Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Duct vane rotation system
    Patent number: 11453491
    Abstract: One embodiment is a rotor system comprising a duct ring; a hub disposed centrally to the duct ring; first and second stators each connected between the duct ring and the hub; first and second control vanes rotatably connected to the first and second stators, respectively; a structural hoop having a first end connected to the first control vane and a second end connected to the second control vane, the structural hoop for translating rotation of the first control vane about a vane axis to the second control vane; and a mechanism for restricting at least one of forward-aft movement and side-to-side movement of the structural hoop relative to the duct ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Feeley, Karl H. Schroeder, George Matthew Thompson, Michael Mark Attaway, Joseph Richard Carpenter, Jr.
  • AIRCRAFT TRANSPORT JACK
    Publication number: 20220297853
    Abstract: An exemplary aircraft transport jack includes a vertical structure having a vertical axis, a bottom end, and a top end, a connector above the bottom end operable to detachably secure the vertical structure to an aircraft member, a wheel assembly with wheels positioned on opposing sides of the vertical structure, and an actuator coupled to the vertical structure and the wheel assembly and operable to move the wheel assembly axially relative to the vertical structure between a lowered position with the wheels on a ground and a raised position with the bottom end on the ground and the wheels above the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Alvin JONES, Vitthal Vishnuthreeth ARAKERI, Kevin KNOTT
  • ROTORCRAFT LOCKOUT DURING TRANSPORT
    Publication number: 20220297830
    Abstract: An exemplary rotorcraft lockout system includes a main rotor lockout comprising a base operable to be attached to a bottom surface of a fuselage and a first and a second tension arm operable to be connected to the base and a main rotor hub, and a tail rotor lockout including a clamp operable to connect to a horizontal stabilizer, a rotor arm connector operable to connect to a tail rotor hub, and a tail rotor tension arm operable to interconnect the clamp and the rotor arm connector in tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin KNOTT, Vitthal Vishnuthreeth ARAKERI, Alvin JONES, Scott David POSTER, Steven Paul PAPE, Mark Adam WIINIKKA
  • PITCH LINK CENTERING TOOL
    Publication number: 20220297831
    Abstract: An exemplary pitch link centering tool includes a rod having a longitudinal axis, a front face, a rear face, a first rod end and a second rod end, the first rod end having a first aperture with a first rotational axis, the second rod end having a second aperture with a second rotational axis, a first connector coupled to the first rod end, the first connector having a first slot extending in a first radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis and a second connector coupled to the second rod end, the second connector having a second slot extending in a second radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis different from the first radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin KNOTT, Vitthal Vishnuthreeth ARAKERI
  • Continuously variable transmission cooling
    Patent number: 11448307
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT), wherein the CVT includes a housing having an inner cover and an outer cover connected to the inner cover to provide the housing having an interior chamber defined therein. The CVT additionally comprises a clutch assembly disposed within the housing interior chamber, wherein the clutch assembly comprises a clutch post that is connectable to an output shaft of a vehicle prime mover, a movable sheave movably mounted on the clutch post, and a stationary sheave fixedly mounted on the clutch post opposite a front face of the movable sheave. The clutch assembly additionally comprises an intake fan fixedly mounted to the clutch post opposite a rear face of the movable sheave such that the intake fan is separate, independent and spaced apart from the movable sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Hunter Scott Davis
  • Pitch horn joint
    Patent number: 11447242
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a pitch spider, rotor blade assemblies, and pitch horn joints. The pitch spider has a body and pitch spider legs extending from the body. Each blade rotor assembly includes a rotor blade, a pitch adapter joined to the rotor blade and connecting the rotor blade to the rotor hub, and a pitch horn. Each pitch horn joint joins one of the rotor blade assemblies to a corresponding pitch spider leg. Each pitch horn joint includes a pitch horn joint bolt extending from the pitch horn of the rotor blade assembly to the pitch spider leg along a pitch horn joint axis, the pitch horn joint bolt fixed to the pitch horn; a spherical bearing having an inner ring and an outer ring; and a slider sleeve coupled to the spherical bearing, the slider sleeve enabling the pitch horn to translate along the pitch horn joint axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Haldeman, Paul Wayne Woolbright, Bryan Baskin
  • Off-highway recreational vehicle
    Patent number: 11448311
    Abstract: An off-highway recreational vehicle includes side-by-side passenger and driver seats held within a chassis. The seats sit low in the chassis and are covered by a roll-over protection system (ROPS). The vehicle is powered by an engine rearward of the seats that utilizes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to provide power to the ground engaging members, wherein the CVT is cooled via air captured by a CVT intake body located adjacent the driver-side seat, between the frame and external panels of the utility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TEXTRON, INC.
