Patents by Inventor Charles Speller
Charles Speller 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).
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Patent number: 11338915Abstract: An aircraft rotor system including a hub having a hub axis about which the hub is configured to rotate; a plurality of rotor blades configured to extend from the hub and rotate about the hub axis, at least one of the rotor blades rotatable about a respective pitch change axis; wherein the hub is configured to be rotated about the hub axis only by the plurality of rotor blades. Another aspect includes a method of operating the rotor system.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Alison Ann Davis, Charles Speller
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Patent number: 11077936Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes a body and a reed. The body has a primary inflow passage, a secondary inflow passage, and an outflow passage. The reed is disposed at least partially within the body. The reed is configured to move to a first position when a fluid flows from the primary inflow passage and move to a second position when the fluid flows from the secondary inflow passage.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Charles Speller
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Publication number: 20200339254Abstract: An aircraft rotor system including a hub having a hub axis about which the hub is configured to rotate; a plurality of rotor blades configured to extend from the hub and rotate about the hub axis, at least one of the rotor blades rotatable about a respective pitch change axis; wherein the hub is configured to be rotated about the hub axis only by the plurality of rotor blades. Another aspect includes a method of operating the rotor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Alison Ann Davis, Charles Speller
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Patent number: 10745124Abstract: A rotor system for an aircraft including a driving member; an externally driven rim configured to be rotated by the driving member; a hub having a hub axis, the hub including a rotatable housing and a non-rotatable housing; a plurality of rotor blade assemblies rotatably coupled to the rotatable housing of the hub and the externally driven rim such that rotation of the externally driven rim rotates the plurality of rotor blade assemblies about the hub axis, each rotor blade assembly having a rotor blade rotatable about a respective pitch change axis; and a pitch control mechanism operably associated with the hub and the plurality of rotor blade assemblies, wherein, actuation of the pitch control mechanism rotates each rotor blade assembly about the respective pitch change axis to collectively control the pitch of the rotor blade, thereby generating a variable thrust output. Also, a method of operating the rotor system.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Alison Ann Davis, Charles Speller
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Publication number: 20190283868Abstract: A rotor system for an aircraft including a driving member; an externally driven rim configured to be rotated by the driving member; a hub having a hub axis, the hub including a rotatable housing and a non-rotatable housing; a plurality of rotor blade assemblies rotatably coupled to the rotatable housing of the hub and the externally driven rim such that rotation of the externally driven rim rotates the plurality of rotor blade assemblies about the hub axis, each rotor blade assembly having a rotor blade rotatable about a respective pitch change axis; and a pitch control mechanism operably associated with the hub and the plurality of rotor blade assemblies, wherein, actuation of the pitch control mechanism rotates each rotor blade assembly about the respective pitch change axis to collectively control the pitch of the rotor blade, thereby generating a variable thrust output. Also, a method of operating the rotor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Alison Ann Davis, Charles Speller
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Publication number: 20190225328Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes a body and a reed. The body has a primary inflow passage, a secondary inflow passage, and an outflow passage. The reed is disposed at least partially within the body. The reed is configured to move to a first position when a fluid flows from the primary inflow passage and move to a second position when the fluid flows from the secondary inflow passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2018Publication date: July 25, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventor: Charles Speller
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Patent number: 10343787Abstract: A rotor system including a hub; a rim configured to rotate about the hub, the rim including an interior surface and an engagement surface; a plurality of rotor blades extending from the hub and coupled to the interior surface of the rim; and one or more outer drive gears disposed adjacent to the engagement surface of the rim; each of the one or more outer drive gears including a plurality of teeth for engaging the engagement surface of the rim; wherein the one or more outer drive gears are configured to rotate the rim such that the plurality of rotor blades rotates about the hub. Other aspects provide an aircraft rotor system and methods of operating an aircraft rotor system.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Alison Ann Davis, Charles Speller
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Publication number: 20190118961Abstract: A rotor system including a hub; a rim configured to rotate about the hub, the rim including an interior surface and an engagement surface; a plurality of rotor blades extending from the hub and coupled to the interior surface of the rim; and one or more outer drive gears disposed adjacent to the engagement surface of the rim; each of the one or more outer drive gears including a plurality of teeth for engaging the engagement surface of the rim; wherein the one or more outer drive gears are configured to rotate the rim such that the plurality of rotor blades rotates about the hub. Other aspects provide an aircraft rotor system and methods of operating an aircraft rotor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Alison Ann Woodruff, Charles Speller
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Patent number: 8961138Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotor system, comprise a mating element, a sleeve, a first swashplate ring, a locking element, and a second swashplate ring. The mating element having a first plurality of grooves a first plurality of ridges. The sleeve is positioned inside the mating element such that the sleeve prevents rotation of the mating element about the sleeve while allowing the mating element to translate along the sleeve. The sleeve has a second plurality of grooves mating with the first plurality of ridges and a second plurality of ridges mating with the first plurality of grooves. The first swashplate ring is positioned around the mating element, and the locking element prevents. the first swashplate ring from rotating about the sleeve. The second swashplate ring is rotatable about the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Mark Wiinikka, Maurice Griffin, Charles Speller
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Publication number: 20130149150Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotor system, comprise a mating element, a sleeve, a first swashplate ring, a locking element, and a second swashplate ring. The mating element having a first plurality of grooves a first plurality of ridges. The sleeve is positioned inside the mating element such that the sleeve prevents rotation of the mating element about the sleeve while allowing the mating element to translate along the sleeve. The sleeve has a second plurality of grooves mating with the first plurality of ridges and a second plurality of ridges mating with the first plurality of grooves. The first swashplate ring is positioned around the mating element, and the locking element prevents. the first swashplate ring from rotating about the sleeve. The second swashplate ring is rotatable about the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Mark Wiinikka, Maurice Griffin, Charles Speller
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Publication number: 20090184828Abstract: A driver alerting device includes body that is adapted to be worn around a driver's neck. The driver alerting device is configured to emit alert signals when a triggering event is detected. The alert signals are configured in such a manner to adequately notify the driver of the dangerous driving condition. The triggering event may be defined by a position of the driver's head/neck regions, such as when the chin or jaw line dip as the driver begins to fall asleep at the wheel. A neck position determining mechanism is provided for alerting the driver when his/her neck/head has dropped below a minimum threshold level. If such an event has occurred, at least one alert signal is emitted for notifying the driver of the dangerous situation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2009Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventor: Charles A. Speller