Patents by Inventor John E. Brunken

John E. Brunken 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: 20180339770
    Abstract: In one aspect, a rotor assembly includes a hub and a plurality of rotor blades; at least one blade root actuator configured to adjust at least one of the plurality of rotor blades independently of the other rotor blades to accommodate forces on the aircraft; and at least one controller couplable to the at least one blade root actuator and configured to send signals to the at least one blade root actuator to enable adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of rotor blades. In another embodiment, at least one blade flap is associated with a rotor blade can be actuated to adjust the shape of the rotor blade. In some embodiments, there are methods and systems incorporating at least one of the root blade actuator and the blade flap for stabilizing a tiltrotor aircraft by counteracting destabilizing forces on at least one rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Brunken, Jeffrey M. Bosworth
  • Publication number: 20120063897
    Abstract: A rotor system for a rotorcraft having at least one rotor blade pair operably associated with a differential pitch assembly operably for controlling a pitch angle of an upper rotor blade and the lower rotor blade in the rotor blade pair. Operation of the differential pitch assembly changes the pitch of the upper rotor blade more severely than the pitch of the lower rotor blade. As such, the rotor system is configured to provide optimum pitch of the upper and lower rotor blades during a helicopter mode and an airplane mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: John E. Brunken
  • Publication number: 20120043412
    Abstract: A rotor system for a rotorcraft includes a rotor hub having a plurality of rotor blade pairs mechanically coupled to a rotor mast. A pitch link assembly is mechanically coupled to each rotor blade pair for controlling the pitch angle of each rotor blade pair in tandem. Each rotor blade pair has an upper rotor blade and a lower rotor blade. The plurality of rotor blade pairs rotor in a single direction and about a single axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Brunken