Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Publication number: 20250084926
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Herkimer, Sofia C. Salas, Ashten M. Cole, Shahryar Fotovati
  • Publication number: 20250083793
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Danielle L. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20250083500
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandra Elizabeth Crump, Kevin Michael Ayotte
  • Patent number: 12246827
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Patent number: 12246484
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Maxime Lapalme, Nicola Pedneault Plourde, Jocelyn Lirette
  • Patent number: 12246819
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Danielle L. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20250076062
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Russell William King, Jonathan Daniel Bowen, Gregory August Theodosakis
  • Publication number: 20250074015
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Carlson, John Jones, Matt Yancey, Billy Benda, Jeramy Gutierrez, Robert Suggs
  • Patent number: 12240353
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Russell William King, Kevin Douglas Grove
  • Patent number: 12240600
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
  • Patent number: 12240189
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dean Dearman, Jared Mark Paulson, Paul K. Oldroyd, Paul Sherrill
  • Patent number: 12240340
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Norman R. Padgett, John Ledden, Robert Charles Bradley, Patrick Dwaine Warden
  • Patent number: 12240346
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Mazzei, Michael R. Hull, Yue Fan
  • Patent number: 12240589
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Haldeman, Robert Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20250067399
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Dean Rainville, Phalgun Madhusudan
  • Patent number: 12237655
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Phalgun Madhusudan
  • Patent number: D1063418
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Merril Binford Williams, Jason Michael Decker, Jeremy Tyler Younker, Adam Brickman, Allison Placzek
  • Patent number: D1063788
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Rowe, Jason Michael Decker, Allison Placzek, Nicole Bowman
  • Patent number: D1063799
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Sergio R. Martinez, Frank Joseph Rowe, Merril Binford Williams
  • Patent number: D1066207
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Michael Hauptmann, William Keith DuBose, Joseph Anatole Hingle, Jr.