Patents by Inventor Frank B. Stamps

Frank B. Stamps 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).

  • Hybrid spherical and thrust bearing
    Patent number: 9845826
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a bearing features an elastomeric portion having an opening therethrough, a member disposed within the opening of the elastomeric portion, and a separation feature disposed between the member and the elastomeric portion. The member comprises a conical body portion arranged such that an interior diameter of the conical body portion is smaller than an exterior diameter of the conical body portion. The separation feature prevents contact between the member and the elastomeric portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicoter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Sutton, Frank B. Stamps
  • Dual series pitch link bearing
    Patent number: 9840325
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a bearing is situated between a pitch link and a swashplate or a hub. The bearing comprises an outer housing having a first opening therethrough, an intermediate housing adjacent the housing inside the first opening and having a second opening therethrough, and an inner housing adjacent the intermediate housing inside the second opening and having a third opening therethrough. The inner housing comprising a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining the third opening. A first member is adjacent the first inner surface inside the third opening having a fourth opening therethrough. A second member is adjacent the second inner surface inside the third opening having a fifth opening therethrough coaxial with the fourth opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Sutton, Frank B. Stamps
  • Scissoring fold arrangement for dual plane four bladed rotor hubs
    Patent number: 9828088
    Abstract: A rotor blade system includes a first hub assembly having a first set of rotor blades and rotatably attached to a rotor mast, a second hub assembly having a second set of rotor blades and rotatably attached to the rotor mast, the second hub assembly being positioned at a space relative to the first hub assembly, a torque splitter device engaged with both the first hub assembly and the second hub assembly, and a locking device operably associated with the torque splitter device. The method includes rotating the first hub relative to the second hub via the torque splitter until the first set of rotor blades align with the second set of rotor blade about a common horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Thompson, Frank B. Stamps
  • Rotor Assembly with High Lock-Number Blades
    Publication number: 20170320567
    Abstract: An aircraft rotor assembly has a central hub and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the hub for rotation with the hub about an axis, each blade having a Lock number of approximately 5 or greater. A lead-lag pivot for each blade is formed by a flexure coupling the associated blade to the hub. Each pivot is a radial distance from the axis and allows for in-plane lead-lag motion of the associated blade relative to the hub, each pivot allowing for in-plane motion from a neutral position of at least 1 degree in each of the lead and lag directions. Elastic deformation of the flexure produces a biasing force for biasing the associated blade toward the neutral position, and the biasing force is selected to achieve a first in-plane frequency of greater than 1/rev for each blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Miller, Frank B. Stamps, Jouyoung Jason Choi, Thomas C. Parham, JR., Alan Ewing, Richard E. Rauber
  • INCREASED CAPACITY SPHERICAL LINED BEARINGS
    Publication number: 20170307009
    Abstract: A rotary system and method to control feathering movement of a rotor blade. The system having a yoke arm configured to rotate a rotor blade. A first bearing and a second bearing are utilized to secure the rotor blade to the yoke arm and are configured to restrict longitudinal and transverse movement, while allowing feathering movement of the rotor blade relative to yoke arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Bryan W. Marshall
  • Rotor Hub Vibration Attenuator
    Publication number: 20170297685
    Abstract: A vibration attenuator for an aircraft has at least one weight mounted in a rotating system of a rotor hub of the aircraft, each weight being rotatable about an axis of rotation of the hub relative to the hub and to each other weight. Drive means are provided for rotating each weight about the axis of rotation at a selected speed for creating oscillatory shear forces that oppose and attenuate rotor-induced vibrations having a selected frequency. A vertically oriented vibration attenuator is configured to oppose and attenuate vertical rotor induced oscillatory forces that would otherwise travel vertical down the rotor mast and into the airframe. A vibration attenuator having weights rotating about separate axes offset from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: David Heverly, David A. Popelka, Frank B. Stamps
  • Bearing with a shape memory alloy component
    Patent number: 9771974
    Abstract: The bearing assembly includes one or more elastomeric members loaded in a precompression by a shim that includes a shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy is configured to generate the precompression in the elastomeric members upon a temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Sottiaux, Frank B. Stamps
  • Piezoelectric liquid inertia vibration eliminator
    Patent number: 9771150
    Abstract: A tunable vibration isolator with active tuning elements having a housing, fluid chamber, and at least one tuning port. A piston is resiliently disposed within the housing. A vibration isolation fluid is disposed within the fluid chambers and the tuning ports. The tunable vibration isolator may employ either a solid tuning mass approach or a liquid tuning mass approach. The active vibration elements are preferably solid-state actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps, Taeoh Lee, David E. Heverly, Jr., Robert J. Pascal
  • Anti-drive mechanism for rise and fall rotating control systems
    Patent number: 9764832
    Abstract: A rotor blade system includes a hub assembly pivotally attached to a rotor blade, a mast attached to the hub assembly, and a swashplate engaged with the mast, the swashplate includes a non-rotating ring and a rotating ring. The method to raise the swashplate includes using an anti-drive link system pivotally engaged with a transmission top case and pivotally engaged with the non-rotating ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Jason L. Hoyle, Frank B. Stamps
  • Rotor hub damper for a rotorcraft
    Patent number: 9765825
    Abstract: A damper for a rotor hub for a rotorcraft can include a housing, a piston resiliently coupled to the housing with a first elastomeric member and a second elastomeric member, a plurality of conical members, a fluid, and an orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Daniel P. Sottiaux
  • System and method for vibration isolation
    Patent number: 9765641
