Patents by Inventor Troy Cyril Schank
Troy Cyril Schank 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: 11971277Abstract: A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system includes a rotor hub, a plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements interoperably coupled to the rotor hub and operable to measure flapping of the rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades connected to the rotor hub, and at least one flight control computer interoperably coupled to the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Patrick Smith, Troy Cyril Schank, Brady Garrett Atkins, Kynn Jerald Schulte
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Patent number: 11945555Abstract: A seabased resupply system includes a fuel containment structure containing fuel and extending fore and aft along a longitudinal axis, a pump on the fuel containment structure operable to pump the fuel, containers located on an exterior of opposite lateral sides of the fuel containment structure, and an operating system located inside one or more of the containers, the operating system comprising at least one selected from a power supply, a communication system, and a control processor.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Nissen, Troy Cyril Schank, Peter Charles Robichaux, Jason Paul Hurst, Todd Christopher Worden
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Patent number: 11939077Abstract: Systems and methods include providing an aircraft with a fuselage and a convertible engine disposed within the fuselage. The convertible engine is operable as a turbofan engine in a thrust mode and a turboshaft engine in a shaft power mode. The convertible engine includes a housing, an engine core having a low pressure turbine shaft, and a bypass fan system. The bypass fan system includes a bypass fan having a fan clutch. The fan clutch selectively couples at least a portion of the bypass fan to the low pressure turbine shaft when the convertible engine is operated in the thrust mode and decouples at least a portion of the bypass fan from the low pressure turbine shaft when the convertible engine is operated in the shaft power mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Alan Hisashi Steinert, Thomas Dewey Parsons, Troy Cyril Schank
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Patent number: 11713114Abstract: A vertical-takeoff-and-landing (“VTOL”) aircraft including a non-VTOL aircraft equipped for forward takeoff and flight and a modular boom system interoperably coupled to the non-VTOL aircraft. The modular boom system includes a first modular boom and a second modular boom. The first modular boom includes a first rocket-turbine engine. The first modular boom is mounted to a first wing of the non-VTOL aircraft. The second modular boom includes a second rocket-turbine engine. The second modular boom is mounted to a second wing of the non-VTOL aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Troy Cyril Schank
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Patent number: 11691753Abstract: An aerial resupply system (ARS) including a supply aircraft. The supply aircraft includes at least one of supply fuel, an ordinance, and data. The supply aircraft also includes a retractable boom system (RBS) configured for selective stowage within a fuselage of the supply aircraft and configured to supply at least one of supply fuel, the ordinance, and data to a location external to the fuselage.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Nissen, Troy Cyril Schank, Brent Chadwick Ross, Steven Ray Ivans
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Publication number: 20230194312Abstract: A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system includes a rotor hub, a plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements interoperably coupled to the rotor hub and operable to measure flapping of the rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades connected to the rotor hub, and at least one flight control computer interoperably coupled to the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Patrick Smith, Troy Cyril Schank, Brady Garrett Atkins, Kynn Jerald Schulte
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Publication number: 20230192276Abstract: A rotor-hub flap-measurement system includes a rotor hub operable to flap relative to a main-rotor axis, a flap-linkage arm, a first end of the flap-linkage arm rotatably coupled to the rotor hub, the flap-linkage arm responsive to flapping of the rotor hub, and a magneto-resistive sensor system rotatably coupled to a second end of the flap-linkage arm and responsive to movement of the flap-linkage arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Bell Texton Inc.Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Patrick Smith, Troy Cyril Schank, Brady Garrett Atkins, Kynn Jerald Schulte
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Publication number: 20230117303Abstract: A rotor-regulation system includes a rotor that includes a plurality of rotor blades, a rotor mast operable to drive the rotor, and a rotor disc-brake system operable to modulate rotation of the rotor mast.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Brady Garrett Atkins, Troy Cyril Schank, Charles Eric COVINGTON, Carlos Alexander Fenny, Jonathan Toth
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Patent number: 11584520Abstract: A rotor-regulation system includes a rotor comprising a plurality of blades, a mechanically driven hydraulic pump, a rotor drive shaft operable to drive the rotor and the mechanically driven hydraulic pump, and a throttling valve coupled to the mechanically driven hydraulic pump and operable to modulate rotation of the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: James Sobel, Carlos Alexander Fenny, Brady Garrett Atkins, Troy Cyril Schank, Charles Eric Covington
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Patent number: 11427314Abstract: In one embodiment, a local control system for a rotor assembly of an apparatus includes a first actuator disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to control motion of a first controllable element in the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is mounted to the apparatus and is rotated responsive to torque and rotational energy provided thereto. The local control system also includes a first sensor disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to provide position feedback in relation to the first controllable element. The local control system also includes a first local control computer disposed in the rotor assembly and communicably coupled to a first central control computer disposed in the apparatus external to the rotor assembly, where the first local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the first actuator and receive a feedback signal from the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2018Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Kynn Jerald Schulte, Troy Cyril Schank
