Patents by Inventor Ryan T. Ehinger
Ryan T. Ehinger 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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Patent number: 11009080Abstract: A link includes an outer composite portion substantially encircling at least two bearing pockets and a central substantially incompressible portion disposed between the at least two bearing pockets.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Ryan T. Ehinger, Jared Mark Paulson, Michael Christopher Burnett, Kyle Thomas Cravener
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Publication number: 20200140069Abstract: According to one embodiment, a clutch may be coupled between a rotor system and a power train of a rotorcraft. The clutch may be operable to disengage the rotor system from the power train during operation of the power train. A clutch control system in communication with the clutch and include a rotorcraft condition sensor operable to sense an operating condition of the rotorcraft and a control unit operable to prevent the clutch from disengaging the rotor system from the power train if the operating condition of the rotorcraft fails to satisfy a predetermined criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, David Sembritzky, Carlos A. Fenny, Gary A. Cope, Charles J. Kilmain
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Patent number: 10443706Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, a drive system that can be operated to rotate the rotor blade, and an emergency valve control unit. The drive system contains a first gearbox assembly, a second gearbox assembly, a first lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly, and a second lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly. The drive system also contains an emergency valve that can be opened to deliver lubricant from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly. The emergency valve control unit can instruct the emergency valve to open.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Ryan T. Ehinger
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Publication number: 20190277343Abstract: A link includes an outer composite portion substantially encircling at least two bearing pockets and a central substantially incompressible portion disposed between the at least two bearing pockets.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Ryan T. Ehinger, Jared Mark Paulson, Michael Christopher Burnett, Kyle Thomas Cravener
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Patent number: 10378978Abstract: A method for calculating torque through a rotor mast of a propulsion system of a tiltrotor aircraft includes receiving the torque being applied through a quill shaft of the rotorcraft. The quill shaft is located between a fixed gearbox and a spindle gearbox, and the spindle gearbox is rotatable about a conversion access. The torque through the rotor mast is determined by using the torque through the quill shaft and the efficiency loss value between the quill shaft and the rotor mast.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, David R. Bockmiller
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Patent number: 10377473Abstract: According to one embodiment, a clutch may be coupled between a rotor system and a power train of a rotorcraft. The clutch may be operable to disengage the rotor system from the power train during operation of the power train. A clutch control system in communication with the clutch and include a rotorcraft condition sensor operable to sense an operating condition of the rotorcraft and a control unit operable to prevent the clutch from disengaging the rotor system from the power train if the operating condition of the rotorcraft fails to satisfy a predetermined criterion.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2013Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, David Sembritzky, Carlos A. Fenny, Gary A. Cope, Charles J. Kilmain
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Publication number: 20190154137Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, a drive system that can be operated to rotate the rotor blade, and an emergency valve control unit. The drive system contains a first gearbox assembly, a second gearbox assembly, a first lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly, and a second lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly. The drive system also contains an emergency valve that can be opened to deliver lubricant from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly. The emergency valve control unit can instruct the emergency valve to open.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventor: Ryan T. Ehinger
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Patent number: 10190672Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, a drive system that can be operated to rotate the rotor blade, and an emergency valve control unit. The drive system contains a first gearbox assembly, a second gearbox assembly, a first lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly, and a second lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly. The drive system also contains an emergency valve that can be opened to deliver lubricant from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly. The emergency valve control unit can instruct the emergency valve to open.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Ryan T. Ehinger
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Publication number: 20180067006Abstract: A method for calculating torque through a rotor mast of a propulsion system of a tiltrotor aircraft includes receiving the torque being applied through a quill shaft of the rotorcraft. The quill shaft is located between a fixed gearbox and a spindle gearbox, and the spindle gearbox is rotatable about a conversion access. The torque through the rotor mast is determined by using the torque through the quill shaft and the efficiency loss value between the quill shaft and the rotor mast.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, David R. Bockmiller
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Patent number: 9879824Abstract: A system and method to detect non-ferrous debris from a non-ferrous roller bearing element. The system includes a trap in fluid communication with a lubrication fluid of the non-ferrous bearing and a sensor operably associate with the trap. The method includes trapping the non-ferrous material debris in the lubrication fluid with the trap and triggering the sensor upon detection of the non-ferrous material debris trapped within the trap.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: James M. McCollough, Ryan T. Ehinger, Troy Bunch
