Patents by Inventor Brady Atkins

Brady Atkins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Magnetorheological haptic trim actuator
    Patent number: 9656746
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a trim actuator for a pilot input device includes a driven member and a driving member configured to receive mechanical energy from a power source. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid is disposed between the driving member and the driven member and configured to transmit a variable amount of mechanical energy from the driving member to the driven member. An output member configured to be coupled between the driven member and the pilot input device. A magnetic circuit configured to deliver a magnetic field towards the MR fluid. The magnetic circuit is configured to control movement of the pilot input device by varying the strength of the magnetic field delivered towards the first MR fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C Latham, Carlos A Fenny, Jean-Sébastien Plante, Brady Atkins, Guifré Julio, Marc Denninger, Charles Eric Covington, Paul Wilson
  • Magnetorheological Haptic Trim Actuator
    Publication number: 20160221672
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a trim actuator for a pilot input device includes a driven member and a driving member configured to receive mechanical energy from a power source. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid is disposed between the driving member and the driven member and configured to transmit a variable amount of mechanical energy from the driving member to the driven member. An output member configured to be coupled between the driven member and the pilot input device. A magnetic circuit configured to deliver a magnetic field towards the MR fluid. The magnetic circuit is configured to control movement of the pilot input device by varying the strength of the magnetic field delivered towards the first MR fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. Latham, Carlos A. Fenny, Jean-Sébastian Plante, Brady Atkins, Guifré Julio, Marc Denninger, Charles Eric Covington, Paul Wilson