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).

  • Publication number: 20220144426
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Dean Dearman
  • Patent number: 10836479
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Alan Shimek, Mark Adam Wiinikka, Michael Dean Dearman
  • Patent number: 10514060
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Alan Shimek, Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Ken Shundo, Michael Dean Dearman, Kyle Thomas Cravener, Michael Christopher Burnett
  • Publication number: 20190382107
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Alan SHIMEK, Mark Adam Wiinikka, Michael Dean Dearman
  • Patent number: 10507912
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Michael Christopher Burnett, Michael Dean Dearman
  • Patent number: 10486807
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dean Dearman, Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Michael Christopher Burnett
  • Patent number: 10466009
    Abstract: A spinner mounted gun system includes a receiver and a barrel connected to a mast of a rotorcraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Michael Dean Dearman
  • Publication number: 20190299543
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Dean Dearman, Jared Mark Paulson, Paul K. Oldroyd, Paul Sherrill
  • Publication number: 20190016456
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dean Dearman, Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Michael Christopher Burnett
  • Publication number: 20190017543
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Alan Shimek, Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Ken Shundo, Michael Dean Dearman, Kyle Thomas Cravener, Michael Christopher Burnett
  • Publication number: 20190016455
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat, Michael Christopher Burnett, Michael Dean Dearman