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Patent number: 9841333Abstract: A method for calculating torque through a rotor mast of a propulsion system of a tiltrotor aircraft includes receiving the torque being applied through a quill shaft of the rotorcraft. The quill shaft is located between a fixed gearbox and a spindle gearbox, and the spindle gearbox is rotatable about a conversion access. The torque through the rotor mast is determined by using the torque through the quill shaft and the efficiency loss value between the quill shaft and the rotor mast.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, David R. Bockmiller
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Publication number: 20170284535Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, a drive system that can be operated to rotate the rotor blade, and an emergency valve control unit. The drive system contains a first gearbox assembly, a second gearbox assembly, a first lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly, and a second lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly. The drive system also contains an emergency valve that can be opened to deliver lubricant from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly. The emergency valve control unit can instruct the emergency valve to open.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventor: Ryan T. Ehinger
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Patent number: 9541468Abstract: A method of modifying a workpiece includes providing a workpiece, determining a load stress profile associated with a load condition, the load stress profile comprising a load stress greater than a material stress limit of the workpiece, determining a residual stress profile, the residual stress profile comprising a residual stress less than the material stress limit of the workpiece, and providing the workpiece with the residual stress profile, wherein a sum of the load stress and the residual stress is less than the material stress limit of the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Ron Woods, David Bockmiller
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Publication number: 20160122039Abstract: A method for calculating torque through a rotor mast of a propulsion system of a tiltrotor aircraft includes receiving the torque being applied through a quill shaft of the rotorcraft. The quill shaft is located between a fixed gearbox and a spindle gearbox, and the spindle gearbox is rotable about a conversion access. The torque through the rotor mast is determined by using the torque through the quill shaft and the efficiency loss value between the quill shaft and the rotor mast.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, David R. Bockmiller
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Publication number: 20150219524Abstract: A method of modifying a workpiece includes providing a workpiece, determining a load stress profile associated with a load condition, the load stress profile comprising a load stress greater than a material stress limit of the workpiece, determining a residual stress profile, the residual stress profile comprising a residual stress less than the material stress limit of the workpiece, and providing the workpiece with the residual stress profile, wherein a sum of the load stress and the residual stress is less than the material stress limit of the workpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Ron Woods, David Bockmiller
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Patent number: 9068908Abstract: A method of modifying a workpiece includes providing a workpiece, determining a load stress profile associated with a load condition, the load stress profile comprising a load stress greater than a material stress limit of the workpiece, determining a residual stress profile, the residual stress profile comprising a residual stress less than the material stress limit of the workpiece, and providing the workpiece with the residual stress profile, wherein a sum of the load stress and the residual stress is less than the material stress limit of the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Ron Woods, David Bockmiller
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Patent number: 8985517Abstract: A passive cooling system for an aircraft includes a rotor assembly and a closed heat pipe. The closed heat pipe is carried by the rotor assembly and configured to extract heat energy from a heat source positioned away from the rotor assembly and configured to dissipate the heat energy through the rotor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Monte A. McGlaun
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Patent number: 8863924Abstract: A hybrid overrunning clutch includes a metal outer race and a composite outer ring that are each sized and configured such that the metal race generates a preload on the composite outer race throughout the operational temperature of the clutch. The composite outer ring significantly reduces that total weight of the clutch, as compared to a completely metal outer race. The present application further includes a method of assembling the metal outer race and composite outer ring so that thermal expansion of the metal outer race creates the preload in the composite outer ring. The present application also includes a method of designing a hybrid overrunning clutch.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, Eric S. Olson
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Publication number: 20140305740Abstract: A system and method to detect non-ferrous debris from a non-ferrous roller bearing element. The system includes a trap in fluid communication with a lubrication fluid of the non-ferrous bearing and a sensor operably associate with the trap. The method includes trapping the non-ferrous material debris in the lubrication fluid with the trap and triggering the sensor upon detection of the non-ferrous material debris trapped within the trap.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2013Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: James M. McCollough, Ryan T. Ehinger, Troy Bunch
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Publication number: 20140191079Abstract: According to one embodiment, a clutch may be coupled between a rotor system and a power train of a rotorcraft. The clutch may be operable to disengage the rotor system from the power train during operation of the power train. A clutch control system in communication with the clutch and include a rotorcraft condition sensor operable to sense an operating condition of the rotorcraft and a control unit operable to prevent the clutch from disengaging the rotor system from the power train if the operating condition of the rotorcraft fails to satisfy a predetermined criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Ryan T. Ehinger, David Sembritzky, Carlos A. Fenny, Gary A. Cope, Charles J. Kilmain