Patents by Inventor Curtis R. HIGGENS

Curtis R. HIGGENS 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: 11745858
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of managing force equalization (FEQ) on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the measured force. The method also includes analyzing movement over at least a portion of the measured-force time series. The method also includes identifying a force-fight cycle in the measured-force time series. The method also includes indicating the force-fight cycle in cumulative force-fight cycle data for the first actuation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton Harrell, Christos Bais, Curtis R. Higgens, Thomas Earl Johnson, Jr., David Adjei
  • Patent number: 11628928
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of monitoring force equalization (FEQ) sensors on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a first measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems that include the first actuation system. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the first measured force. The method also includes determining variation in at least a portion of the measured-force time series responsive to the updating. The method also includes identifying a first static condition in the measured-force time series in response to a determination that the variation in the measured-force time series is no greater than a minimum amount of variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. Harrell, Christos Bais, Curtis R. Higgens, Thomas Earl Johnson, Jr., David Adjei
  • Publication number: 20220281587
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of monitoring force equalization (FEQ) sensors on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a first measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems that include the first actuation system. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the first measured force. The method also includes determining variation in at least a portion of the measured-force time series responsive to the updating. The method also includes identifying a first static condition in the measured-force time series in response to a determination that the variation in the measured-force time series is no greater than a minimum amount of variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. HARRELL, Christos BAIS, Curtis R. HIGGENS, Thomas Earl JOHNSON, JR., David ADJEI
  • Publication number: 20220281588
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of managing force equalization (FEQ) on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the measured force. The method also includes analyzing movement over at least a portion of the measured-force time series. The method also includes identifying a force-fight cycle in the measured-force time series. The method also includes indicating the force-fight cycle in cumulative force-fight cycle data for the first actuation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton HARRELL, Christos BAIS, Curtis R. HIGGENS, Thomas Earl JOHNSON, JR., David ADJEI