Patents by Inventor Thomas Earl Johnson, JR.

Thomas Earl Johnson, JR. 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: 11745858
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of managing force equalization (FEQ) on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the measured force. The method also includes analyzing movement over at least a portion of the measured-force time series. The method also includes identifying a force-fight cycle in the measured-force time series. The method also includes indicating the force-fight cycle in cumulative force-fight cycle data for the first actuation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton Harrell, Christos Bais, Curtis R. Higgens, Thomas Earl Johnson, Jr., David Adjei
  • Patent number: 11628928
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of monitoring force equalization (FEQ) sensors on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a first measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems that include the first actuation system. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the first measured force. The method also includes determining variation in at least a portion of the measured-force time series responsive to the updating. The method also includes identifying a first static condition in the measured-force time series in response to a determination that the variation in the measured-force time series is no greater than a minimum amount of variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. Harrell, Christos Bais, Curtis R. Higgens, Thomas Earl Johnson, Jr., David Adjei
  • Publication number: 20220281587
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of monitoring force equalization (FEQ) sensors on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a first measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems that include the first actuation system. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the first measured force. The method also includes determining variation in at least a portion of the measured-force time series responsive to the updating. The method also includes identifying a first static condition in the measured-force time series in response to a determination that the variation in the measured-force time series is no greater than a minimum amount of variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. HARRELL, Christos BAIS, Curtis R. HIGGENS, Thomas Earl JOHNSON, JR., David ADJEI
  • Publication number: 20220281588
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of managing force equalization (FEQ) on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the measured force. The method also includes analyzing movement over at least a portion of the measured-force time series. The method also includes identifying a force-fight cycle in the measured-force time series. The method also includes indicating the force-fight cycle in cumulative force-fight cycle data for the first actuation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton HARRELL, Christos BAIS, Curtis R. HIGGENS, Thomas Earl JOHNSON, JR., David ADJEI
  • Publication number: 20220267025
    Abstract: A pylon tracking system for a tiltrotor aircraft including first and second pylons each having a pylon conversion actuator with primary and backup drive systems. The pylon tracking system includes a plurality of rotary position sensors including a first rotary position sensor coupled to the primary drive system of the first pylon, a second rotary position sensor coupled to the backup drive system of the first pylon, a third rotary position sensor coupled to the primary drive system of the second pylon and a fourth rotary position sensor coupled to the backup drive system of the second pylon. A flight control computer is in communication with the plurality of rotary position sensors and is configured to process feedback therefrom to identify a differential pylon angle between the first and second pylons during pylon conversion operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Eugene Augustyn, Evan Butler Bennett, Charles Eric Covington, Thomas Earl Johnson, JR.
  • Patent number: 11117653
    Abstract: An rotorcraft including a pilot control, a pilot control position sensor connected to the pilot control and operable to generate a position signal indicating a position of the pilot control, a flight control computer (FCC) in signal communication with the pilot control position sensor and operable to provide a tactile cue in the pilot control in response to the position signal indicating the position of the pilot control exceeds a threshold associated with an operating limit, and further operable to determine a tactile cueing value for the tactile cue according to a relationship between the position of the pilot control and the threshold, and generate a cue control signal according to the tactile cueing value, and a tactile cue element connected to the pilot control and in signal communication with the FCC and operable to control action of the pilot control in response to the cue control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Charles Eric Covington, Bradley Don Linton, Thomas Earl Johnson, Jr., Luke Dafydd Gillett, Robert Earl Worsham, II, Jillian Samantha Alfred
  • Publication number: 20190161180
    Abstract: An rotorcraft including a pilot control, a pilot control position sensor connected to the pilot control and operable to generate a position signal indicating a position of the pilot control, a flight control computer (FCC) in signal communication with the pilot control position sensor and operable to provide a tactile cue in the pilot control in response to the position signal indicating the position of the pilot control exceeds a threshold associated with an operating limit, and further operable to determine a tactile cueing value for the tactile cue according to a relationship between the position of the pilot control and the threshold, and generate a cue control signal according to the tactile cueing value, and a tactile cue element connected to the pilot control and in signal communication with the FCC and operable to control action of the pilot control in response to the cue control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Eric Covington, Bradley Don Linton, Thomas Earl Johnson, JR., Luke Dafydd Gillett, Robert Earl Worsham, II, Jillian Samantha Alfred