公开(公告)号：US10752350B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-25

申请号：US16526909

申请日：2019-07-30

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

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

Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe and a distributed thrust array coupled to the airframe including at least six propulsion assemblies. A flight control system is operably associated with the distributed thrust array and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A package delivery module is coupled to the airframe. In a VTOL orientation utilizing thrust-borne lift, a first pair of propulsion assemblies is forward of the package delivery module, a second pair of propulsion assemblies is aft of the package delivery module and a third pair of propulsion assemblies is lateral of the package delivery module. In a forward flight orientation utilizing wing-borne lift, the first pair of propulsion assemblies is below the package delivery module, the second pair of propulsion assemblies is above the package delivery module and the third pair of propulsion assemblies is lateral of the package delivery module.

公开(公告)号：US10689091B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-23

申请号：US15667499

申请日：2017-08-02

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： Andrew G. Baines ,  James Everett Kooiman ,  George Ryan Decker ,  John Richard McCullough

IPC: B64C3/26 ,  B64C3/18 ,  B64C3/34 ,  B64C29/00

Abstract: A wing airframe for a wing of a tiltrotor aircraft includes a wing airframe core assembly and a wing skin assembly disposed on the wing airframe core assembly. The wing skin assembly includes a lower wing skin assembly disposed on the bottom side of the wing airframe core assembly. The tiltrotor aircraft includes a fuselage underneath the wing. The lower wing skin assembly has one or more buckle zones outboard of the fuselage. The buckle zones are locally susceptible to buckling in response to an impact of the tiltrotor aircraft, thereby protecting the fuselage from being crushed by the wing.

公开(公告)号：US12110105B2

公开(公告)日：2024-10-08

申请号：US18107880

申请日：2023-02-09

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64C27/50 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/06 ,  B64D1/08 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64D25/12

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64C27/50 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/06 ,  B64D1/08 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64C2211/00 ,  B64D25/12

Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe having at least one wing. A distributed propulsion system is attached to the airframe and includes first and second pluralities of propulsion assemblies. In a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode, each of the propulsion assemblies generates vertical thrust with rotor assemblies of the first plurality of propulsion assemblies rotating in a horizontal plane and rotor assemblies of the second plurality of propulsion assemblies rotating in a parallel horizontal plane. In a forward flight mode, each of the propulsion assemblies generates forward thrust with the rotor assemblies of the first plurality of propulsion assemblies rotating in a vertical plane and the rotor assemblies of the second plurality of propulsion assemblies rotating in a parallel vertical plane. In both the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and the forward flight mode, a pod assembly coupled to the airframe remains in a generally horizontal attitude.

公开(公告)号：US20230192288A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US18107880

申请日：2023-02-09

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64C27/50 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/06 ,  B64D1/08

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64C27/50 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/06 ,  B64D1/08 ,  B64D25/12

Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe having at least one wing. A distributed propulsion system is attached to the airframe and includes first and second pluralities of propulsion assemblies. In a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode, each of the propulsion assemblies generates vertical thrust with rotor assemblies of the first plurality of propulsion assemblies rotating in a horizontal plane and rotor assemblies of the second plurality of propulsion assemblies rotating in a parallel horizontal plane. In a forward flight mode, each of the propulsion assemblies generates forward thrust with the rotor assemblies of the first plurality of propulsion assemblies rotating in a vertical plane and the rotor assemblies of the second plurality of propulsion assemblies rotating in a parallel vertical plane. In both the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and the forward flight mode, a pod assembly coupled to the airframe remains in a generally horizontal attitude.

公开(公告)号：US11649061B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-16

申请号：US17225778

申请日：2021-04-08

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： Paul K. Oldroyd ,  John Richard McCullough

IPC: B64U30/20 ,  B64D31/06 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64C27/52 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/08 ,  B64U10/10 ,  B64U10/25 ,  B64U50/13 ,  B64U50/19

CPC classification number: B64D31/06 ,  B64C27/52 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64D27/24 ,  G05D1/0858 ,  B64U10/10 ,  B64U10/25 ,  B64U30/20 ,  B64U50/13 ,  B64U50/19

Abstract: An aircraft has multiple independent yaw authority mechanisms. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with at least first and second pylons extending therebetween and with a plurality of tail members extending therefrom each having an active control surface. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array is coupled to the airframe that includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies each having a rotor assembly and each operable for thrust vectoring. A flight control system is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A first yaw authority mechanism includes differential speed control of rotor assemblies rotating clockwise compared to rotor assemblies rotating counterclockwise. A second yaw authority mechanism includes differential longitudinal control surface maneuvers of control surfaces of two symmetrically disposed tail members. A third yaw authority mechanism includes differential thrust vectoring of propulsion assemblies.

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.

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

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

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：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.

公开(公告)号：US11479354B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-25

申请号：US16879129

申请日：2020-05-20

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Andrew Thomas Carter ,  Sung Kyun Kim ,  Matthew John Hill

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64D35/06 ,  B64D27/24

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for an aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The propulsion assembly includes a housing coupled to the fuselage of the aircraft. A coaxial rotor system includes a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly that are rotatable about a common axis of rotation. The first rotor assembly counter-rotates relative to the second rotor assembly. A motor assembly is operably associated with the coaxial rotor system. The motor assembly provides torque and rotational energy to the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly. A gimbal assembly couples the coaxial rotor system to the housing such that the coaxial rotor system is tiltable relative to the fuselage to generate a thrust vector.

公开(公告)号：US11440649B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-13

申请号：US17134378

申请日：2020-12-26

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Michael K. McNair ,  John Richard McCullough

IPC: B64C27/00 ,  B64D27/10 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64D27/02

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a blade assembly, a drive shaft coupled to the blade assembly and an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and operable to provide rotational energy to the drive shaft to rotate the blade assembly. The propulsion assembly includes a landing assistance turbine coupled to the drive shaft and operable to selectively provide rotational energy to the drive shaft during an underpowered descent to rotate the blade assembly and provide upward thrust, thereby reducing a descent rate of the rotorcraft prior to landing.

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

IPC: B64C11/32 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64D31/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C15/12 ,  B64D27/24

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.