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公开(公告)号：US20230145902A1
公开(公告)日：2023-05-11
申请号：US17677721
申请日：2022-02-22
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
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.
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公开(公告)号：US11608173B2
公开(公告)日：2023-03-21
申请号：US17479137
申请日：2021-09-20
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： John Richard McCullough , Paul K. Oldroyd
IPC: B64C39/08 , B64C29/00 , B64C3/56 , B64C11/46 , B64C17/00 , B64C29/02 , B64C39/02 , B64D27/24 , B64D27/26 , B64C27/30 , B64C1/06 , G05D1/00 , G05D1/10 , B64U30/10 , B64U30/20 , B64U101/60
Abstract: A package delivery system uses unmanned aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL configuration and wing-borne lift in a forward flight configuration. Each of the aircraft includes an airframe having at least one wing with a distributed thrust array coupled to the airframe. The distributed thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies configured to provide vertical thrust in the VTOL configuration and a plurality of propulsion assemblies configured to provide forward thrust in the forward flight configuration. A package delivery module is coupled to the airframe. A control system is operably associated with the distributed thrust array and the package delivery module. The control system is configured to individually control each of the propulsion assemblies and control package release operations of the package delivery module. The system includes a ground station configured to remotely communicate with the control systems of the aircraft during package delivery missions.
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公开(公告)号：US11383823B2
公开(公告)日：2022-07-12
申请号：US16922686
申请日：2020-07-07
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： Paul K. Oldroyd , John Richard McCullough
Abstract: An aircraft has an airframe with a distributed thrust array attached thereto that includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies each of which is independently controlled by a flight control system. Each propulsion assembly includes a housing with a single axis gimbal coupled thereto and operable to tilt about a single axis. A propulsion system is coupled to and operable to tilt with the gimbal. The propulsion system includes an electric motor having an output drive and a rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor blades that rotate in a rotational plane to generate thrust having a thrust vector with a direction. Actuation of each gimbal is operable to tilt the respective propulsion system including the electric motor and the rotor assembly relative to the airframe to change the rotational plane of the respective rotor assembly relative to the airframe, thereby controlling the direction of the respective thrust vector.
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公开(公告)号：US11091257B2
公开(公告)日：2021-08-17
申请号：US16925196
申请日：2020-07-09
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： John Richard McCullough , Paul K. Oldroyd
Abstract: An autonomous package delivery aircraft is operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a forward flight orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe with a distributed thrust array coupled thereto. A flight control system is operably associated with the distributed thrust array and is configured to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies of the distributed thrust array. A package delivery module is coupled to the airframe. In the VTOL orientation, a first pair of propulsion assemblies is forward of the package delivery module while a second pair of propulsion assemblies is aft of the package delivery module. In a forward flight orientation, the first pair of propulsion assemblies is below the package delivery module and the second pair of propulsion assemblies is above the package delivery module.
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公开(公告)号：US11027837B2
公开(公告)日：2021-06-08
申请号：US16154359
申请日：2018-10-08
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： John Richard McCullough , Paul K. Oldroyd
Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons extending therebetween and having a two-dimensional distributed thrust array of outboard propulsion assemblies attached thereto. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control a rotor speed and a thrust vector of each propulsion assembly. In a low thrust to weight configuration, transitions from the VTOL orientation to the biplane orientation include establishing a pitch down flight attitude while engaging in collective thrust vectoring of the outboard propulsion assemblies to maintain hover stability followed collectively reducing the thrust vector angles to initiate forward flight. In a high thrust to weight configuration, transitions from the VTOL orientation to the biplane orientation include maintaining a level flight attitude while collectively increasing the thrust vector angles of the outboard propulsion assemblies to initiate forward flight.
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Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US10604249B2
公开(公告)日：2020-03-31
申请号：US16154188
申请日：2018-10-08
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： John Richard McCullough , Paul K. Oldroyd
IPC: B64C29/00 , B64C1/06 , B64C3/56 , B64C27/26 , B64C27/28 , B64C27/30 , B64C39/02 , B64C39/08 , B64D27/24 , B64D27/26 , B64C29/02
Abstract: A man portable aircraft system includes first and second wings with first and second pylons couplable between pylon stations thereof to form an airframe. Each of a plurality of propulsion assemblies is couplable to one of a plurality of nacelle stations of the wings to form a two-dimensional distributed thrust array. A flight control system is couplable to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A payload is couplable between payload stations of the first and second pylons. A man portable container is operable to receive the wings, pylons, propulsion assemblies, flight control system and payload in a disassembled configuration. The connections between the wings, pylons, propulsion assemblies and payload are operable for rapid in-situ assembly. In an assembled configuration, the aircraft is operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation.
