Patents by Inventor William A. Welsh

William A. Welsh 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: 12214869
    Abstract: A vibration control assembly includes a housing having an interior region and an inner mass including a cage disposed within the interior region of the housing and being rotatable within the housing about a first axis and a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis. At least one driving source includes a stator and is operable to interact with a magnetic field of the inner mass to drive rotation of the inner mass about at least one of the first axis and the second axis, wherein the at least one driving source is mounted within the interior region of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Yuriy Gmirya, Damaris R. Zachos
  • Publication number: 20240059405
    Abstract: A vibration control assembly includes a housing having an interior region and an inner mass including a cage disposed within the interior region of the housing and being rotatable within the housing about a first axis and a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis. At least one driving source includes a stator and is operable to interact with a magnetic field of the inner mass to drive rotation of the inner mass about at least one of the first axis and the second axis, wherein the at least one driving source is mounted within the interior region of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Yuriy Gmirya, Damaris R. Zachos
  • Patent number: 11858621
    Abstract: A rotary blade aircraft includes an airframe, a rotor shaft driven about a rotor axis, and a plurality of rotor blades driven by the rotor shaft about the rotor axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a swashplate assembly coupled to the plurality of rotor blades. The swashplate assembly is operable to move the plurality of rotor blades about a respective longitudinal axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a hydraulic control servo coupled between the airframe and the swashplate assembly. The hydraulic control servo is operable to move the swashplate assembly relative to the rotor axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a harmonic control actuator coupled between the airframe and the swashplate assembly. The harmonic control actuator is operable independently relative to the hydraulic control servo to move the swashplate assembly relative to the rotor axis to reduce vibration at selected frequencies in the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Jason A. Satira
  • Patent number: 11794883
    Abstract: A vibration control assembly includes a housing having an interior region and an inner mass including a cage disposed within the interior region of the housing and being rotatable within the housing about a first axis and a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis. At least one driving source includes a stator and is operable to interact with a magnetic field of the inner mass to drive rotation of the inner mass about at least one of the first axis and the second axis, wherein the at least one driving source is mounted within the interior region of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Yuriy Gmirya, Damaris R. Zachos
  • Publication number: 20230286648
    Abstract: A rotary blade aircraft includes an airframe, a rotor shaft driven about a rotor axis, and a plurality of rotor blades driven by the rotor shaft about the rotor axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a swashplate assembly coupled to the plurality of rotor blades. The swashplate assembly is operable to move the plurality of rotor blades about a respective longitudinal axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a hydraulic control servo coupled between the airframe and the swashplate assembly. The hydraulic control servo is operable to move the swashplate assembly relative to the rotor axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a harmonic control actuator coupled between the airframe and the swashplate assembly. The harmonic control actuator is operable independently relative to the hydraulic control servo to move the swashplate assembly relative to the rotor axis to reduce vibration at selected frequencies in the airframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Jason A. Satira
  • Patent number: 11725882
    Abstract: A rotor system including a rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades supported by the rotor hub, and a fairing mounted to the rotor hub. The fairing includes an external surface exposed to an external airflow and an internal surface defining an interior portion. A component system is mounted to the rotor hub in the interior portion. The component system includes a first heat generating component and a second heat generating component spaced from the first heat generating component. A cooling duct is arranged between the first heat generating component and the second heat generating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Damaris R. Zachos
  • Patent number: 11417995
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for transmitting power and data together in a rotorcraft using a slip ring assembly is disclosed. According to one example, a computer-implemented method includes providing a slip ring assembly comprising a stationary element coupled to an airframe of a rotorcraft and a rotatable element rotatable relative to the stationary element and coupled to a rotor assembly of the rotorcraft. Power is transmitted from a power source associated with the airframe to an electronic device associated with the rotor assembly, the slip ring assembly being configured to complete an electrical circuit between the power source and the electronic device to provide power from the power source to the electronic device. Data is transmitted from a first data transceiver associated with the airframe to a second data transceiver associated with the rotor assembly via the electrical circuit completed by the slip ring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Kellner, William A. Welsh, Christopher M. Sutton
  • Patent number: 11235868
    Abstract: A vibration control assembly for an aircraft including a housing operatively coupled to the aircraft. Also included is a cage disposed within an interior region of the housing, the cage rotatable within the housing about a first axis. Further included is a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis, wherein a controllable moment is imposed on the aircraft upon rotation of the gyroscope wheel to counter vibratory moments produced by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Yuriy Gmirya
  • Publication number: 20210389054
    Abstract: A rotor system including a rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades supported by the rotor hub, and a fairing mounted to the rotor hub. The fairing includes an external surface exposed to an external airflow and an internal surface defining an interior portion. A component system is mounted to the rotor hub in the interior portion. The component system includes a first heat generating component and a second heat generating component spaced from the first heat generating component. A cooling duct is arranged between the first heat generating component and the second heat generating component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Damaris R. Zachos
  • Patent number: 11181324
    Abstract: A rotor system includes a rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades supported by the rotor hub, and a fairing mounted to the rotor hub. The fairing includes an external surface exposed to an external airflow and an internal surface defining an interior portion. One or more heat generating components are arranged in the interior portion. A cooling system is arranged in the interior portion. The cooling system includes a first heat exchanger thermally connected to each of the one or more heat generating components, a second heat exchanger mounted to the fairing, and at least one fluid conduit extending therebetween so as to remove heat generated by each of the one or more heat generating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles R. Berezin, Christopher M. Sutton, William A. Welsh, Shyam Neerarambam
  • Publication number: 20210323658
    Abstract: A vibration control assembly includes a housing having an interior region and an inner mass including a cage disposed within the interior region of the housing and being rotatable within the housing about a first axis and a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis. At least one driving source includes a stator and is operable to interact with a magnetic field of the inner mass to drive rotation of the inner mass about at least one of the first axis and the second axis, wherein the at least one driving source is mounted within the interior region of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Yuriy Gmirya, Damaris R. Zachos
  • Publication number: 20210316846
    Abstract: A vibration control assembly for an aircraft including a housing operatively coupled to the aircraft. Also included is a cage disposed within an interior region of the housing, the cage rotatable within the housing about a first axis. Further included is a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis, wherein a controllable moment is imposed on the aircraft upon rotation of the gyroscope wheel to counter vibratory moments produced by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: William A. WELSH, Yuriy GMIRYA
  • Patent number: 10994834
    Abstract: An active vibration control system for an aircraft includes a gearbox operably coupling a power source and a component rotatable about an axis. The gearbox includes a flexible region which allows flexure between a first stage and a second stage. At least one active vibration control actuator is arranged in vibrational communication with the flexible region to counteract vibrations transmitted between the power source and the rotatable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Johnston, Joseph Caterisano, William A. Welsh, Scott A. Chasen
  • Patent number: 10906636
    Abstract: A vibration control assembly for an aircraft including a housing operatively coupled to the aircraft. Also included is a cage disposed within an interior region of the housing, the cage rotatable within the housing about a first axis. Further included is a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis, wherein a controllable moment is imposed on the aircraft upon rotation of the gyroscope wheel to counter vibratory moments produced by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Yuriy Gmirya
  • Patent number: 10745116
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided and includes a rotor, which is rotatable relative to an airframe, a rotor, which is rotatable relative to the airframe and which generates a rotor induced vibration, an engine to generate rotational energy, a drive portion to transfer the rotational energy from the engine, a gearbox disposed to transmit the rotational energy from the drive portion to the rotor to drive rotor rotation, support members connecting the gearbox to the airframe and an actuation system configured to generate an anti-vibration load applicable to the gearbox via an actuator comprising an actuator element disposed along one of the support members and a stinger element extending from the actuator element to a connection point of the support member and the gearbox to transmit a portion of the anti-vibration load from the actuator element to the connection point to counter the rotor induced vibration at the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Bryan Kenneth Baskin, Chris Paul Butler
  • Publication number: 20200087002
    Abstract: A vibratory weight-on-wheels (WOW) sensing system is provided for use with aircraft landing gear and a wheel coupled to the aircraft landing gear. The WOW sensing system includes a vibration sensor disposed proximate to the wheel and configured to sense vibratory characteristics of a component of the aircraft landing gear and to issue a sensing reflective signal and a processing unit disposed in signal communication with the vibration sensor such that the processing unit is receptive of the sensing reflective signal. The processing unit is configured to analyze the sensing reflective signal to thereby identify that a landing condition is in effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley M. Bauer, Jr., William A. Welsh
  • Publication number: 20200031459
    Abstract: A hub for a rotary wing aircraft includes a plurality of rotor blades, and a heat dissipation system including an aerodynamic faring arranged outwardly of the hub. The aerodynamic fairing has an outer surface and an inner surface defining a component receiving zone. An electronic component is mounted to the inner surface of the aerodynamic faring in the component receiving zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher M. Sutton, Bryan D. Mayrides, William A. Welsh, Frank P. D'anna
  • Patent number: 10543912
    Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft includes a rotor system rotatable about an axis relative to an airframe. A plurality of blade assemblies is mounted to the rotor system. A higher harmonic control system is operable to generate a harmonic load at the rotor system according to a higher harmonic control signal. An active vibration control system is operable to generate vibration forces about the aircraft according to an active vibration control signal. A controller is operable to issue the higher harmonic control signal and the active vibration control signal to coordinate the higher harmonic control system and the active vibration control system to reduce vibration within the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Vineet Sahasrabudhe
  • Patent number: 10538314
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided and includes an airframe, an engine, a drive portion driven by the engine, a rotor apparatus, which includes a rotor rotatable relative to the airframe and a fairing, a gearbox disposed to transmit rotational energy from the drive portion to the rotor to drive the rotor to rotate relative to the airframe and which generates a rotor rotation vibration, support members by which the gearbox is disposed on the airframe and an actuation system including actuation elements disposed at the fairing, the actuation system being configured to generate an anti-vibration moment using the actuation elements disposed at the fairing to counter the rotor rotation vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David H. Hunter, William A. Welsh, Bryan Kenneth Baskin, Chris Paul Butler
  • Publication number: 20190372288
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for transmitting power and data together in a rotorcraft using a slip ring assembly is disclosed. According to one example, a computer-implemented method includes providing a slip ring assembly comprising a stationary element coupled to an airframe of a rotorcraft and a rotatable element rotatable relative to the stationary element and coupled to a rotor assembly of the rotorcraft. Power is transmitted from a power source associated with the airframe to an electronic device associated with the rotor assembly, the slip ring assembly being configured to complete an electrical circuit between the power source and the electronic device to provide power from the power source to the electronic device. Data is transmitted from a first data transceiver associated with the airframe to a second data transceiver associated with the rotor assembly via the electrical circuit completed by the slip ring assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron Kellner, William A. Welsh, Christopher M. Sutton