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).

  • Publication number: 20180111680
    Abstract: A rotorcraft capable of a hover mode and a forward cruise mode including a fuselage, a first electric propulsion system, a second electric propulsion system, and an electric power control unit to control power to the first and second electric propulsion systems in the hover and forward cruise modes. The first electric propulsion system is a tip jet cold flow system that imparts rotation on a pair of rotor blades disposed above a top surface of the fuselage, and a first electric motor configured to drive the tip jet cold flow system. The second electric propulsion system includes a propeller disposed in the rear of the fuselage and a second electric motor configured to drive the propeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Fenny, Daniel B. Robertson, Kirk L. Groninga, Troy C. Schank
  • Publication number: 20180044013
    Abstract: A variable thrust cross-flow fan system for an aircraft including a rotatable wing member having a first housing member; an actuator assembly operably coupled to the first housing member; and a variable thrust cross-flow fan assembly including a first and second driver plates having a plurality of blades rotatably mounted therebetween. The plurality of blades has a circular path of travel when rotating and includes a control assembly coupled to the plurality of blades to generate a variable thrust force. The control assembly includes a control cam that is substantially non-rotatable relative to the first and second driver plates and a hinge member that is fixedly connected to the control cam and to the first housing member at a hinge axis. Rotation of the first housing member by the actuator assembly imparts rotation of the control cam about the hinge axis, thereby changing the direction of the variable thrust force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson, Matthew E. Louis
  • Publication number: 20180044010
    Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided an aircraft, including a fuselage having a longitudinal axis extending from a front portion through an aft portion; first and second tail members extending from the aft portion; a first cross-flow fan system rotatably mounted to the first tail member; and a second cross-flow fan system rotatably mounted to the second tail member. The first and second cross-flow fan systems are configured to provide a forward thrust vector and an anti-torque vector on the aircraft. The first and second cross-flow fan systems can have a rotational axis oriented generally vertically. In another aspect, there is an aircraft including a fuselage having a front portion and a tail portion; and a cross-flow fan system supported by the tail portion. Embodiments include a cross-flow fan system retrofittable onto an aircraft and methods for retrofitting an aircraft with a cross-flow fan system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson, Matthew E. Louis
  • Publication number: 20180044012
    Abstract: An aspect provides an aircraft including a fuselage and a cross-flow fan system attached to the fuselage. The cross-flow fan system including a cross-flow fan assembly associated with a rotatable wing member having an exterior aerodynamic surface. In one aspect, there is provided an aircraft with a fuselage having a forward portion and an aft portion; a first cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the left side of the forward portion of the fuselage; a second cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the right side of the forward portion of the fuselage; a third cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the left side of the aft portion of the fuselage; and a fourth cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the right side of the aft portion of the fuselage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga, Daniel B. Robertson, Matthew E. Louis
  • Patent number: 8636244
    Abstract: The system of the present application includes a duct for receiving airflow from within a duct portion of a tailboom. The airflow is a mixture of fan driven air and engine exhaust. The system includes a fixed nozzle assembly with an anti-torque nozzle, a pro-torque nozzle, and a thrust nozzle. A rotating thrust director is located upstream of the fixed nozzle assembly. The rotating thrust director located is configured to selectively redirect airflow into one or more of the anti-torque nozzle, the pro-torque nozzle and the thrust nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk L. Groninga
  • Patent number: 8636246
    Abstract: A system and method to control flight of an aircraft. The aircraft having an engine with a rotatably nozzle assembly configured to create forward propulsion and yaw control of the aircraft. The engine exhaust passing through the nozzle is redirected with a valve disposed within the nozzle. Lift is created with a lift system carried by the wing of the aircraft. Additional lift is created during flight with a retractable wing extension disposed within the wing of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Robertson, Kirk L. Groninga
  • Publication number: 20130334359
    Abstract: A system and method to control flight of an aircraft. The aircraft having an engine with a rotatably nozzle assembly configured to create forward propulsion and yaw control of the aircraft. The engine exhaust passing through the nozzle is redirected with a valve disposed within the nozzle. Lift is created with a lift system carried by the wing of the aircraft. Additional lift is created during flight with a retractable wing extension disposed within the wing of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel B. Robertson, Kirk L. Groninga
  • Patent number: 8469308
    Abstract: A system and method to control flight of an aircraft. The aircraft having an engine with a rotatably nozzle assembly configured to create forward propulsion and yaw control of the aircraft. The engine exhaust passing through the nozzle is redirected with a valve disposed within the nozzle. Lift is created with a lift system carried by the wing of the aircraft. Additional lift is created during flight with a retractable wing extension disposed within the wing of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Robertson, Kirk L. Groninga
  • Publication number: 20120312916
    Abstract: The system of the present application includes a duct for receiving airflow from within a duct portion of a tailboom. The airflow is a mixture of fan driven air and engine exhaust. The system includes a fixed nozzle assembly with an anti-torque nozzle, a pro-torque nozzle, and a thrust nozzle. A rotating thrust director is located upstream of the fixed nozzle assembly. The rotating thrust director located is configured to selectively redirect airflow into one or more of the anti-torque nozzle, the pro-torque nozzle and the thrust nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: Kirk L. Groninga
  • Publication number: 20120119017
    Abstract: A system and method to control flight of an aircraft. The aircraft having an engine with a rotatably nozzle assembly configured to create forward propulsion and yaw control of the aircraft. The engine exhaust passing through the nozzle is redirected with a valve disposed within the nozzle. Lift is created with a lift system carried by the wing of the aircraft. Additional lift is created during flight with a retractable wing extension disposed within the wing of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Robertson, Kirk L. Groninga