公开(公告)号：US20190016457A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-17

申请号：US15990624

申请日：2018-05-26

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Robert Patrick Wardlaw ,  John Richard McCullough ,  Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat ,  Tyler Wayne Baldwin

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/06 ,  F16C17/10 ,  F16C33/06

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C11/06 ,  B64C27/35 ,  F16C17/10 ,  F16C33/06 ,  F16C2326/43

Abstract: A proprotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft having helicopter and airplane flight modes includes a yoke having a plurality of blade arms each having an inboard pocket with an outboard surface. Each of a plurality of bearing assemblies is disposed at least partially within one of the inboard pockets with each bearing assembly including a shear bearing and a centrifugal force bearing having an integral shoe with an outboard surface. Each of a plurality of inboard beams is disposed at least partially between one of the centrifugal force bearings and one of the shear bearings. Each of a plurality of proprotor blades is coupled to one of the inboard beams. The integral shoes are coupled to the yoke such that there is a spaced apart relationship between the outboard surfaces of the integral shoes and the outboard surfaces of the pockets to prevent centrifugal force load transfer therebetween.

公开(公告)号：US20180290742A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-11

申请号：US15972448

申请日：2018-05-07

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Paul K. Oldroyd ,  John Richard McCullough

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C1/32 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D25/12 ,  B64D27/24

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C1/32 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64D25/12 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D27/26

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for an aircraft includes a housing having a gimbal coupled thereto that is operable to tilt about first and second axes. 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. The rotor assembly is rotatable with the output drive of the electric motor in a rotational plane to generate thrust having a thrust vector with a direction. The first axis of the gimbal is orthogonal to the second axis of the gimbal. Actuation of the gimbal tilts the propulsion system relative to the housing to change the rotational plane of the rotor assembly relative to the housing, thereby controlling the direction of the thrust vector within a thrust vector cone.

公开(公告)号：US20180029699A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-01

申请号：US15221090

申请日：2016-07-27

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jeffrey Paul Nissen ,  John Richard McCullough

IPC: B64C27/473 ,  B64C29/00

CPC classification number: B64C27/473 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64C2027/4733 ,  B64D15/12

Abstract: In some embodiments, a rotorcraft includes an engine, a rotor hub assembly mechanically coupled to the engine and a plurality of rotor blade assemblies rotatably mounted to the rotor hub assembly. Each of the rotor blade assemblies includes a rotor blade having a leading edge and an erosion shield system extending spanwise along the leading edge of the rotor blade. The erosion shield system includes a plurality of erosion shield segments positioned adjacent to one another forming joints therebetween wherein, the joints deform responsive to strain experienced by the rotor blade, thereby isolating the erosion shield segments from at least a portion of the strain experienced by the rotor blade.

公开(公告)号：US20180002015A1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-04

申请号：US15200230

申请日：2016-07-01

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64D17/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/08 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: B64C29/02 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64D1/08 ,  B64D17/02 ,  B64D17/80 ,  B64F1/31

Abstract: In some embodiments, a transportation method includes coupling a flying frame to a passenger pod assembly; lifting the passenger pod assembly into the air in a vertical takeoff and landing mode with the passenger pod assembly in a generally horizontal attitude; transitioning from the vertical takeoff and landing mode to a forward flight mode by rotating the flying frame relative to the passenger pod assembly, which remains in the generally horizontal attitude; transporting the passenger pod assembly toward a second location in the forward flight mode; transitioning the flying frame from the forward flight mode to the vertical takeoff and landing mode by rotating the flying frame relative to the passenger pod assembly, which remains in the generally horizontal attitude; landing the flying frame at the second location in the vertical takeoff and landing mode; and releasing the passenger pod assembly.

公开(公告)号：US10457390B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-29

申请号：US16361155

申请日：2019-03-21

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64C27/50 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D25/12

Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe and a distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the airframe. Each of the propulsion assemblies includes a nacelle, an engine disposed within the nacelle, a proprotor coupled to the engine and a thrust vectoring system. Each thrust vectoring system includes a pivoting plate, a rotary actuator operable to rotate the pivoting plate about a propulsion assembly centerline axis and a linear actuator operable to pivot the pivoting plate about a pivot axis that is normal to the propulsion assembly centerline axis. The engine is mounted on the pivoting plate such that operation of the pivoting plate enables resolution of a thrust vector within a thrust vector cone.

公开(公告)号：US20190144108A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US16154250

申请日：2018-10-08

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G05D1/10

Abstract: An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween. The airframe has a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis in hover. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array is coupled to the airframe. The thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies each operable for variable speed and omnidirectional thrust vectoring. A flight control system is operable to independently control the speed and thrust vector of each of the propulsion assemblies such that in an inclined flight attitude with at least one of the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis extending out of a horizontal plane, the flight control system is operable to maintain hover stability responsive to controlling the speed and the thrust vector of the propulsion assemblies.

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：US20190031337A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-31

申请号：US16154265

申请日：2018-10-08

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C1/06 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C17/00 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/08 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D27/26 ,  B64C27/30

Abstract: An aerial imaging aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween. The airframe has a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis in the VTOL orientation. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array is coupled to the airframe. The thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies each operable for variable speed and omnidirectional thrust vectoring. A payload is coupled to the airframe and includes an aerial imaging module. A flight control system is operable to independently control the speed and thrust vector of each of the propulsion assemblies such that in a level or inclined flight attitude, the flight control system is operable to maintain the orientation of the aerial imaging module toward a focal point of a ground object while translating the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US20190016458A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-17

申请号：US15990625

申请日：2018-05-26

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Amarjit Olenchery Kizhakkepat ,  Robert Patrick Wardlaw ,  John Richard McCullough ,  Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Tyler Wayne Baldwin

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/06 ,  F16C17/10 ,  F16C33/06

Abstract: A proprotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft having helicopter and airplane flight modes includes a yoke having a plurality of blade arms each having an inboard pocket. Each of a plurality of bearing assemblies is disposed at least partially within one of the inboard pockets with each bearing assembly including a bearing cage, a shear bearing and a centrifugal force bearing. Each of a plurality of inboard beams is disposed at least partially between one of the centrifugal force bearings and one of the shear bearings. Each of a plurality of proprotor blades is coupled to one of the inboard beams. Hub bolts couple each of the bearing cages to the yoke such that the hub bolts provide centrifugal force load paths between the bearing assemblies and the yoke inboard of the inboard pockets.