Patents Assigned to Textron
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Publication number: 20250084926Abstract: Multi-way valves for conditioned airflow control systems. In embodiments, a muti-way valve includes an intake configured to receive an airflow as in input to the muti-way valve, a plurality of outlets, each of the plurality of outlets configured to provide at least a portion of the airflow as an output of the muti-way valve, a gate assembly including a gate opening configured to allow air to flow through the gate opening, and an actuator configured to move the gate assembly to a position configured to allow the airflow to concurrently flow through the gate opening to a first set of outlets of the plurality of outlets while preventing the airflow from flowing to a second set of outlets of the plurality of outlets.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2023Publication date: March 13, 2025Applicant: Textron Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Robert Herkimer, Sofia C. Salas, Ashten M. Cole, Shahryar Fotovati
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Publication number: 20250083793Abstract: A rotating pylon assembly for aircraft thrust vectoring control. In embodiments, the rotating pylon assembly of embodiments includes a rotating sleeve disposed within a fixed boom of the aircraft, and configured to support a rotor assembly. The rotating pylon assembly includes a bearing assembly configured to functionally couple the rotating sleeve against an inner surface of the fixed boom. The bearing assembly enables the rotating sleeve to rotate against the inner surface of the fixed boom and about a longitudinal axis of the fixed boom. An actuator is configured to rotate the rotating sleeve about the longitudinal axis of the fixed boom. The rotating sleeve may cause the rotor assembly to be rotated or swung about the longitudinal axis of the fixed boom to position the rotor assembly in a position to vector the thrust provided by the rotor assembly based on a control command.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2023Publication date: March 13, 2025Applicant: Textron Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Danielle L. Edwards
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Publication number: 20250083500Abstract: A ground support tractor includes a wheeled chassis having a cabin mounted thereon. A door assembly is coupled to the cabin. The door assembly includes a lower track having a ramp and a door slidably received by the lower track and translatable in a first direction relative to the cabin between a closed position and an open position. The door includes a main panel and a closeout panel that is translatable relative to the main panel in a second direction between an extended position and a retracted position with the second direction being substantially normal to the first direction. The ramp is configured to apply a retraction force to the closeout panel that causes the closeout panel to translate from the extended position to the retracted position responsive to the door translating from the closed position to the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2023Publication date: March 13, 2025Applicant: Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc.Inventors: Alexandra Elizabeth Crump, Kevin Michael Ayotte
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Patent number: 12246827Abstract: An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode includes tiltable rotors located at forward boom ends, tiltable ducted fans located at wings aft of the forward boom ends, and aft rotors located on aft boom portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2023Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson
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Patent number: 12246484Abstract: A method of producing an article of manufacture includes printing a break-wire conductive-material pattern via an additive-manufacturing process and applying the break-wire conductive-material pattern to a surface of a component. A shape of the break-wire conductive-material pattern fits the surface of the component.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2022Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Maxime Lapalme, Nicola Pedneault Plourde, Jocelyn Lirette
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Patent number: 12246819Abstract: A rotating pylon assembly for aircraft thrust vectoring control. In embodiments, the rotating pylon assembly of embodiments includes a rotating sleeve disposed within a fixed boom of the aircraft, and configured to support a rotor assembly. The rotating pylon assembly includes a bearing assembly configured to functionally couple the rotating sleeve against an inner surface of the fixed boom. The bearing assembly enables the rotating sleeve to rotate against the inner surface of the fixed boom and about a longitudinal axis of the fixed boom. An actuator is configured to rotate the rotating sleeve about the longitudinal axis of the fixed boom. The rotating sleeve may cause the rotor assembly to be rotated or swung about the longitudinal axis of the fixed boom to position the rotor assembly in a position to vector the thrust provided by the rotor assembly based on a control command.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2023Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Danielle L. Edwards
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Publication number: 20250076062Abstract: A method includes receiving operational data from a plurality of vehicles comprising a fleet of vehicles operating in an area of interest, the operational data indicating a motion and a corresponding location of the vehicle; processing the received operational data to identify events of interest, wherein each of the identified events of interest has an event type and has associated therewith a geographic area in which the event of interest occurred; and identifying clusters of the events of interest, wherein each of the clusters comprises multiple occurrences of ones of the events of interest having the same type and having associated therewith the same geographic area. A responsive action to mitigate operating conditions associated with the event type of the events of interest of the at least one of the identified clusters may subsequently be taken.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2023Publication date: March 6, 2025Applicant: Textron Inc.Inventors: Russell William King, Jonathan Daniel Bowen, Gregory August Theodosakis
