Patents by Inventor Brandon Jeffrey Thomas

Brandon Jeffrey Thomas 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).

  • Patent number: 10611492
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotorcraft includes: tail rotor blades; a tail rotor actuator coupled to the tail rotor blades such that the pitch of the tail rotor blades varies according to a current extension of the tail rotor actuator; pilot flight controls electrically coupled to the tail rotor actuator; and a flight control computer electrically coupled to the tail rotor actuator and the pilot flight controls, the flight control computer configured to: determine the current extension of the tail rotor actuator; determine whether the current extension of the tail rotor actuator is within a margin of a maximum extension of the tail rotor actuator; and indicate a first warning to a pilot in response to the current extension of the tail rotor actuator being within the margin of the maximum extension of the tail rotor actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Bothwell, Robert Earl Worsham, II, Sung Kyun Kim, Brandon Jeffrey Thomas
  • Publication number: 20200031490
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotorcraft includes: tail rotor blades; a tail rotor actuator coupled to the tail rotor blades such that the pitch of the tail rotor blades varies according to a current extension of the tail rotor actuator; pilot flight controls electrically coupled to the tail rotor actuator; and a flight control computer electrically coupled to the tail rotor actuator and the pilot flight controls, the flight control computer configured to: determine the current extension of the tail rotor actuator; determine whether the current extension of the tail rotor actuator is within a margin of a maximum extension of the tail rotor actuator; and indicate a first warning to a pilot in response to the current extension of the tail rotor actuator being within the margin of the maximum extension of the tail rotor actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Bothwell, Robert Earl Worsham, II, Sung Kyun Kim, Brandon Jeffrey Thomas
  • Patent number: 10315779
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotorcraft includes: tail rotor blades; a tail rotor actuator coupled to the tail rotor blades such that the pitch of the tail rotor blades varies according to a current extension of the tail rotor actuator; pilot flight controls electrically coupled to the tail rotor actuator; and a flight control computer electrically coupled to the tail rotor actuator and the pilot flight controls, the flight control computer configured to: determine the current extension of the tail rotor actuator; determine whether the current extension of the tail rotor actuator is within a margin of a maximum extension of the tail rotor actuator; and indicate a first warning to a pilot in response to the current extension of the tail rotor actuator being within the margin of the maximum extension of the tail rotor actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Bothwell, Robert Earl Worsham, II, Sung Kyun Kim, Brandon Jeffrey Thomas
  • Publication number: 20190084690
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotorcraft includes: tail rotor blades; a tail rotor actuator coupled to the tail rotor blades such that the pitch of the tail rotor blades varies according to a current extension of the tail rotor actuator; pilot flight controls electrically coupled to the tail rotor actuator; and a flight control computer electrically coupled to the tail rotor actuator and the pilot flight controls, the flight control computer configured to: determine the current extension of the tail rotor actuator; determine whether the current extension of the tail rotor actuator is within a margin of a maximum extension of the tail rotor actuator; and indicate a first warning to a pilot in response to the current extension of the tail rotor actuator being within the margin of the maximum extension of the tail rotor actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher M. Bothwell, Robert Earl Worsham, II, Sung Kyun Kim, Brandon Jeffrey Thomas
  • Publication number: 20190056734
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a rotor system including a plurality of blades; two or more engines operable to rotate the plurality of blades; a control assembly operable to receive commands from a pilot; a flight control computer (FCC) in signal communication with the two or more engines, the FCC being operable to generate engine data indicating whether the two or more engines are functional; and a flight management system (FMS) in signal communication with the control assembly and the FCC, the FMS being operable to receive a takeoff type and a plurality of takeoff parameters input into the FMS by the pilot; generate a guidance profile for a Category A (Cat-A) takeoff procedure based on the takeoff type and the plurality of takeoff parameters, the Cat-A takeoff procedure including one or more decision points for performing a takeoff procedure based on whether all engines are operable or one engine is inoperable; receive a command to engage in a takeoff procedure from the control assembly; in respons
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Earl Worsham, II, Luke Dafydd Gillett, Troy Sheldon Caudill, Bradley Paul Regnier, Joshua Robert O'Neil, Brandon Jeffrey Thomas