Patents Assigned to Textronics, Inc.
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Publication number: 20200290737Abstract: An aircraft for capturing drones includes an airframe having a drone channel with first and second wings extending outboard thereof. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to each of the first and second wings such that the rotor disc of each propulsion assembly is outboard of the drone channel. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A mesh bag is coupled to the drone channel forming a drone capture net. The aircraft is configured to convert between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft is also configured to overtake a drone during flight in the biplane orientation such that the drone passes through the drone channel into the mesh bag, thereby capturing the drone in the drone capture net.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Steven Ray Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst, Brent Chadwick Ross, John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
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Publication number: 20200290732Abstract: A tension-torsion strap, for example for a rotor aircraft, including a continuous length of carbon fiber tow arranged in multiple loops to form an elongated member extending between opposing ends and a flexible cover encasing the carbon fiber tow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2019Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Andrew Paul HALDEMAN, Gary MILLER
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Publication number: 20200290749Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as a pilot and passenger seating. An aircraft employs a pilot seat, comprising a contoured structure having ergonomically formed and padded surfaces, with left and right arm supports that include an articulated control knob, movable in three rectangular axes and rotatable about a vertical axis to provide one or more aircraft steering functions for an aircraft, and a touch-sensitive control surface for controlling one or more power system components. A passenger seat, having a contoured structure, having ergonomically formed and padded surfaces, a headrest, a seat, a left support member, and a right support member are adapted to cradle a portion of a passenger's body to support the passenger during travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Levi Bilbrey, Andrew Zahasky, Joshua Edler, Joseph Scott Drennan, Doug Fidler, Rares Halmagean
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Patent number: 10773794Abstract: A dynamic rotor-phasing unit can phase rotors in-flight for dynamic rotor tuning and in an idle state for aircraft storage. The input and output shafts can be clocked (e.g., rotated) from 0 degrees apart to in excess of 360 degrees apart or from 0 degrees apart to 140 degrees apart. Such rotation can minimize the footprint of an aircraft for stowing purposes, as the rotor blades can be folded to fit within a smaller area without disconnecting the drive system. Additionally, the unit can allow tiltrotor blades to be clocked during flight, which can allow the live-tuning of the aircraft's rotor dynamics. A fail-safe rotary actuator can rotate a stationary planet carrier to clock the input shaft and the output shaft. Alternatively, an actuator can position a slider housing to clock the input shaft and the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Colton Gilliland, Tyson Henry
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Patent number: 10773798Abstract: An aircraft rotor assembly has a yoke and a plurality of rotor blade assemblies coupled thereto. Each of the rotor blade assemblies include a rotor blade, a bearing, and a blade grip coupling the rotor blade to the bearing. Each of the rotor blades is rotatable about a lead-lag axis, flap axis, and a pitch change axis, wherein all the axes intersect within the bearing. Adjacent pairs of rotor blade assemblies are coupled together via a damper assembly that is coupled to the pitch change axis of each of the rotor blade assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Andrew Paul Haldeman, Dalton T. Hampton, Bryan Marshall, Frank Bradley Stamps
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Publication number: 20200283119Abstract: A door structure and method of assembling same. The door structure includes a door frame delimiting a door opening. The door frame has a latch housing portion defining a latch housing cavity extending along a length of the door frame. A door is mounted to the door frame and displaceable between an open position and a closed position. The door has a peripheral portion with an outer wall and an inner wall delimiting a cavity of the peripheral portion. A door latch assembly has a first latch member fixedly mounted to the door, and a door manipulator mounted to one of the door and the fuselage and coupled to a second latch member within the latch housing cavity of the door frame. The door manipulator is configured to be manipulated to displace the second latch member to engage and disengage the first latch member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Pier-Alexandre Pelletier, Guillaume Noiseux-Boucher
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Publication number: 20200283139Abstract: A hybrid rotor propulsion system includes a motor having a rotational output connected to a rotor and a prime mover connected to the motor through a rotational input, the prime mover configured to apply a rotational input speed to the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Albert G. BRAND, Eric Albert SINUSAS
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Publication number: 20200284192Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and an engine housed in the fuselage. A ram-air engine inlet is formed on an exterior of the fuselage. The ram-air engine inlet is defined, at least in part, by a cowling door. The cowling door is moveable between a closed position and an open position. An intake duct fluidly couples the ram-air engine inlet to the engine. A filter is disposed across the intake duct. A bypass duct is formed in the ram-air engine inlet aft of the intake duct. The bypass duct is operable to be selectively opened and closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: David HAYNES, Thomas Dewey PARSONS, Shahryar FOTOVATI
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Patent number: 10766538Abstract: A vehicle auxiliary storage compartment comprising a floor, a back wall that extends upward from the floor, and a front wall that extends upward from floor opposite the back wall, and a pair of opposing sidewalls disposed at opposing ends of the front wall and the back wall. The front wall is defined by a back side of a seating structure of a vehicle in which the auxiliary storage compartment is disposed.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Textron Inc.Inventors: Philip Jhant, Matthew Baekelandt, Christopher Furman
