Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Rotatable winglets for a rotary wing aircraft
    Patent number: 11814162
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a rotary aircraft, including: a main drive rotor; an aircraft body mechanically coupled to the main drive rotor; and first and second flight assist wings passively rotatably coupled to the aircraft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Albert G. Brand, Michael S. Seifert, Andrew Thomas Carter, Aaron Alexander Acee
  • Dual-mount for spring-loaded gear-driven resolvers
    Patent number: 11815368
    Abstract: A resolver assembly for a ducted-rotor aircraft is configured to detect and measure rotation of a spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly includes first and second gear-driven resolvers. The first and second resolvers are coupled about a shared pivot axis and are independently pivotable about the pivot axis to maintain engagement of the first and second resolvers with the spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly is configured such that the first and second resolvers are biased toward the spindle. The input shafts of the first and second resolvers are spaced from the pivot axis through respective first and second distances that extend outward from the pivot axis along respective first and second radial directions. The first distance is equal to the second distance and the first radial direction is not coincident with the second radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Michael Beall, William Anthony Amante, Jessica Arlie Revere
  • Active blade-pitch change systems and methods
    Patent number: 11814164
    Abstract: A method of verifying operation of an aircraft in a pre-defined flight mode includes operating the aircraft in a first flight mode, commanding the aircraft to transition to a second flight mode, evaluating a plurality of motor performance parameters, and based on values of the plurality of motor performance parameters, determining whether the aircraft has successfully transitioned to the second flight mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John Robert Wittmaak, Alan Hisashi Steinert
  • Passenger seat crash safety system
    Patent number: 11814176
    Abstract: A safety system for aircraft passenger seats is described. A pallet that can be removably coupled to seats can also be removably coupled to the aircraft floor and one or more brackets, tension fittings, or machined straps that can be coupled to structural beams or components in an aircraft. A keel tension fitting can be attached to a keel beam and then be coupled to the pallet and thereby the seats. By attaching to the keel beam the safety system allows the seating arrangement (pallet and seats) to withstand greater stresses and forces, resulting in increased safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jean St-Pierre, William Morin
  • Passive proprotor-blade retention systems
    Patent number: 11814153
    Abstract: A system for retaining a folded proprotor blade in flight. The system includes a mounting plate, a first arm coupled to the mounting plate at an acute angle relative to the mounting plate, and a first deformable pad affixed to the first arm and adapted to contact the folded proprotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Andrew Maresh, Jonathan Andrew Knoll
  • Electric tiltrotor aircraft with tilting coaxial motors and gearbox
    Patent number: 11814163
    Abstract: A rotor system for an aircraft includes an open rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades connected to a rotor mast via a yoke, wherein the rotor assembly is tiltable between a first position corresponding to an airplane mode and a second position corresponding to a helicopter mode; and a drive system for providing rotational energy to the open rotor assembly via the rotor mast, the drive system comprising at least one electric motor for providing rotational energy to a drive shaft and a gearbox connected to the drive shaft for receiving rotational energy from the at least one electric motor via the drive shaft and providing rotational energy to the rotor mast via a rotor shaft; wherein the drive system is rotatable relative to the wing about a tilt axis and the rotor shaft is coaxial with the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Knoll, George Matthew Thompson, Charles Hubert Speller, Grant Michael Beall
  • Canopy for lightweight vehicle
    Patent number: 11814106
    Abstract: A golf car canopy extension panel that is connectable to a canopy main panel, wherein the extension panel comprises a first extension longitudinal water channel that is fluidly connectable to a first main longitudinal water channel main panel, and a second extension longitudinal water channel that is fluidly connectable to a second main longitudinal water channel of the main panel, wherein the first and second extension longitudinal water channels each comprise a termination end structured and operable to direct water to exit the respective extension longitudinal water channel at an end of a sidewall of the respective extension longitudinal water channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INC
    Inventors: Matthew James Zaremba, Jacob Rutledge Kuglar, Stephen Christopher Campbell
  • Submersible drone delivery and recovery system using waterproof aerial drone
    Patent number: 11807358
    Abstract: A submersion system for a rotorcraft is described and includes a control module for controlling a depth to which the rotorcraft is submerged in a body of water; a compressed air chamber associated with the control module; and at least one flotation pod including a sealable opening on a top surface thereof and an opening on a bottom surface thereof. The control module selectively causes water to be taken into the at least one flotation pod to cause the submersion system to submerge in the body of water and selectively causes water to be evacuated from the at least one flotation pod to cause the submersion system to float in the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Erik Barnes, Gary Miller
  • Tilting hexrotor aircraft
    Patent number: 11807357
    Abstract: One embodiment is an aircraft operable in a hover mode and a cruise mode and including a fuselage; wings connected on opposite sides of the fuselage; a canard connected to the fuselage forward of the wings; forward propulsion systems connected to a trailing edge of the canard on opposite sides of the fuselage; aft propulsion systems connected to trailing edges of the wings; and wing-mounted propulsion systems connected to leading edges of the wings. The aft propulsion systems are tiltable between a first position when the aircraft is in the hover mode and a second position when the aircraft is in the cruise mode. Each of the propulsion systems includes a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades. The propulsion systems are substantially equidistant from a center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Danielle Lynn Moore
