Patents by Inventor David Andrew Prater
David Andrew Prater 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: 11708155Abstract: A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly shifts the bypass assembly between engaged and disengaged positions. An engagement status sensor is configured to determine the engagement status of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Douglas Andrew Goodwin, David Andrew Prater, Eric Stephen Olson, David Bryan Roberts, Chia-Wei Su, Michael David Trantham, Charles Eric Covington
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Patent number: 11708868Abstract: A failsafe multimode clutch assembly positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly uses pressurized lubricating oil to shift the bypass assembly between the engaged position and a disengaged position. A lock assembly enables and disables actuation of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit enables a unidirectional torque transfer mode of the clutch assembly. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Eric Stephen Olson, David Andrew Prater
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Publication number: 20220212783Abstract: A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly shifts the bypass assembly between engaged and disengaged positions. An engagement status sensor is configured to determine the engagement status of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Douglas Andrew Goodwin, David Andrew Prater, Eric Stephen Olson, David Bryan Roberts, Chia-Wei Su, Michael David Trantham, Charles Eric Covington
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Publication number: 20220025941Abstract: A failsafe multimode clutch assembly positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly uses pressurized lubricating oil to shift the bypass assembly between the engaged position and a disengaged position. A lock assembly enables and disables actuation of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit enables a unidirectional torque transfer mode of the clutch assembly. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Eric Stephen Olson, David Andrew Prater
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Patent number: 11174013Abstract: A failsafe multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having input and output races. The freewheeling unit has a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly must be energized to shift the bypass assembly from the engaged position to a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Eric Stephen Olson, David Andrew Prater
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Patent number: 11174015Abstract: A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly shifts the bypass assembly between engaged and disengaged positions. An engagement status sensor is configured to determine the engagement status of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Douglas Andrew Goodwin, David Andrew Prater, Eric Stephen Olson, David Bryan Roberts, Chia-Wei Su, Michael David Trantham, Charles Eric Covington
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Publication number: 20210070430Abstract: A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly shifts the bypass assembly between engaged and disengaged positions. An engagement status sensor is configured to determine the engagement status of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Douglas Andrew Goodwin, David Andrew Prater, Eric Stephen Olson, David Bryan Roberts, Chia-Wei Su, Michael David Trantham, Charles Eric Covington
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Publication number: 20210061452Abstract: A failsafe multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having input and output races. The freewheeling unit has a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly must be energized to shift the bypass assembly from the engaged position to a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Eric Stephen Olson, David Andrew Prater
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Patent number: 10793284Abstract: A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The multimode clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having input and output races. The freewheeling unit has a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. A hydraulic actuator shifts the bypass assembly between the engaged position and a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the multimode clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the multimode clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: David Andrew Prater, Eric Stephen Olson
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Publication number: 20200247553Abstract: A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The multimode clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having input and output races. The freewheeling unit has a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. A hydraulic actuator shifts the bypass assembly between the engaged position and a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the multimode clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the multimode clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: David Andrew Prater, Eric Stephen Olson