Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Patent number: 6644004
    Abstract: The mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a motor generator set, an internal combustion motor and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. The motor generator set provides electrical energy for electric motors that drive the reel type lawn mowers. A housing encloses the internal combustion motor and motor generator set and utilizes a combination of passive noise abatement and active noise abatement to reduce noise generated within the interior of the housing. The passive noise abatement is provided at plurality of locations around the motor generator set within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk W Reimers, Dammika Weeratunga
  • Patent number: 6644588
    Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft (11) has a multi-mode tiltrotor nacelle control system with integrated envelope protection (13). The tiltrotor aircraft (11) has a fuselage (15), a tail section (17), a left wing member (21a), a right wing member (21b), a right engine nacelle (23b), a left engine nacelle (23a), a left proprotor (25a), and a right proprotor (25b). Activation of the nacelle control system causes preselected rotational movement of the tiltrotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. King, Peter M. Shultz
  • Patent number: 6640832
    Abstract: A fuel delivery unit includes an installation holder accommodating at least a first reservoir with a fuel pump arranged therein, a fuel filter and a cover closure for a fitting opening in a fuel tank. The fuel delivery unit additionally includes a second reservoir which in the installation position is disposed beside the first reservoir and communicates therewith. The first and second reservoirs are accommodated by the installation holder displaceably and/or pivotably relative to each other at least between a fitting configuration and an installation configuration. At least one reservoir at least in the installation configuration is arranged at least partly outside the projected area of the cover closure in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: RĂ¼diger Walter
  • Patent number: 6641728
    Abstract: A device for filtering a liquid, in particular for filtering a polymer plastic melt, has a housing which includes an inlet channel, a connecting channel situated in a shaft and a discharge channel, as seen in the flow direction of the liquid to be filtered, where the connecting channel has at least two filters arranged side by side and aligned across the flow direction of the liquid in the connecting channel, and the shaft is mounted in a bore in the housing so that it is axially displaceable and is liquid-tight, so that by axial displacement of the shaft, the two filters can be moved between a filtration position in which the inlet channel is connected to the discharge channel through the connecting channel, and an externally accessible cleaning position in which the connection from the inlet channel to the discharge channel is interrupted, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: MAAG Pump Systems Textron GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Emhardt
  • Patent number: 6637099
    Abstract: A riveting apparatus is described, including a body having an abutment means (19,32) mounted at one end thereof, and stop means (52,53) mounted at a position remote therefrom, so that a mandrel (30) inserted through the abutment means (19,32) has it end remote from the head located axially by the stop means (52,53) in predetermined axial relationship to the body, characterized in that the abutment means (19,32) is adjustable with respect to the body in the direction along the mandrel axis, thereby to provide adjustment of the relative positions of the abutment (19,32) and the mandrel head (33). A pneumatic piston means for use in the rivet feeding means (55) in the riveting apparatus is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Fastening Systems Limited
    Inventor: Angraj Kumar Seewraj
  • Patent number: 6633019
    Abstract: A method for forming a design in a panel includes providing an outer panel layer on an inner panel layer to form a single composite panel including two layers. The design is then formed into the panel by forming voids in the outer layer. The voids are formed by exposing predetermined regions of the outer layer to a laser beam that burns, vaporizes or otherwise removes portions of the outer layer in each exposed region. The voids create the design by exposing the inner panel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Automotive Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Gray
  • Patent number: 6632525
    Abstract: A plastic particle is formed of a plastic material having at least one integral protruding ring disposed on its outer surface. The ring may be continuous or intermittent around a perimeter of the plastic particle. Preferably, the particles have an outer diameter in the range of 0.007 inches to 0.040 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Automotive Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Farrington, Kenneth J. Mazzochi
  • Patent number: 6626247
