公开(公告)号：US11340633B2

公开(公告)日：2022-05-24

申请号：US16555655

申请日：2019-08-29

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Derek William Heard ,  Richard Theodore Perryman ,  Nathan Craig Clark ,  Joshua Andrew Emrich ,  Yann Lavallee ,  Ralph Michael Gannarelli

IPC: B64C17/08 ,  G05D1/08

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US11001373B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-11

申请号：US16555515

申请日：2019-08-29

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Derek William Heard ,  Richard Theodore Perryman ,  Nathan Craig Clark ,  Joshua Andrew Emrich ,  Yann Lavallee ,  Ralph Michael Gannarelli

IPC: B64C17/00 ,  B64C27/04

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US20220243666A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-04

申请号：US17168064

申请日：2021-02-04

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Ralph Michael Gannarelli

IPC: F02C9/38 ,  F02C7/236

Abstract: A fuel sample extractor (FSE) for an aircraft includes a sample chamber, a lid configured to seal the sample chamber, a pump in selective fluid communication with an upper portion of the sample chamber, and a straw in selective fluid communication with a lower portion of the sample chamber and a fuel tank.

公开(公告)号：US11148786B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-19

申请号：US16899295

申请日：2020-06-11

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Derek William Heard ,  Richard Theodore Perryman ,  Nathan Craig Clark ,  Joshua Andrew Emrich ,  Yann Lavallee ,  Ralph Michael Gannarelli

IPC: B64C17/00 ,  B64C17/08

Abstract: 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.