Patents by Inventor Tom Donovan
Tom Donovan 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: 11053001Abstract: A rotorcraft includes a main rotor system coupled to a mast and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a yoke comprising a rotor coupling, a first damper mount attached to the rotor coupling, a rotor extension configured to couple to the rotor coupling and comprising a second damper mount, a damper coupled to the first and second damper mounts, and a fairing enclosing the damper and the yoke.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Glenn Alan Shimek, Jared Mark Paulson, Tom Donovan, Michael Christopher Burnett
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Publication number: 20200398979Abstract: A rotorcraft includes a main rotor system coupled to a mast and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a yoke comprising a rotor coupling, a first damper mount attached to the rotor coupling, a rotor extension configured to couple to the rotor coupling and comprising a second damper mount, a damper coupled to the first and second damper mounts, and a fairing enclosing the damper and the yoke.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2019Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Glenn Alan SHIMEK, Jared Mark PAULSON, Tom DONOVAN, Michael Christopher BURNETT
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Publication number: 20200398978Abstract: A rotorcraft includes a rotor hub coupled to a mast and a plurality of rotor extensions. Each rotor extension is configured to secure a rotor blade to the rotor hub and includes a first connector configured to attach the rotor extension to a rotor blade, a second connector configured to attach the rotor extension to the rotor hub; a shaft disposed between the first and second connectors, and a damper mount attached to the second connector. The rotorcraft also includes a fairing enclosing the damper and at least a portion of the rotor hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2019Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Jared Mark PAULSON, Glenn Alan SHIMEK, Tom DONOVAN, Michael Christopher BURNETT
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Patent number: 10059438Abstract: A rotary system and method to control feathering and centrifugal forces of a rotor blade during flight. The rotary system having a hub assembly, which includes a hollow yoke arm to receive a spindle section of the rotor blade. A tension-torsion strap extends through the hollow yoke arm and couples the rotor blade and the hub assembly. The method includes allowing the spindle section of the rotor blade to pivot within the hollow yoke arm and controlling rotational and centrifugal movement of the rotor blade with the tension-torsion strap.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2011Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Richard Rauber, Frank B. Stamps, David Popelka, Patrick Tisdale, Tom Donovan
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Patent number: 9878782Abstract: A rotor assembly for a rotary-wing aircraft, the rotor having a central hub assembly with a flexure-type, twist-shank yoke with multiple arms, each arm being adapted for a rotor blade to be mounted thereto. The arms provide for pitch changes of blades attached to the yoke through twisting of portions of the arms about a corresponding pitch axis. An inboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the hub assembly and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis, the inboard pitch bearing also allowing for out-of-plane motion of the arm relative to the hub assembly about a flapping axis. An outboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the associated arm a selected distance from the inboard pitch bearing and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Patrick R. Tisdale, Tom Donovan, Richard E. Rauber
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Patent number: 9352830Abstract: An aircraft rotor assembly has upper and lower hub plates adapted to be mounted to a central rotor mast for rotation therewith. A plurality of radial arms is connected to at least two flap bearings mounted between the hub plates and forming a discrete flap hinge, each flap hinge defining a flap axis and allowing rotation of the associated arm relative to the hub plates and about the corresponding flap axis. Each of a plurality of blade grips is rotatably connected to one of the arms for rotation about a pitch axis and adapted for mounting of a blade to each blade grip, such that each blade is capable of rotation with the grip about the pitch axis and capable of rotation together with the corresponding arm relative to the hub plates and about the corresponding flap axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, David A. Popelka, Tom Donovan, Patrick R. Tisdale, Richard E. Rauber
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Publication number: 20150158583Abstract: A rotor assembly for a rotary-wing aircraft, the rotor having a central hub assembly with a flexure-type, twist-shank yoke with multiple arms, each arm being adapted for a rotor blade to be mounted thereto. The arms provide for pitch changes of blades attached to the yoke through twisting of portions of the arms about a corresponding pitch axis. An inboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the hub assembly and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis, the inboard pitch bearing also allowing for out-of-plane motion of the arm relative to the hub assembly about a flapping axis. An outboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the associated arm a selected distance from the inboard pitch bearing and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Patrick R. Tisdale, Tom Donovan, Richard E. Rauber
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Patent number: 8956117Abstract: A rotor assembly for a rotary-wing aircraft, the rotor having a central hub assembly with a flexure-type, twist-shank yoke with multiple arms, each arm being adapted for a rotor blade to be mounted thereto. The arms provide for pitch changes of blades attached to the yoke through twisting of portions of the arms about a corresponding pitch axis. An inboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the hub assembly and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis, the inboard pitch bearing also allowing for out-of-plane motion of the arm relative to the hub assembly about a flapping axis. An outboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the associated arm a selected distance from the inboard pitch bearing and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2009Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Patrick R. Tisdale, Tom Donovan, Richard E. Rauber
