Patents by Inventor Brent C Ross

Brent C Ross 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).

  • Publication number: 20240375032
    Abstract: A gas turbine air intake system uses a filter element having a seal member with radial projections and radial recesses. The seal member forms a seal with components on the tube sheet of the system and at the end opposite of the tube sheet. At the end opposite of the tube sheet, there can be an assembly cover, or alternatively, an additional filter cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. TIFFANY, Brent L. ANDERSON, Richard P. DEJONG, Andrew C. DAHLGREN, Wim VAN GELDER, Olivier RONNEAU, Mathijs VERSTRAETE, Gert PROOST, Massimo MOVIA, Eli Payton ROSS, Michael R. CARLSON
  • Publication number: 20240256473
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, including memory devices and systems. Example memory devices, systems and methods include a stack of memory dies, a controller die, and a buffer. Example memory devices, systems and methods include one or more neuromorphic layers logically coupled between one or more dies in the stack of memory dies and a host interface of the controller die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, Frank F Ross, Richard C Murphy
  • Patent number: 12036502
    Abstract: A gas turbine air intake system uses a filter element having a seal member with radial projections and radial recesses. The seal member forms a seal with components on the tube sheet of the system and at the end opposite of the tube sheet. At the end opposite of the tube sheet, there can be an assembly cover, or alternatively, an additional filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Tiffany, Brent L. Anderson, Richard P. DeJong, Andrew C. Dahlgren, Wim Van Gelder, Olivier Ronneau, Mathijs Verstraete, Gert Proost, Massimo Movia, Eli Payton Ross, Michael R. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20230348054
    Abstract: Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
  • Patent number: 11760475
    Abstract: There is disclosed in one example a tiltrotor system for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, including: a rotor pylon, wherein the rotor pylon is rotatable, via a rotation maneuver, between a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation; a linear actuator disposed to actuate the rotation maneuver; and a mechanical guide disposed to maintain a center of gravity along a substantially linear axis throughout the rotation maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Steven R. Ivans, Berlin B. Benfield, Brent C. Ross
  • Patent number: 11718397
    Abstract: Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
  • Publication number: 20230211879
    Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, including: a vehicle controller circuit programmed to operate the VTOL aircraft without an onboard human operator; a rotor system; an airframe; and an external cargo coupling to receive an external payload of at least approximately 300 pounds beneath the airframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Steven R. Ivans, Brent C. Ross, Mathew Chapdelaine, Berlin B. Benfield
  • Publication number: 20230192286
    Abstract: There is disclosed in one example a tiltrotor system for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, including: a rotor pylon, wherein the rotor pylon is rotatable, via a rotation maneuver, between a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation; a linear actuator disposed to actuate the rotation maneuver; and a mechanical guide disposed to maintain a center of gravity along a substantially linear axis throughout the rotation maneuver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Steven R. Ivans, Berlin B. Benfield, Brent C. Ross
  • Publication number: 20220371727
    Abstract: Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
  • Publication number: 20220324558
    Abstract: One embodiment is an aircraft including a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; first and second booms connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage; first and second forward propulsion systems attached to forward ends of the first and second booms; first and second aft propulsion systems fixedly attached proximate aft ends of the first and second booms; and first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems connected to outboard ends of wings; wherein the first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems are tiltable between a first position when the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position when the aircraft is in a cruise mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Steve R. Schafer, Brad Joseph Passe, Nicholas Ralph Carlson, Kip Gregory Campbell, Bradley Paul Regnier, Steven G. Hagerott
  • Publication number: 20220306292
    Abstract: One embodiment is an aircraft including a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; first and second booms connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage; first and second forward propulsion systems attached to forward ends of the first and second booms; first and second aft propulsion systems fixedly attached proximate aft ends of the first and second booms; first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems connected to outboard ends of wings; and first and second wing tips fixedly connected to outboard sides of the first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems; wherein the first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems and the first and second wing tips are collectively tiltable between a first position when the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position when the aircraft is in a cruise mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Steve R. Schafer, Brad Joseph Passe, Nicholas Ralph Carlson
  • Patent number: 11370535
    Abstract: An aircraft is described and includes a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and a rotor system including a proprotor system and an engine. An interconnect driveshaft gear is configured to communicate mechanical energy between a gearbox and an interconnect driveshaft. An accessory gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the driveshaft gear. A proprotor gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft gear and the accessory gear and communicates mechanical energy to the proprotor system. An engine gear coplanar and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft ear, the accessory gear, and the proprotor gear transmits mechanical energy to the proprotor system via the proprotor gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Steven R. Ivans
  • Patent number: 11046446
