Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Patent number: 7506904
    Abstract: A door handle lock assembly includes a housing configured to be attached to a door. A interconnecting member is rotatably and axially movably supported by the housing. A first handle is fixed to the interconnecting member at a first end of the interconnecting member and a second handle is fixed to the interconnecting member at a second end of the interconnecting member. The door is between the second handle and the housing. The door handle lock assembly is changed from a locked condition to an unlocked condition by axially moving the interconnecting member from a first position to a second position and then rotating the interconnecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: George M. Hall
  • Patent number: 7504127
    Abstract: An electrically conductive elastic composite yarn comprises an elastic member that is surrounded by at least one conductive covering filament(s). The elastic member has a predetermined relaxed unit length L and a predetermined drafted length of (N×L), where N is a number preferably in the range from about 1.0 to about 8.0. The conductive covering filament has a length that is greater than the drafted length of the elastic member such that substantially all of an elongating stress imposed on the composite yarn is carried by the elastic member. The elastic composite yarn may further include an optional stress-bearing member surrounding the elastic member and the conductive covering filament. The length of the stress-bearing member is less than the length of the conductive covering filament and greater than, or equal to, the drafted length (N×L) of the elastic member, such that a portion of the elongating stress imposed on the composite yarn is carried by the stress-bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Textronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eleni Karayianni, Omero Consoli, George W. Coulston, Klaus J. Regenstein
  • Patent number: 7503106
    Abstract: A method and fastener for fastening one or more apertured members (48) to an apertured workpiece (52), an aperture (50) of the or each member (48) being aligned with an aperture (54) in the workpiece (52), the method comprising the steps of inserting a fastener (10) into the aligned apertures, the fastener (10) being formed of ductile material and having a head (14), a shank (12), and an axial bore (22) extending through the shank (12) and into the head (14), the shank (14) being circumferentially entire and being formed with an external screw-thread (18) the fastener (10) being inserted so that the head (14) engages a face of the one member (48), and the shank (12) extends through the member (48) or members and into the workpiece (52), and at least a part of the screw-thread (18) is within the workpiece (52), and then, while supporting the fastener (10) at the head (14), drawing into and entirely through the bore (22), in the direction from the tail portion to the head (14), a tapering, enlarged, mandrel hea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Textron Fastening Systems Limited
    Inventors: Derek Crutchley, Jonathan Lee Brewer, Keith Denham
  • Publication number: 20090065513
    Abstract: Functional components which are stationarily mounted in a fuel tank (1) and connected together by way of a connecting line (6) can be damaged by a change in size and shape of the fuel tank (1). The invention concerns a fuel tank (1), in particular of thermoplastic material, comprising at least two functional components such as for example venting valves (5), pumps, containers or the like, which are stationarily arranged in a fuel tank (1) and which are connected together by way of a connecting line (6). To avoid damage, in accordance with the invention one connecting line (6) includes at least a first portion (9) and a second portion (10), wherein the stiffness of the first portion (9) is less than the stiffness of the second portion (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Timo Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20090066274
    Abstract: A technique can recover from motor stalls caused by misalignment of motor position sensors such as Hall-effect sensors. In a normal operating mode, a motor controller provides motor drive current to the motor windings based on the sensor signals according to a normal commutation sequence, and monitors for occurrence of a motor stall condition. Upon detecting the motor stall condition, the motor controller first momentarily drives the windings according to one of an advanced commutation state and a delayed commutation state each adjacent to the given commutation state in the normal commutation sequence, and determines whether the motor stall condition persists. If the stall condition persists, then the motor controller next momentarily drives the windings according to the other of the advanced commutation state and the delayed commutation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: HR TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Y. Liu, Estella C. Chung, William K. Morita, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090047375