  • ELECTRIC TILTROTOR AIRCRAFT
    Publication number: 20230348054
    Abstract: Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
  • Modulating butterfly valve control
    Patent number: 11802632
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a fluid valve are described that avoid the effects of hysteresis. In hysteresis, the power signals associated with a valve position are different on the upstroke and downstroke. As a result, predicting the valve position can be difficult if you only know the current power signal. Instead of using upstrokes and downstrokes, a valve can momentarily be set to zero power, or a rest position when receiving a new command signal. This way the command signal is applied from a zero power or rest position, making the valve position more predictable and accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Angell, Keith D. Weaver, Richard G. Otten
  • Rotor system with belt driven propulsion and stowing
    Patent number: 11801939
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Landon Groninga, Brent Chadwick Ross
  • Techniques involving a modular vehicle belly armor kit
    Patent number: 11801904
    Abstract: Techniques are directed to a modular vehicle belly armor kit, as well as systems and methods which utilize such a kit. The kit includes a bottom plate, a top plate, and a plurality of wall sections connecting with the bottom plate and the top plate to form an armor structure that protects a belly portion of the vehicle. After the modular vehicle belly armor kit is positioned underneath a vehicle, the bottom plate may be placed in contact with the vehicle. After the bottom plate is placed in contact with the vehicle, the bottom plate may be fastened to vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Wyatt Coleman Huling, Giovanni Eduardo Sequeira, Edward Lawrence Broom
  • Preventing helicopter loss of tail rotor effectiveness
    Patent number: 11801936
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a flight control system for a helicopter comprises a pilot interface configured to receive a control input, at least one electronically controlled actuator, and a computing device configured to translate the control input to an actuator command, wherein the computing device is further configured to apply yaw rate limits to the actuator command to avoid loss of tail rotor effectiveness. The yaw rate limits are associated with a vortex ring state (VRS) envelope for a tail rotor of the helicopter. The electronically controlled actuator comprises a tail rotor actuator. The control input is a pedal input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Albert G Brand, Bradley P. Regnier, Matthew J. Hill
  • Method for producing hollow bodies made of plastics
    Patent number: 11801628
    Abstract: A method for producing hollow bodies made of plastics by blow molding or deep drawing using a deep-drawing tool or a blow-molding tool, comprising the extrusion of preforms from thermoplastics, the method comprising a wall thickness control of the preforms, wherein a measurement of the wall thickness of the preforms takes place within the tool on the mold cavity side on at least one reference point of a preform, the measured value obtained is compared as an actual value with a predetermined target value and the wall thickness control is triggered to change the wall thickness of the preform during extrusion or between extrusion cycles depending on the deviation between the actual value and the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Mayer, Jochen Hild, Verena Thimm
  • ACTIVE BLADE-PITCH CHANGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20230339607
    Abstract: A method of verifying operation of an aircraft in a pre-defined flight mode includes operating the aircraft in a first flight mode, commanding the aircraft to transition to a second flight mode, evaluating a plurality of motor performance parameters, and based on values of the plurality of motor performance parameters, determining whether the aircraft has successfully transitioned to the second flight mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John Robert WITTMAAK, Alan Hisashi STEINERT
  • System and method for maintaining and configuring rotorcraft
    Patent number: 11794926
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: collecting usage and maintenance data for a rotorcraft at a computer of the rotorcraft; sending the usage and maintenance data to a fleet management server; generating individualized equipment data for the rotorcraft according to the usage and maintenance data at the fleet management server, the individualized equipment data including a lightweight digital representation of the rotorcraft and technical publications for the rotorcraft, the lightweight digital representation including mesh-based 3D visualizations of each component of the rotorcraft, the technical publications having views referencing the mesh-based 3D visualizations; sending the individualized equipment data to the computer of the rotorcraft; and persisting the individualized equipment data at the computer of the rotorcraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Robert Chavez, Peter Shultz, Thomas Kurt Schneider, Mark Howard Thomson, Daniel Wesley Rowe
  • Engine testing system and process
    Patent number: 11796422
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for testing aircraft engine that are not currently associated with a functional aircraft or systems. For testing, systems on the engine being tested are connected with the reciprocating systems (e.g., engine electronic controls, main and motive fuel) on a fully functional aircraft using conduits that have been extended to lengths enabling the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Billy David Avery
  • SUPPLEMENTAL ENGINE TRANSITION CONTROL
    Publication number: 20230331392
    Abstract: A method of operating a multi-engine drive system of an aircraft includes driving a main rotor of the aircraft by a main engine of the multi-engine drive system at an operating speed of the main engine, operating a supplemental engine of the multi-engine drive system at approximately 80% of an operating speed of the supplemental engine, wherein, during the operating step, a clutch interoperably coupled to the supplemental engine is interoperably decoupled from the main rotor and, responsive to a command to interoperably engage the clutch, if the clutch successfully engages such that the clutch is interoperably coupled to the main rotor, providing, by the supplemental engine, power to the main rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Eric COVINGTON, Chia-Wei SU, Darren Gregory LANG
  • HIGH-SPEED VTOL DRIVE-SHAFT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20230331393
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a pylon, a wing positioned between the fuselage and the pylon, and a plurality of drive shafts located inside the wing and adapted to drive a rotor associated with the pylon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley PASSE, Kip CAMPBELL