Patents by Inventor Yann Lavallee
Yann Lavallee 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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Publication number: 20230348051Abstract: Tail rotor control system is described for helicopters. A pedal position sensor operable by a pilot yields greater tail rotor RPM relative to the main rotor RPM, giving the pilot increased control over the vehicle. This proves especially useful in certain situations, such as high altitude, where increasing tail rotor speed from main rotor speed can give a pilot increased maneuverability and stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Yann Lavallee, Scott D. Poster
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Patent number: 11718392Abstract: Tail rotor control system is described for helicopters. A pedal position sensor operable by a pilot yields greater tail rotor RPM relative to the main rotor RPM, giving the pilot increased control over the vehicle. This proves especially useful in certain situations, such as high altitude, where increasing tail rotor speed from main rotor speed can give a pilot increased maneuverability and stability.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Yann Lavallee, Scott D. Poster
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Publication number: 20220411050Abstract: Tail rotor control system is described for helicopters. A pedal position sensor operable by a pilot yields greater tail rotor RPM relative to the main rotor RPM, giving the pilot increased control over the vehicle. This proves especially useful in certain situations, such as high altitude, where increasing tail rotor speed from main rotor speed can give a pilot increased maneuverability and stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Yann Lavallee, Scott D. Poster
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Patent number: 11485480Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Derek William Heard, Richard Theodore Perryman, Nathan Craig Clark, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Yann Lavallee, Ralph Michael Gannarelli
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Patent number: 11414184Abstract: An exemplary electric distributed propulsion system includes two or more rotors that are individually controlled by the rotational speed of associated motors, an input control connected to the associated motors to provide rotational speed control to the two or more rotors to produce a desired net thrust, and a logic connected to the input control and the associated motors, the logic for controlling speed and direction of the two or more rotors to achieve the desired net thrust and to avoid a motor speed condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Aaron Alexander Acee, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Eric Albert Sinusas, Yann Lavallee, Albert G. Brand
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Patent number: 11340633Abstract: A method of adjusting a center of gravity (CG) of an aircraft includes: inputting at least one load parameter into a flight computer, determining, via a processer of the flight computer, the CG of the aircraft. Responsive to a determination by the processor that the CG is outside of a CG envelope, moving at least a first movable ballast of a plurality of movable ballasts from a first ballast dock to a second ballast dock to move the CG toward the CG envelope. Each of the first and second ballast docks may include a housing and a first ballast tray secured within the housing and comprising a plurality of channels.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Derek William Heard, Richard Theodore Perryman, Nathan Craig Clark, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Yann Lavallee, Ralph Michael Gannarelli
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Patent number: 11281236Abstract: A yaw control system for a rotorcraft featuring a floor mounted pair of pedals configured to measure an up and down motion of a pair of pedals and utilize that up and down motion as a yaw moment control input. The pair of pedals can rock laterally, fore and aft, or vertically. The pair of pedals can be mechanically interconnected to other pairs of pedals or electrically interconnected to duplicate motion across pairs of pedals.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Yann Lavallee, Eric Albert Sinusas, Robert Patrick Wardlaw
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Patent number: 11148786Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray and a first stop plate secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray and a second stop plate secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William Heard, Richard Theodore Perryman, Nathan Craig Clark, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Yann Lavallee, Ralph Michael Gannarelli
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Publication number: 20210316843Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William HEARD, Richard Theodore PERRYMAN, Nathan Craig CLARK, Joshua Andrew EMRICH, Yann LAVALLEE, Ralph Michael GANNARELLI
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Publication number: 20210253225Abstract: An aircraft having an electric motor coupled to a rotor and an instrument electronically connected to the electric motor and configured to communicate a time available value before a motor condition reaches a motor condition limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Eric Albert SINUSAS, Edward LAMBERT, Yann LAVALLEE, Aaron Alexander ACEE, Albert G. BRAND
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Patent number: 11021244Abstract: A helicopter includes a full authority digital engine controlled (FADEC) engine, a first two-position throttle switch disposed on a first collective control stick, the first two-position throttle switch being movable between a Fly position and an Idle position, and a second two-position throttle switch disposed on a second collective control stick, the second two-position throttle switch being movable between a Fly position and an Idle position.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Yann Lavallee, Carey Cannon
