Patents Assigned to Textron
  • Publication number: 20220090428
    Abstract: A versatile door system for a vehicle having a frame with an opening. The door system includes a door assembly including a hingeable door and a slidable door. The hingeable door is hingeably coupled to the frame proximate the opening. The slidable door is slidably coupled to the hingeable door. A rail system includes a segmented upper rail having a first portion coupled to the frame and a second portion formed on an exterior side of the hingeable door. The slidable door includes a slider bearing configured to sequentially engage the first and second portions of the segmented upper rail along a path of travel of the slidable door. In a closed configuration, the hingeable door and the slidable door are securably disposed within the opening. The hingeable door and the slidable door are configured to collectively provide access to selectable portions of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Landon Groninga, Daniel Bryan Robertson
  • Publication number: 20220089918
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a radiopaque foam used to repair composite structures. A method for creating the radiopaque foam comprises providing first and second resin components that are radiolucent to x-ray imaging. A barium sulfate component is combined with the second resin component. After combining the barium sulfate component and the second resin component, the first resin component and the second resin component are mixed to create a pourable foam. An amount of barium sulfate combined with the second resin component is sufficient to render the pourable foam radiopaque to x-ray imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Gerard Rodriguez, Tamika Thashane Noote
  • Patent number: 11279476
    Abstract: A passive hub flapping lock including: one or more lever arms, each lever arm rotatably coupled to a pivot and comprising a first lever arm end and a second lever arm end; one or more stop wedges; one or more frames coupled to the one or more stop wedges, each frame coupled to the first lever arm end of one of the one or more lever arms; one or more weight sets, each weight set comprising one or more weights coupled to the second lever arm end of one of the one or more lever arms; and one or more pivot torsion springs, each pivot torsion spring positioned at the pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Kyle Thomas Cravener
  • Patent number: 11279478
    Abstract: An aircraft that is convertible between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode. The aircraft includes a fuselage with a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis and distributed propulsion array that surrounds the vertical axis when the aircraft is operating the helicopter mode and surrounds the longitudinal axis when the aircraft is operating in the airplane mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Alexander Fenny, Nicholas Brodeur, Rohn Lee Olson, Kevin Morris
  • Patent number: 11281236
    Abstract: A yaw control system for a rotorcraft featuring a floor mounted pair of pedals configured to measure an up and down motion of a pair of pedals and utilize that up and down motion as a yaw moment control input. The pair of pedals can rock laterally, fore and aft, or vertically. The pair of pedals can be mechanically interconnected to other pairs of pedals or electrically interconnected to duplicate motion across pairs of pedals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Yann Lavallee, Eric Albert Sinusas, Robert Patrick Wardlaw
  • Patent number: 11279477
    Abstract: An exemplary anti-torque system for a helicopter includes two or more electric fans rotatably mounted on a tail boom, the two or more electric fans rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the tail boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Alexander Acee, Andrew Paul Haldeman
  • Patent number: 11280398
    Abstract: A drive system for a tiltrotor aircraft operable to transition between rotary and non rotary flight modes. The drive system includes an engine to provide rotational energy and a proprotor assembly to receive rotational energy from the engine when the tiltrotor aircraft is in the rotary flight mode. The proprotor assembly is disengaged from the engine in the non rotary flight mode. The drive system includes a proprotor gearbox including one or more gears mechanically interposed between the engine and the proprotor assembly. The proprotor gearbox transfers rotational energy from the engine to the proprotor assembly when the tiltrotor aircraft is in the rotary flight mode. The drive system includes a lubricant operable to reduce friction between the gears and a lubrication management system to affect a temperature of the lubricant to enhance lubrication between the gears in the proprotor gearbox in the rotary flight mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Troy Cyril Schank
  • Patent number: 11279223
