Patents by Inventor Colin John Thomas

Colin John Thomas 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: 11254424
    Abstract: A balance weight assembly for a rotor blade of a rotorcraft. The balance weight assembly includes a balance weight pocket formed by a balance weight tray and a cover. The balance weight tray has an upper surface including a lip region extending outwardly from a projected region with an outboard boss. A balance weight receiving cavity is recessed from the upper surface and contains a plurality of balance weights. The projected region is disposed within an opening in a hollow blade spar such that the outboard boss of the balance weight tray has a contact relationship with an outboard surface of the opening. The cover is coupled to the balance weight tray such that the lip region of the balance weight tray and at least a portion of the cover have a clamping relationship with the blade spar, thereby coupling the balance weight pocket to the blade spar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Jared Mark Paulson, Colin John Thomas, Paul Branson Sherrill, Bryan Huber
  • Patent number: 11117654
    Abstract: A method of controlling a tail rotor system includes pivoting a swashplate of the tail rotor system about an axis passing through a diameter of the swashplate. Pivoting the swashplate causes a first linkage of a first pair of linkages coupled between the swashplate and a collective crosshead to move in a first direction and a second linkage of the first pair of linkages coupled between the swashplate and the collective crosshead to move in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The movement of the first and second linkages causes a plane of rotation of a pair of rotors of the tail rotor system to cant relative to a centerline of a mast of the tail rotor system. A tail rotor system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Alexander Acee, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Colin John Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210094677
    Abstract: A balance weight assembly for a rotor blade of a rotorcraft. The balance weight assembly includes a balance weight pocket formed by a balance weight tray and a cover. The balance weight tray has an upper surface including a lip region extending outwardly from a projected region with an outboard boss. A balance weight receiving cavity is recessed from the upper surface and contains a plurality of balance weights. The projected region is disposed within an opening in a hollow blade spar such that the outboard boss of the balance weight tray has a contact relationship with an outboard surface of the opening. The cover is coupled to the balance weight tray such that the lip region of the balance weight tray and at least a portion of the cover have a clamping relationship with the blade spar, thereby coupling the balance weight pocket to the blade spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Jared Mark Paulson, Colin John Thomas, Paul Branson Sherrill, Bryan Huber
  • Publication number: 20200262552
    Abstract: A method of controlling a tail rotor system of a helicopter includes pivoting a swashplate of the tail rotor system about an axis passing through a diameter of the swashplate. Pivoting the swashplate causes a first linkage of a first pair of linkages coupled between the swashplate and a collective crosshead to move in a first direction and a second linkage of the first pair of linkages coupled between the swashplate and the collective crosshead to move in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The movement of the first and second linkages causes a plane of rotation of a pair of rotors of the tail rotor system to cant relative to a centerline of a mast of the tail rotor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Alexander ACEE, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Colin John Thomas