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Patent number: 10766628Abstract: This disclosure relates to an air inlet for an aircraft with an integrated hand hold. One innovative aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented as an air inlet on the exterior surface of a cowling for a rotorcraft, wherein the air inlet having a scoop that includes a bottom surface having a wide, flat, front edge that angles downward towards the back, an opening in the back for air to enter, and two lateral sides coupled to the bottom surface, where the two sides are planar on a top surface and become longer in height towards the opening in the back, and hand hold, where the hand hold is a trough or an indentation in the bottom surface of the scoop that extends along a side.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Brent Scannell, Thomas Mast
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Publication number: 20200277049Abstract: A tail rotor assembly coupled to a tailboom of a helicopter includes a tail rotor gearbox having top, bottom and aft sides and a shroud surrounding the tail rotor gearbox. The shroud includes a shroud airframe having top and bottom portions. The tail rotor assembly includes a tail rotor gearbox support assembly configured to support the tail rotor gearbox within the shroud. The tail rotor gearbox support assembly includes a support column coupling the aft side of the tail rotor gearbox between the top and bottom portions of the shroud airframe, an upper support crossbar coupling the top side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe and a lower support crossbar coupling the bottom side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael Edwin Rinehart
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Publication number: 20200277069Abstract: A line-replaceable thrust module includes a nacelle configured to be mechanically connected to an anchoring location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an electric motor coupled to the nacelle, an electric speed controller configured to control the speed of the electric motor and configured to be electrically connected to a communication network of the UAV, and a fuel cell system configured to produce electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, a pressure regulator coupled to the hydrogen tank, and a supply line coupled between the pressure regulator and the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Joseph Dean Rainville, John Richard McCullough
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Patent number: 10759530Abstract: A rotor system includes a hub assembly, a first, second, and third rotor blade rotatably attached to the hub assembly, a first, second, and third damper pivotally attached to the hub assembly and pivotally attached to the first, second, and third rotor blade, respectively, and a control system operably associated with the first, second, and third damper. A method to control vibratory forces exerted on the hub assembly via the first and second rotor blade includes separately controlling a dynamic spring rate of each of the first and second dampers with the control system.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Frank B. Stamps, Michael Smith
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Publication number: 20200269556Abstract: A thermally conductive curing process adds conductive additives to create pathways for dissipating heat during a curing process, thereby reducing the cure time, increasing the output capability, and reducing cost. Conductive particles or short fibers can be dispersed throughout the resin system or composite fiber layers in pre-impregnated or RTM-processed composite material. By disposing conductive particles or short fibers in a resin as part of the curing process, heat generated during the curing process can dissipate more quickly from any type of composite, especially thick composites. Conductive additive examples include multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), graphene/graphite powder, buckyballs, short fibrous particulate, nano-clays, nano-particles, and other suitable materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2019Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Thomas S. Chiang, Jared M. Paulson
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Patent number: 10752349Abstract: An exemplary rotorcraft includes a power train with an engine coupled to a gearbox, a main rotor blade having a mast coupled to the power train, a control input linkage in communication between a pilot input device and the main rotor blade configured to communicate a control input force from the pilot input device to the main rotor blade, and a counterweight system in connection with the control input linkage and the power train to apply a centrifugal force to the control input linkage.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Andrew Paul Haldeman, Zachary Edwin Dailey, Aaron Alexander Acee, Dalton T. Hampton
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Patent number: 10752332Abstract: One example of a fairing for a rotorcraft includes an outer mold line portion (OML portion) and a bearing portion extending from the OML portion. The OML portion provides at least a portion of an outer mold line of the rotorcraft. Both the OML portion and the bearing portion shield a portion of a structural member. The bearing portion can protect the portion of the structural member from damage resulting from foot traffic associated with accessing an area nearby the structural member.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Jon Damon Bennett, Joshua Allan Edler
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Patent number: 10752367Abstract: An ice-management method for an aircraft includes scavenging torque from a mast of the aircraft with a system that is configured to provide an ice-management capability. The method includes using the scavenged torque to impart a vibratory force to an arm of the system and imparting the vibratory force from the arm to an inner surface of a spinner of the aircraft via a contact of the arm.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Allen Torske, Michael Dearman
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Patent number: 10752335Abstract: An emergency escape window for a rotorcraft includes a window frame, a window pane set inside the window frame, a plurality of pins connecting the window frame to the fuselage of the rotorcraft, and a release mechanism having at least one actuator connected to a respective pin and constructed to retract the pin from the window frame. The escape window can then be pivoted away and/or completely detached from the fuselage in the event of an emergency to allow occupants to safely exit the rotorcraft. The disclosure also relate to a method of operating an emergency escape window for a rotorcraft and to a rotorcraft having an emergency escape window.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Michael Reaugh Smith
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Patent number: D894814Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Michael Edwin Rinehart, Lynn Francis Eschete, Jason Paul Winter, Derek Ray Eddins, Steven Allen Robedeau, Jr., Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Mark Loring Isaac, Andrew Thomas Carter, Aaron Alexander Acee, Glenn Alan Shimek, Jared Mark Paulson, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Brent Chadwick Ross, Steven Ray Ivans
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Patent number: D895528Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventor: Mark Loring Isaac