公开(公告)号：US11975826B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-07

申请号：US17163785

申请日：2021-02-01

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jonathan Andrew Knoll ,  George Matthew Thompson ,  Charles Hubert Speller ,  Grant Michael Beall

IPC: B64C27/28 ,  B64C29/00

CPC classification number: B64C27/28 ,  B64C29/0033

Abstract: A rotor system for an aircraft includes an open rotor assembly comprising an open rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades connected to a rotor mast, wherein the rotor assembly is tiltable relative to a wing of the aircraft between a first position corresponding to an airplane mode of the aircraft and a second position corresponding to a helicopter mode of the aircraft; and a drive system for providing rotational energy to the open rotor assembly via the rotor mast. The drive system includes at least one electric motor for generating rotational energy to a motor shaft; and a gearbox connected to receive rotational energy from the at least one electric motor via the motor shaft and to provide rotational energy to the rotor mast via a rotor shaft, wherein the at least one electric motor is fixed relative to the wing of the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US11973454B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-30

申请号：US17540278

申请日：2021-12-02

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Robert Reynolds ,  Charles Eric Covington ,  Carlos Alexander Fenny ,  Brady G. Atkins

IPC: H02P6/06 ,  B60W10/08 ,  G01R31/34 ,  H02P1/26 ,  H02P6/185

CPC classification number: H02P6/06 ,  B60W10/08 ,  G01R31/343 ,  H02P1/26 ,  H02P6/185 ,  B60W2420/50 ,  B60W2420/90

Abstract: A system includes a driver monitor system configured to receive information about driver operation, a relationship table comprising information about an expected relationship between driver operation and a preload force, and a driver controller configured to control a driver in response to the information about driver operation and according to the relationship table. A method of managing a preload force includes providing a first component, providing a second component for compression against the first component, operating a driver to move the first component into contact with the second component, monitoring an operation of the driver, and determining an expected preload force in response to the operation of the driver.

公开(公告)号：US11952111B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-09

申请号：US16862276

申请日：2020-04-29

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Thomas C. Parham, Jr.

IPC: B64C27/605 ,  B64C27/57 ,  B64C27/64 ,  B64C27/68 ,  B64C29/00

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C27/57 ,  B64C27/605 ,  B64C27/64 ,  B64C27/68

Abstract: A system is provided for controlling the pitch of blades of a rotor, the system comprising an actuator for each blade, each actuator being configured for selective control of the pitch of an associated blade about a pitch axis. Sensors are configured for determining aerodynamic forces acting on the rotor, and a flight control system is configured to receive signals from the sensors and for operating the actuators in response to the signals to achieve a desired pitch-flap coupling value.

公开(公告)号：US11873085B2

公开(公告)日：2024-01-16

申请号：US17366834

申请日：2021-07-02

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Kirk L. Groninga ,  Daniel B. Robertson

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/04 ,  B64D27/02

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C29/0025 ,  B64C39/04 ,  B64D2027/026

Abstract: An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode includes tiltable rotors located at forward boom ends, tiltable ducted fans located at wings aft of the forward boom ends, and aft rotors located on aft boom portions.

公开(公告)号：US11821235B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US16915429

申请日：2020-06-29

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： William Anthony Amante ,  Arunkumar Koppa Siddalingappa ,  Darpan Bansal ,  Timothy Brian Carr

IPC: E05B85/10 ,  B64C1/14 ,  E05B17/18 ,  E05B1/00 ,  E05B85/00

CPC classification number: E05B85/103 ,  B64C1/1446 ,  E05B17/181

Abstract: A handle assembly for an access panel is described and includes a handle connected to a support structure integrated into and covered by a skin of the access panel, the handle comprising a grip portion and upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion and having first ends connected to the grip portion and second ends connected to the support structure; and a cover disposed over an opening in the access panel skin and selectively transitionable between a closed position and an open position, the opening situated relative to the handle such that the handle is concealed when the cover is in a closed position and accessible via the opening when the cover is in an open position.

