Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Bobby A Collins

Frank B Stamps

Walter C Joiner

Dharam Jithender Reddy

Rodney S Taylor

Timothy Myron Hazen

Glenn R Grimes

An interconnect drive system for an aircraft has a driveline and clutch control system. The driveline comprises a shaft for each propulsion assembly, each shaft for transferring torque to and from the associated propulsion assembly, and a clutch operably coupling the shafts and configured for selective engagement. The clutch is capable of transferring a first amount of torque between the shafts while engaged and a second amount of torque between the shafts while disengaged. The system also has a clutch control system, comprising a computer operably connected to the clutch for controlling operation of the clutch and sensors for sensing torque applied to the driveline, output from the sensors being communicated to the computer. The computer commands operation of the clutch in response to the output from the sensors, the clutch being commanded to disengage to relieve a transient torque imbalance in the driveline.

Interconnect drive system

Helicopter

An improved helicopter landing gear assembly to substantially increase useful service life. The crosstubes are constructed of a material that allows use of thicker crosstubes thereby reducing the operating stress in the crosstubes and helping to increase the fatigue life, while at the same time preserving the required energy absorption characteristics. The inside and outside of the crosstubes are shot peened to help increase the fatigue life. The crosstubes are formed in an unstable temper condition thereby reducing the stress that is induced into the part during formation, and thus helping to increase the fatigue life. The straps are connected to the crosstubes by fasteners located at the sides of the straps and closer to the neutral bending axis of the crosstube so that the fasteners and the fastener holes are subjected to lower stress levels. The combination of these improvements results in a substantially increased life of the landing gear assembly.

Helicopter landing gear assembly

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Bedford, TX, United States of America

Bobby A Collins