Patents by Inventor Ken Shundo

Ken Shundo 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150217863
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a first rotor assembly, a second rotor assembly, and a rotor phase angle control system. The system includes a phase adjustor operably associated with the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly. The method includes sensing vibrations exerted on the aircraft and offsetting a phase angle of the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly to minimize the vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Brian Modrzejewski, Ken Shundo, Frank B. Stamps, David Popelka
  • Publication number: 20140271182
    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: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Mithat Yuce, Frank B. Stamps