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Publication number: 20220266962Abstract: A seabased resupply system includes a fuel containment structure containing fuel and extending fore and aft along a longitudinal axis, a pump on the fuel containment structure operable to pump the fuel, containers located on an exterior of opposite lateral sides of the fuel containment structure, and an operating system located inside one or more of the containers, the operating system comprising at least one selected from a power supply, a communication system, and a control processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul NISSEN, Troy Cyril Schank, Peter Charles ROBICHAUX, Jason Paul HURST, Todd Christopher WORDEN
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Publication number: 20220194619Abstract: Systems and methods include providing an aircraft with a fuselage and a convertible engine disposed within the fuselage. The convertible engine is operable as a turbofan engine in a thrust mode and a turboshaft engine in a shaft power mode. The convertible engine includes a housing, an engine core having a low pressure turbine shaft, and a bypass fan system. The bypass fan system includes a bypass fan having a fan clutch. The fan clutch selectively couples at least a portion of the bypass fan to the low pressure turbine shaft when the convertible engine is operated in the thrust mode and decouples at least a portion of the bypass fan from the low pressure turbine shaft when the convertible engine is operated in the shaft power mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Alan Hisashi Steinert, Thomas Dewey Parsons, Troy Cyril Schank
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Patent number: 11338892Abstract: An exemplary autonomous seabased resupply system includes an unmanned blob positioned in a water body, the blob containing fuel, a pump on the blob configured to pump the fuel through a conduit to a craft, and a ballast system operable to change a vertical position of the blob in the water body.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Nissen, Troy Cyril Schank, Peter Charles Robichaux, Jason Paul Hurst, Todd Christopher Worden
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Patent number: 11280398Abstract: A drive system for a tiltrotor aircraft operable to transition between rotary and non rotary flight modes. The drive system includes an engine to provide rotational energy and a proprotor assembly to receive rotational energy from the engine when the tiltrotor aircraft is in the rotary flight mode. The proprotor assembly is disengaged from the engine in the non rotary flight mode. The drive system includes a proprotor gearbox including one or more gears mechanically interposed between the engine and the proprotor assembly. The proprotor gearbox transfers rotational energy from the engine to the proprotor assembly when the tiltrotor aircraft is in the rotary flight mode. The drive system includes a lubricant operable to reduce friction between the gears and a lubrication management system to affect a temperature of the lubricant to enhance lubrication between the gears in the proprotor gearbox in the rotary flight mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Thomas Dewey Parsons, Troy Cyril Schank
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Patent number: 11279464Abstract: An aircraft includes a pylon rotatable relative to a wing, a proprotor assembly carried by the pylon, the proprotor assembly have a proprotor blade that is foldable to a stowed position extending substantially parallel to the pylon, and a fluidic clamp positioned with the pylon and configured to grip the proprotor blade when in the stowed position, the fluidic clamp including a first inflatable bladder positioned on a first side of an opening for receiving a portion of a proprotor blade and a pressurized fluid source in fluid connection with the first inflatable bladder.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Christopher Edward Foskey, Troy Cyril Schank
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Patent number: 11235858Abstract: A mechanism for folding a rotor blade that is rotatably coupled to a blade cuff about a blade-fold axis between an extended position and a folded position. The mechanism includes a swash plate configured to translate relative to a mast, a pitch link rotatably coupled to the swash plate, a pitch horn rotatably coupled to the pitch link, a crank coupled to the pitch horn, and a link rotatably coupled to the crank and rotatably coupled to the rotor blade. The pitch horn and the crank being configured to commonly rotate relative to the blade cuff about a crank axis in response to translation of the swash plate, wherein the crank axis passes through the blade cuff.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Troy Cyril Schank, Andrew Ryan Maresh, Chyau-Song Tzeng
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Publication number: 20210284332Abstract: A vertical-takeoff-and-landing (“VTOL”) aircraft including a non-VTOL aircraft equipped for forward takeoff and flight and a modular boom system interoperably coupled to the non-VTOL aircraft. The modular boom system includes a first modular boom and a second modular boom. The first modular boom includes a first rocket-turbine engine. The first modular boom is mounted to a first wing of the non-VTOL aircraft. The second modular boom includes a second rocket-turbine engine. The second modular boom is mounted to a second wing of the non-VTOL aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventor: Troy Cyril SCHANK
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Patent number: 11027834Abstract: An inboard bearing attachment for carrying centrifugal force (“CF”) loads in a rotor blade assembly of a rotorcraft includes a CF fitting having a curved surface and a shear bearing retainer aligned with the curved surface. A mounting flange connected to either the CF fitting or the shear bearing retainer is used to mount the inboard bearing attachment to a yoke.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Andrew Maresh, Troy Cyril Schank, Chyausong Tzeng, John Richard McCullough, Robert Wardlaw
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Publication number: 20210147043Abstract: An exemplary autonomous seabased resupply system includes an unmanned blob positioned in a water body, the blob containing fuel, a pump on the blob configured to pump the fuel through a conduit to a craft, and a ballast system operable to change a vertical position of the blob in the water body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul NISSEN, Troy Cyril SCHANK, Peter Charles ROBICHAUX, Jason Paul HURST, Todd Christopher WORDEN
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Publication number: 20210139161Abstract: An aerial resupply system (ARS) including a supply aircraft. The supply aircraft includes at least one of supply fuel, an ordinance, and data. The supply aircraft also includes a retractable boom system (RBS) configured for selective stowage within a fuselage of the supply aircraft and configured to supply at least one of supply fuel, the ordinance, and data to a location external to the fuselage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Nissen, Troy Cyril Schank, Brent Chadwick Ross, Steven Ray Ivans