Patents by Inventor Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith

Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith 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: 20230210253
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage having a former therein and a work platform system. The work platform system includes a platform that is moveable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The work platform system also has a hinge pin received by the platform. A platform stop is carried by the former and configured to inhibit rotation of the platform about the hinge pin when the platform is in the deployed configuration. The hinge pin is carried by the former.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ross Wilkinson, James Everett Kooiman, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Tjepke Heeringa, David G. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20230211868
    Abstract: A folding step system includes a housing forming an interior space and a step comprising a step surface. The step is movable between a stowed configuration in which substantially all of the step surface is disposed within the interior space and a deployed configuration in which at least a portion of the step surface is disposed outside of the interior space and at least a portion of the step surface is disposed within the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ross Wilkinson, James Everett Kooiman, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Tjepke Heeringa, David G. Carlson
  • Patent number: 11661178
    Abstract: A tail rotor assembly coupled to a tailboom of a helicopter includes a tail rotor gearbox having top, bottom and aft sides and a shroud surrounding the tail rotor gearbox. The shroud includes a shroud airframe having top and bottom portions. The tail rotor assembly includes a tail rotor gearbox support assembly configured to support the tail rotor gearbox within the shroud. The tail rotor gearbox support assembly includes a support column coupling the aft side of the tail rotor gearbox between the top and bottom portions of the shroud airframe, an upper support crossbar coupling the top side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe and a lower support crossbar coupling the bottom side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael Edwin Rinehart
  • Patent number: 11401035
    Abstract: A system is described and includes a rack for carrying payload disposed in payload bay; a rack extension assembly for affecting linear displacement of the rack between a first position in which the rack is stowed within the payload bay and a second position in which the rack is supported outside the payload bay; a payload actuator system for selectively causing the rack extension assembly to move the rack between the first and second positions; a payload bay door; and a door actuator system for selectively opening and closing the payload bay door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael E. Rinehart, Franklin Foster Caldwell, Tjepke Heeringa
  • Patent number: 11286047
    Abstract: A system is described and includes a rack for carrying payload disposed in a payload bay; and a payload extension assembly for affecting linear translation of the rack between a first position in which the rack is fully retracted within the payload bay and a second position in which the payload extension assembly is fully extended and the rack is supported outside the payload bay. The payload extension assembly comprises forward and aft tracks respectively attached to forward and aft walls of the payload bay; a first stage for providing linear translation of the rack relative to the forward and aft tracks; and a second stage for providing linear translation of the rack relative to the first stage. The system further comprises a payload actuator system for selectively causing the rack extension assembly to move the rack between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael E. Rinehart, Franklin Foster Caldwell, Tjepke Heeringa
  • Publication number: 20210339852
    Abstract: A tail rotor assembly coupled to a tailboom of a helicopter includes a tail rotor gearbox having top, bottom and aft sides and a shroud surrounding the tail rotor gearbox. The shroud includes a shroud airframe having top and bottom portions. The tail rotor assembly includes a tail rotor gearbox support assembly configured to support the tail rotor gearbox within the shroud. The tail rotor gearbox support assembly includes a support column coupling the aft side of the tail rotor gearbox between the top and bottom portions of the shroud airframe, an upper support crossbar coupling the top side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe and a lower support crossbar coupling the bottom side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael Edwin Rinehart
  • Publication number: 20210309365
    Abstract: A system is described and includes at least one track attached to an upper interior surface of a payload bay and extending along a bottom surface of a vehicle structure external to the payload bay, wherein the track comprises a horizontal flange; a rack moveably connected to the at least one track via at least one carrier assembly; and a payload actuator system for selectively extending the rack from the payload bay along the at least one track to a position from which payload carried by the rack may be safely deployed and retracting the rack into the payload bay along the at least one track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael E. Rinehart, Franklin Foster Caldwell, Tjepke Heeringa
  • Publication number: 20210309371