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Patent number: 11001373Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William Heard, Richard Theodore Perryman, Nathan Craig Clark, Joshua Andrew Emrich, Yann Lavallee, Ralph Michael Gannarelli
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Publication number: 20210061447Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William HEARD, Richard Theodore PERRYMAN, Nathan Craig CLARK, Joshua Andrew EMRICH, Yann LAVALLEE, Ralph Michael GANNARELLI
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Publication number: 20210061448Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray and a first stop plate secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray and a second stop plate secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William HEARD, Richard Theodore PERRYMAN, Nathan Craig CLARK, Joshua Andrew EMRICH, Yann LAVALLEE, Ralph Michael GANNARELLI
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Publication number: 20210064061Abstract: A method of adjusting a center of gravity (CG) of an aircraft includes: inputting at least one load parameter into a flight computer, determining, via a processer of the flight computer, the CG of the aircraft. Responsive to a determination by the processor that the CG is outside of a CG envelope, moving at least a first movable ballast of a plurality of movable ballasts from a first ballast dock to a second ballast dock to move the CG toward the CG envelope. Each of the first and second ballast docks may include a housing and a first ballast tray secured within the housing and comprising a plurality of channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: Derek William HEARD, Richard Theodore PERRYMAN, Nathan Craig CLARK, Joshua Andrew EMRICH, Yann LAVALLEE, Ralph Michael GANNARELLI
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Patent number: 10933980Abstract: An aircraft having an electric motor coupled to a rotor and an instrument electronically connected to the electric motor and configured to communicate a time available value before a motor condition reaches a motor condition limit.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Eric Albert Sinusas, Edward Lambert, Yann Lavallee, Aaron Alexander Acee, Albert G. Brand
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Patent number: 10875622Abstract: Systems and methods include providing an aircraft with a fuselage, an airframe that provides structural rigidity to the fuselage, and at least one door that allows access to an interior of the fuselage through an opening in the fuselage. The aircraft includes an overlapping, tongue and groove door interface formed between a frame of the door and a portion of the airframe that at least partially borders the opening in the fuselage. At least a portion of the airframe includes a concavity. At least a portion of the door frame includes a complementary shaped profile to the concavity of the airframe. The complementary profile of the door frame and the concavity of the airframe form a seal between the door frame and the airframe when the complementary portion is at least partially received within the concavity by selectively rotating the door to its closed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventor: Yann Lavallee
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Publication number: 20200290735Abstract: An exemplary electric distributed propulsion system includes two or more rotors that are individually controlled by the rotational speed of associated motors, an input control connected to the associated motors to provide rotational speed control to the two or more rotors to produce a desired net thrust, and a logic connected to the input control and the associated motors, the logic for controlling speed and direction of the two or more rotors to achieve the desired net thrust and to avoid a motor speed condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2019Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Aaron Alexander Acee, Andrew Paul Haldeman, Eric Albert Sinusas, Yann Lavallee, Albert G. Brand
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Publication number: 20200241566Abstract: A yaw control system for a rotorcraft featuring a floor mounted pair of pedals configured to measure an up and down motion of a pair of pedals and utilize that up and down motion as a yaw moment control input. The pair of pedals can rock laterally, fore and aft, or vertically. The pair of pedals can be mechanically interconnected to other pairs of pedals or electrically interconnected to duplicate motion across pairs of pedals.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Yann Lavallee, Eric Albert Sinusas, Robert Patrick Wardlaw
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Patent number: 10689096Abstract: A cyclic stick for transmitting control commands to blades of a rotorcraft via at least one transmission member, including a grip configured for engagement with a pilot's hand, a control arm and at least one locking mechanism. The control arm has a bottom end configured for connection to the transmission member(s) and for rotational connection to a base support structure, and a top end pivotally connected to the grip. The control arm includes first and second arm portions pivotally connected to each other, the first arm portion defining the bottom end, the second arm portion defining the top end. The locking mechanism(s) selectively prevent a relative pivoting motion between the first and second arm portions and a relative pivoting motion between the second arm portion and the grip. A method of adjusting a position of a grip of a cyclic stick in a rotorcraft cabin is also discussed.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Yann Lavallee, Pasquale Spina