    Abstract: The invention concerns a mold tool for the production of extrusion blow molded products, comprising at least three mold portions (2a, 2b, 3) which define a mold cavity (4) and of which two are in the form of outer molds (2a, 2b) and one is in the form of a central mold (3). The outer molds (2a, 2b) and the central mold (3) are displaceable from and towards each other in the sense of an opening and closing movement of the tool. The central mold (3) is provided with component holders (11) which can be moved out of and into the tool plane defined by the central mold and are arranged in turn on a carrier (10) which is also displaceable with respect to the central mold (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Borchert, Timo Kramer, Dirk Eulitz, Gerd Wolter, Harald Lorenz, Deniz Bienhuls, Christoph Mehren, Robert Lower
  • Publication number: 20090045542
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of hollow bodies of thermoplastic material. In the process according to the invention preforms in web or band form of plasticized material are shaped in a multi-part tool forming a mold cavity comprising two outer molds and at least one central mold which perform an opening and closing movement relative to each other. The central mold is provided with at least one component holder which can be moved of and into the tool plane defined by the central mold. In a first step the component holder is fitted with at least one insert portion, then the insert portion is placed by means of the component holder against the inside wall of an outer mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Borchert, Dirk Eulitz, Gerd Wolter, Timo Kramer, Harald Lorenz, Deniz Bienhuls, Christoph Mehren, Robert Lower
  • Patent number: 7490805
    Abstract: A sand bottle assembly on a golf car includes a bottle and a mounting bracket. The bottle is defined by a longitudinal hollow body having a bottom portion and a top portion. The hollow body defines a vertical axis. A spout is formed at the top portion and is adapted to dispense sand contained in the hollow body. An extension portion is disposed along a sidewall of the hollow body. The extension portion includes a raised sidewall portion. The mounting bracket is adapted to be connected to the golf car and matingly receive the extension portion of the bottle in an installed position. The mounting bracket defines an engaging portion adapted to engage and retain the raised sidewall of the extension portion in a secure position along the vertical axis in the installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Krall
  • Publication number: 20090034084
    Abstract: In a system and method, the emitted beams of multiple diode bar array assemblies are combined to achieve an increase in the resulting power density in the combined output beam, while addressing the need for heat distribution in each of the individual assemblies. The present invention enables the combination of output planes of illumination, to form a single, merged beam of area Ag having intensity IM˜M*Istack and brightness BM˜M*Bstack, where Istack and Bstack refer respectively to the intensity and brightness of the output plane of illumination of a single stacked array, and where IM and BM refer respectively to the intensity and brightness of the combined output plane of illumination of M stacked arrays. In this manner, the present invention is useful in applications where there is a need for high-intensity, high-brightness light energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Klimek, Alexander E. Mandl
  • Publication number: 20090035890
    Abstract: A technique for processing an electronic apparatus (e.g., manufacturing an assembled circuit board, treating an assembled circuit board, etc.) involves applying encasement material to an area of the circuit board assembly while leaving at least a portion of the circuit board assembly exposed. The technique further involves causing the applied encasement material to harden (e.g., heating the encasement material in a curing oven, applying radiation, providing a chemical catalyst, etc.). Application and hardening of the encasement material may take place shortly after circuit board assembly (e.g., by automated equipment at a manufacturing facility in order to treat newly assembled boards) or at some later time in the field (e.g., by a technician servicing a legacy board).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: TEXTRON SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Louis H. Feinstein
  • Patent number: 7484758
    Abstract: A golf car including a seat assembly and a first hip restraint. The seat assembly has an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side. The first hip restraint is mounted to the lower surface and extends to the first side. The first hip restraint includes polypropylene. The first hip restraint is gas assist injection molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Hanson, Bradley J. Hanson, Kent H. Bruntz
  • Patent number: 7486435
    Abstract: An optical parametric oscillator includes a source of coherent energetic pump optical signals and an optical resonator cavity which includes a set of optical parametric amplifying (OPA) crystals and a set of optical elements such as mirrors disposed along an optical path. The optical elements are configured (1) to direct an oscillation optical signal generated by the OPA crystals along the optical path, (2) to provide input coupling of the energetic pump optical signals such that each energetic pump optical signal travels through only one of the OPA crystals to result in a corresponding depleted pump optical signal, and (3) to provide output coupling of the depleted pump optical signals to prevent each depleted pump optical signal from traveling through more than one of the OPA crystals. Resonator cavities have multiple-leg configurations, including “L” and “U” shapes, and either linear (or standing-wave) or ring architectures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Craig Slater
