Patents by Inventor Levi C. Hefner

Levi C. Hefner 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: 10940945
    Abstract: There is provided a rotorcraft, including a body, including a front portion and a tail portion; a main rotor system coupled to the front portion of the body, the main rotor system operable to provide a lifting force on the body; and an anti-torque system coupled to the tail portion of the body, the anti-torque system including a primary tail rotor system and a secondary tail rotor system; wherein the primary tail rotor system and the secondary tail rotor system are operable to provide a first anti-torque force and a second anti-torque force. In other aspects, there are methods of providing anti-torque force in a rotorcraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Levi C. Hefner, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 10858116
    Abstract: A pusher rotorcraft is provided in one example embodiment and may include at least one engine in mechanical communication with a drop-down gearbox; a driveshaft in mechanical communication with the drop-down gearbox, a main rotor gearbox, and a tail system gearbox; a main rotor system in mechanical communication with the main rotor gearbox; an anti-torque system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox; and a pusher propeller system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Levi C. Hefner, Frank B. Stamps, Alan C. Ewing, Jaret F. Burgess, Carey W. Cannon
  • Publication number: 20200070996
    Abstract: A pusher rotorcraft is provided in one example embodiment and may include at least one engine in mechanical communication with a drop-down gearbox; a driveshaft in mechanical communication with the drop-down gearbox, a main rotor gearbox, and a tail system gearbox; a main rotor system in mechanical communication with the main rotor gearbox; an anti-torque system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox; and a pusher propeller system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Levi C. Hefner, Frank B. Stamps, Alan C. Ewing, Jaret F. Burgess, Carey W. Cannon
  • Publication number: 20190127059
    Abstract: There is provided a rotorcraft, including a body, including a front portion and a tail portion; a main rotor system coupled to the front portion of the body, the main rotor system operable to provide a lifting force on the body; and an anti-torque system coupled to the tail portion of the body, the anti-torque system including a primary tail rotor system and a secondary tail rotor system; wherein the primary tail rotor system and the secondary tail rotor system are operable to provide a first anti-torque force and a second anti-torque force. In other aspects, there are methods of providing anti-torque force in a rotorcraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Levi C. Hefner, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 10210856
    Abstract: A noise control system for a ducted rotor assembly, the ducted rotor assembly including a hub, a duct, and two or more blades coupled to the hub and supported by the duct. The noise control system including a microphone configured to receive a sound input generated by the ducted rotor assembly, the microphone configured for association with the hub; a speaker unit configured to generate a cancellation noise, the speaker configured for association with the hub; and a controller operably connected to the microphone and the speaker unit, the controller configured to selectively adjust harmonics of the cancellation noise to reduce an acoustic signature of the ducted rotor assembly. In another aspect, there is provided a rotorcraft with a ducted rotor assembly in a tail portion including a noise control system. In a third aspect, there is a method of reducing an acoustic signature of a ducted rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Levi C. Hefner, Frank B. Stamps