Patents by Inventor Brian Edward Tucker

Brian Edward Tucker 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: 11698130
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes: a gearbox including: a housing having an opening; an input pinion disposed in the housing; a moving feature mechanically coupled to the input pinion, the moving feature and the input pinion being operable to convert between power and torque; and first sensors disposed on the moving feature, the first sensors having batteries, where the moving feature is operable to rotate about a common axis, each of the first sensors being exposed by the opening as the moving feature rotates about the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Scott David Poster, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Publication number: 20230114485
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing data noise for vehicle monitoring sensors using parameter-based correction, the system including An embodiment system includes a sensor operable to make a sensor reading and generate a sensor signal, and a data server operable to acquire a condition indicator model correlating operational parameters with condition indicators, and to acquire a current condition indicator according to the sensor signal, the data server further operable to generate an adjusted condition indicator by adjusting the current condition indicator according to the condition indicator model, and to determine whether an alert condition is indicated, according to at least the adjusted condition indicator, by a condition indicator set that includes the adjusted condition indicator, and to provide an alert in response to determining that the alert condition is indicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Brian Edward Tucker, Matthew Curtis Ledbetter, Silvio Mario Lopez, Drew Franklin Waller, Jobin J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11560220
    Abstract: A sensor for monitoring rotors includes a rotating shaft coupled to a set of rotor blades and a non-rotating tube at least partially disposed within the rotating shaft and coupled to the rotating shaft. The non-rotating tube includes a first end and a second end, a sensor mount disposed within the non-rotating tube proximate to the second end of the non-rotating tube. One or more sensors are attached to the sensor mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Edward Tucker, Glenn Alan Shimek, Leonard N. Jones, Joseph Wendelsdorf
  • Patent number: 11468606
    Abstract: A method for aligning displayed data in an augmented reality (AR) display includes determining a selected location context associated with a piece of equipment, determining a process element associated with the piece of equipment and according to a selected engineering process, determining, according to a digital representation of the equipment, a first location of the process element, receiving meta-sensor location data for one or more meta-sensors in the piece of equipment and indicating a second location for each of the meta-sensors with respect to the selected location context, determining a third location of the AR display with respect to the selected location context, determining overlay data for the process element, determining a display location according to the first location, the third location and the location data of each meta-sensor, and displaying the overlay data at the display location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Robert Chavez, Daniel Wesley Rowe, Michael Eugene Moody, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Patent number: 11341790
    Abstract: An exemplary internal wireless sensor monitoring system includes a wireless sensor positioned inside of an enclosed housing to monitor a condition in the housing, a wireless gateway positioned outside of the housing, a gateway antenna located in the housing configured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless sensor, and a conductor extending through a penetration in the housing and connecting the gateway antenna and the wireless gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Scott David Poster, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Publication number: 20210341051
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes: a gearbox including: a housing having an opening; an input pinion disposed in the housing; a moving feature mechanically coupled to the input pinion, the moving feature and the input pinion being operable to convert between power and torque; and first sensors disposed on the moving feature, the first sensors having batteries, where the moving feature is operable to rotate about a common axis, each of the first sensors being exposed by the opening as the moving feature rotates about the common axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Scott David Poster, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Publication number: 20210309349
    Abstract: A sensor for monitoring rotors includes a rotating shaft coupled to a set of rotor blades and a non-rotating tube at least partially disposed within the rotating shaft and coupled to the rotating shaft. The non-rotating tube includes a first end and a second end, a sensor mount disposed within the non-rotating tube proximate to the second end of the non-rotating tube. One or more sensors are attached to the sensor mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Edward Tucker, Glenn Alan Shimek, Leonard N. Jones, Joseph Wendelsdorf
  • Patent number: 11069160
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes monitoring environmental conditions via a plurality of sensors positioned in proximity to a vehicle. The method also includes receiving, from one or more of the plurality of sensors, a first measured value of a first environmental variable and at least one additional measured value of at least one additional environmental variable. In addition, the method includes automatically determining, via a machine-learning model, a first expected value of the first environmental variable given the at least one additional measured value of the at least one additional environmental variable. Furthermore, the method includes automatically generating a storage decision in relation to the first measured value based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the first measured value relative to the first expected value. Additionally, the method includes causing execution of the storage decision at least with respect to onboard storage of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Edward Tucker
  • Publication number: 20210217255
    Abstract: An exemplary internal wireless sensor monitoring system includes a wireless sensor positioned inside of an enclosed housing to monitor a condition in the housing, a wireless gateway positioned outside of the housing, a gateway antenna located in the housing configured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless sensor, and a conductor extending through a penetration in the housing and connecting the gateway antenna and the wireless gateway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Scott David POSTER, Brian Edward TUCKER
  • Patent number: 11060606
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes: a gearbox including: a housing having an opening; an input pinion disposed in the housing; a moving feature mechanically coupled to the input pinion, the moving feature and the input pinion being operable to convert between power and torque; and first sensors disposed on the moving feature, the first sensors having batteries, where the moving feature is operable to rotate about a common axis, each of the first sensors being exposed by the opening as the moving feature rotates about the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Scott David Poster, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Patent number: 11034438
    Abstract: A sensor for monitoring rotors includes a rotating shaft coupled to a set of rotor blades and a non-rotating tube at least partially disposed within the rotating shaft and coupled to the rotating shaft. The non-rotating tube includes a first end and a second end, a sensor mount disposed within the non-rotating tube proximate to the second end of the non-rotating tube. One or more sensors are attached to the sensor mount, wherein the one or more sensors detect one or more parameters associated with the rotating shaft or the set of rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Edward Tucker, Glenn Alan Shimek, Leonard N. Jones, Joseph Wendelsdorf
  • Publication number: 20210055717