    Abstract: A system is described and includes a rack for carrying payload disposed in a payload bay; and a payload extension assembly for affecting linear translation of the rack between a first position in which the rack is fully retracted within the payload bay and a second position in which the payload extension assembly is fully extended and the rack is supported outside the payload bay. The payload extension assembly comprises forward and aft tracks respectively attached to forward and aft walls of the payload bay; a first stage for providing linear translation of the rack relative to the forward and aft tracks; and a second stage for providing linear translation of the rack relative to the first stage. The system further comprises a payload actuator system for selectively causing the rack extension assembly to move the rack between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael E. Rinehart, Franklin Foster Caldwell, Tjepke Heeringa
  • Publication number: 20210309370
    Abstract: A system is described and includes a rack for carrying payload disposed in payload bay; a rack extension assembly for affecting linear displacement of the rack between a first position in which the rack is stowed within the payload bay and a second position in which the rack is supported outside the payload bay; a payload actuator system for selectively causing the rack extension assembly to move the rack between the first and second positions; a payload bay door; and a door actuator system for selectively opening and closing the payload bay door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael E. Rinehart, Franklin Foster Caldwell, Tjepke Heeringa
  • Patent number: 11136121
    Abstract: A system is described and includes at least one track attached to an upper interior surface of a payload bay and extending along a bottom surface of a vehicle structure external to the payload bay, wherein the track comprises a horizontal flange; a rack moveably connected to the at least one track via at least one carrier assembly; and a payload actuator system for selectively extending the rack from the payload bay along the at least one track to a position from which payload carried by the rack may be safely deployed and retracting the rack into the payload bay along the at least one track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael E. Rinehart, Franklin Foster Caldwell, Tjepke Heeringa
  • Patent number: 11034440
    Abstract: A tail rotor assembly coupled to a tailboom of a helicopter includes a tail rotor gearbox having top, bottom and aft sides and a shroud surrounding the tail rotor gearbox. The shroud includes a shroud airframe having top and bottom portions. The tail rotor assembly includes a tail rotor gearbox support assembly configured to support the tail rotor gearbox within the shroud. The tail rotor gearbox support assembly includes a support column coupling the aft side of the tail rotor gearbox between the top and bottom portions of the shroud airframe, an upper support crossbar coupling the top side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe and a lower support crossbar coupling the bottom side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael Edwin Rinehart
  • Publication number: 20200277049
    Abstract: A tail rotor assembly coupled to a tailboom of a helicopter includes a tail rotor gearbox having top, bottom and aft sides and a shroud surrounding the tail rotor gearbox. The shroud includes a shroud airframe having top and bottom portions. The tail rotor assembly includes a tail rotor gearbox support assembly configured to support the tail rotor gearbox within the shroud. The tail rotor gearbox support assembly includes a support column coupling the aft side of the tail rotor gearbox between the top and bottom portions of the shroud airframe, an upper support crossbar coupling the top side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe and a lower support crossbar coupling the bottom side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Jeffrey Matthew Williams, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Michael Edwin Rinehart
  • Patent number: 10336459
    Abstract: An engine mount assembly for coupling an engine to an airframe. The engine mount assembly includes a torsion bar coupled between the engine and the airframe. The torsion bar includes an external spline. The engine mount assembly also includes a bell crank having a clamp forming an internal spline with the internal spline of the bell crank adapted to mate with the external spline of the torsion bar to secure the bell crank to the torsion bar such that the bell crank rotates with the torsion bar responsive to movements of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Bennett Bacon, Brett Rodney Zimmerman, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith
  • Publication number: 20170217596
    Abstract: An engine mount assembly for coupling an engine to an airframe. The engine mount assembly includes a torsion bar coupled between the engine and the airframe. The torsion bar includes an external spline. The engine mount assembly also includes a bell crank having a clamp forming an internal spline with the internal spline of the bell crank adapted to mate with the external spline of the torsion bar to secure the bell crank to the torsion bar such that the bell crank rotates with the torsion bar responsive to movements of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Bennett Bacon, Brett Rodney Zimmerman, Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith
  • Patent number: D894814
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Michael Edwin Rinehart, Lynn Francis Eschete, Jason Paul Winter, Derek Ray Eddins, Steven Allen Robedeau, Jr., Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Mark Loring Isaac, Andrew Thomas Carter, Aaron Alexander Acee, Glenn Alan Shimek, Jared Mark Paulson, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Brent Chadwick Ross, Steven Ray Ivans
  • Patent number: D896730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James Everett Kooiman, Michael Edwin Rinehart, Lynn Francis Eschete, Jason Paul Winter, Derek Ray Eddins, Steven Allen Robedeau, Jr., Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith, Andrew Thomas Carter, Aaron Alexander Acee, Andrew Paul Haldeman