Patents by Inventor Derek William HEARD
Derek William HEARD 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: 11485480Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Derek William Heard, Richard Theodore Perryman, Nathan Craig Clark, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Yann Lavallee, Ralph Michael Gannarelli
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Patent number: 11340633Abstract: A method of adjusting a center of gravity (CG) of an aircraft includes: inputting at least one load parameter into a flight computer, determining, via a processer of the flight computer, the CG of the aircraft. Responsive to a determination by the processor that the CG is outside of a CG envelope, moving at least a first movable ballast of a plurality of movable ballasts from a first ballast dock to a second ballast dock to move the CG toward the CG envelope. Each of the first and second ballast docks may include a housing and a first ballast tray secured within the housing and comprising a plurality of channels.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Derek William Heard, Richard Theodore Perryman, Nathan Craig Clark, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Yann Lavallee, Ralph Michael Gannarelli
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Patent number: 11148786Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray and a first stop plate secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray and a second stop plate secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William Heard, Richard Theodore Perryman, Nathan Craig Clark, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Yann Lavallee, Ralph Michael Gannarelli
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Publication number: 20210316843Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William HEARD, Richard Theodore PERRYMAN, Nathan Craig CLARK, Joshua Andrew EMRICH, Yann LAVALLEE, Ralph Michael GANNARELLI
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Patent number: 11001373Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William Heard, Richard Theodore Perryman, Nathan Craig Clark, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Yann Lavallee, Ralph Michael Gannarelli
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Publication number: 20210064061Abstract: A method of adjusting a center of gravity (CG) of an aircraft includes: inputting at least one load parameter into a flight computer, determining, via a processer of the flight computer, the CG of the aircraft. Responsive to a determination by the processor that the CG is outside of a CG envelope, moving at least a first movable ballast of a plurality of movable ballasts from a first ballast dock to a second ballast dock to move the CG toward the CG envelope. Each of the first and second ballast docks may include a housing and a first ballast tray secured within the housing and comprising a plurality of channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William HEARD, Richard Theodore PERRYMAN, Nathan Craig CLARK, Joshua Andrew EMRICH, Yann LAVALLEE, Ralph Michael GANNARELLI
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Publication number: 20210061447Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William HEARD, Richard Theodore PERRYMAN, Nathan Craig CLARK, Joshua Andrew EMRICH, Yann LAVALLEE, Ralph Michael GANNARELLI
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Publication number: 20210061448Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray and a first stop plate secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray and a second stop plate secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William HEARD, Richard Theodore PERRYMAN, Nathan Craig CLARK, Joshua Andrew EMRICH, Yann LAVALLEE, Ralph Michael GANNARELLI