Patents by Inventor David E. Heverly

David E. Heverly 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: 11884385
    Abstract: A vibration control system for a rotor hub provides vibration attenuation in an aircraft by reducing the magnitude of rotor induced vibratory. The system can include a force generating device attached to a rotor hub which rotates along with the rotor at the rotational speed of the rotor. Vibratory shear force is generated by rotating unbalanced weights each about an axis non-concentric with the rotor hub axis at high speed to create large centrifugal forces. The rotational speed of the weights can be a multiple of the rotor rotational speed to create shear forces for canceling rotor induced vibrations. The amplitude of the generated shear force is controlled by indexing the positions of the unbalanced weights relative to each other, while the phase of the shear force is adjusted by equally phasing each weight relative to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Jeremy DeWaters, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 11584519
    Abstract: In some examples, an oscillatory pumping system comprises: one or more active piston, a fluid, and two motors. The one or more active piston is disposed in a channel fluidically coupling two fluid chambers. The passive piston has a frequency response operable to counteract a vibratory displacement. The fluid is disposed in the channel and the two fluid chambers. The two motors couple to the one or more active piston. The two motors are operable to selectively change the frequency response of the passive piston based on oscillating the one or more active piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Michael Reaugh Smith, Frank B. Stamps, David E. Heverly, II
  • Patent number: 10899437
    Abstract: A method and system to isolate vibrations, including a first pair of fluid chambers disposed to isolate first vibrations between a first body and a second body, wherein the first vibrations are parallel to a first axis, wherein the first body is a propeller hub, a rotor hub, a pylon attachment, or an engine, and wherein the second body is a propeller shaft, a rotor mast, or a body attachment; a second pair of fluid chambers disposed to isolate second vibrations between the first and second bodies, wherein the second vibrations are parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; first and second inertia tracks disposed to place the first and second pairs of chambers in fluid communication, respectively; and a plurality of elastic energy storage devices coupled to the first body and the second body and disposed to isolate vibrations between the first and second bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: David E. Heverly, II
  • Publication number: 20210001976
    Abstract: A vibration control system for a rotor hub provides vibration attenuation in an aircraft by reducing the magnitude of rotor induced vibratory. The system can include a force generating device attached to a rotor hub which rotates along with the rotor at the rotational speed of the rotor. Vibratory shear force is generated by rotating unbalanced weights each about an axis non-concentric with the rotor hub axis at high speed to create large centrifugal forces. The rotational speed of the weights can be a multiple of the rotor rotational speed to create shear forces for canceling rotor induced vibrations. The amplitude of the generated shear force is controlled by indexing the positions of the unbalanced weights relative to each other, while the phase of the shear force is adjusted by equally phasing each weight relative to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Jeremy DeWaters, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 10814963
    Abstract: A vibration control system for a rotor hub provides vibration attenuation in an aircraft by reducing the magnitude of rotor induced vibratory. The system can include a force generating device attached to a rotor hub which rotates along with the rotor at the rotational speed of the rotor. Vibratory shear force is generated by rotating unbalanced weights each about an axis non-concentric with the rotor hub axis at high speed to create large centrifugal forces. The rotational speed of the weights can be a multiple of the rotor rotational speed to create shear forces for canceling rotor induced vibrations. The amplitude of the generated shear force is controlled by indexing the positions of the unbalanced weights relative to each other, while the phase of the shear force is adjusted by equally phasing each weight relative to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Jeremy DeWaters, Frank B. Stamps
  • Publication number: 20200324883
    Abstract: In some examples, an oscillatory pumping system comprises: one or more active piston, a fluid, and two motors. The one or more active piston is disposed in a channel fluidically coupling two fluid chambers. The passive piston has a frequency response operable to counteract a vibratory displacement. The fluid is disposed in the channel and the two fluid chambers. The two motors couple to the one or more active piston. The two motors are operable to selectively change the frequency response of the passive piston based on oscillating the one or more active piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Reaugh Smith, Frank B. Stamps, David E. Heverly, II
  • Patent number: 10759530
    Abstract: A rotor system includes a hub assembly, a first, second, and third rotor blade rotatably attached to the hub assembly, a first, second, and third damper pivotally attached to the hub assembly and pivotally attached to the first, second, and third rotor blade, respectively, and a control system operably associated with the first, second, and third damper. A method to control vibratory forces exerted on the hub assembly via the first and second rotor blade includes separately controlling a dynamic spring rate of each of the first and second dampers with the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Frank B. Stamps, Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 10648529