    Abstract: An aircraft including a nacelle disposed at a fixed location relative a wing member; a proprotor housing coupled to the nacelle, the proprotor housing configured to selectively rotate between a horizontal orientation and a non-horizontal orientation; a door pivotably coupled to the proprotor housing; and a linkage to connect the door and the nacelle, the linkage configured to move with the door from a closed position when the proprotor housing is in a horizontal orientation to an open position when the proprotor housing is in a non-horizontal orientation. In some embodiments, there can be a hinge member for hingedly coupling the door to the proprotor and/or nacelle. In other embodiments, the door includes a flexure portion. In some embodiments, the nacelle includes a plurality of doors. In other embodiments, proprotor includes a forward portion and a stationary aft portion; wherein the forward portion is configured to selectively pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Michael E. Rinehart, Jeffrey M. Williams, Clegg Smith, Nick Pravanh
  • Patent number: 10815008
    Abstract: A method for facilitating the design and manufacturing of a tiltrotor aircraft, including the steps of: determining a compatible mission data set; identifying lift propulsion module components for the compatible mission data set; determining compatible specifications; and generating a design for a lift propulsion module; wherein the lift propulsion module is configured to be connected to at least two different fuselages. There is also a method of designing a tiltrotor aircraft, comprising the step of modularizing a lift propulsion system, wherein the lift propulsion system is configured to be connected to at least two different fuselages. In another aspect, there is a tiltrotor aircraft including a fuselage; and a lift propulsion module, the lift propulsion module including a mounting surface; wherein the lift propulsion module is coupled to the fuselage on the mounting surface. Also included are methods of assembling and systems including a lift propulsion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kendall Goodman, Steven R. Ivans
  • Publication number: 20190084669
    Abstract: An aircraft is described and includes a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and a rotor system including a proprotor system and an engine. An interconnect driveshaft gear is configured to communicate mechanical energy between a gearbox and an interconnect driveshaft. An accessory gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the driveshaft gear. A proprotor gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft gear and the accessory gear and communicates mechanical energy to the proprotor system. An engine gear coplanar and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft ear, the accessory gear, and the proprotor gear transmits mechanical energy to the proprotor system via the proprotor gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Steven R. Ivans
  • Publication number: 20190031371
    Abstract: A method for facilitating the design and manufacturing of a tiltrotor aircraft, including the steps of: determining a compatible mission data set; identifying lift propulsion module components for the compatible mission data set; determining compatible specifications; and generating a design for a lift propulsion module; wherein the lift propulsion module is configured to be connected to at least two different fuselages. There is also a method of designing a tiltrotor aircraft, comprising the step of modularizing a lift propulsion system, wherein the lift propulsion system is configured to be connected to at least two different fuselages. In another aspect, there is a tiltrotor aircraft including a fuselage; and a lift propulsion module, the lift propulsion module including a mounting surface; wherein the lift propulsion module is coupled to the fuselage on the mounting surface. Also included are methods of assembling and systems including a lift propulsion module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kendall Goodman, Steven R. Ivans
  • Patent number: 10183745
    Abstract: An aircraft is described and includes a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and a rotor system including a proprotor system and an engine. An interconnect driveshaft gear is configured to communicate mechanical energy between a gearbox and an interconnect driveshaft. An accessory gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the driveshaft gear. A proprotor gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft gear and the accessory gear and communicates mechanical energy to the proprotor system. An engine gear coplanar and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft ear, the accessory gear, and the proprotor gear transmits mechanical energy to the proprotor system via the proprotor gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Brent C Ross, Steven R Ivans
  • Publication number: 20180251227
    Abstract: An aircraft including a nacelle disposed at a fixed location relative a wing member; a proprotor housing coupled to the nacelle, the proprotor housing configured to selectively rotate between a horizontal orientation and a non-horizontal orientation; a door pivotably coupled to the proprotor housing; and a linkage to connect the door and the nacelle, the linkage configured to move with the door from a closed position when the proprotor housing is in a horizontal orientation to an open position when the proprotor housing is in a non-horizontal orientation. In some embodiments, there can be a hinge member for hingedly coupling the door to the proprotor and/or nacelle. In other embodiments, the door includes a flexure portion. In some embodiments, the nacelle includes a plurality of doors. In other embodiments, proprotor includes a forward portion and a stationary aft portion; wherein the forward portion is configured to selectively pivot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Michael E. Rinehart, Jeffrey M. Williams, Clegg Smith, Nick Pravanh
  • Patent number: 9713917
    Abstract: A method for applying adhesive to sides of a flange, such as in rotorcraft connection joints, includes attaching an intermediate member to an edge of a flange and flowing adhesive in gaps between sides of the flange and inner edges of a double lap joint element by inserting the flange with the intermediate member into the double lap joint element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: Brent C. Ross
  • Publication number: 20170158323
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an aircraft features a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and a first rotor system. The first rotor system includes a first proprotor system and a first engine. The first proprotor system is coupled proximate to a first wing tip of the wing and is tiltable between a helicopter mode position and an airplane mode position. The first engine is in mechanical communication with the first proprotor system and coupled above the wing, outboard of the fuselage and inboard of the first pylon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Steven R. Ivans