Textron Innovations Inc.

Bell Textron Inc.

Alan Wayne Falls

Charles Hubert Speller

Douglas Robert Mueller

Gregory Alan Spruce

Charles J Ott

Nathan D Sudek

Brad Ekstrom

A system for warming lubricant of a gearbox includes a heat exchanger connected to the gearbox, the gearbox configured to send the lubricant to the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger configured to receive the lubricant from the gearbox, warm the received lubricant using bleed air from an engine located proximate the heat exchanger, and return the warmed lubricant to the gearbox.

Gearbox heat recovery system

A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft. The propulsion assembly includes a mast having an internal ledge, a raceway station and an external ridge with at least a portion of the raceway station positioned axially between the internal ledge and the external ridge. A nonintegral raceway is receivable by the raceway station to form a press fit joint between the mast and the nonintegral raceway. A mast bearing assembly includes a plurality of bearings configured to engage an outer surface of the nonintegral raceway. The internal ledge is configured to generate a nonuniform normal force between the mast and the nonintegral raceway along the raceway station that axially biases the nonintegral raceway toward the external ridge, thereby securing the nonintegral raceway at the raceway station.

Axially biased nonintegral raceways for rotorcraft masts

Breathing systems and methods for a gearbox is described. Embodiments preferably create a closed system for air within the gearbox. As an operating gearbox warms the air or fluid within, or an altitude change causes air to expand or contract, increased pressure can result and air can escape through tubing to a cannister. The cannister can receive the expanding air in an impermeable cavity that is proximate to a bladder open or partially open to an exterior environment. Air can press on the bladder, expanding the cavity and shrinking the bladder until a pressure equilibrium is reached. As operation of the gearbox is lowered or powered off, or another altitude change occurs, the air can cool and/or retract into the gearbox. The bladder can then expand and press on the cavity until equalizing the pressure within the cannister.

Gearbox self contained breathing system

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a planetary gear system. The planetary gear system includes a split double helical ring gear having a first ring gear with first helical ring teeth and a second ring gear with second helical ring teeth, a split double helical sun gear having a first sun gear with first helical sun teeth and a second sun gear with second helical sun teeth, a sun gear coupler coupling the first sun gear and the second sun gear; and a single-piece double helical planet pinion having a first helical planet teeth portion and a second helical planet teeth portion, where the first helical planet teeth mesh with the first helical sun teeth and the first helical ring teeth, and the second helical planet teeth mesh with the second helical sun teeth and the second helical ring teeth.

Apparatus and method for assembling double helical planetary system

A system for securing a bearing to a shaft includes a shaft having a raised portion extending radially outward from the shaft. The raised portion includes a first angled face on a first side of the raised portion and a second angled face on a second side of the raised portion. The bearing includes an outer race comprising a bearing surface on an inner face of the outer race, an inner race comprising a bearing surface on an outer face of the inner race and a third angled face on an inner face of the inner race that is configured to mate with the first angled face, and a plurality of rollers disposed between the inner and outer races.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, TX, United States of America

Alan Wayne Falls