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a centrifugal force generating device comprises a first hydraulic rotor, a second hydraulic rotor, and one or more hydraulic control valves. The first hydraulic rotor comprises a first mass and is configured to rotationally drive the first mass around a first axis of rotation using a first flow of hydraulic fluid through the first hydraulic rotor. The second hydraulic rotor comprises a second mass and is configured to rotationally drive the second mass around a second axis of rotation using a second flow of hydraulic fluid through the second hydraulic rotor. The one or more hydraulic control valves are configured to control the first flow of hydraulic fluid through the first hydraulic rotor and the second flow of hydraulic fluid through the second hydraulic rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: David E. Heverly, II
  • Publication number: 20190322361
    Abstract: A method and system to isolate vibrations, including a first pair of fluid chambers disposed to isolate first vibrations between a first body and a second body, wherein the first vibrations are parallel to a first axis, wherein the first body is a propeller hub, a rotor hub, a pylon attachment, or an engine, and wherein the second body is a propeller shaft, a rotor mast, or a body attachment; a second pair of fluid chambers disposed to isolate second vibrations between the first and second bodies, wherein the second vibrations are parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; first and second inertia tracks disposed to place the first and second pairs of chambers in fluid communication, respectively; and a plurality of elastic energy storage devices coupled to the first body and the second body and disposed to isolate vibrations between the first and second bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventor: David E. Heverly, II
  • Patent number: 10330166
    Abstract: The vibration suppression system includes a vibration isolator located in each corner in a four corner pylon mount structural assembly. The combination of four vibration isolators, two being forward of the transmission, and two being aft of the transmission, collectively are effective at isolating main rotor vertical shear, pitch moment, as well as roll moment induced vibrations. Each opposing pair of vibration isolators can efficiently react against the moment oscillations because the moment can be decomposed into two antagonistic vertical oscillations at each vibration isolator. A pylon structure extends between a pair of vibration isolators thereby allowing the vibration isolators to be spaced a away from a vibrating body to provide increased control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Taeoh Lee, David E. Heverly, II, Matthew W. Hendricks, Maurice Griffin, Michael R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10301010
    Abstract: An oscillating pump system includes a pump operable to circulate a fluid. The pump has a first port stage including an inlet port and an outlet port and a second port stage including a first oscillating port and a second oscillating port. An oscillator disk is disposed between the first port stage and the second port stage. The oscillator disk is rotatable relative to the inlet port, the outlet port, the first oscillating port and the second oscillating port. During rotation, the oscillator disk alternatingly routes the fluid to the inlet port from the first and second oscillating ports and alternatingly routes the fluid from the outlet port to the first and second oscillating ports, thereby generating oscillating fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Heverly, II
  • Publication number: 20190154106
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a centrifugal force generating device comprises a first hydraulic rotor, a second hydraulic rotor, and one or more hydraulic control valves. The first hydraulic rotor comprises a first mass and is configured to rotationally drive the first mass around a first axis of rotation using a first flow of hydraulic fluid through the first hydraulic rotor. The second hydraulic rotor comprises a second mass and is configured to rotationally drive the second mass around a second axis of rotation using a second flow of hydraulic fluid through the second hydraulic rotor. The one or more hydraulic control valves are configured to control the first flow of hydraulic fluid through the first hydraulic rotor and the second flow of hydraulic fluid through the second hydraulic rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: David E. Heverly, II
  • Publication number: 20190061931
    Abstract: A rotor system includes a hub assembly, a first, second, and third rotor blade rotatably attached to the hub assembly, a first, second, and third damper pivotally attached to the hub assembly and pivotally attached to the first, second, and third rotor blade, respectively, and a control system operably associated with the first, second, and third damper. A method to control vibratory forces exerted on the hub assembly via the first and second rotor blade includes separately controlling a dynamic spring rate of each of the first and second dampers with the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Frank B. Stamps, Michael Smith
  • Publication number: 20180370621
