Patents by Inventor John E. Brunken, Jr.
John E. Brunken, 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: 11691723Abstract: A gimbaled rotor assembly for an aircraft. The gimbaled rotor assembly including a static mast; a spherical bearing comprising an inner component and an outer component pivotable relative to each other about a bearing focus, the inner component fixedly coupled to the static mast; a rotor hub rotatably coupled to the outer component, allowing for relative rotation of the rotor hub about a rotor axis and for pivoting together with the outer component about the bearing focus; and a primary hub spring coupling the outer component to the static mast and configured for opposing pivoting of the rotor hub about the bearing focus from a neutral position.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Parham, Jr., Frank Bradley Stamps, Jouyoung Jason Choi, Albert Gerard Brand, Michael Scott Seifert, Richard E. Rauber, John E. Brunken, Jr.
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Publication number: 20220355924Abstract: A gimbaled rotor assembly for an aircraft. The gimbaled rotor assembly including a static mast; a spherical bearing comprising an inner component and an outer component pivotable relative to each other about a bearing focus, the inner component fixedly coupled to the static mast; a rotor hub rotatably coupled to the outer component, allowing for relative rotation of the rotor hub about a rotor axis and for pivoting together with the outer component about the bearing focus; and a primary hub spring coupling the outer component to the static mast and configured for opposing pivoting of the rotor hub about the bearing focus from a neutral position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2021Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Parham, JR., Frank Bradley Stamps, Jouyoung Jason Choi, Albert Gerard Brand, Michael Scott Seifert, Richard E. Rauber, John E. Brunken, JR.
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Patent number: 8662843Abstract: The system of the present application includes an adaptive twist system for a rotor blade. The adaptive twist system includes a slider mechanism coupled to a spar and to a skin. The slider mechanism provides structural connectivity between the spar and the skin while also selectively translated the skin relative to the spar, thereby causing the rotor blade to twist. A control system is used to operate the slider mechanism so that the rotor blade is automatically twisted into the optional shape during changes in flight modes.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: John E. Brunken, Jr.
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Patent number: 8640985Abstract: The system of the present application represents a rotor hub for a rotorcraft and a rotorcraft incorporating the rotor hub. The rotor hub is represented as having multiple rotor disk assemblies, each rotor disk assembly rotating in the same direction about the same mast axis of rotation. In the preferred embodiment, each rotor disk assembly has three rotor blades. The upper rotor disc assembly and the lower rotor disk assembly are separated by approximately 2.5% of the rotor disk diameter, at least to take advantage of “wake contraction”.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: John E. Brunken, Jr.
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Patent number: 8640983Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: John E. Brunken, Jr.
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Patent number: 8636473Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: John E. Brunken, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130294912Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventor: John E. Brunken, JR.
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Patent number: 8500062Abstract: A rotor system for a rotorcraft, the rotor system is a rotor hub having six rotor blades attached to a rotor mast via a rotor yoke assembly. Each rotor blade is angularly spaced in 30° and 90° alternating angular increment about a mast axis of rotation. Such rotor blades spacing reduces the vibration that is translated into the rotorcraft through the rotor mast.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: John E. Brunken, Jr.
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Patent number: 8496434Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: John E. Brunken, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130089422Abstract: The system of the present application includes an adaptive twist system for a rotor blade. The adaptive twist system includes a slider mechanism coupled to a spar and to a skin. The slider mechanism provides structural connectivity between the spar and the skin while also selectively translated the skin relative to the spar, thereby causing the rotor blade to twist. A control system is used to operate the slider mechanism so that the rotor blade is automatically twisted into the optional shape during changes in flight modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: John E. Brunken, JR.
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Publication number: 20120061526Abstract: A rotor system for a rotorcraft, the rotor system is a rotor hub having six rotor blades attached to a rotor mast via a rotor yoke assembly. Each rotor blade is angularly spaced in 30° and 90° alternating angular increment about a mast axis of rotation. Such rotor blades spacing reduces the vibration that is translated into the rotorcraft through the rotor mast.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventor: John E. Brunken, JR.
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Publication number: 20120061509Abstract: The system of the present application represents a rotor hub for a rotorcraft and a rotorcraft incorporating the rotor hub. The rotor hub is represented as having multiple rotor disk assemblies, each rotor disk assembly rotating in the same direction about the same mast axis of rotation. In the preferred embodiment, each rotor disk assembly has three rotor blades. The upper rotor disc assembly and the lower rotor disk assembly are separated by approximately 2.5% of the rotor disk diameter, at least to take advantage of “wake contraction”.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: John E. Brunken, JR.
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Patent number: 8021116Abstract: A rotor system for a rotorcraft includes a rotor having a plurality of pitch control links and a pair of rotor blades mechanically coupled with each of the plurality of pitch control links. A rotorcraft includes a power train, a mast extending from the power train, a rotor having a plurality of pitch control links, the rotor mechanically coupled with the mast, and a pair of rotor blades mechanically coupled with each of the plurality of pitch control links.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2007Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventor: John E. Brunken, Jr.
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Publication number: 20100264257Abstract: A rotor system for a rotorcraft includes a rotor having a plurality of pitch control links and a pair of rotor blades mechanically coupled with each of the plurality of pitch control links. A rotorcraft includes a power train, a mast extending from the power train, a rotor having a plurality of pitch control links, the rotor mechanically coupled with the mast, and a pair of rotor blades mechanically coupled with each of the plurality of pitch control links.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2007Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventor: John E. Brunken, JR.