公开(公告)号：US11820087B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US17508299

申请日：2021-10-22

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： David G. Carlson ,  Paul K. Oldroyd ,  George R. Decker ,  Doug K. Wolfe

IPC: B29C70/38 ,  B64F5/10 ,  B29C70/34 ,  B65H16/00 ,  B65H16/02 ,  B29L31/30

CPC classification number: B29C70/38 ,  B29C70/34 ,  B64F5/10 ,  B65H16/005 ,  B65H16/021 ,  B29L2031/3082 ,  B65H2402/42 ,  B65H2701/172 ,  B65H2701/174 ,  Y10T156/1348 ,  Y10T156/1357

Abstract: A method of preparing a composite article including providing a first bias assembly with a first bias roll; providing a first non-bias assembly with a first non-bias roll; positioning the first bias assembly to a dispensing position; dispensing a bias ply from the first bias roll along a bias path on a mold; cutting the bias ply; positioning the first non-bias assembly to a dispensing position; dispensing a non-bias ply from the first non-bias roll; and cutting the non-bias ply; wherein the bias path and the non-bias path are substantially parallel.

公开(公告)号：US11815368B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-14

申请号：US16846372

申请日：2020-04-12

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Grant Michael Beall ,  William Anthony Amante ,  Jessica Arlie Revere

IPC: G01D5/22 ,  F16H57/12 ,  F16H19/00 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/00 ,  B64D45/00

CPC classification number: G01D5/2291 ,  B64C11/001 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64D45/0005 ,  F16H19/001 ,  F16H57/12 ,  F16H2057/127

Abstract: A resolver assembly for a ducted-rotor aircraft is configured to detect and measure rotation of a spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly includes first and second gear-driven resolvers. The first and second resolvers are coupled about a shared pivot axis and are independently pivotable about the pivot axis to maintain engagement of the first and second resolvers with the spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly is configured such that the first and second resolvers are biased toward the spindle. The input shafts of the first and second resolvers are spaced from the pivot axis through respective first and second distances that extend outward from the pivot axis along respective first and second radial directions. The first distance is equal to the second distance and the first radial direction is not coincident with the second radial direction.

公开(公告)号：US11767006B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-26

申请号：US17677721

申请日：2022-02-22

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Andrew Ryan Maresh ,  John Richard McCullough ,  Robert Patrick Wardlaw ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B60V1/14 ,  B64C11/00 ,  B64C11/06

CPC classification number: B60V1/14 ,  B64C11/001 ,  B64C11/06

Abstract: A rotor assembly for generating thrust for a vehicle. The rotor assembly includes a rotor hub and a plurality of rotor blade assemblies coupled to the rotor hub. Each rotor blade assembly includes a metallic bearing race, a composite rotor blade and a metallic coupling assembly. The composite rotor blade has a root section with a radially outwardly tapered outer surface. The metallic coupling assembly has a radially inwardly tapered inner surface that receives the radially outwardly tapered outer surface of the root section of the rotor blade therein to provide a centrifugal force seat for the rotor blade. The coupling assembly includes at least two circumferentially distributed coupling members. The coupling assembly is configured to couple the rotor blade to the bearing race and to provide a centrifugal force load path therebetween.

公开(公告)号：US11760475B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-19

申请号：US17558263

申请日：2021-12-21

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Steven R. Ivans ,  Berlin B. Benfield ,  Brent C. Ross

IPC: B64C29/00

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033

Abstract: There is disclosed in one example a tiltrotor system for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, including: a rotor pylon, wherein the rotor pylon is rotatable, via a rotation maneuver, between a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation; a linear actuator disposed to actuate the rotation maneuver; and a mechanical guide disposed to maintain a center of gravity along a substantially linear axis throughout the rotation maneuver.

公开(公告)号：US11722033B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-08

申请号：US17410519

申请日：2021-08-24

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Grant Michael Beall ,  Michael Raymond Hull

IPC: H05K7/08 ,  H02K7/08 ,  F16C35/063

CPC classification number: H02K7/088 ,  F16C35/063 ,  F16C2380/26 ,  H02K2213/06

Abstract: An electric motor adapted to apply torque to a drive shaft rotatable about an axis, the electric motor includes a stator, a rotor adapted to rotate relative to the stator, a primary bearing interoperably coupled to the stator and adapted to provide bearing support between the stator and the rotor, an auxiliary bearing interoperably coupled to the drive shaft, an annular shear adapter connected to the primary bearing and the auxiliary bearing, and a shear pin interoperably coupled to the primary bearing via the annular shear adapter and configured to break responsive to torque between the annular shear adapter and the drive shaft exceeding a predetermined torque threshold.