Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Publication number: 20240092423
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Donny Lee Hammond, JR., Sam Dean Smith, Trevor Douglas Roebuck, Landon Niles Ball
  • Patent number: 11932125
    Abstract: A system and method for slowing the rotation of a rotor using, for example, rotor brake system for a rotorcraft comprises: one or more generators connected to a main rotor gearbox; an electric distributed anti-torque system mounted on a tail boom of the rotorcraft comprising two or more electric motors connected to the one or more generators, wherein the two or more electric motors are connected to one or more blades; and wherein a rotation of the rotor is slowed by placing a drive load on the main rotor gearbox with the one or more generators to bleed the mechanical power from rotor into electrical power via the two or more electric motors, wherein the electric distributed anti-torque system generates thrust in opposing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Haldeman, Eric A. Sinusas, Frank Bradley Stamps
  • Patent number: 11932380
    Abstract: A compound helicopter includes a fuselage including a fuselage airframe, a translational thrust system coupled to the fuselage airframe and a pylon assembly subject to vibration. The pylon assembly includes a transmission and a rotor system having a main rotor assembly. The compound helicopter also includes a main rotor vibration isolation system including a plurality of augmented liquid inertia vibration eliminator units each having an isolation frequency and each coupled between the fuselage airframe and the pylon assembly to reduce transmission of the pylon assembly vibration to the fuselage airframe at the isolation frequency. Each augmented liquid inertia vibration eliminator unit includes at least one active tuning element movable to tune the isolation frequency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Bradley Stamps, Michael Reaugh Smith, Bradley Joseph Passe
  • Patent number: 11932387
    Abstract: A tailsitter aircraft includes an airframe, a thrust array attached to the airframe and a flight control system. The thrust array includes propulsion assemblies configured to transition the airframe from a forward flight orientation to a VTOL orientation at a conversion rate for an approach to a target ground location in a forward flight-to-VTOL transition phase. The flight control system implements an adaptive transition system including a transition parameter monitoring module configured to monitor parameters including a ground speed and a distance to the target ground location. The adaptive transition system includes a transition adjustment determination module configured to adjust the conversion rate of the airframe from the forward flight orientation to the VTOL orientation based on the ground speed and the distance to the target ground location such that the airframe is vertically aligned with the target ground location in the VTOL orientation of the forward flight-to-VTOL transition phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John Robert Wittmaak, Jr., Russell C. Peters, William Alexander Dean, Spencer Hancock
  • Patent number: 11933814
    Abstract: According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a method for determining airspeed for an unpowered vehicle is disclosed. The method includes: determining first and second body-fixed load factor measurements; determining a body Z-force coefficient based on an angle-of-attack parameter; and determining an airspeed value based on the second body-fixed load factor measurement and the body Z-force coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Kip Gregory Campbell
  • Patent number: 11935996
    Abstract: A battery cell assembly, including a rolled cell formed from a first electrode and a second electrode rolled together about a longitudinal axis. The rolled cell includes a primary section in which the first electrode and the second electrode overlap in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis, and a first extension end extending from a first longitudinal end of the primary section and formed from a first edge section of the first electrode. The first edge section includes a first folded portion folded to contact an adjacent portion of the first edge section. The battery cell assembly further includes a first end cap coupled to the rolled cell and contacting the first folded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Phalgun Madhusudan
  • Publication number: 20240083501
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Donny Lee Hammond, JR., Sam Dean Smith, Trevor Douglas Roebuck, Landon Niles Ball
  • Publication number: 20240083502
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Donny Lee Hammond, Jr., Sam Dean Smith, Trevor Douglas Roebuck, Landon Niles Ball
  • Patent number: 11926430
    Abstract: A multi-mode aircraft power-split-transmission system includes a rotational power input and a power-split transmission. The power-split transmission includes a sun gear, a planetary carrier, a ring gear, a first rotational power output, and a second rotational power output. The multi-mode aircraft power-split-transmission system also includes a first resistance device coupled to the first rotational power output and fixed to an airframe of the multi-mode aircraft and a second resistance device coupled to the second rotational power output and fixed to the airframe. Operation of the first resistance device causes power received from the rotational power input to be directed to the second rotational power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Schmidt Spicer
  • Patent number: 11919630
    Abstract: A separated lift-thrust (SLT) aircraft includes a longitudinal-thrust engine and articulated electric rotors, at least some of which are variable-position rotors having variable orientations based on rotor position signals. Control circuitry independently controls thrust of the longitudinal-thrust engine and the thrust and orientation of each of the variable-position rotors, relative to the aircraft lifting surface and longitudinal thrust engine, to provide for commanded thrust-vectoring maneuvering of the aircraft during VTOL, fixed wing flight, and intermediate transitional states, including maintenance of a desired pose of the lifting surface independent of orientation of the rotor orientations when hovering the aircraft in windy conditions. A flight and navigation control system automates flight maneuvers and maintains desired aircraft pose and position relative to static or dynamic coordinates during station keeping, tracking, avoidance, or convergence maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Marshall Baity, Stephen W. Miller
  • Patent number: 11919620
    Abstract: A spar assembly has a spar having a tip comprising a most outboard portion of the spar, a root comprising a most inboard portion of the spar, a main section disposed inboard relative to the tip, and a middle section disposed inboard relative to the main section. The spar also has a transition section disposed between the main section and the middle section and the transition section has an outboard interface cross-sectional shape and an inboard cross-sectional shape that is different than the outboard interface cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Jared Mark Paulson
