公开(公告)号：US10077106B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-18

申请号：US15269835

申请日：2016-09-19

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Christopher Edward Foskey

IPC: B64C27/22 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C5/10 ,  B64C5/02 ,  B64C7/02

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C5/02 ,  B64C5/10 ,  B64C7/02 ,  B64C11/28

Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft having a VTOL flight mode, a forward flight mode and a storage mode includes a fuselage having a wing rotatably mounted thereto. The wing has an orientation generally perpendicular to the fuselage, in the flight modes, and an orientation generally parallel to the fuselage, in the storage mode. First and second pylon assemblies are positioned proximate outboard ends of the wing. First and second mast assemblies are respectively rotatable relative to the first and second pylon assemblies and have generally vertical orientations, in the VTOL flight mode, and generally horizontal orientations, in the forward flight mode and the storage mode. First and second proprotor assemblies are respectively rotatable relative to the first and second mast assemblies. Each proprotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor blades and has a radially extended orientation, in the flight modes, and a stowed orientation, in the storage mode.

公开(公告)号：US20180251230A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-06

申请号：US15913789

申请日：2018-03-06

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jeremy Robert Chavez ,  James R. Williamson ,  Levi Bilbrey

IPC: B64D43/00 ,  G06T19/00 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G01C23/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64C13/18 ,  B64C13/22 ,  A42B3/04 ,  A42B3/22 ,  A42B3/30

Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an aircraft having an augmented reality flight control system integrated with and operable from the pilot seat and an associated pilot headgear unit, wherein the flight control system is supplemented by flight-assisting artificial intelligence and geo-location systems. The present invention includes an augmented reality flight control system incorporating real-world objects with virtual elements to provide relevant data to a pilot during aircraft flight. A translucent substrate is disposed in the pilot's field of view such that the pilot can see therethrough, and observe virtual elements displayed on the substrate. The system includes a headgear that is worn by the pilot. A flight assistance module is configured to receive data related to the aircraft and provide predictive assistance to the pilot during flight based on the received data based in part on a pilot profile having preferences related to the pilot.

公开(公告)号：US20180246510A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15443493

申请日：2017-02-27

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Christopher Mike Bothwell ,  Luke Dafydd Gillett ,  Jillian Samantha Alfred

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  F02C9/28 ,  F02C9/58

CPC classification number: G05D1/0055 ,  B64C13/10 ,  B64C13/343 ,  B64C13/345 ,  B64C13/507 ,  B64C27/57 ,  F02C9/28 ,  F02C9/58 ,  F05D2220/329 ,  F05D2270/021

Abstract: A flight control computer (FCC) for a rotorcraft includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, with the program including instructions for providing main rotor overspeed protection. The instructions for providing the main rotor overspeed protection include instructions for monitoring sensor signals indicating a main rotor RPM, determining a target operating parameter, determining one or more flight parameters in response to a relationship between the main rotor RPM and the target operating parameter indicating a main rotor overspeed condition. Determining the one or more flight parameters includes determining a setting for a flight control device of the rotorcraft that changes the main rotor RPM, controlling positioning of a pilot control according to the flight parameters, and controlling the flight control device of the rotorcraft according to positioning of the pilot control.

公开(公告)号：US20180245682A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15444470

申请日：2017-02-28

Applicant: Textron Inc.

Inventor： Hunter Scott Davis

IPC: F16H57/04 ,  F16H9/18 ,  F16H57/027 ,  F16H57/035

CPC classification number: F16H57/0416 ,  F16H9/18 ,  F16H57/027 ,  F16H57/035 ,  F16H57/0489

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT), wherein the CVT includes a housing having an inner cover and an outer cover connected to the inner cover to provide the housing having an interior chamber defined therein. The CVT additionally comprises a clutch assembly disposed within the housing interior chamber, wherein the clutch assembly comprises a clutch post that is connectable to an output shaft of a vehicle prime mover, a movable sheave movably mounted on the clutch post, and a stationary sheave fixedly mounted on the clutch post opposite a front face of the movable sheave. The clutch assembly additionally comprises an intake fan fixedly mounted to the clutch post opposite a rear face of the movable sheave such that the intake fan is separate, independent and spaced apart from the movable sheave.

