公开(公告)号：US10407152B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-10

申请号：US16018862

申请日：2018-06-26

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  Mark Loring Isaac ,  John Elton Brunken, Jr. ,  John McCullough

IPC: B64C1/26 ,  B64C1/14 ,  B64C3/18 ,  B64C29/00

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an aircraft features a fuselage, a wing member, and two fuselage beam. The fuselage features a first plurality of structural supports, a second plurality of structural supports, a first opening disposed between the first plurality of structural supports, and a second opening disposed between the second plurality of structural supports. The wing member is disposed above the first opening and above the second opening. The wing features a plurality of ribs including a first rib and a second rib. The first fuselage beam couples the first rib of the wing member to the fuselage and has an elongated body portion extending across the first plurality of structural supports. The second fuselage beam couples the second rib of the wing member to the fuselage and features an elongated body portion extending across the second plurality of structural supports.

公开(公告)号：US20190224939A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-25

申请号：US15878301

申请日：2018-01-23

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  David M. Carlson ,  Douglas K. Wolfe ,  Jonathan Alexander Freeman

IPC: B32B3/26 ,  B32B3/12 ,  B32B27/06 ,  B32B37/10 ,  B64C3/26

Abstract: A method of fabricating a panel includes laying up a first laminate on a tooling surface, laying a first layer of thermoplastic on an inner surface of the first laminate, laying a large cell carbon core on the first layer of thermoplastic, laying a second layer of thermoplastic across the large cell carbon core, laying a second laminate on the second layer of thermoplastic, creating a sealed core pocket by bonding the edges of the first and second layers of the thermoplastic surrounding a perimeter of the core, increasing pressure within the core pocket, increasing pressure on the outer surface of the second laminate, heating the panel to a desired curing temperature, and maintaining the increased pressures and temperature for a desired curing duration.

公开(公告)号：US20190100297A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-04

申请号：US15722163

申请日：2017-10-02

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： John Elton Brunken, JR. ,  Andrew G. Baines ,  James Everett Kooiman ,  John Richard McCullough ,  Brett Rodney Zimmerman

IPC: B64C1/26 ,  B64C1/06 ,  B64C3/18 ,  B64C29/00

Abstract: An airframe for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a wing airframe including a rib, a fuselage airframe including a fore-aft overhead beam and a cradle support assembly. The cradle support assembly includes a forward wing support coupled to the fore-aft overhead beam and the wing airframe and an aft wing support coupled to the fore-aft overhead beam and the wing airframe. The rib, the fore-aft overhead beam, the forward wing support and the aft wing support are substantially aligned to form a wing-fuselage integrated airframe beam assembly to support the wing airframe.

公开(公告)号：US10220936B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-05

申请号：US15271717

申请日：2016-09-21

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  John Richard McCullough ,  Brian Dale Obert

IPC: B64C3/56 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64C5/10 ,  B64C5/02

Abstract: A wing pivot apparatus for rotating a wing between a flight orientation and a stowed orientation relative to a fuselage of a tiltrotor aircraft. The apparatus includes a guide ring that is fixably coupled to the fuselage. Forward and aft wing attach assemblies are coupled respectively to forward and aft spars of the wing and are moveably supported by the guide ring. Forward and aft wing support fittings are coupled respectively to the forward and aft spars of the wing and are selectively securable respectively to first and second fore-aft beams of the fuselage. A plurality of lock assemblies selectively secures the wing support fittings to the fore-aft beams of the fuselage when the wing is in the flight orientation. An actuator coupled to the fuselage is operable to reversibly rotate the wing between the flight orientation and the stowed orientation.

公开(公告)号：US20180305037A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-25

申请号：US15496257

申请日：2017-04-25

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  Charles David Hogue ,  George Ryan Decker ,  Andrew G. Baines ,  Douglas Kirk Wolfe

IPC: B64D37/06 ,  B64D37/32 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C3/34 ,  B64D37/04 ,  B64C3/26

CPC classification number: B64D37/06 ,  B64C3/26 ,  B64C3/34 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64D37/04 ,  B64D37/32

Abstract: A fuel system for an aircraft includes a fuel cell having a plurality of sides including a first side and at least one deformable clip having a secured end and a free end. The secured end is coupled to the first side of the fuel cell and the free end overlapping the airframe of the aircraft such that the first side of the fuel cell is positioned adjacent to the airframe. The at least one deformable clip is deformable to allow the fuel cell to move independently of the airframe in response to an impact of the aircraft, thereby protecting the fuel cell from damage resulting from the impact.

公开(公告)号：US10065743B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-04

申请号：US15719807

申请日：2017-09-29

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Elbert King ,  Jeffrey Matthew Williams ,  Christopher R. Jackson ,  Andrew G. Baines ,  James Everett Kooiman

IPC: B64D27/26 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64C29/00 ,  F16H57/021 ,  F16C17/02 ,  F16H57/02

Abstract: A pedestal assembly receives a pylon assembly of a tiltrotor aircraft having an airframe including a fuselage and a wing. The pedestal assembly includes inboard and outboard tip ribs that extend above the wing and respectively define inboard and outboard slots. The pedestal assembly also includes inboard and outboard bearing cartridges. The inboard bearing cartridge is received within the inboard slot, is coupled to the inboard tip rib and includes an inboard bearing assembly. The outboard bearing cartridge is received within the outboard slot, is coupled to the outboard tip rib and includes an outboard bearing assembly. The inboard and outboard bearing assemblies are operable to receive the pylon assembly therein such that the pylon assembly is rotatably mounted between the inboard and outboard tip ribs to selectively operate the tiltrotor aircraft between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode.

