Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Patent number: 8271149
    Abstract: The difference between a first position of a first pylon of a tiltrotor aircraft and a second position of a second pylon of the aircraft is prevented from becoming too large. An actuator position error for the first pylon is calculated from a difference between the first position and a commanded first position of the first pylon. An actuator position error for the second pylon is calculated from a difference between the second position and a commanded second position of the second pylon. An absolute value of the actuator position error for the first pylon is compared to the preset limit. If the absolute value of the actuator position error for the first pylon is greater than or equal to a preset limit, the actuator position error for the second pylon is calculated from the difference between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Builta
  • Publication number: 20120227820
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: BELL GELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: Scott Poster
  • Publication number: 20120230823
    Abstract: A rotor hub and method to dampen a force exerted on a rotor hub by a rotor blade during flight. The rotor hub including a central member rotatably coupled to a rotor mast, a blade grip rigidly attached to a blade and movably coupled to the central member, and an adjustable damper operably associated with the blade grip. The method includes damping the force exerted on the rotor hub with the adjustable damper and selectively adjusting the adjustable damper between a first spring rate and a second spring rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Michael R. Smith, Christopher M. Bothwell, Lawrence M. Corso, James L. Braswell, JR., David A. Popelka, Ernst C. Schellhase, Charles L. Hollimon, Thomas J. Newman, Bryan Baskin, Thomas C. Campbell, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Patent number: 8263215
    Abstract: The invention provides a functional stretch laminate composite puckered fabric which is robust, laundry-durable and adaptable for securing about any three dimensional body, and a method for forming such puckered fabric. The functional stretch laminate fabric is provided with at least one functional element which can conduct electricity, conduct light, provide electromagnetic fields or provide shielding from electromagnetic fields. In addition, at least one via is provided in the functional stretch laminate allowing the functional element to extend or loop outwardly from the at least one via when the laminate is in a relaxed or unstretched state. Generally, the functional stretch laminate fabric is sufficiently robust for incorporation into garments and for applications in so-called wearable electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Textronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacey B. Burr, Qaizar N. Hassonjee, Roger Armitage
  • Publication number: 20120222491
    Abstract: The test fixture includes a housing, a first grip, and a second grip. The first grip and the second grip are each configured to clamp onto an upper surface and lower surface of a material coupon. The test fixture also includes an upper input jaw and a lower input jaw each configured to clamp onto the material coupon near a center of the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon. The test fixture is configured to load the material coupon in a first direction and a second direction. The first grip and the second grip are each configured to clamp onto the material coupon at a location which accordingly results in a desired testing ratio regardless of a variation in thickness of the material coupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: David L. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120223551
    Abstract: An energy attenuating seat system for an aircraft includes energy attenuating features and is also configured to provide mobility for the occupant. The system is configured to suspend the operator, or gunner, with a support from the roof of the aircraft. The system includes an armored seat or body harness for the occupant. The system provides energy attenuation in multiple directions. The system also optionally includes a floor tether in order to control the movements of the occupant. The system may also include an impact detection system to selectively change the tension of the support and/or floor harness. The system may also include one or more airbags either within in the fuselage of the aircraft, or included in the seat system in order to provide energy attenuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: William A. Amante, Darrell W. Wilkerson, Jerry A. Pongrantz
  • Patent number: 8257051
    Abstract: A rotor-hub for a rotary-wing aircraft is disclosed. The rotor-hub comprises a yoke comprising a plurality of yoke arms and a plurality of yoke straps, wherein the yoke arms are joined together by the yoke straps, and wherein a plurality of inner walls of the yoke define a central void space. A pitch horn is movably connected to the yoke and a portion of the pitch horn is located within the central void space. A connecting shell is fixedly attached to the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard E. Rauber
  • Patent number: 8251109
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filler neck (1) for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle which has at least one tubular section (3) provided in the area of the filler inlet to receive the outlet pipe (4) of a fuel delivery nozzle. The filler neck (1) according to the invention has the distinguishing feature of at least one insert forming a constriction as a flame barrier, which encloses the outlet pipe (4), forming at least one gas passage gap (7), the gap dimension being selected so that any flashback is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Gebert, Axel Wagner
  • Patent number: 8251305
    Abstract: A twin-rotor side-by-side compound rotorcraft has a fuselage and variable incident wing assembly that pivots relative to fuselage. The aircraft also has landing gear assembly and a tail fin assembly. The variable incident wing assembly is pivotally attached to the fuselage, and includes wing members, engines fixedly mounted to the wing members or another area of the rotorcraft, and a mast attached at a fixed angle relative to the wing members. Then engines may also be located near the fuselage or another area of the rotorcraft. The variable incident wing assembly is capable of pivoting about a pivot axis, thereby allowing mast orientation in at least a hover mast position and a forward flight mast position. The rotors provide additional forward thrust and the wings provide additional lift, when the mast is in the forward flight mast position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Dudley E. Smith, Walter C. Joiner, Daniel B. Robertson, David J. Ludolph, Jennifer D. Langston
  • Publication number: 20120215413
    Abstract: An electronic passkey system enables modification of operating profiles of a vehicle. When the passkey is connected to the vehicle controller, the system determines if the passkey has been used previously. If so, the operating profile cannot be modified. If not, the vehicle profile can be modified. In other configurations the passkey can be used to modify the operating profile of multiple vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Kluka, John Lewis Lawson, Gary D. Johnson, Kelly J. White, Tonya L. White
  • Patent number: 8249837
