Patents by Inventor Kevin M. Wittke

Kevin M. Wittke 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).

  • Redundant helicopter pitch change bearing
    Patent number: 11453487
    Abstract: An aircraft rotor system includes a rotating pitch change shaft which rotates about an axis, a translating element disposed within the rotating pitch change shaft and movable along the axis and a pitch change bearing assembly which transfers movement of the translating element to the pitch change shaft. The pitch change bearing assembly includes a primary bearing and a secondary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode. A thrust shoulder is coupled to the translating element. The thrust shoulder is movable into engagement with the secondary bearing in response to failure of the primary bearing such that in a second mode, movement of the translating element is primarily transferred to the pitch change shaft via the secondary bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. Wittke, Bertrand J. Howard
  • REDUNDANT HELICOPTER PITCH CHANGE BEARING
    Publication number: 20200001992
    Abstract: An aircraft rotor system includes a rotating pitch change shaft which rotates about an axis, a translating element disposed within the rotating pitch change shaft and movable along the axis and a pitch change bearing assembly which transfers movement of the translating element to the pitch change shaft. The pitch change bearing assembly includes a primary bearing and a secondary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode. A thrust shoulder is coupled to the translating element. The thrust shoulder is movable into engagement with the secondary bearing in response to failure of the primary bearing such that in a second mode, movement of the translating element is primarily transferred to the pitch change shaft via the secondary bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin M. Wittke, Bertrand J. Howard