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system includes a first housing, a second housing, a seal, and a spring system. The first housing includes a first volume of fluid. The first housing is capable of connecting to a first element and to a second element, and is also capable of reducing an amount of movement transferred from the first element to the second element. The second housing is connected to the first housing. The second housing includes a second volume of fluid and a volume of gas. The first volume of fluid is in fluid communication with the second volume of fluid. The seal is capable of separating the second volume of fluid from the volume of gas. The spring system is capable of applying pressure to the first volume of fluid and the second volume of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps, Maurice D. Griffin
  • Soft In-Plane and Stiff Out-of-Plane Rotor System
    Publication number: 20170259916
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a yoke operably associated with a rotor blade. The yoke includes a first device and a second device that attach the rotor blade to the yoke. The first device is configured to allow transverse movement of the rotor blade about a chord axis and rotational movement about a pitch-change axis. The second device is configured to allow rotational movement of the rotor blade solely about the pitch-change axis. The method includes rotating rotor assembly about a first plane of rotation, while retaining a relatively stiff out-of-plane rotation and a relatively soft in-plane rotation during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Mithat Yuce, Frank B. Stamps
  • Increased capacity spherical lined bearings
    Patent number: 9702402
    Abstract: A rotary system and method to control feathering movement of a rotor blade. The system having a yoke arm configured to rotate a rotor blade. A first bearing and a second bearing are utilized to secure the rotor blade to the yoke arm and are configured to restrict longitudinal and transverse movement, while allowing feathering movement of the rotor blade relative to yoke arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Bryan W. Marshall
  • Soft in-plane and stiff out-of-plane rotor system
    Patent number: 9656747
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a yoke operably associated with a rotor blade. The yoke includes a first device and a second device that attach the rotor blade to the yoke. The first device is configured to allow transverse movement of the rotor blade about a chord axis and rotational movement about a pitch-change axis. The second device is configured to allow rotational movement of the rotor blade solely about the pitch-change axis. The method includes rotating rotor assembly about a first plane of rotation, while retaining a relatively stiff out-of-plane rotation and a relatively soft in-plane rotation during flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Mithat Yuce, Frank B. Stamps
  • Tiltrotor control system with two rise/fall actuators
    Patent number: 9567070
    Abstract: A rotor system for rotor aircraft comprises a rotor hub comprising a plurality of rotor blades, a rotatable rotor mast coupled to the rotor hub, a swashplate assembly comprising a non-rotating ring engaged with a rotatable ring, a plurality of pitch links mechanically coupling the rotatable ring to the plurality of rotor blades, and a swashplate actuator system. The rotatable ring is configured to rotate with the rotor mast, and the non-rotating ring is configured to engage and guide the rotatable ring. The pitch links are configured to control the pitch angle of each rotor blade. The swashplate actuator system consists of: a first actuator and a second actuator, where the first actuator and the second actuator are mechanically coupled to a stationary surface and the non-rotating ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Carlos A. Fenny, Frank B. Stamps
  • Coaxial counter-rotating rotor system
    Patent number: 9550565
    Abstract: A system and method to tilt coaxial counter-rotating rotor hub assemblies relative to a fuselage. The system includes a first rotor hub assembly and a second rotor hub assembly spaced apart from the first hub assembly and carried by the fuselage. The method includes pivotally attaching the first rotor hub assembly and the second rotor hub assembly to a pivot joint and thereafter tilting the first rotor hub assembly and the second rotor hub assembly about the pivot joint with a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John Corrigan, Frank B. Stamps
  • Actuation system for an active blade element of a rotor blade
    Patent number: 9523278
    Abstract: One example of an actuation system for an active blade element of a rotor blade includes an actuator system coupled to a linear transmission system. The actuator system attaches to a structure within a rotor blade and provides a linear motion in a direction that is spanwise to the rotor blade. The linear transmission system is coupled with the actuator system and to an active blade element attached to the rotor blade. The linear transmission system receives the linear motion provided by the actuator system, and responsively provides at least a partial rotation of the active blade element about an axis of the linear transmission system which is in the direction that is substantially parallel to the spanwise axis of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Foskey, Frank B. Stamps
  • Flexing clevis arrangement bolted joint attachment for flexible rotor hub with high offset and high flapping
    Patent number: 9505489
    Abstract: A flexible joint assembly for providing flexure to a rotor blade comprising an upper hub plate and a lower hub plate configured to secure a rotor blade yoke via a bolted joint located radially outward of a mast; and an upper flexure assembly connected to the upper hub plate and a lower flexure assembly connected to the lower hub plate, wherein the upper flexure assembly and lower flexure assembly are configured to promote flapping of the rotor blade yoke about a flapping hinge located radially outward of the bolted joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Drew Sutton, Frank B. Stamps, Patrick Ryan Tisdale, Paul Oldroyd
  • Composite flexure for tiltrotor rotor system
    Patent number: 9499262
    Abstract: A composite flexure that secures a rotor blade to a gimbaled yoke in a tiltrotor rotor system. The composite flexure includes a composite flexure member, a first end, and a second end. The first end of the composite flexure couples the composite flexure to the gimbaled yoke, and the second end of the composite flexure couples the composite flexure to the rotor blade. The composite flexure is twisted when the composite flexure is not subject to torsional loads in order to accommodate various forces imparted on the rotor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Foskey, Frank B. Stamps, Joel McIntyre, Gary Miller
  • Composite rotor blade having weighted material for mass balancing
    Patent number: 9487290
    Abstract: A rotor blade for an aircraft includes a composite portion having fiber-reinforced resin material, the composite portion having an outside surface that forms at least a partial airfoil shape. The weighted portion includes a plurality of weighted material layers and a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin material layers. Weighted material is configured to be compatible with and integrated into composite manufacturing processes used to fabricate the rotor blade. The weighted portion has a higher density than the composite portion and positioned to produce desired mass balance characteristics of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. Sherrill, Frank B. Stamps, Ronald J. Measom