公开(公告)号：US20180244397A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15444085

申请日：2017-02-27

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Timothy Brian Carr ,  Suvankar Mishra ,  Michael Stephen Deslatte ,  Michael Douglas Ishmael ,  Ronald James Turner

IPC: B64D37/00 ,  B64D37/02 ,  B05D1/02

CPC classification number: B64D37/005 ,  B05D1/02 ,  B64D37/02 ,  B64D37/06

Abstract: An aircraft fuel system includes one or more fuel cells adapted to contain fuel, a fuel cell receiving assembly having an inner surface adapted to receive the one or more fuel cells and a fuel cell cushion disposed between the inner surface of the fuel cell receiving assembly and the one or more fuel cells. The fuel cell cushion is machined from a foam substrate to form a shaped foam substrate that is substantially covered with a cushion coating. The cushion coating is sprayable onto the shaped foam substrate such that the fuel cell cushion is substantially nonabsorbent of fuel. The fuel cell cushion is interposable between the inner surface of the fuel cell receiving assembly and the one or more fuel cells to cushion the one or more fuel cells from damage.

公开(公告)号：US20180244369A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15443826

申请日：2017-02-27

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jillian Samantha Alfred ,  Luke Dafydd Gillett ,  Robert Earl Worsham, II

IPC: B64C13/50 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G05D1/00 ,  F02C9/44

CPC classification number: B64C13/503 ,  B64C13/18 ,  F02C9/44 ,  G05D1/0061 ,  G05D1/085 ,  G05D1/0858

Abstract: A fly-by-wire system for a rotorcraft includes a computing device having control laws. The control laws are operable to engage a roll command or a yaw command in response to deflection of a beep switch of a pilot control assembly, wherein a roll angle for the roll command or a yaw rate for the yaw command is determined based on forward airspeed of the rotorcraft. The beep switch may be disposed on a collective control of the pilot control assembly. The control laws are further operable to disengage the roll command or the yaw command in response to the beep switch being returned from a deflected position to a neutral position. In representative aspects, the roll angle or the yaw rate may correspond to a standard rate turn (e.g., 3° per second).

公开(公告)号：US20180244364A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15593607

申请日：2017-05-12

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Carlos Alexander Fenny ,  Rohn Lee Olson ,  Andrew James Zahasky

IPC: B64C1/06 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/06

Abstract: An aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing and stationary flight includes a distributed airframe coupled to a modular fuselage. The modular fuselage has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a rotational axis of three or more propellers. The modular fuselage includes a rear module substantially disposed within a perimeter of the distributed airframe, a front module removably connected to the rear module and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. One or more engines or motors are disposed within or attached to the distributed airframe or fuselage. The three or more propellers are proximate to a leading edge of the distributed airframe, distributed along the distributed airframe, and operably connected to the one or more engines or motors to provide lift whenever the aircraft is in vertical takeoff and landing and stationary flight.

公开(公告)号：US20180237124A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-23

申请号：US15436225

申请日：2017-02-17

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Brad John Roberts ,  Jonathan Allen Wasylyszyn ,  Ron Lorenz Kisor

IPC: B64C13/50 ,  B64C9/00 ,  B64C29/00

Abstract: A roll control system controls roll control surfaces of an aircraft that are capable of causing the aircraft to perform a roll maneuver by respectively deflecting in upward and downward directions. The roll control system includes deflection limiter units for respectively limiting angles of deflection of the roll control surfaces, and further includes deflection rate limiter units for respectively limiting rates of deflection of the roll control surfaces. The deflection limiter unit limits the roll control surfaces to deflection distances and deflection rates based at least in part on the deflection direction of the roll control surfaces. For a given set of flight conditions, such as airspeed, if a roll control surface is deflecting upwardly, it is less limited by the roll control system in terms of deflection distance and deflection rate than if the roll control surface is deflecting downwardly.

公开(公告)号：US20180229831A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-16

申请号：US15435033

申请日：2017-02-16

Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.

Inventor： John Wesley Melton ,  Stephanie Baynham

IPC: B64C13/50 ,  B64C27/06 ,  B64D43/02 ,  G01S19/13

CPC classification number: B64C13/503 ,  B64D43/00 ,  G01S19/13

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a rotorcraft includes receiving a first sensor value comprising a first coarse resolution portion and a first fine resolution portion, receiving a second sensor value comprising a second coarse resolution portion and a second fine resolution portion, and determining that the second coarse resolution portion corresponds with the second fine resolution portion when a difference between the second sensor value and the first sensor value is within a first threshold.

公开(公告)号：US20180229830A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-16

申请号：US15430956

申请日：2017-02-13

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Christopher E. Foskey ,  Michael C. Burnett

IPC: B64C11/28 ,  B64C27/50

CPC classification number: B64C11/28 ,  B64C27/50 ,  B64C29/0033

Abstract: An adapter for a rotor blade assembly including a support member having an outboard surface and an inboard surface; an outboard feature extending laterally from the outboard surface of the support member and including a first lug and a second lug; an inboard feature extending laterally from the inboard surface of the support member and including a first arm and a second arm. The outboard feature and the inboard feature are configured such that a plane defined by an attachment surface of at least one of the first lug and the second lug is non-parallel to a plane defined by an attachment surface of at least one of the first arm and the second arm.