Patents by Inventor Frank D'Anna

Frank D'Anna 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).

  • Publication number: 20070215749
    Abstract: A rotor assembly having a rotor hub, a plurality of yokes, and a plurality of swing arms is provided. The yoke depending from the rotor hub. Each swing arm is movably positioned on the rotor hub for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position. The yokes are freely movable about a pitch axis and a lead/lag axis when the swing arms are in the unlocked position and the yokes are locked in a predetermined pitch position and a predetermined lead/lag position when the swing arms are in the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Frederick Miner, Frank D'Anna, David Schmaling, Michael Robbins
  • Publication number: 20070181741
    Abstract: A rotor hub fairing system includes an upper hub fairing, a lower hub fairing and a shaft fairing therebetween. The rotor hub fairing system is attached to the counter-rotating, coaxial rotor system through a bearing arrangement such that the shaft fairing may be positioned at an azimuthal position about the main rotor axis of rotation relative the airframe by a de-rotation system. The de-rotation system controls the position of the shaft fairing about the axis of rotation such that the shaft fairing is prevented from rotating freely in unison with either shaft as may otherwise result during some flight regimes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: David Darrow, Fabio Bertolotti, Thomas Sbabo, Frank D'Anna
  • Publication number: 20070128037
    Abstract: A swash plate assembly includes a rotationally stationary swash plate and rotational swash plate which rotates relative to the rotationally stationary swash plate through a bearing system. Each servo control rod is attached to the swash plate assembly to communicate control inputs thereto through a respective servo lug. Each servo lug defines a servo pivot point off an in-line plane inboard of the bearing system. As the servo lugs extend below the rotationally stationary swash plate, a relatively uncomplicated attachment arrangement is facilitated which provides for redundant locking features at a highly inspectable location which simplifies maintenance and increased safety. By locating the servo pivot point just inboard of the bearing system, an exceeding compact load path is defined thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: David Schmaling, Michael Robbins, Frank D'Anna
  • Publication number: 20060120873
    Abstract: A rotor blade folding system includes a damper assembly which is selectively lockable. The damper assembly is locked to position each blade yoke in a predetermined lead/lag position to minimize strain upon elastomeric bearings between the blade yoke and the rotor hub and contained in the damper. The rotor blade is then folded relative to the blade yoke to a predetermined blade fold angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventor: Frank D'Anna
  • Publication number: 20060067822
    Abstract: A rotor blade folding system includes a blade lock assembly, a rotary actuator and a blade fold controller to selectively position each rotor blade assembly in a particular predetermined folded position. The blade lock assembly positions each blade yoke in a predetermined lead/lag and pitch position to minimize strain upon an elastomeric bearing between the blade yoke and the rotor hub. The rotor blade is then folded relative to the blade yoke to a predetermined blade fold angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventor: Frank D'Anna
  • Publication number: 20060056971
    Abstract: A coaxial counter-rotating rotor system for a hybrid aircraft includes an upper swashplate assembly and a lower swashplate assembly with a coaxial transmission system therebetween. Movement of the upper and lower swashplate assembly is reflected about a midplane of the coaxial transmission housing to generate sufficient cyclic and/or collective pitch inputs within a compact structural in which the rotor systems are closely spaced along an axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventor: Frank D'Anna