Patents by Inventor Michael Dean Dearman
Michael Dean Dearman 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).
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Publication number: 20220144426Abstract: An anti-aircraft system is described and includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a body; a wing connected to the body; and propulsion systems associated with the wing, wherein the propulsion systems comprise pylons releasably connected to opposite ends of the wing such that the propulsion systems may be selectively released from the wing during flight of the UAV.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventor: Michael Dean Dearman
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Patent number: 10836479Abstract: An example rotating swashplate ring to rotor mast connection includes a polygon-shaped drive tube secured to the rotor mast and a gimbal joint connected between the rotating swashplate ring and the polygon-shaped drive tube, wherein the gimbal joint rotates with the rotor mast and can translate axially along the polygon-shaped drive tube.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Glenn Alan Shimek, Mark Adam Wiinikka, Michael Dean Dearman
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Patent number: 10514060Abstract: A bearing assembly for coupling a proprotor blade to a yoke in a proprotor system. The bearing assembly is positionable within an inboard pocket of a blade arm of the yoke. The proprotor system is operable for use on a tiltrotor aircraft having helicopter and airplane flight modes. The bearing assembly includes a centrifugal force bearing and a shear bearing having an inboard beam coupled therebetween. The centrifugal force bearing has a mating surface, a lateral movement constraint feature and at least one radially extending anti-rotation feature. The inboard beam has a mating surface in a contact relationship with the mating surface of the centrifugal force bearing, a lateral movement constraint feature operably associated with the lateral movement constraint feature of the centrifugal force bearing and at least one radially extending anti-rotation feature that corresponds with the at least one radially extending anti-rotation feature of the centrifugal force bearing.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Glenn Alan Shimek, Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Ken Shundo, Michael Dean Dearman, Kyle Thomas Cravener, Michael Christopher Burnett
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Publication number: 20190382107Abstract: An example rotating swashplate ring to rotor mast connection includes a polygon-shaped drive tube secured to the rotor mast and a gimbal joint connected between the rotating swashplate ring and the polygon-shaped drive tube, wherein the gimbal joint rotates with the rotor mast and can translate axially along the polygon-shaped drive tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Glenn Alan SHIMEK, Mark Adam Wiinikka, Michael Dean Dearman
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Patent number: 10507912Abstract: A proprotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a yoke having a plurality of blade arms each having an inboard pocket. Each of a plurality of bearing assemblies is disposed at least partially within one of the inboard pockets. Each of a plurality of inboard beams is disposed at least partially between a centrifugal force bearing and a shear bearing of each bearing assembly and has a proprotor blade coupled thereto. Each of a plurality of latch assemblies selectively couples one of the bearing assemblies to the yoke. Each latch assembly is rotatable relative to the yoke between an engaged position wherein the latch assembly is engagable with one of the bearing assemblies to couple the bearing assembly to the yoke and a disengaged position wherein the latch assembly is disengaged from the respective bearing assembly enabling installation and removal of the respective bearing assembly relative to the respective pocket.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Michael Christopher Burnett, Michael Dean Dearman
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Patent number: 10486807Abstract: A proprotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft having a helicopter flight mode and an airplane flight mode includes a yoke having a plurality of blade arms each having an inboard pocket with a load transfer surface. Each of a plurality of bearing assemblies is disposed at least partially within one of the inboard pockets. Each of a plurality of inboard beams is disposed at least partially between a centrifugal force bearing and a shear bearing of each bearing assembly and has a proprotor blade coupled thereto. Each of a plurality of independent shoes is coupled between one of the centrifugal force bearings and the yoke. Each shoe has a load transfer surface that has a contact relationship with the load transfer surface of the respective inboard pocket forming a centrifugal force load path therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Michael Dean Dearman, Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Michael Christopher Burnett
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Patent number: 10466009Abstract: A spinner mounted gun system includes a receiver and a barrel connected to a mast of a rotorcraft.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ken Shundo, Michael Dean Dearman
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Publication number: 20190299543Abstract: A method for forming composite components includes disposing composite laminate over a mandrel. The method further includes infusing the composite laminate with a resin. A gelation of the infused resin is caused by applying a first environmental condition to the composite laminate and mandrel. At least a portion of the mandrel is deformed by applying a second environmental condition to the composite laminate and mandrel. The method further includes forming a composite structure by curing the composite laminate infused with resin. The deformed mandrel is removed from the composite structure after forming the composite structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Michael Dean Dearman, Jared Mark Paulson, Paul K. Oldroyd, Paul Sherrill
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Publication number: 20190016456Abstract: A proprotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft having a helicopter flight mode and an airplane flight mode includes a yoke having a plurality of blade arms each having an inboard pocket with a load transfer surface. Each of a plurality of bearing assemblies is disposed at least partially within one of the inboard pockets. Each of a plurality of inboard beams is disposed at least partially between a centrifugal force bearing and a shear bearing of each bearing assembly and has a proprotor blade coupled thereto. Each of a plurality of independent shoes is coupled between one of the centrifugal force bearings and the yoke. Each shoe has a load transfer surface that has a contact relationship with the load transfer surface of the respective inboard pocket forming a centrifugal force load path therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Michael Dean Dearman, Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Michael Christopher Burnett
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Publication number: 20190017543Abstract: A bearing assembly for coupling a proprotor blade to a yoke in a proprotor system. The bearing assembly is positionable within an inboard pocket of a blade arm of the yoke. The proprotor system is operable for use on a tiltrotor aircraft having helicopter and airplane flight modes. The bearing assembly includes a centrifugal force bearing and a shear bearing having an inboard beam coupled therebetween. The centrifugal force bearing has a mating surface, a lateral movement constraint feature and at least one radially extending anti-rotation feature. The inboard beam has a mating surface in a contact relationship with the mating surface of the centrifugal force bearing, a lateral movement constraint feature operably associated with the lateral movement constraint feature of the centrifugal force bearing and at least one radially extending anti-rotation feature that corresponds with the at least one radially extending anti-rotation feature of the centrifugal force bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Glenn Alan Shimek, Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Ken Shundo, Michael Dean Dearman, Kyle Thomas Cravener, Michael Christopher Burnett
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Publication number: 20190016455Abstract: A proprotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a yoke having a plurality of blade arms each having an inboard pocket. Each of a plurality of bearing assemblies is disposed at least partially within one of the inboard pockets. Each of a plurality of inboard beams is disposed at least partially between a centrifugal force bearing and a shear bearing of each bearing assembly and has a proprotor blade coupled thereto. Each of a plurality of latch assemblies selectively couples one of the bearing assemblies to the yoke. Each latch assembly is rotatable relative to the yoke between an engaged position wherein the latch assembly is engagable with one of the bearing assemblies to couple the bearing assembly to the yoke and a disengaged position wherein the latch assembly is disengaged from the respective bearing assembly enabling installation and removal of the respective bearing assembly relative to the respective pocket.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Michael Christopher Burnett, Michael Dean Dearman