Patents by Inventor Charles M. Gatlin

Charles M. Gatlin 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: 4379678
    Abstract: Individual blade control of a helicopter rotor is accomplished by rotation of a mast (10) about a standpipe (12) where an individual blade (16) is coupled to the mast through a hub (18). Pilot input signals are transmitted by fly-by-optic transmission lines (14) through a fiber optic slip ring (40,42) to signal generators (134, 136, 138) for each of three sections of triplex actuators (76-79) coupled to individual rotor blades. Hydraulic fluid for positioning each of the actuators (76-79) is provided by electrohydraulic power packages (88, 90 and 92) where each package includes a pump and alternator. As each blade rotates about the mast (76) the pitch angle changes by individualizing the output of the signal generators (134-138) for each actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1983
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaylord W. Carlock, Jimmy G. Garner, Charles M. Gatlin, Kenneth F. Guinn, Peter A. Reyes