Patents Assigned to Textron
-
Patent number: 12214870Abstract: In certain embodiments, a rotorcraft includes a first engine, a second engine, a primary engine-start system for the first engine, a fast-start engine-start system for the first engine, and a computer system. The computer system is configured to detect a failure of the second engine during a reduced engine operation (REO) flight mode in which the first engine has been intentionally shut down inflight and the second engine is to remain operational, and to automatically initiate, in response to detecting the failure of the second engine during the REO flight mode, an automatic restart of the first engine using the fast-start engine-start system.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2022Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Bharath Ramamurthy
-
Publication number: 20250033786Abstract: An aircraft nacelle includes a forward cruise inlet, a forward-cruise-inlet conduit coupled to the forward cruise inlet and operable to supply air from the forward cruise inlet to an engine housed by the aircraft nacelle, an inlet barrier filter, an inlet-barrier-filter compartment coupled to the inlet barrier filter, a plurality of gills coupled between the inlet-barrier-filter compartment and the engine and operable to be in an open state and a closed state, a filter-purge door coupled to the inlet-barrier-filter compartment and operable to be in a closed state and an open state. When the plurality of gills are in the closed state and the filter-purge door is in the open state, air from the filter-purge door flows from the inlet-barrier-filter compartment through the inlet barrier filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: John Robert WITTMAAK, JR., Brennan STULTS, Keith David WEAVER, Richard Lee THACKWAY
-
Publication number: 20250034930Abstract: A door management system on an aircraft includes a fuselage extending along a longitudinal axis in a fore-aft direction parallel to forward flight, an opening in a sidewall of the fuselage, a door mounted on the sidewall to slide in the fore-aft direction between a closed position covering the opening and an open position revealing the opening, a cable attached to the fuselage and the door and a speed governor operatively coupled to the cable to limit a velocity of the door as it moves between the open position and the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: John Robert WITTMAAK, JR., Michael RINEHART
-
Publication number: 20250035138Abstract: An aircraft comprising a fuselage; a vent disposed through a bottom surface of the fuselage; and a drainage system for transporting fluid leaked from a fluid source out of the fuselage via the vent in response to a first condition, the drainage system comprising a container having a top and a bottom; and a siphon tube within the container, the siphon tube having an inlet and an outlet and comprising a 180 degree bend between the inlet and the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: James Brendan Rohrer, Carlos Alexander Fenny
-
Patent number: 12208644Abstract: A half-shaft assembly includes a first constant velocity (CV) joint, a second CV joint and an axial movement joint connected between the first CV joint and the second CV joint. The axial movement joint includes a first shaft coupled to the first CV joint and a second shaft coupled to the second CV joint, wherein mechanical input received on the first shaft is communicated to the second shaft, and wherein the second shaft slides axially within the first shaft. The axial movement joint further includes an axial boot cover coupled on a first end to the first shaft and on a second end to the second shaft that accommodates axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft. The first constant velocity (CV) joint is coupled to provide torsional input received at an input to the first shaft, the first CV joint having a first CV boot cover. The second CV joint coupled to provide torsional output received from the second shaft to an output, the second CV joint having a second CV boot cover.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2023Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Textron Inc.Inventor: Hunter Scott Davis
-
Patent number: 12208909Abstract: A rotorcraft has a fuselage, an engine disposed substantially laterally centrally relative to the fuselage, and an air intake system (AIS). The AIS has a first duct configured to provide streamline air flow, a second duct configured to provide streamline air flow, and a combining section configured to receive streamline air flow from each of the first duct and the second duct. The combining section is further configured to output streamline air flow.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2019Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Steven Ray Ivans, David Alan Hawthorne, Bradley Robert Henson, David Frank Haynes, David Lawrence Miller
-
Patent number: 12209638Abstract: An improved compound planetary gear system. In embodiments, a compound planetary gear system includes at least one planet pinion including a main shaft having a first gear for meshing with a sun gear and a second gear for meshing with a ring gear, and a carrier for supporting the at least one planet pinion. Teeth of the first gear are configured with a first helical angle with respect to a longitudinal angle of the at least one planet pinion, teeth of the second gear are configured with a second helical angle with respect to the longitudinal angle of the at least one planet pinion, the first helical angle different from the second helical angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2023Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Charles J. Ott, Nathaniel Bernklau, Trenton Hamm