    Abstract: A valve module for an operating fluid container system. The valve module has a housing which has a first connection for fluidically connecting to an operating fluid container interior, a second connection for fluidically connecting to a filler tube, and a third connection for at least indirectly fluidically connecting to the atmosphere. The valve module comprises the following features: the first connection is connected to the second connection and the third connection within the housing in a fluidic manner in each case; the second connection is connected to the third connection within the housing in a fluidic manner; and the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection can each be adjusted independently of one another between an open position, in which fluid communication through the respective connection is allowed, and a closed position, in which fluid communication through the respective connection is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ibrahim Koukan, Stefan Wind, Gernot Weiss, Axel Barkow, Dirk Eulitz
  • Patent number: 11279464
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a pylon rotatable relative to a wing, a proprotor assembly carried by the pylon, the proprotor assembly have a proprotor blade that is foldable to a stowed position extending substantially parallel to the pylon, and a fluidic clamp positioned with the pylon and configured to grip the proprotor blade when in the stowed position, the fluidic clamp including a first inflatable bladder positioned on a first side of an opening for receiving a portion of a proprotor blade and a pressurized fluid source in fluid connection with the first inflatable bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Foskey, Troy Cyril Schank
  • Patent number: 11279479
    Abstract: An active flow control system for generating yaw control moments for an aircraft during hover flight. The system includes right and left yaw effectors disposed proximate the right and left wingtips of the wing. A pressurized air system includes a pressurized air source and a plurality of injectors operably associated with the right and left yaw effectors. Based upon which of the injectors is injecting pressurized air, the right and left yaw effectors generate no yaw control moment, generate a yaw right control moment or generate a yaw left control moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Bryan Robertson, Kirk Landon Groninga, Matthew Edward Louis
  • Publication number: 20220081106
    Abstract: A magnetic spacer system for a spinner of a rotorcraft includes a first ring of a plurality of magnets secured to the spinner and having an inner surface facing radially inward, and a second ring of a plurality of magnets secured to a nacelle of the rotorcraft and having an outer surface facing radially outward. The first and second rings of multiple magnets are arranged concentrically, and a portion of the inner surface of the first ring of a plurality of magnets and a portion of the outer surface of the second ring of a plurality of magnets have the same polarity to repel one another. In other aspects, the magnetic spacer system may be replaced by a low-friction system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Gary MILLER, Ken SHUNDO, Diana TINLIN
  • Patent number: 11273910
    Abstract: A proprotor blade for a ducted aircraft including a duct includes a main body having a distal end and a sacrificial blade tip coupled to the distal end of the main body. The sacrificial blade tip includes a deformable core material and a shell layer at least partially covering the deformable core material. The sacrificial blade tip deforms upon contact with the duct, thereby reducing damage to the ducted aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: George Matthew Thompson, Jonathan Andrew Knoll, Nicholas Ralph Carlson, Timothy Brian Carr
  • Patent number: 11273915
    Abstract: A substructure in an aircraft cabin includes a drawer-insert accepting portion that defines multiple racks. Each rack may receive an exchangeable drawer insert. A module-accepting portion of the substructure defines an opening that includes a supporting surface, a back wall which extends upward and outward, and a lateral side wall. A module is provided for optionally installing in the module-accepting portion. The module has concealed areas upon installing that include: (i) a base adapted to rest on the supporting surface, (ii) a side wall adapted to abut the lateral side wall, and (iii) a rear wall adapted to abut the back wall. The module also has exposed surfaces upon installing that are adapted to match an existing profile of the drawer-insert accepting portion. The module-accepting portion is configured for stowing cargo in a first mode and for receiving the module in a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Rowe, Michael Scott Robinson, David Wayne Davis, JoAnn Kimbell, Stephen Fagan
  • Patent number: 11273911
    Abstract: An electric power tethering system for an aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode including a takeoff phase and/or a hover phase includes a surface power source and a power tether having a surface end configured to couple to the surface power source and an aircraft end configured to couple to the aircraft. The power tether is configured to transmit power from the surface power source to the aircraft in the takeoff phase and/or the hover phase. The power tether is detachable to decouple the surface power source from the aircraft in response to a power tether release event during flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Albert G. Brand, Scott David Poster