    Abstract: A vibration control system for a rotor hub provides vibration attenuation in an aircraft by reducing the magnitude of rotor induced vibratory. The system can include a force generating device attached to a rotor hub which rotates along with the rotor at the rotational speed of the rotor. Vibratory shear force is generated by rotating unbalanced weights each about an axis non-concentric with the rotor hub axis at high speed to create large centrifugal forces. The rotational speed of the weights can be a multiple of the rotor rotational speed to create shear forces for canceling rotor induced vibrations. The amplitude of the generated shear force is controlled by indexing the positions of the unbalanced weights relative to each other, while the phase of the shear force is adjusted by equally phasing each weight relative to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Jeremy DeWaters, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 10112709
    Abstract: A rotor system includes a hub assembly, a first, second, and third rotor blade rotatably attached to the hub assembly, a first, second, and third damper pivotally attached to the hub assembly and pivotally attached to the first, second, and third rotor blade, respectively, and a control system operably associated with the first, second, and third damper. A method to control vibratory forces exerted on the hub assembly via the first and second rotor blade includes separately controlling a dynamic spring rate of each of the first and second dampers with the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Frank B. Stamps, Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 10065730
    Abstract: A vibration control system for a rotor hub provides vibration attenuation in an aircraft by reducing the magnitude of rotor induced vibratory. The system can include a force generating device attached to a rotor hub which rotates along with the rotor at the rotational speed of the rotor. Vibratory shear force is generated by rotating unbalanced weights each about an axis non-concentric with the rotor hub axis at high speed to create large centrifugal forces. The rotational speed of the weights can be a multiple of the rotor rotational speed to create shear forces for canceling rotor induced vibrations. The amplitude of the generated shear force is controlled by indexing the positions of the unbalanced weights relative to each other, while the phase of the shear force is adjusted by equally phasing each weight relative to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Jeremy DeWaters, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 10012217
    Abstract: A vibration isolation system includes a vibration isolator configured to flow a fluid. A fluid pumping system is connected to the vibration isolator. The fluid pumping system includes a fluid flow pathway configured to flow the fluid to the vibration isolator. The fluid pumping system includes a piston assembly positioned in the fluid flow pathway. The piston assembly includes a first piston and a second piston configured to displace the fluid in opposite directions through the fluid flow pathway. The vibration isolation system includes a fluid flow augmentation system, which includes an eccentric member positioned between the first piston and the second piston. The fluid flow augmentation system is configured to control a flow of the fluid to the vibration isolator through the fluid flow pathway by controlling a displacement of the first piston and the second piston through at least a partial rotation of the eccentric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: David E. Heverly, II, Taeoh Lee
  • Publication number: 20180111679
    Abstract: An oscillating pump system includes a pump operable to circulate a fluid. The pump has a first port stage including an inlet port and an outlet port and a second port stage including a first oscillating port and a second oscillating port. An oscillator disk is disposed between the first port stage and the second port stage. The oscillator disk is rotatable relative to the inlet port, the outlet port, the first oscillating port and the second oscillating port. During rotation, the oscillator disk alternatingly routes the fluid to the inlet port from the first and second oscillating ports and alternatingly routes the fluid from the outlet port to the first and second oscillating ports, thereby generating oscillating fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Heverly, II
  • Publication number: 20180038439
    Abstract: The vibration suppression system includes a vibration isolator located in each corner in a four corner pylon mount structural assembly. The combination of four vibration isolators, two being forward of the transmission, and two being aft of the transmission, collectively are effective at isolating main rotor vertical shear, pitch moment, as well as roll moment induced vibrations. Each opposing pair of vibration isolators can efficiently react against the moment oscillations because the moment can be decomposed into two antagonistic vertical oscillations at each vibration isolator. A pylon structure extends between a pair of vibration isolators thereby allowing the vibration isolators to be spaced a away from a vibrating body to provide increased control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Taeoh Lee, David E. Heverly, II, Matthew W. Hendricks, Maurice Griffin, Michael R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9777788
    Abstract: The vibration suppression system includes a vibration isolator located in each corner in a four corner pylon mount structural assembly. The combination of four vibration isolators, two being forward of the transmission, and two being aft of the transmission, collectively are effective at isolating main rotor vertical shear, pitch moment, as well as roll moment induced vibrations. Each opposing pair of vibration isolators can efficiently react against the moment oscillations because the moment can be decomposed into two antagonistic vertical oscillations at each vibration isolator. A pylon structure extends between a pair of vibration isolators thereby allowing the vibration isolators to be spaced a away from a vibrating body to provide increased control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Taeoh Lee, David E. Heverly, II, Matthew W. Hendricks, Maurice Griffin, Michael R. Smith