    Abstract: A method includes acquiring a current condition indicator of a condition indicator set associated with an operating condition of a vehicle, the condition indicator set indicating sensor readings associated with an operating element of the vehicle under the operating condition, determining, by a data server, a volatility over a window of the condition indicator set based, at least in part, on differences between adjacent data points in the window, wherein the window includes the current condition indicator, determining, by the data server, a movement over the window of the condition indicator set based, at least in part, on a difference between two selected data points in the window, determining a volatility-based movement significance over the window of the condition indicator set based, at least in part, on a ratio of the movement to the volatility, determining, by the data server, whether a trend associated with the operating element is indicated based, at least in part, on the volatility-based movement sig
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Edward TUCKER, Matthew Curtis LEDBETTER
  • Publication number: 20200410722
    Abstract: A method for aligning displayed data in an augmented reality (AR) display includes determining a selected location context associated with a piece of equipment, determining a process element associated with the piece of equipment and according to a selected engineering process, determining, according to a digital representation of the equipment, a first location of the process element, receiving meta-sensor location data for one or more meta-sensors in the piece of equipment and indicating a second location for each of the meta-sensors with respect to the selected location context, determining a third location of the AR display with respect to the selected location context, determining overlay data for the process element, determining a display location according to the first location, the third location and the location data of each meta-sensor, and displaying the overlay data at the display location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Jeremy Robert Chavez, Daniel Wesley Rowe, Michael Eugene Moody, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Patent number: 10783671
    Abstract: A method for aligning displayed data in an augmented reality (AR) display includes determining a selected location context associated with a piece of equipment, determining a process element associated with the piece of equipment and according to a selected engineering process, determining, according to a digital representation of the equipment, a first location of the process element, receiving meta-sensor location data for one or more meta-sensors in the piece of equipment and indicating a second location for each of the meta-sensors with respect to the selected location context, determining a third location of the AR display with respect to the selected location context, determining overlay data for the process element, determining a display location according to the first location, the third location and the location data of each meta-sensor, and displaying the overlay data at the display location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BELL TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Robert Chavez, Daniel Wesley Rowe, Michael Eugene Moody, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Publication number: 20200294274
    Abstract: A method for aligning displayed data in an augmented reality (AR) display includes determining a selected location context associated with a piece of equipment, determining a process element associated with the piece of equipment and according to a selected engineering process, determining, according to a digital representation of the equipment, a first location of the process element, receiving meta-sensor location data for one or more meta-sensors in the piece of equipment and indicating a second location for each of the meta-sensors with respect to the selected location context, determining a third location of the AR display with respect to the selected location context, determining overlay data for the process element, determining a display location according to the first location, the third location and the location data of each meta-sensor, and displaying the overlay data at the display location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jeremy Robert Chavez, Daniel Wesley Rowe, Michael Eugene Moody, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Publication number: 20200202640
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes monitoring environmental conditions via a plurality of sensors positioned in proximity to a vehicle. The method also includes receiving, from one or more of the plurality of sensors, a first measured value of a first environmental variable and at least one additional measured value of at least one additional environmental variable. In addition, the method includes automatically determining, via a machine-learning model, a first expected value of the first environmental variable given the at least one additional measured value of the at least one additional environmental variable. Furthermore, the method includes automatically generating a storage decision in relation to the first measured value based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the first measured value relative to the first expected value. Additionally, the method includes causing execution of the storage decision at least with respect to onboard storage of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Edward TUCKER
  • Publication number: 20200156774
    Abstract: A sensor for monitoring rotors includes a rotating shaft coupled to a set of rotor blades and a non-rotating tube at least partially disposed within the rotating shaft and coupled to the rotating shaft. The non-rotating tube includes a first end and a second end, a sensor mount disposed within the non-rotating tube proximate to the second end of the non-rotating tube. One or more sensors are attached to the sensor mount, wherein the one or more sensors detect one or more parameters associated with the rotating shaft or the set of rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Edward Tucker, Glenn Alan Shimek, Leonard N. Jones, Joseph Wendelsdorf
  • Patent number: 10657735
    Abstract: A system for adaptable trend detection for component condition indicator data includes a sensor operable to measure an operating condition of a vehicle and generate a sensor signal associated with the operating condition and a data server operable to acquire a current condition indicator of a condition indicator set according to the sensor signal, and to determine whether a trend in the condition indicator set is indicated according to at least the current condition indicator, at least one previous condition indicator of the condition indicator set and a volatility of at least a portion of the condition indicator set. The data server is further operable to provide an alert in response to determining that the trend is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Edward Tucker, Matthew Curtis Ledbetter
  • Publication number: 20200072339
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes: a gearbox including: a housing having an opening; an input pinion disposed in the housing; a moving feature mechanically coupled to the input pinion, the moving feature and the input pinion being operable to convert between power and torque; and first sensors disposed on the moving feature, the first sensors having batteries, where the moving feature is operable to rotate about a common axis, each of the first sensors being exposed by the opening as the moving feature rotates about the common axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Scott David Poster, Brian Edward Tucker
  • Patent number: 10504305
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for statistically equivalent level of safety modeling. One method includes identifying sub-fleets within a fleet based upon usage profiles, determining a sub-fleet reliability value for each sub-fleet, determining a baseline fleet reliability for the fleet by combining the sub-fleet reliability values on a weighted basis, applying at least one credit to at least one sub-fleet, determining a post-credit sub-fleet reliability value for each sub-fleet based upon the at least one credit, determining a post-credit fleet reliability for the fleet by combining the post-credit sub-fleet reliability values on a weighted basis, comparing the baseline fleet reliability with the post-credit fleet reliability to identify a change in fleet reliability and determining whether the change in fleet reliability is within a predetermined threshold to validate the at least one credit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Edward Tucker, Richard Marcos Muñiz