Patents by Inventor Michael Kenneth Farrell

Michael Kenneth Farrell 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).

  • Spinners for use on tiltrotor aircraft
    Patent number: 10589842
    Abstract: A proprotor assembly for a tiltrotor aircraft having a forward flight mode. The proprotor assembly includes a spinner subjected to freestream airflow during forward flight. The spinner is elongated to form a tapered leading portion and a substantially cylindrical aft portion. The spinner forms a plurality of rotor blade cutouts exposing an inner chamber. The proprotor assembly includes a plurality of proprotor blade assemblies protruding radially from the spinner through the rotor blade cutouts. The rotor blade cutouts are formed at the substantially cylindrical aft portion of the spinner to reduce the freestream airflow into the inner chamber via the rotor blade cutouts during forward flight, thereby reducing drag experienced by the tiltrotor aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Helmuth Peter Koelzer, Brendan Patrick Lanigan, Michael Kenneth Farrell
  • Spinners for Use on Tiltrotor Aircraft
    Publication number: 20180339762
    Abstract: A proprotor assembly for a tiltrotor aircraft having a forward flight mode. The proprotor assembly includes a spinner subjected to freestream airflow during forward flight. The spinner is elongated to form a tapered leading portion and a substantially cylindrical aft portion. The spinner forms a plurality of rotor blade cutouts exposing an inner chamber. The proprotor assembly includes a plurality of proprotor blade assemblies protruding radially from the spinner through the rotor blade cutouts. The rotor blade cutouts are formed at the substantially cylindrical aft portion of the spinner to reduce the freestream airflow into the inner chamber via the rotor blade cutouts during forward flight, thereby reducing drag experienced by the tiltrotor aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Helmuth Peter Koelzer, Brendan Patrick Lanigan, Michael Kenneth Farrell