  • Publication number: 20220073198
    Abstract: One example of a tiltrotor aircraft includes a rotor system, a pylon coupled to the rotor system, a spindle coupled to the pylon, an actuator arm coupled to the spindle, and an actuator. The actuator can cause the actuator arm to rotate, thereby causing the spindle to rotate the pylon and the rotor system. In an example, the actuator is in front of a forward spar of the wing of the tiltrotor aircraft and the actuator arm is about one-half (0.5) of an inch to about five (5) inches from the wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Michael E. Rinehart, Jeffrey Matthew Williams
  • Patent number: 11267564
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, and a wing extending from the fuselage along a spanwise axis. A section of the wing is rotatable about the spanwise axis. A ducted fan is mounted to the section of the wing. The ducted fan has a hub configured to be drivingly engaged by an engine. The hub is rotatable about a fan axis. Blades protrude from the hub between roots mounted to the hub and tips radially spaced from the hub. A duct circumferentially extends about the fan axis and is mounted to the tips of the blades to rotate with the blades about the fan axis. The section of the wing and the ducted fan are rotatable about the spanwise axis between a hover mode in which the fan axis is substantially perpendicular to a ground, and an aircraft mode in which the fan axis is substantially parallel to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Landry, Mathieu Beland, Maxime Lapalme
  • Patent number: 11267561
    Abstract: A vibration attenuator for a rotor of an aircraft has a track housing adapted for rotation relative to the rotor and configured for rotation at a second angular velocity greater than a first angular velocity of the rotor. A track is located within the track housing and has a reaction surface, a pair of weights being configured for movement within the track and in contact with the reaction surface. A stop assembly has a pair of stops spaced 180 degrees apart, the stops separating the weights from each other, and each weight being allowed to travel within the track between the stops. A motor rotates the track housing relative to the rotor. The weights are free to travel relative to each other between a minimum-force configuration, in which the weights are positioned 180 degrees apart, and a maximum-force configuration, in which both weights are adjacent one of the stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: David Heverly, Frank Bradley Stamps, Jouyoung Jason Choi, Michael R. Smith, Thomas C. Parham
  • Patent number: 11267579
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion engine for a rotorcraft includes a core turboshaft engine having a gas path and an output shaft that provides torque to a main rotor. A fan module is disposed relative to the core turboshaft engine and is coupled to the output shaft. The fan module has a bypass air path that is independent of the gas path. A thrust nozzle is configured to mix exhaust gases from the core turboshaft engine with bypass air from the fan module and to discharge the mixture to provide propulsive thrust. In a turboshaft configuration, the fan module is closed to prevent the flow of bypass air therethrough such that the thrust nozzle does not provide propulsive thrust. In a turboshaft and turbofan configuration, the fan module is open allowing the flow of bypass air therethrough such that the thrust nozzle provides propulsive thrust, thereby supplying propulsion compounding for the rotorcraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Chadwick Ross, Steven Ray Ivans, Alan Carl Ewing
  • Patent number: 11267352
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a utility vehicle body, a set of electrical loads supported by the utility vehicle body, and a power control assembly supported by the utility vehicle body and coupled with the set of electrical loads. The power control assembly includes an electro-mechanical contactor constructed and arranged to carry high current, a low power switching device constructed and arranged to carry low current, and control circuitry coupled to the electro-mechanical contactor and the low power switching device. The control circuitry is constructed and arranged to separately open and close each of the electro-magnetic contactor and the low power switching device to control power delivery from a lithium battery to the set of electrical loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur James Harvey
  • Publication number: 20220069907
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for utilizing aircraft cockpit and cabin lighting to provide both power and data transmission to occupants. Data and power may be transmitted on non-visible and/or visible spectrums. The visible light may be used independently for aircraft illumination. Data for the cockpit allows for quick upload and download of flight planning and maintenance data to an electronic flight bag. The electronic flight bag may also be able to receive power from cockpit and cabin lighting during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hull, Glenn Sahagun, Daniel Donley