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Publication number: 20250074015Abstract: A method of forming a composite part is described and includes connecting a layup form tool to a vacuum source; overlaying a release film on a surface of the layup form tool; engaging the vacuum source to affix the release film to the surface of the layup form tool using vacuum pressure; overlaying at least one sheet of composite material on the release film affixed to the surface of the layup form tool to form the composite part; and removing the formed composite part from the layup form tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2023Publication date: March 6, 2025Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Dave Carlson, John Jones, Matt Yancey, Billy Benda, Jeramy Gutierrez, Robert Suggs
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Patent number: 12240353Abstract: A technique provides power-limiting regenerative braking to a utility vehicle. The technique involves detecting that the utility vehicle is moving in a forward direction at a first speed. The technique further involves applying a first regenerative braking power level to the utility vehicle in response to detecting that the utility vehicle is moving in the forward direction at the first speed. The technique further involves detecting that the utility vehicle is moving in the forward direction at a second speed which is less than the first speed. The technique further involves applying a second regenerative braking power level to the utility vehicle in response to detecting that the utility vehicle is moving in the forward direction at the second speed. The second regenerative braking power level is lower than the first regenerative braking power level.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Russell William King, Kevin Douglas Grove
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Patent number: 12240600Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 20, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
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Patent number: 12240189Abstract: A method for forming composite components includes disposing composite laminate over a mandrel. The method further includes infusing the composite laminate with a resin. A gelation of the infused resin is caused by applying a first environmental condition to the composite laminate and mandrel. At least a portion of the mandrel is deformed by applying a second environmental condition to the composite laminate and mandrel. The method further includes forming a composite structure by curing the composite laminate infused with resin. The deformed mandrel is removed from the composite structure after forming the composite structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Michael Dean Dearman, Jared Mark Paulson, Paul K. Oldroyd, Paul Sherrill
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Patent number: 12240340Abstract: Techniques control a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve storing electric power in a lithium battery of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve operating a motor controller of the utility vehicle in a normal mode in which the motor controller provides electric power from a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to an electric motor of the utility vehicle to turn one or more ground engaging members of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve, after operating the motor controller in the normal operating mode, operating the motor controller in a walkaway mode in which the motor controller configures the electric motor to provide braking torque.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Norman R. Padgett, John Ledden, Robert Charles Bradley, Patrick Dwaine Warden
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Patent number: 12240346Abstract: There is disclosed in one example, one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored thereon machine-executable instructions to: receive battery data from at least one sensor connected to a battery bank of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, wherein the battery bank comprises a plurality of batteries; compute from the battery data an available flight time remaining for the eVTOL aircraft; compute a nominal flight time remaining, wherein the nominal flight time remaining excludes a reserve flight time; and display the nominal flight time remaining to a pilot in a human-readable format.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2021Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Albert Mazzei, Michael R. Hull, Yue Fan
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Patent number: 12240589Abstract: A linear actuator for axially translating a control tube to change the pitch of rotor blades at a top portion of the control tube, the linear actuator including an outer sleeve fixed in a stationary position with the control tube extending through the outer sleeve, a screw nut connected by a threaded interface to the control tube, and an actuator motor coupled to the screw nut to rotate the screw nut and thereby translate the control tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Andrew Paul Haldeman, Robert Reynolds
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Publication number: 20250067399Abstract: A fuel tank has an outer shell, a media guide disposed within the space at least partially defined by the outer shell, the media guide being configured to receive a media within cells of the media guide. The fuel tank further has a spring space disposed between the media guide and the outer shell and a compressible spring disposed within the spring space and connected between the outer shell and the media guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Joseph Dean Rainville, Phalgun Madhusudan
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Patent number: 12237655Abstract: According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed. The method includes: detecting, on or proximate to one or more surfaces of an aircraft, a presence of an electric-field above a predetermined threshold; and in response to the detection, activating one or more beam sources to generate an ionized column of charge away from the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2022Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Phalgun Madhusudan
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Patent number: D1063418Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Merril Binford Williams, Jason Michael Decker, Jeremy Tyler Younker, Adam Brickman, Allison Placzek
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Patent number: D1063788Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Frank Joseph Rowe, Jason Michael Decker, Allison Placzek, Nicole Bowman
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Patent number: D1063799Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Sergio R. Martinez, Frank Joseph Rowe, Merril Binford Williams
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Patent number: D1066207Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2023Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Textron Systems CorporationInventors: Glenn Michael Hauptmann, William Keith DuBose, Joseph Anatole Hingle, Jr.