  • Publication number: 20090025356
    Abstract: A reel mower assembly having a frame and a reel rotatably mounted to the frame. The reel is a casting having spatially separated end members and a plurality of cross members homogenously connected to the end members. One or more support rings can also be positioned between the end members and homogenously connected to the cross members. A drive is operable to rotate the reel about a reel axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Dohme F. Mahan, Vivek Moinikunta, Lynn G. Westbrook
  • Publication number: 20090014581
    Abstract: A ducted fan for a helicopter includes a transverse duct and a counter-torque device supported within the duct. The counter-torque device includes a rotor rotatably mounted within the duct and a stator fixedly mounted within the duct downstream from the rotor. The rotor includes a rotor hub having a rotor axis, and rotor blades extending from the hub. The Rotor blades have a modulated angular distribution about the rotor axis. The stator includes a stator hub, and a plurality of stator vanes distributed around the stator hub. The stator vanes are angularly modulated around the stator hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Kebrle, James R. Andrews, Justin Daw, Jim Hurdle, Paul Sherrill, Jimmy C. Narramore, Sidney Xue, Charles Hollimon, Dudley Smith, Bryce Docker, John T. Brieger
  • Patent number: 7475530
    Abstract: A lawn mower, in particular a reel lawn mower, can include an articulating swing-out arm for supporting a reel assembly. The swing-out arm can include main and secondary members. The main member and the mower can be coupled to a first joint assembly which can define a first axis therethrough and can be operable to provide for rotation of the main member relative to the mower about the first axis. The main and secondary members can be coupled to a second joint assembly which can define a second axis therethrough and can be operable to provide for rotation of the secondary member relative to the main member about the second axis. The secondary member can also be coupled to the reel assembly. The swing-out arm can be operable to locate the reel assembly in a mowing position underneath the mower and a servicing position outside of the mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Lee Hensley
  • Patent number: 7474910
    Abstract: Textile-based electrodes include a fabric portion having stretch-recovery non-conductive yarns and an electrically conductive region having stretch-recovery electrically conductive yarn filaments. The electrodes can further include float yarns and can be configured in a textured or ribbed construction. When incorporated into a garment, the electrodes can be used to monitor biophysical characteristics, such as the garment wearer's heart rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Textronics Inc.
    Inventors: Qaizar N. Hassonjee, Juan Cera, Robert-Michael Bartecki, Thomas A. Micka, Claudia Schultze, Stacey B. Burr, Eleni Karayianni
  • Publication number: 20090001966
    Abstract: A system has a sensor assembly mounted adjacent to a moving magnetic member such as a motor rotor to sense its position. The sensor assembly includes Hall-effect sensors each having a binary output, configured such that distinct positions of the moving magnetic member correspond to distinct digital patterns of the outputs of the Hall-effect sensors. Encoding circuitry is coupled to the outputs of the Hall-effect sensors to generate a multi-valued analog output, distinct values of the multi-valued analog output representing corresponding distinct digital patterns of the outputs of the Hall-effect sensors. The encoding circuitry may employ a ladder network with weighted-value resistors contributing different components of an analog current sensed by the controller. The sensed current can be converted to digital position information using suitable analog-to-digital conversion circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: HR TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Y. Liu, Estella C. Chung
  • Publication number: 20080315032
    Abstract: A guidable projectile has a central shaft, a projectile body, and a surface control assembly. The projectile body is arranged to rotate around at least a portion of the central shaft during flight of the guidable projectile to provide stabilization. The surface control assembly is supported by the central shaft. The surface control assembly includes a movable member arranged to control a trajectory of the guidable projectile during flight of the guidable projectile, and an electromagnetic actuator interconnected between the central shaft and the movable member. The electromagnetic actuator is arranged to control movement of the movable member relative to the central shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: HR Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Harnoy
  • Patent number: D584187
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony R. Rossello, Jennifer Schroer, Donald S. Hanson, Bradley J. Hanson
  • Patent number: D587913
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Hanson, Jr., Richard Krall, Bradley J. Hanson