  • Patent number: 11920886
    Abstract: A weapon is capable of firing cased telescoped (CT) ammunition rounds. The weapon includes a barrel, a chamber member that defines a chamber configured to hold a CT round for firing from the weapon, a non-rotating carrier body, and linkage. The linkage is constructed and arranged to move the chamber member (i) from a firing position in which the chamber member is aligned with the barrel for firing the CT round to an ejection/loading position in which the chamber member is not aligned with the barrel for ejecting a spent CT round and receiving a next CT round in response to the non-rotating carrier body moving away from the barrel, and (ii) from the ejection/loading position to the firing position in response to the non-rotating carrier body moving toward the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Stephen Ruck, Brandon Scott Recchia, Bradford Timothy Jones, Benjamin Tyler Cole, Petro Romanovych Khoma, Mark Timothy Fellows, Madeline Claire Spurlock
  • Patent number: 11914362
    Abstract: One embodiment is a navigation system for an aircraft including a positioning system to generate information related to a position of the aircraft, a group of cameras mounted to a body of the aircraft, each camera of the group of cameras to simultaneously capture images of a portion of an environment that surrounds the aircraft, and a processing component coupled to the positioning system and the group of cameras, the processing component to determine a current position of the aircraft based on the information related to the position of the aircraft and the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Maurice D. Griffin, Aaron M. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 11913482
    Abstract: A system for connecting two panels together. A recess is formed in the edge of one panel, and an insert is pressed into and held within the recess. The top of the insert includes holes for receiving epoxy, and epoxy conducting shafts and circuits formed on the outside of the insert assist in the encapsulation of the insert within the panel edge. The top of the insert includes an aperture formed such that a fastener can be received into a cavity formed in the recess and then driven to be secured into a fastener-receiving insert installed into the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Stanton, Brian Keith Jacobs
  • Patent number: 11912414
    Abstract: A cockpit center console armrest includes a base member configured for mounting to a floor, an extending member mechanically coupled to the base member, and an armrest mechanically coupled to the extending member. The extending member includes an inner telescoping member configured for sliding within an outer telescoping member for adjusting a height of the armrest. A lever exposed on an underside of the armrest is configured for actuating a release mechanism. The release mechanism is configured for releasably securing the inner telescoping member to the outer telescoping member. A pivot axis pivotably couples the extending member to the base member such that the extending member is rotatable for rotating the armrest between a deployed orientation and a retracted orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Rowe, Merril Binford Williams, Jonathan Lynn Headrick, Michael John Seibel
  • Patent number: 11912415
    Abstract: A vibration-reducing insert is usable to reduce vibration or play between two metal aircraft components. The insert rotates on a fastener, and includes a shelf that projects into the gap and operates as an indexable cam to establish an appropriate compression in an engaged portion of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Alan Thisius, Tim Todd Razey
  • Patent number: 11912403
    Abstract: An exemplary pitch link centering tool includes a rod having a longitudinal axis, a front face, a rear face, a first rod end and a second rod end, the first rod end having a first aperture with a first rotational axis, the second rod end having a second aperture with a second rotational axis, a first connector coupled to the first rod end, the first connector having a first slot extending in a first radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis and a second connector coupled to the second rod end, the second connector having a second slot extending in a second radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis different from the first radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Knott, Vitthal Vishnuthreeth Arakeri
  • Publication number: 20240059412
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first rotor system having a rotor blade having an axis of rotation, a rotatable inboard drive component, and a rotatable outboard drive component. The first rotor system further includes a flexible closed loop component associated with each of the inboard drive component and the outboard drive component. Movement of the closed loop component can selectively cause at least one of rotation of the rotor blade about the axis of rotation and movement of the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Landon Groninga, Brent Chadwick Ross
  • Patent number: 11905040
    Abstract: A cart for supporting a part to be inspected in a non-destructive testing (NDT) machine. The cart includes a base with wheels, a first support extending upright from the base, a second support extending upright from the base, and mounting fixtures being removably attachable to the first and second supports and having mounting ends engageable with the part to support the part from the first support or the second support. The base is displaceable with the wheels to enter and exit the NDT machine. The cart is lockable upon being within the NDT machine to secure the cart in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Frédéric Laliberté
  • Publication number: 20240051661
    Abstract: A tailsitter aircraft for deploying a tow line includes an airframe having wings with pylons extending therebetween and a thrust array attached to the airframe, the thrust array including propulsion assemblies configured to transition the airframe between a forward flight orientation and a VTOL orientation. The tailsitter aircraft includes an attenuation spool coupled to the airframe and an attenuation cable having a first end coupled to the attenuation spool and a second end coupled to the tow line, the attenuation cable partially or fully wound around the attenuation spool. The tailsitter aircraft also includes a spool sensor to detect movement of the attenuation spool and a flight control system implementing a tow line tension monitoring module in communication with the spool sensor to determine a tow line tension parameter and a tow line tension reaction module to initiate an aircraft response based on the tow line tension parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Russell C. Peters, John Robert Wittmaak, JR., Alyssa Berta Armendariz, Christopher John Stroncek