    Abstract: The present invention provides a post driver which includes various post adaptors having different cross-sections. The post adaptors can be attached to, and detached from, a head portion of the post driver. An adaptor is attached to the head portion by retracting a pin in the head portion, sliding the adaptor into slots on the head portion, and releasing the pin such that the pin extends through an aperture of the adaptor. A post having a cross-section comparable to that of the adaptor can then be inserted into the adaptor, allowing the post driver to drive the post into the ground. The adaptor can be removed from the head portion by retracting the pin and sliding the adaptor out of the slots. If another type of post is to be driven into the ground, a corresponding adaptor can be attached to the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Nordlin
  • Patent number: 6622596
    Abstract: A drive tool which does not require any upper-body force from an operator to install a fastener. The drive tool includes a top portion which is engageable with a drive source and a lower portion which is engageable with a fastener. The drive tool includes springs which are configured to urge the lower portion and upper portion of the tool away from each other (i.e. relative movement) and provide that a generally axial force is applied to the fastener engaged with the lower portion of the tool. As a result, the operator does not need to apply any upper-body axial force to the drive tool to install the fastener. Preferably, the lower portion of the drive tool includes one or more foot pads on which an operator may stand, and the spring(s) become compressed when the operator stands on the foot pad(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Janusz, David C. Goss
  • Patent number: 6624925
    Abstract: An active optical amplifier in which a unitary optical amplifier constructed from a unitary optically transparent chip that has been doped so as to be optically active, amplifies incoming signal photons when excited by a pump laser of sufficient energy. The unitary optical amplifier receives input photons and pump laser energy and provides output photons that have the same spatial orientation and phase as the corresponding input photons. A laser direction and ranging (LADAR) may be constructed from the active optical amplifier by further including first imaging optics to focus the input photons onto the surface of the unitary optical amplifier and second imaging optics to focus the output photons from the active unitary optical amplifier onto a focal plane image sensor array. The electronic signals from the focal plane image sensor array may then be displayed on a conventional display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Hasson, Hsian P. Chou
  • Patent number: 6618925
    Abstract: A method of constructing a bed knife blade assembly for a reel-type lawn mower having a frame rotatably supporting a cutting reel. The bed knife blade assembly comprises a clamp plate having a flange with a locking surface, and a blade insert having a tab cooperating with the locking surface to restrict movement of the blade insert relative to the clamp plate. The clamp plate is adapted to be coupled to the frame such that the flange biasedly engages the tab to further restrict movement of the blade insert relative to the clamp plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Rickheim
  • Patent number: 6616095
    Abstract: The subject tiltrotor aircraft has three modes of operation: airplane mode, helicopter mode, and transition mode. A tilting mast, which transitions the aircraft between airplane mode and helicopter mode, is controlled by systems that allow selective movement of the rotor blades between the flight modes. A hub couples the rotor blades to the tilting mast such that torque and thrust are transferred, while allowing rotor thrust vector tilting. A main swash plate controls rotor thrust vector direction. Pitch horns are coupled to the rotor blades and the main swash plate via pitch links such that swash plate inputs are communicated to the rotor blades. The pitch links are coupled at “delta-3” values that are not optimum. A feedback swash plate and feedback links receive disk tilting inputs from the rotor blades, and supply inputs to the main swash plate, which compensates for the less than optimum delta-3 coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, James L. Braswell, Jr., David A. Popelka, Richard L. Bennett, Thomas B. Settle, Jr., Charles E. Covington, Cecil E. Covington
  • Publication number: 20030164642
    Abstract: A brake assembly is provided for implementation with a brake system and includes a support bracket, a master cylinder supported by the support bracket and operable to provide hydraulic pressure to the brake system, an accumulator piston extending from the master cylinder and operable to maintain hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic brake system, and an accumulator assembly extending from the support bracket. The accumulator assembly includes a compression plate engaging the accumulator piston, an end cap and an accumulator spring disposed between the compression plate and the end cap, biasing the compression plate against the accumulator piston. A booster arm is pivotally supported by the support bracket and is actuable between first and second positions. In the first position the booster arm limits axial movement of the compression plate against the accumulator piston and in the second position the booster arm permits increased axial movement thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan D. Bigsby
  • Patent number: 6612286