    Abstract: A method for determining an optimized structure for skin stretch form blocks. An optimized stretch form block design is generated by performing a finite element analysis on a stretch form block design selected from a target group of the stretch form blocks which have been classified into a plurality of groups based on similar topology of the blocks. The finite element analysis includes specifying a suggested design and generating the optimized stretch form block design by iteratively modifying the suggested design until the suggested design has a predetermined sufficient structural strength. An interpolation model is generated from the optimized stretch form block design, and an optimized stretch form block structure is determined for any stretch form block having size and weight parameters within an envelope defined by the target group of the stretch form blocks, by performing a weighted nearest neighbor interpolation using specified geometric parameters and material parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishad S. Prabhu, Aniruddha Deo, Pravin Kulkarni, Gregory Frye, Shashikiran Prabhaker Mysur
  • Patent number: 8245603
    Abstract: A driver is used to manually drive a fastening member. The driver includes a shank, a handle provided at an end thereof, and a socket provided at the opposite end thereof. The socket has a receptacle which includes a front portion extending from a front face of the socket a predetermined distance and a tapered portion extending from the front portion a predetermined distance. The front portion is larger than the outer dimension of the fastening member and is formed from walls which are parallel to the centerline of the socket. The tapered portion tapers inwardly from the front portion toward the centerline. The tapered portion extends uninterrupted 360° around the receptacle such that a rear edge of the fastening member continuously contacts the tapered portion when inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Anton Piper, Kevin B. Tews
  • Patent number: 8246009
    Abstract: A puller head and cable puller including the puller head are provided for pulling cable in an upward or a downward direction. The puller head includes a frame, a capstan mounted to the frame, and first and second retaining shaft apertures. The puller head is pivotally mounted to a boom of the cable puller through a pivot shaft. The capstan of the puller head is positioned rearward of the boom. The position of an upper most surface of the capstan relative to the boom is changed by pivoting the puller head between upward and downward pulling positions. The puller head is maintained in either the upward or downward pulling position through the use of a retaining shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Plummer
  • Publication number: 20120204984
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fuel tank (1) for a motor vehicle with means for ventilation and purging and with means for delivery of fuel to the combustion engine (10) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one fuel delivery pump (6) arranged in the fuel tank (1) inside a surge tank (5) provided therein, at least one suction jet pump (8) fed from the feed (9) of the fuel delivery pump (6) for filling the surge tank or for draining at least one further volume arranged inside the fuel tank or formed by the fuel tank into the surge tank (5) or into the volume of the fuel tank in which the surge tank (5) is arranged. The fuel tank according to the invention is characterized in that at least one suction jet pump (8) is connected, in that it takes fuel alternately, depending on the tank fill level, from several volumes (3, 4, 12) arranged or formed inside the fuel tank or it can be operated intermittently depending on the tank fill level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Gebert
  • Publication number: 20120199699
    Abstract: The system of the present application includes an engine and pylon arrangement for a tilt rotor aircraft in which the engine is fixed in relation to a wing portion of the aircraft, while the pylon is rotatable. The pylon supports a rotor hub having a plurality of rotor blades. Rotation of the pylon allows the aircraft to selectively fly in a helicopter mode and an airplane mode, as well as any combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Mark L. Isaac, David A. Elliott, Brent C. Ross
  • Publication number: 20120200045
    Abstract: An rotary aircraft exhaust system having an engine, an exhaust member in gaseous communication with the engine, and a longitudinally compressible bellow seal in sealing contact with both the engine and the exhaust member. The bellow seal is configured to provide a gaseous seal between the engine and the exhaust member while also allowing the exhaust member to move in the transverse, longitudinal, and pivoting directions relative to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Mast
  • Publication number: 20120201683
    Abstract: A method of making a composite rotor yoke includes preparing a molded rotor yoke in a closed cavity tool and possibly machining at least one portion of the molded rotor yoke to form the rotor yoke. In the preferred embodiment, preparing the molded rotor yoke is accomplished by applying layers of uncured low-flow composite material and a layer of uncured high-flow adhesive; substantially enclosing the uncured molded rotor yoke in the closed cavity tool; applying pressure so as to compress the uncured molded rotor yoke; and curing the uncured molded rotor yoke. During the curing process, the high-flow adhesive bleeds out of the molded rotor yoke, thereby preventing marcels from forming through movement of the low-flow composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Pat Tisdale, Bryan Marshall, Tom Campbell
  • Publication number: 20120199269
    Abstract: An internal stiffening member of varying configurations in which the stiffening elements support the skin using a compression-only load path is disclosed. A rib can be inserted into an assembled structural box beam, and a filler material can be used to fill any gaps between the slip-in rib and the interior surface of the structural box beam. The filler material is preferably an expandable material, such as an expandable foam-type material. However, in situations where a slip-in rib forms a primary structural rib, the filler material is preferably a structural adhesive or liquid shim material. A solid adhesive or filler would not crush under the clamping forces from fasteners or bolts at localized fitting attachments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: James Donn Hethcock, Rodney H. Jones
  • Patent number: 8237459
    Abstract: A fall of potential method of determining earth ground resistance which utilizes an earth ground tester and eliminates the need for utilizing removable ground stakes. Rather than utilizing a “far stake” the method provides connection of the earth ground tester to the telephone wires. Rather than utilizing a “near stake” the method provides for connection of the earth ground tester to the cable shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ewan G. Browne, Wayne Jacob Chappell, Paul R. Siglinger, William Cory Wood, Edwin Glenn Yancey
  • Patent number: 8237427
    Abstract: A bridge module provides connection between first and second conductors of a line under test and a test instrument adapted for use with the bridge module. The bridge module provides monitoring and measurement of DSL communication signals between the telephone company DSL terminal (DSLAM) and the subscriber home DSL equipment across a wide range of frequencies. The bridge module can be used at any point in the communications link and can be used while the link is active. The bridge module provides a clickless connection to the active DSL communications link to avoid interruption in DSL service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Durston