Patents by Inventor James Lee Braswell, Jr.
James Lee Braswell, Jr. 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: 8590833Abstract: An aircraft rotor constant-velocity drive system having a differential mechanism that includes a drive disk configured to be integral in rotation with a mast, an upper member at least partially located above the drive disk, a lower member at least partially located below the drive disk, and at least one link connecting the upper member and the lower member to the drive disk such that the drive disk drives the upper member and the lower member in rotation with the drive disk and that the upper member and the lower member are allowed to rotate differently with respect to the drive disk. The link having opposing end joints and a central joint that pivotally engages the drive disk. The system also having a gimbal device configured to drive a rotor hub and to allow gimbaling of the rotor hub with respect to a mast.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Richard Rauber, Frank B. Stamps, James Lee Braswell, Jr.
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Patent number: 8336815Abstract: A constant-velocity drive system for a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed. A rotary-wing aircraft having a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2006Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Richard Rauber, Frank B. Stamps, James Lee Braswell, Jr.
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Patent number: 8047466Abstract: A yoke for a rotary wing aircraft rotor system has a plurality of arms, each arm having a root. Each root has a notched portion configured to allow passage of a portion of a blade-pitch control system through the notched portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard E. Rauber, Thomas C. Campbell, Tom Donovan, Patrick R. Tisdale, James Lee Braswell, Jr.
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Patent number: 8029371Abstract: A torque coupling for a rotor head of a rotary-wing aircraft is configured for rotation with a mast and for causing rotation of an attached yoke. The coupling has trunnions that rotate with the mast and extend generally radially. Pad-bearing assemblies each have a central member coupled to one of the trunnions with a laminated spherical bearing and have laminated pad bearings affixed to opposing sides of the central member. The laminated bearings have alternating rigid and elastomeric layers. A bearing mount is affixed to each pad bearing and is connected to a yoke for rotating the yoke with the mast. The pad-bearing assemblies allow for relative motion between each central member and the associated trunnion and between each central member and the bearing mounts through elastic shear deformation, and this allows for gimballing of the attached yoke relative to the mast.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard Rauber, David Popelka, Pat Tisdale, Tom Campbell, James Lee Braswell, Jr.
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Patent number: 7845909Abstract: An assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system includes an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween. At least one of the upper and lower yoke surfaces has a layer of cushioning material positioned thereon and secured thereto. An alternate embodiment includes an assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, including, an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween and directly contacting the support plates wherein one of the curved surfaces is a non-circular arc that does not form part of the circumference of a circle. Another alternate embodiment includes a similar assembly having a twist-shank type of yoke for providing rotation of attached blades about their respective pitch axes.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Patrick R. Tisdale, Paul Sherrill, Richard Rauber, Thomas C. Campbell, James Lee Braswell, Jr., Ron Measom, Tricia Hiros, David Popelka, Michael J. Southerland, Keith Stanney, Mark Wasikowski, Tim Ledbetter
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Publication number: 20100009764Abstract: A torque coupling for a rotor head of a rotary-wing aircraft is configured for rotation with a mast and for causing rotation of an attached yoke. The coupling has trunnions that rotate with the mast and extend generally radially. Pad-bearing assemblies each have a central member coupled to one of the trunnions with a laminated spherical bearing and have laminated pad bearings affixed to opposing sides of the central member. The laminated bearings have alternating rigid and elastomeric layers. A bearing mount is affixed to each pad bearing and is connected to a yoke for rotating the yoke with the mast. The pad-bearing assemblies allow for relative motion between each central member and the associated trunnion and between each central member and the bearing mounts through elastic shear deformation, and this allows for gimballing of the attached yoke relative to the mast.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2006Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard Rauber, David Popelka, Pat Tisdale, Tom Campbell, James Lee Braswell, JR.
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Publication number: 20090184209Abstract: A constant-velocity drive system for a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed. A rotary-wing aircraft having a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2006Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventors: Richard Rauber, Frank E. Stamps, James Lee Braswell, JR.
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Publication number: 20090179107Abstract: A yoke for a rotary wing aircraft rotor system has a plurality of arms, each arm having a root. Each root has a notched portion configured to allow passage of a portion of a blade-pitch control system through the notched portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2007Publication date: July 16, 2009Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard E. Rauber, Thomas C. Campbell, Tom Donovan, Patrick R. Tisdale, James Lee Braswell Jr.
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Publication number: 20080101934Abstract: An assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system includes an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween. At least one of the upper and lower yoke surfaces has a layer of cushioning material positioned thereon and secured thereto. An alternate embodiment includes an assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, including, an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween and directly contacting the support plates wherein one of the curved surfaces is a non-circular arc that does not form part of the circumference of a circle. Another alternate embodiment includes a similar assembly having a twist-shank type of yoke for providing rotation of attached blades about their respective pitch axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2006Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Patrick R. Tisdale, Paul Sherrill, Richard Rauber, Thomas C. Campbell, James Lee Braswell Jr., Ron Measom, Tricia Hiros, David Popelka, Michael J. Southerland, Keith Stanney, Mark Wasikowski, Tim Ledbetter
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Patent number: 6543294Abstract: A pressure indicator according to the present invention monitors the pressure of the fluid in a vessel. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a closed pressurized gas volume behind a dimpled metal diaphragm. In normal operation, the force of the fluid pressure acting on the external surface of the diaphragm overcomes the force of the gas pressure acting on the internal surface of the diaphragm to hold the diaphragm in a concave geometry. In the event of a sufficient loss of fluid pressure, the force of the gas pressure acting on the internal surface of the diaphragm will overcome the force of the fluid pressure acting on the external surface of the diaphragm, thereby moving the diaphragm into a convex geometry. A viewing window disposed in the side of the vessel can be used to view the pressure indicator and determine the shape of the indicator diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Frank Bradley Stamps, Ronnie Lee Martin, James Lee Braswell, Jr.
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Patent number: 6431530Abstract: A vibration isolator (10) for isolating the vibration of two bodies that are connected together is disclosed. The vibration isolator (10) comprises an inner cylinder (16) and a pair of outer housings (12, 14) concentrically bonded together with elastomer structures (18, 20) to form two chambers (22, 26) that are joined by a tuning port (24). The elastomer structures (18, 20) may serve both as the seals for the chambers (22, 26) and the compliant spring members in the isolator (10). The isolator (10) connects to a vibrating body by a spherical bearing (28). The chambers (22, 26) and tuning port (24) are filled with an inviscid fluid (34) and pressurized to prevent cavitation. In certain embodiments, pressure within the isolator (10) is maintained by a volume compensating device (30) connected to the chambers (22, 26) via a small diameter orifice (36).Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.Inventors: Frank Bradley Stamps, Michael Reaugh Smith, James Lee Braswell, Jr., Timothy Kent Ledbetter