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Publication number: 20130287576Abstract: An aircraft rotor assembly has upper and lower hub plates adapted to be mounted to a central rotor mast for rotation therewith. A plurality of radial arms is connected to at least two flap bearings mounted between the hub plates and forming a discrete flap hinge, each flap hinge defining a flap axis and allowing rotation of the associated arm relative to the hub plates and about the corresponding flap axis. Each of a plurality of blade grips is rotatably connected to one of the arms for rotation about a pitch axis and adapted for mounting of a blade to each blade grip, such that each blade is capable of rotation with the grip about the pitch axis and capable of rotation together with the corresponding arm relative to the hub plates and about the corresponding flap axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, David A. Popelka, Tom Donovan, Patrick R. Tisdale, Richard E. Rauber
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Publication number: 20130164129Abstract: A rotary system and method to control feathering and centrifugal forces of a rotor blade during flight. The rotary system having a hub assembly, which includes a hollow yoke arm to receive a spindle section of the rotor blade. A tension-torsion strap extends through the hollow yoke arm and couples the rotor blade and the hub assembly. The method includes allowing the spindle section of the rotor blade to pivot within the hollow yoke arm and controlling rotational and centrifugal movement of the rotor blade with the tension-torsion strap.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2011Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Richard Rauber, Frank B. Stamps, David Popelka, Patrick Tisdale, Tom Donovan
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Patent number: 8287237Abstract: A pitch control system for blades on a rotor of an aircraft has a gimballing rotor hub (31) and a plurality of step-over arms (61) connected to the hub and capable of pivoting relative to the hub about a pivot axis. Each of a plurality of pitch links (55) connects one of the step-over arms (61) to a flight control system for pivoting the connected step-over arm (61) about the pivot axis and relative to the hub in response to inputs from the control system. Each of a plurality of step-over links (69) connects one of the step-over arms (61) to one of the blades for rotating the associated blade about the pitch axis in response to pivoting of the associated step-over arm.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2006Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard E. Rauber, David A. Popelka, Patrick R. Tisdale, Thomas C. Campbell, Keith Stanney, James L. Braswell, Jr., Mark Wasikowski, Tom Donovan, Bryan Baskin, John J. Corrigan, III, Ryan Smith
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Publication number: 20110274548Abstract: A rotor assembly for a rotary-wing aircraft, the rotor having a central hub assembly with a flexure-type, twist-shank yoke with multiple arms, each arm being adapted for a rotor blade to be mounted thereto. The arms provide for pitch changes of blades attached to the yoke through twisting of portions of the arms about a corresponding pitch axis. An inboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the hub assembly and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis, the inboard pitch bearing also allowing for out-of-plane motion of the arm relative to the hub assembly about a flapping axis. An outboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the associated arm a selected distance from the inboard pitch bearing and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2009Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Patrick R. Tisdale, Tom Donovan, Richard E. Rauber
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Patent number: 8047466Abstract: A yoke for a rotary wing aircraft rotor system has a plurality of arms, each arm having a root. Each root has a notched portion configured to allow passage of a portion of a blade-pitch control system through the notched portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard E. Rauber, Thomas C. Campbell, Tom Donovan, Patrick R. Tisdale, James Lee Braswell, Jr.
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Publication number: 20100021301Abstract: A pitch control system for blades on a rotor of an aircraft has a gimballing rotor hub (31) and a plurality of step-over arms (61) connected to the hub and capable of pivoting relative to the hub about a pivot axis. Each of a plurality of pitch links (55) connects one of the step-over arms (61) to a flight control system for pivoting the connected step-over arm (61) about the pivot axis and relative to the hub in response to inputs from the control system. Each of a plurality of step-over links (69) connects one of the step-over arms (61) to one of the blades for rotating the associated blade about the pitch axis in response to pivoting of the associated step-over arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2006Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Rlohard E. Rauber, David A. Popelka, Patrick R. Tisdale, Thomas C. Campbell, James L. Braswell, JR., Keith Stanney, Mark Wasikowski, Tom Donovan, Bryan Baskin, Ryan Smith
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Publication number: 20090208305Abstract: A device for supplying heavy duty strapping for use in a cargo area. The device includes a housing, a two-way motor supported within the housing having a shaft for paying out, winding and storing the heavy duty strapping and a magnet affixed to the housing and sized to releaseably affix the device to a magnetically attractable support.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventor: Tom Donovan
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Publication number: 20090179107Abstract: A yoke for a rotary wing aircraft rotor system has a plurality of arms, each arm having a root. Each root has a notched portion configured to allow passage of a portion of a blade-pitch control system through the notched portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2007Publication date: July 16, 2009Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard E. Rauber, Thomas C. Campbell, Tom Donovan, Patrick R. Tisdale, James Lee Braswell Jr.