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公开(公告)号：US20230192255A1
公开(公告)日：2023-06-22
申请号：US18109144
申请日：2023-02-13
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： Paul K. Oldroyd , John Richard McCullough
Abstract: A rotor assembly for generating vehicle thrust. The rotor assembly includes a rotor hub with a plurality of rotor blade assemblies coupled thereto. Each rotor blade assembly includes a metallic bearing race, a composite rotor blade and a split collet assembly. The split collet assembly includes two circumferentially distributed collet members each having an inner inboard conical seat configured to mate with a radially outwardly extending conical feature of the bearing race and an inner outboard conical seat configured to mate with a radially outwardly extending conical feature of the rotor blade. The split collet assembly also includes an outer sleeve having an inner conical surface that mates with outer conical surfaces of the collet members to maintain the collet members in a circumferential orientation around the bearing race and the rotor blade such that the split collet assembly provides a centrifugal force load path therebetween.
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公开(公告)号：US11124289B2
公开(公告)日：2021-09-21
申请号：US16154282
申请日：2018-10-08
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： John Richard McCullough , Paul K. Oldroyd
Abstract: Systems and methods of prioritizing the use of flight attitude controls of aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. A method includes determining an optimal flight attitude state for the aircraft during flight, the aircraft including first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween forming an airframe with a two-dimensional distributed thrust array and a plurality of aerosurfaces coupled to the airframe; monitoring the current flight attitude state of the aircraft; identifying deviations between the current flight attitude state and the optimal flight attitude state; ordering the flight attitude controls of the aircraft based upon the flight attitude control authority of each in the current flight attitude state; and implementing the highest order flight attitude control to bias the aircraft from the current flight attitude state toward the optimal flight attitude state.
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公开(公告)号：US20200283140A1
公开(公告)日：2020-09-10
申请号：US16840292
申请日：2020-04-03
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： John Richard McCullough , Paul K. Oldroyd
Abstract: An aircraft has an airframe with first and second wings having first and second pylons extending therebetween. A distributed propulsion system attached to the airframe includes at least first, second, third and fourth propulsion assemblies that are independently controlled by a flight control system. A pod assembly is coupled to the airframe. In a VTOL flight mode, the first and second propulsion assemblies are forward of the pod assembly and the third and fourth propulsion assemblies are aft of the pod assembly. In a forward flight mode, the first and second propulsion assemblies are below the pod assembly and the third and fourth propulsion assemblies are above the pod assembly. In both the VTOL and forward flight modes, the first and fourth propulsion assemblies generate thrust having a first direction while the second and third propulsion assemblies generate thrust having a second direction that is different from the first direction.
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公开(公告)号：US20200231297A1
公开(公告)日：2020-07-23
申请号：US16790676
申请日：2020-02-13
Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
Inventor： Paul K. Oldroyd , John Richard McCullough
IPC: B64D31/10 , B64C29/02 , B64C39/02 , B64C27/52 , G05D1/00 , B64D27/26 , G05D3/00 , B64D27/24 , G05D1/10
Abstract: An aircraft has an airframe with a two-dimensional distributed thrust array attached thereto having a plurality of propulsion assemblies that are independently controlled by a flight control system. Each propulsion assembly includes a housing with a gimbal coupled thereto that is operable to tilt about first and second axes responsive to first and second actuators. A propulsion system is coupled to and operable to tilt with the gimbal. The propulsion system includes an electric motor having an output drive and a rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor blades that rotate in a rotational plane to generate thrust having a thrust vector. Responsive to a thrust vector error of a first propulsion assembly, the flight control system commands at least a second propulsion assembly, that is symmetrically disposed relative to the first propulsion assembly, to counteract the thrust vector error, thereby providing redundant directional control for the aircraft.
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