Textron Innovations Inc.

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Eric Christopher Terry

Timothy Brian Carr

Thomas Dewey Parsons

Thomas Mast

John Robert Wittmaak, Jr

Joshua Andrew Emrich

Joshua Allan Edler

Brent Scannell

Joseph Daniel Leachman

Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer

Chris James Ludtke

Patrick Paquin

An exemplary cushion for a fuel system is constructed of a lattice structure formed of a material that is substantially nonabsorbent of fuel and has a network of nodes and beams defining cells, an exterior surface of the lattice structure is configured to be oriented toward a fuel cell and an interior surface of the lattice structure is configured to fit to a mounting surface.

Lattice structure cushions for aircraft fuel systems

An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft has an airframe including first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween. A distributed thrust array is coupled to the airframe including a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the first wing and a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the second wing. A cargo pod is coupled between the first and second pylons. The cargo pod is rotatable between a loading configuration, substantially perpendicular to the wings and a transportation and deployment configuration, substantially parallel to the wings. A flight control system is configured to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies and to autonomously deploy a payload from the cargo pod at a desired location.

Autonomous payload deployment aircraft

In some examples, a drain pan comprises a composite material forming a reservoir and a drain. The composite material comprises a polymeric resin and a reinforcing fiber. The reservoir is to catch a liquid from an engine and to support a step load. The drain is to drain the liquid from the reservoir. In some examples, a method comprises attaching a drain pan to an aircraft proximate an engine. The drain pan comprises a composite material forming a reservoir and a drain. The method further comprises catching a liquid from the engine in the reservoir of the drain pan and draining the liquid from the reservoir through the drain. In addition, the method comprises supporting a step load on the reservoir of the drain pan.

Composite drain pan

The present invention achieves technical advantages as an engine compartment drainage system that allows fluid on an engine deck to exit an engine compartment, while shielding fluid from airflow. A fluid drainage apparatus utilizes a funnel member to direct fluid to an external drain line. A drain shield circumscribes the top end of the funnel member and upwardly extending therefrom and directs airflow away from the funnel member. A plurality of deck holes are disposed in the drain shield, such that fluid on the deck can enter the funnel member and exit the engine compartment. A fluid drainage system, disposes the fluid drainage apparatus in an engine deck to allow fluid on the deck to enter a funnel member of the apparatus and direct it toward the external drain line.

Engine compartment flammable fluid drainage system

Growing community of inventors

Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Eric Christopher Terry