-
Patent number: 12208886Abstract: A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft. The propulsion assembly includes a mast having an internal ledge, a raceway station and an external ridge with at least a portion of the raceway station positioned axially between the internal ledge and the external ridge. A nonintegral raceway is receivable by the raceway station to form a press fit joint between the mast and the nonintegral raceway. A mast bearing assembly includes a plurality of bearings configured to engage an outer surface of the nonintegral raceway. The internal ledge is configured to generate a nonuniform normal force between the mast and the nonintegral raceway along the raceway station that axially biases the nonintegral raceway toward the external ridge, thereby securing the nonintegral raceway at the raceway station.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Charles Hubert Speller, Alan Wayne Falls, Nathan D. Sudek
-
Publication number: 20250027524Abstract: A machining fixture counterbore bolt fitting includes a counterbore bolt, (SHCS) screw and jam nut. The counterbore bolt defines an axial bore therethrough, sized to location clearance or sliding fit receive the screw and a counterbore sized to running fit receive a head of the screw and of a depth for the head of the screw to bear on the bottom of the counterbore. The counterbore bolt is threaded through a machining fixture to bring a distal end of the bolt into contact with a surface of a part to be machined, with the axial bore around a screw-threaded bore in a fixture mating surface of the part. The screw is threaded into the screw-threaded bore, holding the part against movement with respect to the fixture. The head of the screw bears on the counterbore bottom, pulling the fixture mating surface against the bolt shaft threaded through the machining fixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2023Publication date: January 23, 2025Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Timothy John Leibold
-
Patent number: 12204321Abstract: Methods and systems for performing a validation process on a part to be processed are provided. An identifier associated with the part is received. A listing of at least one automated process based on the identifier is displayed. An indication of a selected automated process from the listing is received. First instructions are transmitted to an automated process device for performing an automated processing program in accordance with the selected automated process. Processing results associated with the part are received from the automated process device. Second instructions are transmitted to a validation process device for performing a validation program in accordance with a validation process associated with the selected automated process. Validation results associated with the part are received from the validation process device. The processing results and the validation results are stored in association with the identifier.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2020Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Sébastien Lacasse, Ikram Djafri
-
Patent number: 12202624Abstract: A heliport docking system provides automated transport, fueling, maintenance, and logistical management of VTOLs. The heliport docking system can include a plurality of helipads that can be autonomously transported from area-to-area to assist in the logistics of heliport management and control. The helipad system can include a surface on which a VTOL can land and a controller that can perform functions related to routing, maintenance, object detection, and transport, among others. The helipad system can releasably secure the VTOL to the helipad and transport the VTOL to different areas of the heliport system. The helipad system can also fuel the VTOL by providing, electricity, combustible fuel, or other suitable energy source, and perform a maintenance check of the VTOL and create maintenance crew of any VTOL irregularities.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Holvey, Michael McNair
-
Patent number: 12203796Abstract: A fluid level sensing system includes a mounting strip and fluid sensing nodes coupled to the mounting strip. Each fluid sensing node is switchable between a fluid present state and a fluid absent state. Each fluid sensing node includes a prism, a photoemitter and a photoreceptor. The photoemitter and photoreceptor are interposed between the prism and the mounting strip. In the absence of fluid around the prism, the photoreceptor receives greater than a threshold amount of light from the photoemitter internally reflected by the prism to switch the fluid sensing node to the fluid absent state. When the prism is covered in fluid, the photoreceptor receives less than the threshold amount of light from the photoemitter to switch the fluid sensing node to the fluid present state. A processor determines a fluid level based on the fluid detection states of the fluid sensing nodes.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Nathaniel Ross Bernklau
-
