third link coupled between the structure of the aircraft and the transmission, the third link having a third axis; and a fourth link coupled between the structure of the aircraft and the transmission, the fourth link having fourth axis. A forward focal point of the first axis and the second axis has a different waterline component compared to an aft focal point of the third axis and the fourth axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice D. Griffin, Matthew W. Hendricks
  • Nanolevel Dispersion of Nanoparticles in Hydrophobic Materials
    Publication number: 20160159991
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of dispersing nanoparticles into a destination material includes providing a plurality of nanoparticles suspended in a carrier, adding a solvent to the plurality of nanoparticles suspended in a carrier, removing at least some of the carrier to yield the plurality of nanoparticles suspended in the solvent, mixing the nanoparticles suspended in the solvent with a destination material, and removing at least some of the solvent from the mixture of nanoparticles suspended in the solvent and the destination material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Iosif Daniel Rosca, Martin Salameh, Suong Van Hoa
  • Apparatus and method for aerating soil
    Patent number: 9357687
    Abstract: A soil aerating apparatus movable along a soil surface in a first direction during soil aerating operations comprises a frame assembly and a plurality of reciprocating arm assemblies. Each arm assembly comprises a tine holder for retaining a tine, an upper arm pivotally attached between the tine holder and the frame assembly, a lower arm pivot attached between the tine holder and the frame assembly, wherein the lower arm is positioned below the upper arm, and a drive arm pivotally attached between a crankshaft and the lower arm. In an embodiment the crankshaft comprises a plurality of central shaft sections and a plurality of eccentric shaft sections, wherein each eccentric shaft section moves in the first direction when each eccentric shaft section is positioned above the plurality of central shaft sections during soil aerating operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. St. Romain, Ernest Randall New
  • Power safety instrument system
    Patent number: 9352849
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Aircraft with protective nanocoating
    Patent number: 9352829
    Abstract: An aircraft component has an exterior surface and a protective nanocoating carried by the exterior surface. An aircraft has an engine, a fuselage, and a component having an exterior surface and a protective nano coating carried by the exterior surface. A method of protecting an aircraft component includes selecting at least one harmful environmental component and applying a protective nanocoating to the aircraft component, wherein the protective nanocoating is configured to protect the aircraft component from the selected harmful environmental component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Sottiaux, Frank Bradley Stamps