Patents by Inventor Tim Ledbetter
Tim Ledbetter 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: 11261735Abstract: A rotor blade has a spanwise axis, a root comprising an anchor having an anchor surface configured to form at least one of a normal angle relative to the spanwise axis and an acute angle relative to the spanwise axis, and a selectively removable tip comprising a connector having a connector surface configured to complement the anchor surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Drew Sutton, Tim Ledbetter
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Patent number: 10822075Abstract: The present invention includes a span-balance pocket in a surface of a rotor blade, the span-balance pocket including an inboard surface and an outboard surface; and one or more weights disposed in the span-balance pocket to span-balance the rotor blade; and at least one of one or more retention devices to retain the one or more weights against the outboard surface of the span-balance pocket or the span-balance pocket is machined or molded into a tip block of the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Paul Sherrill, Tim Ledbetter, Kelli Yates, Robert Self, Nathan Green, Russell Cole
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Publication number: 20190031327Abstract: The present invention includes a span-balance pocket in a surface of a rotor blade, the span-balance pocket including an inboard surface and an outboard surface; and one or more weights disposed in the span-balance pocket to span-balance the rotor blade; and at least one of one or more retention devices to retain the one or more weights against the outboard surface of the span-balance pocket or the span-balance pocket is machined or molded into a tip block of the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Paul Sherrill, Tim Ledbetter, Kelli Yates, Robert Self, Nathan Green, Russell Cole
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Publication number: 20150218895Abstract: A system for automated drilling rod changing has an upper position sensor capable of sensing the position of the rotary head with respect to the deck, and a lower position sensor also capable of sensing the position of the rotary head with respect to the deck. The position sensors have respective electrical outputs connected to a computer. The computer is programmed to compute the vertical position of the rotary head with respect to the deck at a first position, where a first rod is suspended above a second rod held by the table clamp, and at a second position, where the box end of the first rod is capable of being connected to the pin end of the second rod, based on the computed position of the rotary head; and, the computer is programmed to command the rotary head to move from the first position to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: ATLAS COPCO NORTH AMERICA, LLCInventors: Mahmood Hassan, Tim Ledbetter
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Patent number: 9074424Abstract: A rod support system has an upper gripper assembly and a lower gripper assembly. Each gripper assembly has a top plate having a first track. The first track has a first substantially arcuate portion having a first radius of curvature and a second substantially arcuate portion having a second and smaller radius of curvature. A jaw is constrained to move in a path defined by the first track. A bottom plate of the assembly has a second track that is congruent with the first track also engaging the jaw, so that the jaw is constrained to move in a path defined by the first track and the second track in cooperation. The jaws can support a rod when the jaws move from a position along the first arcuate portion of the first and second tracks to a position along the second arcuate portion of the first and second tracks.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions, LLCInventors: Andreas Jonsson, Chad Przano, Tim Ledbetter
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Publication number: 20140255201Abstract: A rotor blade has a spanwise axis, a root comprising an anchor having an anchor surface configured to form at least one of a normal angle relative to the spanwise axis and an acute angle relative to the spanwise axis, and a selectively removable tip comprising a connector having a connector surface configured to complement the anchor surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Drew Sutton, Tim Ledbetter
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Publication number: 20130306378Abstract: A rod support system has an upper gripper assembly and a lower gripper assembly. Each gripper assembly has a top plate having a first track. The first track has a first substantially arcuate portion having a first radius of curvature and a second substantially arcuate portion having a second and smaller radius of curvature. A jaw is constrained to move in a path defined by the first track. A bottom plate of the assembly has a second track that is congruent with the first track also engaging the jaw, so that the jaw is constrained to move in a path defined by the first track and the second track in cooperation. The jaws can support a rod when the jaws move from a position along the first arcuate portion of the first and second tracks to a position along the second arcuate portion of the first and second tracks.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: ATLAS COPCO NORTH AMERICA, LLCInventors: Tim Ledbetter, Chad Przano, Andreas Jonsson
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Patent number: 7845909Abstract: An assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system includes an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween. At least one of the upper and lower yoke surfaces has a layer of cushioning material positioned thereon and secured thereto. An alternate embodiment includes an assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, including, an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween and directly contacting the support plates wherein one of the curved surfaces is a non-circular arc that does not form part of the circumference of a circle. Another alternate embodiment includes a similar assembly having a twist-shank type of yoke for providing rotation of attached blades about their respective pitch axes.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Patrick R. Tisdale, Paul Sherrill, Richard Rauber, Thomas C. Campbell, James Lee Braswell, Jr., Ron Measom, Tricia Hiros, David Popelka, Michael J. Southerland, Keith Stanney, Mark Wasikowski, Tim Ledbetter
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Publication number: 20080101934Abstract: An assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system includes an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween. At least one of the upper and lower yoke surfaces has a layer of cushioning material positioned thereon and secured thereto. An alternate embodiment includes an assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, including, an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween and directly contacting the support plates wherein one of the curved surfaces is a non-circular arc that does not form part of the circumference of a circle. Another alternate embodiment includes a similar assembly having a twist-shank type of yoke for providing rotation of attached blades about their respective pitch axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2006Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Patrick R. Tisdale, Paul Sherrill, Richard Rauber, Thomas C. Campbell, James Lee Braswell Jr., Ron Measom, Tricia Hiros, David Popelka, Michael J. Southerland, Keith Stanney, Mark Wasikowski, Tim Ledbetter