Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Patent number: 5277023
    Abstract: A fuel injector system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes first and second fuel injectors rendered operative to discharge fuel to the combustor during a high power regime of engine operation and rendered non-operative during a lower power regime of engine operation. The first and second fuel injectors include respective first and second fuel discharge passages in fuel flow communication to one another and to the combustor via associated fuel discharge lips to sustain a flame region. The first and second fuel injectors are operatively associated with respective first and second air discharge means having air discharge lips for discharging air to the combustor for sustaining the flame region therein. When the fuel injectors are rendered non-operative, different pneumatic pressures are established at the fuel discharge lips to purge fuel from the fuel injectors to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Fuel Systems Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome R. Bradley, Theodore R. Koblish
  • Patent number: 5271785
    Abstract: The method for inserting a screw or insert having a barbed or other irregular surface or barbed type insert includes the steps of providing a tool having an ultrasonic horn and a cavity for an insert; filling the cavity with plastic filler material and positioning the insert against the center of the filler material; thereafter, activating the horn to vibrate the insert to soften and penetrate the insert into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen E. Devine
  • Patent number: 5272683
    Abstract: An end connector has a plastic outer shell pivotally coupled to a plastic watch case by means of a metallic cross pin. The outer shell has a recess in its bottom surface which is configured and dimensioned to receive at least one and preferably two of the end most top links of a respective end of the band. A metallic insert is interposed between the outer shell and the thus received top links. The insert is mechanically inter engaged with both the cross pin and the thus received top links, thereby establishing a secure coupling of the band of the watchcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Jackl
  • Patent number: 5269559
    Abstract: A steering wheel (12) incorporates an air bag unit (22). The air bag unit has a cover door (30) with a transducer (38) molded in a deformable front wall (35) of the cover door. The transducer is operably connected to an electrical circuit (42) that actuates a horn (44) when the circuit senses an actuating output voltage at the output lead (41) of the transducer (38). The transducer produces the actuating output voltage when hand pressure is exerted on the front wall (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Filion, Colin Frost, Denis Moore
  • Patent number: 5270907
    Abstract: An integral socket assembly with insert molded metal support structure is molded as a unit and is mounted on a headlamp assembly to enable adjusting the headlamp alignment. The integral socket assembly includes a support bracket which is secured to the headlamp structure, and integrally molded with the support bracket are coupling sockets for receiving the coupling members formed on movable adjusting screws which translate to adjust the orientation of the integral socket assembly and the headlamp structure secured thereto. The support bracket has a metal reinforcing element insert molded therein to reinforce the structural integrity of the bracket and the securement to the headlamp structure. The coupling socket can also include a seal member removably covering an entrance opening to the socket cavity in order to prevent entry of debris into the coupled joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Lisak
  • Patent number: 5263681
    Abstract: A coupling between the motor of a direct drive valve and a spool for converting rotary-to-linear motion. The coupling includes a split bushing with spring means encircling the same and urging it together. The end of a shaft carried by the rotor of the motor is inserted into an opening in the split bushing to urge it outwardly against the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: HR Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Laux
  • Patent number: 5263680
    Abstract: A coupling between a direct drive valve motor and a spool for converting rotary-to-linear motion. A bushing is coupled to the spool and defines an opening therein. An end of a shaft carried by the rotor of the motor is received within an opening in the busing. The bushing is outwardly expandable upon the receipt of the end of the shaft to couple the shaft to the spool with minimal frictional forces and near zero backlash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: HR Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Laux
  • Patent number: 5256354
    Abstract: A method for forming a hidden tear seam in the cover for a safety air bag assembly comprises the steps of filling a heated open mold with liquid plastisol or dry powder comprised of polyvinyl materials; forming a gel layer of polyvinyl chloride material on the open heated thin metal mold; dumping excess polyvinyl liquid plastisol chloride material from the gel layer; fusing the gel layer; stamping a tear seam in a fused layer while it is still plastic by providing an anvil having a surface thereon of a first predetermined area and including an embossment thereon extending outwardly of said first predetermined area and stamping the tear seam by directing the embossment into the fused layer until the surface engages the fused layer and wherein the first predetermined area is sized to produce a reaction force on the anvil to determine the depth of penetration of the embossment and thereafter finally curing and cooling the fused layer and removing same from said thin metal mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Chadwick
