Patents by Inventor Kirk L. Groninga

Kirk L. Groninga 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).

  • Patent number: 11970283
    Abstract: A dual-motor system includes a first motor rotationally coupled to a first drive shaft. The first drive shaft is coupled to a common shaft couplable to a rotationally driveable member. The dual-motor system also includes a second motor rotationally coupled to a second drive shaft. The second drive shaft is coupled to the common shaft. The first motor and the second motor are coaxially aligned with the first drive shaft passing through the second drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11873085
    Abstract: An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode includes tiltable rotors located at forward boom ends, tiltable ducted fans located at wings aft of the forward boom ends, and aft rotors located on aft boom portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11807357
    Abstract: One embodiment is an aircraft operable in a hover mode and a cruise mode and including a fuselage; wings connected on opposite sides of the fuselage; a canard connected to the fuselage forward of the wings; forward propulsion systems connected to a trailing edge of the canard on opposite sides of the fuselage; aft propulsion systems connected to trailing edges of the wings; and wing-mounted propulsion systems connected to leading edges of the wings. The aft propulsion systems are tiltable between a first position when the aircraft is in the hover mode and a second position when the aircraft is in the cruise mode. Each of the propulsion systems includes a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades. The propulsion systems are substantially equidistant from a center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Danielle Lynn Moore
  • Publication number: 20230348054
    Abstract: Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
  • Patent number: 11718397
    Abstract: Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
  • Publication number: 20230202668
    Abstract: A dual-motor system includes a first motor rotationally coupled to a first drive shaft. The first drive shaft is coupled to a common shaft couplable to a rotationally driveable member. The dual-motor system also includes a second motor rotationally coupled to a second drive shaft. The second drive shaft is coupled to the common shaft. The first motor and the second motor are coaxially aligned with the first drive shaft passing through the second drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. GRONINGA, Daniel B. ROBERTSON
  • Patent number: 11613375
    Abstract: An exemplary dual motor input includes a common shaft for coupling to a member to be rotationally driven, a first motor rotationally coupled to a first drive shaft, the first drive shaft coupled to the common shaft, and a second motor rotationally coupled to a second drive shaft, the second drive shaft coupled to the common shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11542020
    Abstract: An aircraft includes fuselage, a seat, and battery compartment. Fuselage extends along a longitudinal axis. Seat is configured to support a passenger. The battery compartment that includes a battery configured to provide power to propel the aircraft. The battery compartment, including the battery, is located laterally adjacent to the seat along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Ivans, Kirk L. Groninga
  • Publication number: 20220371727
    Abstract: Embodiments include an aircraft comprising a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; and first and second propulsion systems connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second propulsion systems and at least a portion of the wing are tiltable between a first position in which the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position in which the aircraft is in a cruise mode, wherein each of the propulsion systems includes pylon and a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Jason Paul Hurst
  • Publication number: 20220324558
    Abstract: One embodiment is an aircraft including a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; first and second booms connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage; first and second forward propulsion systems attached to forward ends of the first and second booms; first and second aft propulsion systems fixedly attached proximate aft ends of the first and second booms; and first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems connected to outboard ends of wings; wherein the first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems are tiltable between a first position when the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position when the aircraft is in a cruise mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Steve R. Schafer, Brad Joseph Passe, Nicholas Ralph Carlson, Kip Gregory Campbell, Bradley Paul Regnier, Steven G. Hagerott
  • Publication number: 20220306292
    Abstract: One embodiment is an aircraft including a fuselage; a wing connected to the fuselage; first and second booms connected to the wing on opposite sides of the fuselage; first and second forward propulsion systems attached to forward ends of the first and second booms; first and second aft propulsion systems fixedly attached proximate aft ends of the first and second booms; first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems connected to outboard ends of wings; and first and second wing tips fixedly connected to outboard sides of the first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems; wherein the first and second wing-mounted propulsion systems and the first and second wing tips are collectively tiltable between a first position when the aircraft is in a hover mode and a second position when the aircraft is in a cruise mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Brent C. Ross, Kirk L. Groninga, Steven R. Ivans, Steve R. Schafer, Brad Joseph Passe, Nicholas Ralph Carlson
  • Publication number: 20220306293
    Abstract: One embodiment is an aircraft operable in a hover mode and a cruise mode and including a fuselage; wings connected on opposite sides of the fuselage; a canard connected to the fuselage forward of the wings; forward propulsion systems connected to a trailing edge of the canard on opposite sides of the fuselage; aft propulsion systems connected to trailing edges of the wings; and wing-mounted propulsion systems connected to leading edges of the wings. The aft propulsion systems are tiltable between a first position when the aircraft is in the hover mode and a second position when the aircraft is in the cruise mode. Each of the propulsion systems includes a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades. The propulsion systems are substantially equidistant from a center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Danielle Lynn Moore
  • Publication number: 20220242584
    Abstract: An aircraft includes fuselage, a seat, and battery compartment. Fuselage extends along a longitudinal axis. Seat is configured to support a passenger. The battery compartment that includes a battery configured to provide power to propel the aircraft. The battery compartment, including the battery, is located laterally adjacent to the seat along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Ivans, Kirk L. Groninga
  • Publication number: 20220234728
    Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is described in which rotors can be disposed underneath the booms. This will allow for zero downward force resulting from thrust on the aircraft and therefore greater energy efficiency. Retractable doors can shield the rotors when not in use, decreasing drag during forward flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Danielle L. Moore
  • Patent number: 11286037
    Abstract: A rotor system is provided in one example embodiment and may include a rotor duct; at least one rotor blade, wherein the at least one rotor blade comprises a tip end; and a tip extension affixed at the tip end of the at least one rotor blade, wherein the tip extension comprises a plurality of flexible elements and the rotor blade has a fixed extended length based on the tip extension. The tip extension may provide a clearance distance between the tip extension and the rotor duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Glenn Vaughn, Michael J. Ryan, Brent Randal Achttien, Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson, Matthew Edward Louis
  • Patent number: 11286036
    Abstract: A rotor system is provided in one example embodiment and may include a rotor duct; at least one rotor blade, wherein the at least one rotor blade comprises a tip end; and a tip extension affixed at the tip end of the at least one rotor blade, wherein the tip extension is comprised, at least in part, of a flexible material and the rotor blade has a fixed extended length based on the tip extension. The tip extension may provide a clearance distance between the tip extension and the rotor duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson, Matthew Edward Louis, Robert Glenn Vaughn, Michael J. Ryan, Brent Randal Achttien
  • Publication number: 20210331793
    Abstract: An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode includes tiltable rotors located at forward boom ends, tiltable ducted fans located at wings aft of the forward boom ends, and aft rotors located on aft boom portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. GRONINGA, Daniel B. ROBERTSON
  • Patent number: 11117655
    Abstract: An exemplary tail rotor includes a first blade assembly configured to rotate in a first direction about an axis of rotation and a second blade assembly configured to rotate in a second direction about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11097838
    Abstract: An exemplary ducted fan with an optimized stator includes a duct surrounding a rotor hub from which blades radially extend and the stator having a stator span extending horizontally across an inside diameter of the duct, the stator having a stator chord extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge, wherein a length of the stator chord varies across the stator span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson, Matthew E. Louis
  • Patent number: 11091258
    Abstract: An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode includes tiltable rotors located at forward boom ends, tiltable ducted fans located at wings aft of the forward boom ends, and aft rotors located on aft boom portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson