Patents by Inventor William D. Girard

William D. Girard 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: 11427315
    Abstract: A rotor blade control system and methods therefor including a hub assembly pivotally attached to a rotor blade; a mast attached to the hub assembly; a swashplate assembly engaged with the mast and including a swashplate actuation mechanism pivotally coupled with the non-rotating ring at a plurality of coupling locations for moving the non-rotating ring and pivotally coupled with the base at a plurality of base locations, the swashplate actuation mechanism comprises a plurality of substantially triangular dual actuator assemblies that are independently and concurrently operable to move the respective coupling location so as to impart movement on the non-rotating ring. The swashplate actuation mechanism is configured to move the swashplate assembly about a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis in response to a cyclic input. The swashplate actuation mechanism is configured to move the swashplate assembly along the mast in response to a collective input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Reynolds, Glenn A. Shimek, Brady G. Atkins, William D. Girard
  • Publication number: 20200407056
    Abstract: A rotor blade control system and methods therefor including a hub assembly pivotally attached to a rotor blade; a mast attached to the hub assembly; a swashplate assembly engaged with the mast and including a swashplate actuation mechanism pivotally coupled with the non-rotating ring at a plurality of coupling locations for moving the non-rotating ring and pivotally coupled with the base at a plurality of base locations, the swashplate actuation mechanism comprises a plurality of substantially triangular dual actuator assemblies that are independently and concurrently operable to move the respective coupling location so as to impart movement on the non-rotating ring. The swashplate actuation mechanism is configured to move the swashplate assembly about a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis in response to a cyclic input. The swashplate actuation mechanism is configured to move the swashplate assembly along the mast in response to a collective input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Reynolds, Glenn A. Shimek, Brady G. Atkins, William D. Girard
  • Patent number: 10275950
    Abstract: A system and method configured to monitor aircraft flight performance data. The system includes a wireless transmitter in data communication with an avionics system of the aircraft, a portable wireless transceiver associated with the wireless transmitter, and a wireless database associated with the wireless transmitter. The method includes sensing flight performance data with the sensor, transmitting sensed flight performance data to the wireless transmitter, wirelessly transmitting the sensed flight performance data to the wireless database, and monitoring flight performance data with a display operably associated with the wireless database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Girard, Brian E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 9175932
    Abstract: Properly identifying the most vulnerable areas and quantifying the effectiveness of armor at those locations is critical to achieving efficient armor integration. A method for designing protective armor for a vehicle includes the deriving shotlines through an element; computing a probability of kill value for each shotline in each element; calculating a probability of kill intensity for each element; ranking the elements according to highest probability of kill intensity; mapping the elements in a 3D CAD environment to visually depict the elements having the highest probability of kill intensity; and designing armor taking into account the elements having the highest probability of kill intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Haynes, William D. Girard, Kendall E. Goodman, Kelly R. Tingen
  • Publication number: 20150032296
    Abstract: A system and method configured to monitor aircraft flight performance data. The system includes a wireless transmitter in data communication with an avionics system of the aircraft, a portable wireless transceiver associated with the wireless transmitter, and a wireless database associated with the wireless transmitter. The method includes sensing flight performance data with the sensor, transmitting sensed flight performance data to the wireless transmitter, wirelessly transmitting the sensed flight performance data to the wireless database, and monitoring flight performance data with a display operably associated with the wireless database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: William D. Girard, Brian E. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20120041724
    Abstract: Properly identifying the most vulnerable areas and quantifying the effectiveness of armor at those locations is critical to achieving efficient armor integration. A method for designing protective armor for a vehicle includes the deriving shotlines through an element; computing a probability of kill value for each shotline in each element; calculating a probability of kill intensity for each element; ranking the elements according to highest probability of kill intensity; mapping the elements in a 3D CAD environment to visually depict the elements having the highest probability of kill intensity; and designing armor taking into account the elements having the highest probability of kill intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Haynes, William D. Girard, Kendall E. Goodman, Kelly R. Tingen