Patents by Inventor Michael S. Seifert

Michael S. Seifert 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: 11814162
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a rotary aircraft, including: a main drive rotor; an aircraft body mechanically coupled to the main drive rotor; and first and second flight assist wings passively rotatably coupled to the aircraft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Albert G. Brand, Michael S. Seifert, Andrew Thomas Carter, Aaron Alexander Acee
  • Patent number: 11719301
    Abstract: An aircraft comprises an aircraft component, a sensor, and a multiple frequency vibration absorber (absorber). The sensor is operable to detect a frequency of a vibration of the aircraft component. The absorber is coupled to the aircraft component and configured to absorb the vibration. The absorber comprises a beam element, a fluidic flexible matrix composite (FFMC) tube, a valve, and a controller. The beam element is attached to the aircraft component. The fluidic flexible matrix composite (FFMC) tube is coupled to the beam element and is operable to absorb the vibration based on a stiffness of the FFMC tube. The valve is fluidically coupled to the FFMC tube and is to control the stiffness of the FFMC tube based on regulating a flow of a liquid through the FFMC tube. The controller can actively control absorption of the vibration via the FFMC tube based on opening and/or closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Peter Quinn Romano, Michael S. Seifert, Jeffrey M. Bosworth
  • Publication number: 20230182893
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotorcraft includes an airframe; a main rotor transmission; one or more brackets mounting the main rotor transmission to the airframe, longitudinal axes of the one or more brackets being substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the rotorcraft; and one or more restraints mounting the main rotor transmission to the airframe, the one or more restraints being mounted at an angle non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the rotorcraft and a lateral axis of the rotorcraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Quinn Romano, Jedediah Bryce Goodell, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Michael S. Seifert
  • Patent number: 11584521
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotorcraft includes an airframe; a main rotor transmission; one or more brackets mounting the main rotor transmission to the airframe, longitudinal axes of the one or more brackets being substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the rotorcraft; and one or more restraints mounting the main rotor transmission to the airframe, the one or more restraints being mounted at an angle non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the rotorcraft and a lateral axis of the rotorcraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Peter Quinn Romano, Jedediah Bryce Goodell, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Michael S. Seifert
  • Publication number: 20210394894
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a rotary aircraft, including: a main drive rotor; an aircraft body mechanically coupled to the main drive rotor; and first and second flight assist wings passively rotatably coupled to the aircraft body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Albert G. Brand, Michael S. Seifert, Andrew Thomas Carter, Aaron Alexander Acee
  • Publication number: 20210094678
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotorcraft includes an airframe; a main rotor transmission; one or more brackets mounting the main rotor transmission to the airframe, longitudinal axes of the one or more brackets being substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the rotorcraft; and one or more restraints mounting the main rotor transmission to the airframe, the one or more restraints being mounted at an angle non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the rotorcraft and a lateral axis of the rotorcraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Peter Quinn Romano, Jedediah Bryce Goodell, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Michael S. Seifert
  • Publication number: 20200347903
    Abstract: An aircraft comprises an aircraft component, a sensor, and a multiple frequency vibration absorber (absorber). The sensor is operable to detect a frequency of a vibration of the aircraft component. The absorber is coupled to the aircraft component and configured to absorb the vibration. The absorber comprises a beam element, a fluidic flexible matrix composite (FFMC) tube, a valve, and a controller. The beam element is attached to the aircraft component. The fluidic flexible matrix composite (FFMC) tube is coupled to the beam element and is operable to absorb the vibration based on a stiffness of the FFMC tube. The valve is fluidically coupled to the FFMC tube and is to control the stiffness of the FFMC tube based on regulating a flow of a liquid through the FFMC tube. The controller can actively control absorption of the vibration via the FFMC tube based on opening and/or closing the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Quinn Romano, Michael S. Seifert, Jeffrey M. Bosworth
  • Patent number: 10647418
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a particle damper for damping a component when the particle damper is attached to the component. The particle damper comprises a plurality of pockets configured to hold a plurality of particles, and the particle damper also comprises an attachment fitting for coupling the particle damper to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Seifert, Brett C. Howard, Thomas C. Parham, Jr., Martin Alex Peryea
  • Patent number: 10364848
    Abstract: A drive coupling has first and second coaxial end adapters. A first set of at least two coaxial helical elements has a first end of each element attached to the first end adapter, and a second end of each element is coupled to the second end adapter. At least one biasing device biases the end adapters relative to each other. Torque applied to one of the end adapters is transferred through the first set of helical elements to the other end adapter, the helical elements allowing for misalignment of the end adapters during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell L. Mueller, Michael S. Seifert, Steven K. Spears, Frank B. Stamps
  • Publication number: 20170370419
    Abstract: A drive coupling has first and second coaxial end adapters. A first set of at least two coaxial helical elements has a first end of each element attached to the first end adapter, and a second end of each element is coupled to the second end adapter. At least one biasing device biases the end adapters relative to each other. Torque applied to one of the end adapters is transferred through the first set of helical elements to the other end adapter, the helical elements allowing for misalignment of the end adapters during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell L. Mueller, Michael S. Seifert, Steven K. Spears, Frank B. Stamps
  • Publication number: 20170334552
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a particle damper for damping a component when the particle damper is attached to the component. The particle damper comprises a plurality of pockets configured to hold a plurality of particles, and the particle damper also comprises an attachment fitting for coupling the particle damper to the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Michael S. Seifert, Brett C. Howard, Thomas C. Parham, JR., Martin Alex Peryea
  • Patent number: 8840062
    Abstract: A pylon mounting system with vibration isolation is provided. The system generally includes a housing that defines a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a fluid disposed within the fluid chambers; a piston assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, and a tuning passage defined by the piston assembly for providing fluid communication between the fluid chambers. The piston assembly has a first arm and a second arm, and each arm has a tubeform bearing for providing pitch and roll stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Steven Spears, Frank B. Stamps, Michael S. Seifert
  • Publication number: 20130105621
    Abstract: A pylon mounting system with vibration isolation is provided. The system generally includes a housing that defines a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a fluid disposed within the fluid chambers; a piston assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, and a tuning passage defined by the piston assembly for providing fluid communication between the fluid chambers. The piston assembly has a first arm and a second arm, and each arm has a tubeform bearing for providing pitch and roll stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Steven Spears, Frank B. Stamps, Michael S. Seifert