    Inventors: Hunter Davis, Nathan Lundstrom, Logan Bastian, Stephen Deck, Judson Houston, Russell Conine, Deanna Mock, John Stocks, David Horne, Matthew Fields
  • Battery system optimization for eVTOL aircraft
    Patent number: 11447035
    Abstract: An electrical system provides propulsive power to a rotor system of an eVTOL aircraft. The electrical system includes a power battery system having a plurality of power cells and a power battery management system. An energy battery system includes a plurality of energy cells and an energy battery management system in communication with the power battery management system. A distribution system electrically couples the power battery system and the energy battery system to at least one electric motor that drives the rotor system. In a takeoff and landing power mode of the eVTOL aircraft, both the power battery system and the energy battery system provide electrical power to the at least one electric motor. In a cruise power mode of the eVTOL aircraft, the energy battery system provides electrical power to the at least one electric motor and to the power battery system to recharge the power cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Raymond Hull, Steven Loveland, Yue Fan
  • Overload inhibiting torque meter
    Patent number: 11448561
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a drive shaft apparatus comprising a first rotary member and a second rotary member arranged coaxially with said first rotary member. The rotary members are fixedly connected at a first end so that they rotate together. Each rotary member has a set of elements spaced apart around its circumference at a second end. The elements on the first rotary member are spaced apart from the elements on the second rotary member at rest. The first rotary member undergoes torsion when a load is applied during rotation, which causes the first rotary member elements to move closer to the second rotary member elements. The first elements engage the second elements when a torque load less than a yield torque is applied to the first rotary member, which transfers at least a portion of the torque load to the second rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Keith Hale, Ron L. Woods
  • Method of Adjusting Directional Movement Ability in a Multi-Rotor Aircraft
    Publication number: 20220289400
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a directional movement ability in an aircraft having two or more rotors includes receiving a desired thrust demand for each rotor of the two or more rotors, comparing the desired thrust demands to determine a maximum thrust demand, determining whether the maximum thrust demand exceeds a maximum thrust limit of the two or more rotors, and adjusting each desired thrust demand based on whether the maximum thrust demand exceeds the maximum thrust limit to provide an adjusted thrust demand for each rotor of the two or more rotors. Each rotor can be operated based on a respective adjusted thrust demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Sung K. Kim, Russell C. Peters, Manish J. Mistry
  • DRIVE SPLINES WITH FRICTION-REDUCING COATING
    Publication number: 20220290723
    Abstract: A torque-transfer component has splines configured for engaging a corresponding feature of another component, at least a portion of each spline being hardened before a friction-reducing surface coating is applied to the splines. The splines are preferably hardened by nitriding, carburizing, induction hardening, or laser hardening, and the friction-reducing coating preferably comprises diamond-like carbon or tungsten carbide. The coating can be applied using, for example, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, chemically assisted physical vapor deposition, autocatalytic electroless deposition, electroplating, or an oxygen fuel gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Woods, Gary Dale Hall, Scott David Poster, Lance William Weihmuller, Charles Hubert Speller
  • PRECISION BLADE PITCH ADJUSTMENT
    Publication number: 20220289368
    Abstract: A blade pitch adjustment mechanism includes a pitch cylinder having a first face and pitch slots extending longitudinally from the first face, a blade sleeve having a second face and a blade slot extending longitudinally from the second face, the blade sleeve is configured to be rotationally positioned in the pitch cylinder with the second face located with the first face, wherein the blade slot and the pitch slots are cooperative to form keyway, corresponding to a discrete blade pitch, when the blade slot is aligned with a pitch slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul HALDEMAN, Michael SEIFERT, Timothy McClellan MOSIG, Aaron ACEE, Diana R. TINLIN, Andrew Thomas CARTER, Glenn Thornton LANCASTER
  • Line Replaceable Centerbody Assemblies for Ducted Propulsion
    Publication number: 20220289371
    Abstract: A ducted propulsion assembly for an aircraft includes a duct and a plurality of stators. The distal ends of the stators are coupled to the duct. The ducted propulsion assembly includes a line replaceable centerbody assembly isostatically coupled to the proximal ends of the stators. The line replaceable centerbody assembly includes one or more electric motors driving an output driveshaft. The ducted propulsion assembly also includes a proprotor assembly interchangeably coupled to and rotatable with the output driveshaft of the line replaceable centerbody assembly. The proprotor assembly is rotatable in a rotational plane to generate thrust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Hugo Schroeder, Joseph R. Carpenter, JR.
