Patents by Inventor Michael K. McNair

Michael K. McNair 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).

  • Assisted landing systems for rotorcraft
    Patent number: 11440649
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a blade assembly, a drive shaft coupled to the blade assembly and an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and operable to provide rotational energy to the drive shaft to rotate the blade assembly. The propulsion assembly includes a landing assistance turbine coupled to the drive shaft and operable to selectively provide rotational energy to the drive shaft during an underpowered descent to rotate the blade assembly and provide upward thrust, thereby reducing a descent rate of the rotorcraft prior to landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Bradley Stamps, Michael K. McNair, John Richard McCullough
  • Assisted Landing Systems for Rotorcraft
    Publication number: 20210114719
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a blade assembly, a drive shaft coupled to the blade assembly and an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and operable to provide rotational energy to the drive shaft to rotate the blade assembly. The propulsion assembly includes a landing assistance turbine coupled to the drive shaft and operable to selectively provide rotational energy to the drive shaft during an underpowered descent to rotate the blade assembly and provide upward thrust, thereby reducing a descent rate of the rotorcraft prior to landing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Bradley Stamps, Michael K. McNair, John Richard McCullough
  • Assisted landing systems for rotorcraft
    Patent number: 10906637
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a blade assembly, a drive shaft coupled to the blade assembly and an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and operable to provide rotational energy to the drive shaft to rotate the blade assembly. The propulsion assembly includes a landing assistance turbine coupled to the drive shaft and operable to selectively provide rotational energy to the drive shaft during an underpowered descent to rotate the blade assembly and provide upward thrust, thereby reducing a descent rate of the rotorcraft prior to landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Bradley Stamps, Michael K. McNair, John Richard McCullough
  • Assisted Landing Systems for Rotorcraft
    Publication number: 20190351999
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a blade assembly, a drive shaft coupled to the blade assembly and an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and operable to provide rotational energy to the drive shaft to rotate the blade assembly. The propulsion assembly includes a landing assistance turbine coupled to the drive shaft and operable to selectively provide rotational energy to the drive shaft during an underpowered descent to rotate the blade assembly and provide upward thrust, thereby reducing a descent rate of the rotorcraft prior to landing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Bradley Stamps, Michael K. McNair, John Richard McCullough