    Abstract: A governor system is provided for limiting a degree of throttle travel of a throttle as a function of rotational speed of a drive axle. The governor system includes a governor shaft rotatably supported by the drive axle and operably interconnected to internal components of the drive axle for varying a feedback torque, a governor arm fixed for rotation with the governor shaft, a throttle cable interconnected with the governor arm for applying a first pulling force to the throttle and an accelerator cable resiliently interconnected with the governor arm to apply a second pulling force to the governor arm. The second pulling force induces rotation of the governor arm for applying a torque on the governor shaft. The torque balances with the feedback torque of the governor shaft for limiting the second pulling force as a function of the rotational speed of the drive axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W. Houston
  • Patent number: 6606980
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle is provided with a reservoir, which is accessible through a closable opening in the wall of the fuel tank. In order to be able to select the size of the reservoir independently of the size of the opening, the reservoir comprises at least two modules (126, 127) which can be connected to each other and which are assembled within the tank to form the reservoir. At least one module of the reservoir can already be inserted into the tank when producing the tank. Additional modules can be inserted into the finished tank through the opening in the wall of the tank. It is also possible for all modules forming the reservoir to be subsequently inserted into the tank through the opening in the wall of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: RĂ¼diger Walter
  • Patent number: 6607005
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle defining at least two interconnecting with the intercommunication being by way of a tank region of smaller cross-section than the chambers, defining a saddle tank configuration. A first of the chambers contains a fuel delivery unit and a second of the chambers has a refuelling vent valve which is the only refuelling vent valve of the tank. The two chambers also communicate with each other by way of a compensating line on the basis of the principle of communicating vessels. The tank also has means for venting the compensating line. The compensating line is such that equalisation of the filling levels of the intercommunicating chambers is possible only when there is a drop in level from the second chamber to the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reiner Viebahn, Dirk Bolle, Torsten Homburg
  • Patent number: 6607680
    Abstract: In a process and apparatus for producing hollow bodies from plastic material which are at least partially filled with foam, firstly a preform is expanded in a blow molding mold by an increased internal pressure to form a hollow body which is then at least partially filled with foam plastic beads. The compressed beads are introduced into the expanded hollow body while still within the mold, under a pressure which is higher than the pressure obtaining in the hollow body. The beads in the hollow body experience a relief of pressure which results in the increase in volume of the beads and which provides for at least very substantial filling with a foam of at least a delimited part of the volume in the hollow body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Juergen Moitzheim
  • Patent number: 6603536
    Abstract: An optical correlator is used to detect the presence of a target in a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system by analyzing the return signal, and to provide initial estimates of the targets range and velocity to the LADAR receiver. The optical correlator includes an acoustic optical Bragg cell that deflects an input laser signal using the received and down-converted LADAR signal. An integrating optical detector is disposed to receive the optical outputs of the acoustic optical Bragg cell and an optical processor analyzes and processes the integrating optical detector data. The integrating optical detector integrates the optical outputs of the Bragg cell over time and the integrating optical detector output is sampled over a sampling period so that target detection is uncorrelated to noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Hasson, Gerald A. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 6585141
    Abstract: An adjustable end piece engagable with a drive tool and configured to deliver fasteners from the drive tool to a work piece. Assembly of the adjustable end piece can be varied by varying the assembly of the end piece components and thus varying the length of the end piece. The variation in the length of the end piece allows the end piece to accommodate fasteners of varying lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Goss, Jordan Kingsbury
  • Patent number: 6585832
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for the manufacture of aircraft engine cylinder barrels to prevent their premature failure due to hairline cracks or specks thought to be caused by caustic stress corrosion cracking during black oxide treatment. Machined aircraft cylinder barrels immersed into a black oxide chemical bath composed of a solution containing about 60% sodium hydroxide, about 0% sodium nitrate, and about 40% sodium nitrite most effectively prevents specks and hairline cracks. Since residual stresses from machining also contribute to the probability that specks or hairline cracks will occur during black oxide treatment, the maximum selected number of cylinder barrels essentially free of detectible specks or hairline cracks determines the maximum number of cylinder barrels to be machined on a given set of tool bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Limited
    Inventor: Yoon Sam Kim