Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Textron Innovations Inc.

Other

James Elbert King

Jeffrey Matthew Williams

Andrew G Baines

James Everett Kooiman

George Ryan Decker

Christopher R Jackson

Michael E Rinehart

Daniel J Sweigard

William Scott Atkins

Charles David Hogue

William S Atkins

Michael Edwin Rinehart

A propulsion and lift system of a tiltrotor aircraft includes a wing having an outboard end, a wing tip assembly having an inboard end, a fixed nacelle coupled to the wing tip assembly and a wing-nacelle splice assembly having inboard and outboard sides. The inboard side of the wing-nacelle splice assembly is coupled to the outboard end of the wing, and the outboard side of the wing-nacelle splice assembly is coupled to the inboard end of the wing tip assembly, thereby coupling the fixed nacelle to the wing.

Wing-nacelle splice assemblies for tiltrotor aircraft

A propulsion and lift system for an aircraft includes a wing having an outboard end and a pylon assembly coupled to the outboard end of the wing. The propulsion and lift system also includes a wing extension rotatably coupled to the outboard end of the pylon assembly. The wing extension is rotatable between a flight position in a flight mode and a stow position in a storage mode. The wing extension folds inboard in the stow position, thereby reducing a wingspan of the aircraft in the storage mode.

Foldable wing extensions for aircraft

A wing is provided in one example embodiment and may include an outboard rib; a proprotor gearbox, wherein the proprotor gearbox is located inboard of the outboard rib; a fitting attached to the proprotor gearbox; and a conversion actuator, wherein the conversion actuator is attached to the wing and is mechanically coupled to the fitting. The wing may further include a downstop striker in which the downstop striker may be mounted to the fitting and the downstop striker may be between the proprotor gearbox and the conversion actuator. The wing may further include a downstop mounted on a top side of the outboard rib, wherein the downstop and the downstop striker are aligned to be in contact when the proprotor gearbox is positioned in an airplane mode.

Conversion actuator and downstop striker fitting for a tiltrotor aircraft

In one aspect, there is an engagement member for splicing a spar assembly in an aircraft wing including a joining portion having a first attachment for connecting to a first spar and a second attachment surface for connecting to a second spar; and a rib post extending from the joining portion and disposed between the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface. In an embodiment, the rib post is integral to the joining portion and is configured to couple with a rib web.

Engagement member for splicing a spar assembly

A pedestal assembly receives a pylon assembly of a tiltrotor aircraft having an airframe including a fuselage and a wing. The pedestal assembly includes inboard and outboard tip ribs that extend above the wing and respectively define inboard and outboard slots. The pedestal assembly also includes inboard and outboard bearing cartridges. The inboard bearing cartridge is received within the inboard slot, is coupled to the inboard tip rib and includes an inboard bearing assembly. The outboard bearing cartridge is received within the outboard slot, is coupled to the outboard tip rib and includes an outboard bearing assembly. 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 tip ribs to selectively operate the tiltrotor aircraft between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode.

Tip rib mounted pylon assemblies

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.

Tiltrotor aircraft having pillow block mounted pylon assemblies

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 pillow block housing such as a full or a split pillow block housing.

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.

Tiltrotor aircraft having tip rib mounted pylon assemblies

A socket wrench attachment comprising a body, rotation means arranged at one end of the body for turning and rotating the body, a conical opening at the opposite end of the body, and a plurality of separate angularly rectilinear raised teeth circumferentially spaced on the interior surface of the conical opening, the raised teeth having a side tilted upward at a slight angle in the direction of rotation of the body and being spaced apart by an arc equal to about one-half that of each tooth.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

James Elbert King