Textron Innovations Inc.

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Kynn Jerald Schulte

Troy Cyril Schank

Kenneth E Builta

Kyle Thomas Cravener

Brady Garrett Atkins

James E Harris

Bryan P Honza

Andrew Ryan Maresh

Jeffrey W Epp

Bryan Paul Honza

Jason Brown

Patrick Smith

Robert L Fortenbaugh

Billy K Gore

Embodiments are directed to a blade lock comprising a fold lock adapted to prevent folding of a rotor blade in a fold-lock position and to allow folding of the rotor blade in a pitch-lock position. The blade lock further comprises a pitch lock adapted to allow pitch movement of a rotor blade in a fold-lock position and to prevent pitch movement of the rotor blade in the pitch-lock position. A spring-loaded link pivotally connects both the fold lock and the pitch lock and is adapted to provide passive, overcenter locking in the fold-lock position. An actuator is coupled to the pitch lock and is adapted to move the pitch lock and the fold lock between the fold-lock and pitch-lock positions.

Pitch-fold lock

A rotor-hub flap-measurement system includes a rotor hub operable to flap relative to a main-rotor axis, a flap-linkage arm, a first end of the flap-linkage arm rotatably coupled to the rotor hub, the flap-linkage arm responsive to flapping of the rotor hub, and a magneto-resistive sensor system rotatably coupled to a second end of the flap-linkage arm and responsive to movement of the flap-linkage arm.

Anisotropic magneto-resistive sensor flap measuring systems

In an embodiment, a battery connector includes: power terminals configured to be coupled to a load having an input capacitance; power pins electrically coupled to the power terminals; a charge pin, the charge pin being longer than each of the power pins; and an antispark circuit electrically interposed between the charge pin and the power terminals, the antispark circuit including: a dissipation circuit configured to charge the input capacitance of the load in response to a battery being coupled to the charge pin; and a delay circuit configured to delay charging of the input capacitance of the load for a predetermined duration after the battery is coupled to the charge pin.

Antispark battery connector

A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system includes a rotor hub, a plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements interoperably coupled to the rotor hub and operable to measure flapping of the rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades connected to the rotor hub, and at least one flight control computer interoperably coupled to the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements.

Anisotropic magneto-resistive sensor flap-measuring systems

In one embodiment, a local control system for a rotor assembly of an apparatus includes a first actuator disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to control motion of a first controllable element in the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is mounted to the apparatus and is rotated responsive to torque and rotational energy provided thereto. The local control system also includes a first sensor disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to provide position feedback in relation to the first controllable element. The local control system also includes a first local control computer disposed in the rotor assembly and communicably coupled to a first central control computer disposed in the apparatus external to the rotor assembly, where the first local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the first actuator and receive a feedback signal from the first sensor.

Control systems and methods for rotating systems

A method for operating an aircraft to prevent/recover from a stall condition includes the steps of detecting an actual vertical velocity of the aircraft, calculating vertical velocity error of the aircraft, the vertical velocity error being based upon a comparison between the actual vertical velocity of the aircraft and a commanded vertical velocity of the aircraft, and determining if the aircraft is in one of a near stalled condition and a stalled condition based upon at least the detected vertical velocity error and the polarity of the vertical velocity error. The method further includes the steps of taking control of the aircraft from an operator of the aircraft, reducing a bank angle of the aircraft, pitching the aircraft downward, and increasing the airspeed of the aircraft if the aircraft's airspeed is outside an airspeed window if the aircraft is in one of the near stalled condition and the stalled condition.

Stall prevention/recovery system and method

A system for controlling flight of an aircraft has sensors, a receiver, and a digital control system, all of which are carried aboard the aircraft. The sensors determine the position of the aircraft relative to the earth and the inertial movement of the aircraft. The receiver receives transmitted data communicating the position and movement of a reference vehicle relative to the earth. The control system calculates the position and velocity of the aircraft relative to the reference vehicle using the data from the sensors and the receiver and then commands flight control devices on the aircraft for maneuvering the aircraft in a manner that maintains a selected position and/or velocity relative to the reference vehicle. The system allows use of a graphical or tactile user interfaces.

Control system for vehicles

A system for controlling flight of an aircraft has sensors (), a receiver (), and a digital control system (), all of which are carried aboard the aircraft. The sensors () determine the position of the aircraft relative to the earth and the inertial movement of the aircraft. The receiver () receives transmitted data () communicating the position and movement of a reference vehicle relative to the earth. The control system () calculates the position and velocity of the aircraft relative to the reference vehicle using the data from the sensors () and the receiver () and then commands flight control devices () on the aircraft for maneuvering the aircraft in a manner that maintains a selected position and/or velocity relative to the reference vehicle. The system allows use of a graphical or tactile user interfaces.

A flight control system for an aircraft receives a selected value of a first parameter, which is either the airspeed or inertial velocity of the aircraft. A primary feedback loop generates a primary error signal that is proportional to the difference between the selected value and a measured value of the first parameter. A secondary feedback loop generates a secondary error signal that is proportional to the difference between the selected value of the first parameter and a measured value of a second flight parameter, which is the other of the airspeed and inertial velocity. The primary and secondary error signals are summed to produce a velocity error signal, and the velocity error signal and an integrated value of the primary error signal are summed to produce an actuator command signal. The actuator command signal is then used for operating aircraft devices to control the first parameter to minimize the primary error signal.

Automatic velocity control system for aircraft

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for automatically controlling the conversion of a tiltrotor aircraft. An airspeed command for the tiltrotor aircraft is received. The airspeed command is converted to a pylon position. A difference between the airspeed command and a measured airspeed is calculated. The difference between the airspeed command and a measured airspeed is converted to a dynamic pylon position. A total pylon position is calculated from the pylon position and the dynamic pylon position. A pylon of the tiltrotor aircraft is moved to the total pylon position. Another embodiment of the present invention is a system for calculating a position of a pylon of a tiltrotor aircraft based on an airspeed command. The system includes an airspeed command module, a pylon trim position module, a dynamic pylon position module, and a pylon position module.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, TX, United States of America

Kynn Jerald Schulte