Patent number: 12202613Abstract: An implementation of an external airbag system may include a plurality of inflatable air bags, a duct coupled to the plurality of inflatable air bags, and an exhaust vent coupled to each of the plurality of inflatable air bags via the duct.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Cheng-Ho Tho, Michael Reaugh Smith
-
Patent number: 12202600Abstract: A variable-sweep wing for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a fuselage link coupled to the fuselage and a pylon link coupled to a pylon. A wing airframe has a root end pivotably coupled to the fuselage link and a tip end pivotably coupled to the pylon link. A driveshaft is coupled between the fuselage link and the pylon link and is positioned within the wing airframe. The driveshaft is operable to transmit torque from the main gearbox to a proprotor gearbox. A crank is coupled between the fuselage link and the pylon link and is positioned within the wing airframe. The fuselage link, the pylon link, the driveshaft and the crank form a linkage such that pivoting the crank relative to the fuselage link causes the wing airframe to shift between a substantially straight wing configuration for low-speed forward flight and a swept wing configuration for high-speed forward flight.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2023Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Christopher Edward Foskey
-
Patent number: 12204162Abstract: An optical system for aligning various avionics sensors and displays includes an aircraft having a nose section, a forward fuselage section, and an aft fuselage section, and at least one of a sensor, a display, a sensor substitute, and a display substitute. A laser is attached to a side of the aft section of the fuselage, and is directed toward a corresponding laser target on a laser target board. The laser target board is mounted on a frame and is positioned a distance away from the aircraft, and includes a plurality of laser targets. Between the laser target board and the laser is a reference plate which includes an aperture through which a beam from the laser passes. With the laser aligned with its respective laser target, the relative position of the sensor, display, sensor substitute, or display substitute is determined relative to known positions on the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Lonnie Dean Moses, Lawrence Anthony Meyer
-
Patent number: 12202592Abstract: An electromechanical pitch control system for modifying a collective blade pitch of a multi-blade propeller includes a pitch control rod mechanically coupled via a distal end to a plurality of blades of a propeller, a bearing assembly operatively connected to a proximal end of the pitch control rod, and an electric actuator operatively connected to the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly allows the electric actuator to remain stationary while the pitch control rod rotates with the propeller. The electric actuator is configured to translate the pitch control rod in a longitudinal direction for adjusting an incidence angle of the blades.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron eAviation Inc.Inventors: Paul C. Collado, Brian T. Cozine
-
Patent number: 12202599Abstract: A drive system for an aircraft includes a first gearbox assembly and a second gearbox assembly that is in mechanical communication with the first gearbox assembly. A first pressurized lubrication system is configured to circulate a first lubricant through the first gearbox assembly. A second pressurized lubrication system is configured to circulate a second lubricant through the second gearbox assembly. An emergency lubrication system is configured to autonomously supply a portion of the first lubricant to the second gearbox assembly responsive to a loss of pressure in the second pressurized lubrication system. The emergency lubrication system is also configured to autonomously supply a portion of the second lubricant to the first gearbox assembly responsive to a loss of pressure in the first pressurized lubrication system.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Eric Stephen Olson, Ezra Mike Tiprigan
-
Patent number: 12202620Abstract: A multi-mode aircraft power-split-transmission system includes a rotational power input and a power-split transmission. The power-split transmission includes a sun gear, a planetary carrier, a ring gear, a first rotational power output, and a second rotational power output. The multi-mode aircraft power-split-transmission system also includes a first resistance device coupled to the first rotational power output and fixed to an airframe of the multi-mode aircraft and a second resistance device coupled to the second rotational power output and fixed to the airframe. Operation of the first resistance device causes power received from the rotational power input to be directed to the second rotational power output.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2024Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Brett Schmidt Spicer
-
Patent number: 12202594Abstract: An aircraft having an electric motor coupled to a rotor and an instrument electronically connected to the electric motor and configured to communicate a time available value before a motor condition reaches a motor condition limit.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Eric Albert Sinusas, Edward Lambert, Yann Lavallee, Aaron Alexander Acee, Albert G. Brand
-
Patent number: 12195177Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 24, 2022Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Kirk Landon Groninga, Daniel Bryan Robertson