公开(公告)号：US10364039B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-30

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

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：US10196127B2

公开(公告)日：2019-02-05

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

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.

公开(公告)号：US20180079486A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-22

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

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

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：US20170305568A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-26

申请号：US15407486

申请日：2017-01-17

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

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

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

CPC classification number: B64D27/26 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64C27/14 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C27/28 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64D27/12 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64D35/08 ,  B64D2027/264 ,  B64D2027/266 ,  F16C17/02 ,  F16H57/021 ,  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 tip ribs extend above the wing and define slots. Inboard and outboard bearing cartridges are received in respective slots. The inboard and outboard bearing cartridges respectively include inboard and outboard bearing assemblies. A pylon assembly is rotatably coupled between the inboard and outboard bearing assemblies. 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 the input gear of the spindle gearbox.

公开(公告)号：US20170305565A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-26

申请号：US15407449

申请日：2017-01-17

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  George Ryan Decker ,  Matthew Carl VanBuskirk ,  Andrew G. Baines ,  Keith Alan Stanney

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

CPC classification number: B64D27/26 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64C27/22 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  B64D35/00 ,  B64D2027/266 ,  B64F5/40 ,  F16C17/02 ,  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 the input gear of the spindle gearbox. Each of the inboard and outboard pedestals includes a journal bearing that provides a stiff coupling with the pylon assembly.

公开(公告)号：US20170259904A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-14

申请号：US15601658

申请日：2017-05-22

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  George Ryan Decker ,  Keith Alan Stanney ,  Robert Mark Chris

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

CPC classification number: B64C3/26 ,  B29C70/00 ,  B29D24/005 ,  B29D99/0021 ,  B32B2305/024 ,  B32B2305/34 ,  B32B2605/18 ,  B64C3/18 ,  B64C3/187 ,  B64C29/0033

Abstract: An airframe assembly for an aircraft. The airframe assembly includes a first airframe member having a first skin, a second skin, a large cell core joined between the first and second skins and a solid insert having a side surface. The solid insert is joined between the first and second skins such that at least a portion of the side surface is adjacent to the large cell core. The first skin has a first surface disposed opposite the solid insert. The airframe assembly also includes a second airframe member having a second surface. An adhesive joint is disposed between the first and second surfaces structurally bonding the first airframe member to the second airframe member such that the second airframe member is positioned opposite the solid insert.

公开(公告)号：US10450054B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-22

申请号：US15601658

申请日：2017-05-22

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  George Ryan Decker ,  Keith Alan Stanney ,  Robert Mark Chris

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

Abstract: An airframe assembly for an aircraft. The airframe assembly includes a first airframe member having a first skin, a second skin, a large cell core joined between the first and second skins and a solid insert having a side surface. The solid insert is joined between the first and second skins such that at least a portion of the side surface is adjacent to the large cell core. The first skin has a first surface disposed opposite the solid insert. The airframe assembly also includes a second airframe member having a second surface. An adhesive joint is disposed between the first and second surfaces structurally bonding the first airframe member to the second airframe member such that the second airframe member is positioned opposite the solid insert.

公开(公告)号：US20190217942A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-18

申请号：US15870977

申请日：2018-01-14

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： James Everett Kooiman ,  David M. Carlson ,  George Ryan Decker ,  Jeffrey Matthew Williams ,  Douglas K. Wolfe

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

CPC classification number: B64C3/187 ,  B64C3/26 ,  B64C29/0033

Abstract: A torque box rib includes an upper rib cap configured to be coupled to an upper skin of a wing, a lower rib cap configured to be coupled to a lower skin of the wing, a forward post configured to be coupled to a forward spar of the wing, an aft post configured to be coupled to an aft spar of the wing, and a rib web configured to be coupled to the upper rib cap, the lower rib cap, the forward post, and the aft post.

公开(公告)号：US20190039718A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-07

申请号：US15667499

申请日：2017-08-02

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

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

IPC: B64C3/26 ,  B64C3/18 ,  B64C3/34

CPC classification number: B64C3/26 ,  B64C3/18 ,  B64C3/187 ,  B64C3/34 ,  B64C29/0033

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：US10029802B2

公开(公告)日：2018-07-24

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

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.