公开(公告)号：US10040534B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-07

申请号：US14960648

申请日：2015-12-07

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  Mark Loring Isaac ,  John Elton Brunken, Jr. ,  John McCullough

IPC: B64C1/26 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C1/14 ,  B64C3/18

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an aircraft features a fuselage, a wing member, and two fuselage beam. The fuselage features a first plurality of structural supports, a second plurality of structural supports, a first opening disposed between the first plurality of structural supports, and a second opening disposed between the second plurality of structural supports. The wing member is disposed above the first opening and above the second opening. The wing features a plurality of ribs including a first rib and a second rib. The first fuselage beam couples the first rib of the wing member to the fuselage and has an elongated body portion extending across the first plurality of structural supports. The second fuselage beam couples the second rib of the wing member to the fuselage and features an elongated body portion extending across the second plurality of structural supports.

公开(公告)号：US09981750B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-29

申请号：US15792686

申请日：2017-10-24

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jeffrey Matthew Williams ,  George Ryan Decker ,  James Everett Kooiman ,  Andrew G. Baines ,  Daniel J. Sweigard

IPC: B64D27/26 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C29/00 ,  F16C17/02 ,  F16C17/26 ,  F16H57/02

CPC classification number: B64D27/26 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64C27/22 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64D2027/266 ,  B64F5/40 ,  F16C17/022 ,  F16C17/26 ,  F16H2057/02043 ,  Y10T29/49318 ,  Y10T74/1966

Abstract: A propulsion system for a tiltrotor aircraft includes an engine supported by the airframe and a fixed gearbox operably coupled to the engine. Inboard and outboard pedestals are supported by the airframe and positioned above the wing. A pylon assembly is rotatably coupled between the inboard and outboard pedestals. The pylon assembly includes a spindle gearbox having an input gear, a mast operably coupled to the input gear and a proprotor assembly operable to rotate with the mast. The spindle gearbox is rotatable about a conversion axis to selectively operate the tiltrotor aircraft between helicopter and airplane modes. A common shaft, rotatable about the conversion axis, is configured to transfer torque from an output gear of the fixed gearbox to an input gear of the spindle gearbox. Each of the inboard and outboard pedestals includes a spherical bearing providing a self-aligning coupling with the pylon assembly.

公开(公告)号：US20180099758A1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-12

申请号：US15835617

申请日：2017-12-08

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jeffrey Matthew Williams ,  James Elbert King ,  James Everett Kooiman ,  Andrew G. Baines ,  Christopher R. Jackson ,  George Ryan Decker ,  Daniel J. Sweigard

IPC: B64D27/26 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C29/00 ,  F16H57/021 ,  F16H57/025 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64D35/00 ,  F16H57/02

CPC classification number: B64D27/26 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64C27/22 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64D2027/264 ,  B64D2027/266 ,  B64F5/40 ,  F16H57/021 ,  F16H57/025 ,  F16H2057/02043 ,  Y10T29/49318 ,  Y10T74/1966

Abstract: A pedestal assembly for receiving a pylon assembly of a tiltrotor aircraft having a helicopter mode and an airplane mode, the tiltrotor aircraft having an airframe including a fuselage and a wing. The pedestal assembly includes an inboard pedestal supported by the airframe and positioned above the wing. The inboard pedestal includes an inboard bearing assembly disposed within an inboard pillow block housing. The pedestal assembly also includes an outboard pedestal supported by the airframe and positioned above the wing. The outboard pedestal includes an outboard bearing assembly disposed within an outboard pillow block housing. The inboard and outboard bearing assemblies are operable to receive the pylon assembly therein such that the pylon assembly is rotatably mounted between the inboard and outboard pedestals to selectively operate the tiltrotor aircraft between the helicopter mode and the airplane mode.

公开(公告)号：US20180079485A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-22

申请号：US15271699

申请日：2016-09-21

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  Brian Dale Obert

IPC: B64C3/56 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64C5/10 ,  B64C5/02 ,  B64D27/26

CPC classification number: B64C3/56 ,  B64C5/02 ,  B64C5/10 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64D27/26

Abstract: A wing pivot apparatus for rotating a wing between a flight orientation and a stowed orientation relative to a fuselage of a tiltrotor aircraft. The apparatus includes a stow ring that is rotatably mounted to the fuselage. Forward and aft wing attach assemblies are coupled respectively to forward and aft spars of the wing and are coupled to the stow ring. Forward and aft connecting assemblies are coupled respectively between the forward and aft wing attach assemblies and the stow ring and are selectively securable respectively to first and second fore-aft beams of the fuselage. A plurality of lock assemblies selectively secures the connecting assemblies to the fore-aft beams of the fuselage when the wing is in the flight orientation. An actuator coupled to the fuselage is operable to reversibly rotate the wing between the flight orientation and the stowed orientation.