  • DIFFERENTIAL THRUST VECTORING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20220289370
    Abstract: A differential thrust vectoring system includes a first thruster, a second thruster, a main actuator, and a trim actuator. The system is configured such that actuation of the main actuator causes rotation of the thrusters together about an axis, whereas actuation of the trim actuator causes relative rotation of the first and second thrusters about the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Landon Groninga, Daniel Bryan Robertson
  • Yaw Control Systems for Tailsitting Biplane Aircraft
    Publication number: 20220291697
    Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe with first and second wings having a fuselage extending therebetween. A propulsion assembly is coupled to the fuselage and includes a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system that is tiltable relative to the fuselage to generate a thrust vector. First and second yaw vanes extend aftwardly from the fuselage. A flight control system is configured to direct the thrust vector of the coaxial rotor system and control movements of the yaw vanes. In a VTOL orientation of the aircraft, differential operation of the yaw vanes and/or differential operations of first and second rotor assemblies of the coaxial rotor system provide yaw authority for the aircraft. In a biplane orientation of the aircraft, collective operation of the yaw vanes provides yaw authority for the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Andrew Thomas Carter, Sung Kyun Kim, Matthew John Hill
  • FUEL CELL POWERED AIRCRAFT WITH A CATHODE CONVERTIBLE BETWEEN OXYGEN AND AIR AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF
    Publication number: 20220289397
    Abstract: An aircraft that includes a fuselage, an electric motor driven propulsion system, and a fuel cell system configured to provide electricity to the electric motor. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, an air channel, and a cathode switch. The cathode switch being configured to convert between an air mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing air from the air channel, and an oxygen mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing oxygen from the oxygen tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Dean Rainville
  • All-fabric spar for aerodynamic components
    Patent number: 11440652
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for creating a tubular composite structure. In one embodiment, a device comprises multiple layers of cured composite fabric bonded together to form a tubular composite structure, wherein alternating groups of the multiple layers comprise on-axis fabric and off-axis fabric. The tubular composite structure may form a spar for an aerodynamic component. The composite fabric may comprise one or more of carbon, fiberglass, or other composite materials, or a combination of materials. One or more stacks of the fabric wrap completely around the tubular composite structure, and other stacks of fabric may not wrap completely around the tubular composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Foskey, Jared Mark Paulson, Michael Christopher Burnett, Mark Mays
  • Method of repairing composite sandwich panels
    Patent number: 11440277
    Abstract: A method of repairing an aircraft component having a structural core surrounded by an exterior skin of composite material includes removing damaged material from the component to create a cavity therein that exposes an undamaged portion of the structural core, applying a septum comprising composite material to the undamaged portion of the structural core within the cavity such that an orientation of fibers in the septum matches an orientation of fibers in the exterior skin, placing a repair core onto the septum in the cavity such that cells of the repair core are in alignment with cells of the undamaged portion of the structural core, inserting a shim into the cavity along a perimeter of the repair core, applying a patch that covers the cavity to the exterior skin, and co-curing the septum, shim, and patch to bond the repair core in place within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Suvankar Mishra
  • Spherical bearing centrifugal force retention link
    Patent number: 11440651
    Abstract: A spherical bearing centrifugal force retention link includes an inboard spherical bearing to attach to a rotor hub and an outboard spherical bearing to attach to a rotor blade. In use, the inboard spherical bearing and the outboard spherical bearing react centrifugal force radially and a torsional moment of the centrifugal force link is substantially constant throughout the rotor blade pitch range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Haldeman, Paul Wayne Woolbright, Timothy McClellan Mosig, George Matthew Thompson
  • Compact vibration isolation systems for aircraft
    Patent number: 11440648
    Abstract: A liquid inertia vibration eliminator unit for an aircraft having first and second components includes an outer housing coupled to the first component of the aircraft, the outer housing forming an outer housing cavity. The liquid inertia vibration eliminator unit includes a spherical bearing disposed in the outer housing cavity and forming a spherical bearing cavity. A piston is disposed in the spherical bearing cavity and coupled to the second component of the aircraft. Top and bottom fluid chambers are disposed in the spherical bearing cavity on opposite sides of the piston. A tuning passage provides fluid communication between the top and bottom fluid chambers. A tuning fluid moves between the top and bottom fluid chambers via the tuning passage to isolate vibration between the first and second components of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quinn Romano, Frank Bradley Stamps, Michael Scott Seifert