  • Patent number: 5253813
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reclaiming urethane foam and polyvinyl chloride plastic material from composite plastic articles (18). The articles pass through a granulator (23) and pass through a first elutriator (36) where two streams of particles are formed. A denser stream passes to a second elutriator (50) where at its exit (56) substantially pure polyvinyl chloride particles are passed into bin (58). A less dense stream of particles pass to a screen separator (64) where intermediately sized particles are sorted onto conveyor (74) which passes substantially pure urethane foam to baler (76).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Philip L. Belliveau, Samuel W. Pollard
  • Patent number: 5254976
    Abstract: Liquid leak detector apparatus and method including a fluid system having two fluid tanks which are fluid flow interconnected and which have a fluid flow-rate switch operative between the tanks for detecting the quantity of flow for establishing equilibrium between the tanks and thereby detecting the leakage of fluid in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Schueler
  • Patent number: 5251866
    Abstract: A test mold assembly for evaluating the surface deformation tendency of a coverstock bonded to a reactive plastic formulation to voids in the formulation including a base adapted to support a coverstock and spaced side walls extending upwardly from the base to define a mold cavity for receiving foam precursors. The assembly further includes a lid adapted to form the top of the mold cavity and having a cover portion disposed spaced from the base. The lid includes a plurality of integral projections extending downwardly from the cover portion into the mold cavity a predetermined distance to create voids in the foam. A method of making a foam void model for evaluating the surface deformation tendency of a coverstock bonded to a reactive plastic formulation to voids in the formulation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ellen Lord, Brian VanBenschoten, Daniel Durand
  • Patent number: 5252164
    Abstract: An SIR door and instrument panel are formed by adhering a single, unitary cover material over a preformed door insert member and separate preformed panel insert member. The insert members are sprayed with an adhesive and placed on a support member with the door insert member aligned with and raised above an opening in the panel insert member. The single, unitary cover material is laid over the insert members and vacuum formed thereabout. Thereafter, the cover material is trimmed from the door insert member. The door insert member and cover material are removed from support member. The instrument panel and supplemental impact restraint (SIR) door may thereafter be assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Mills
  • Patent number: 5252014
    Abstract: A blind fastener designed to secure workpieces having aligned holes therein is provided. The fastener comprises an elongated stem having a head at one end and a serrated tail at the other, and a tubular sleeve having a head through which tail of the stem extends and a tail which is engaged by the head of the stem. The stem further includes a shear ring for bulbing the sleeve tail and a lock ring for locking the stem to the sleeve. The stem also has a neck which engages a reduced diameter shoulder portion in the sleeve. Interference between the neck and the shoulder causes the sleeve to expand radially outward so as to fill any clearance or gap between the sleeve and the workpieces. A reservoir located in the stem accepts excess shoulder material sheared off during the hole filling process, the excess material also serving to form a secondary lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: George A. Andrews
  • Patent number: 5248551
    Abstract: A process for producing a reinforced plastic motor vehicle bumper includes the steps of placing a woven roving (17) on a center section of a preform screen (10) that is retained by a vacuum draw from a suction fan (16). Chopped glass fibers (20) and a curable binder are sprayed onto the preform screen and woven roving. A second layer (22) of woven roving is placed onto the center section of chopped glass and first layer (17) of woven roving. Either the excess trim (39) is trimmed by a cutting die (50) before the preform is cured or the die is first cured and then the excess trim is trimmed by a cutter using a plastic base (35) in the screen that circumscribes the contoured section of the preform screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Kelman, Robert Hames
  • Patent number: 5248183
    Abstract: A swing out container holder is provided as part of a vehicle armrest or console. The armrest includes a front side forming the front part of the armrest in the closed position and forming a support shell of the container holder in the open position. The front side swings open about a lower surface hinge to expose the container holder. A second container holder is automatically slid out from within the armrest upon opening movement of the first container holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Gignac, Robert Juzwiak
  • Patent number: D340004
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: George T. Butler
  • Patent number: D340005
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: George T. Butler, Jr.
  • Patent number: D340664
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: George T. Butler
  • Patent number: D341333
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Julia R. Prout
  • Patent number: D342875
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Franke, John E. McCallum, Claudia A. Isaacs, Kenneth E. Mason