Daniel Anthony Robertson

US Patent:

7594625, Sep 29, 2009

Filed:

Jan 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/543222

Inventors:

Daniel B. Robertson - Southlake TX, US
Dudley E. Smith - Arlington TX, US
Charles L. Hollimon - North Richland Hills TX, US
Jimmy C. Narramore - Bedford TX, US
Robert B. Mullins - Mansfield TX, US

Assignee:

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B64C 39/00

US Classification:

244 70, 416148, 416231 B

Abstract:

A proprotor blade () having a fixed, spanwise, leading edge slot () located in at least the inboard portion of the proprotor is disclosed. The slot () is formed by a selectively shaped slat () disposed in a selectively shaped recessed area () located at the leading edge () of the main portion of the proprotor blade. The slot () is selectively shaped so the a portion of the airflow over the lower airfoil surface of the proprotor blade is diverted between the main portion of the proprotor blade and the slat () and exits at the upper airfoil surface of the proprotor blade. The present invention may be used on both military-type tiltrotor aircraft () and civilian-type tiltrotor aircraft () with only minor variations to accommodate the different shapes of the proprotor blades.

US Patent:

8469308, Jun 25, 2013

Filed:

Sep 2, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/224902

Inventors:

Daniel B. Robertson - Southlake TX, US
Kirk L. Groninga - Keller TX, US

Assignee:

Textron Innovations Inc. - Providence RI

International Classification:

B64C 15/00
B64C 27/22
B64C 27/82
B64C 3/48
B64C 29/00

US Classification:

244 52, 244 123, 244 1719, 244218

Abstract:

A system and method to control flight of an aircraft. The aircraft having an engine with a rotatably nozzle assembly configured to create forward propulsion and yaw control of the aircraft. The engine exhaust passing through the nozzle is redirected with a valve disposed within the nozzle. Lift is created with a lift system carried by the wing of the aircraft. Additional lift is created during flight with a retractable wing extension disposed within the wing of the aircraft.

US Patent:

8636243, Jan 28, 2014

Filed:

Nov 12, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/580532

Inventors:

Daniel B. Robertson - Southlake TX, US

Assignee:

Textron Innovations Inc. - Providence RI

International Classification:

B64C 15/00
B64C 27/82

US Classification:

244 1719, 244 52

Abstract:

The system of the present application includes a duct for receiving airflow from within a duct portion of a tailboom. The airflow is a mixture of fan driven air and engine exhaust. The system includes a fixed nozzle assembly with an anti-torque nozzle, a pro-torque nozzle and a thrust nozzle. A rotating sleeve valve is located within the fixed nozzle assembly. The rotating sleeve valve located within the fixed nozzle assembly and is configured to selectively redirect airflow into one or more of the anti-torque nozzle, the pro-torque nozzle and the thrust nozzle.

US Patent:

20220289370, Sep 15, 2022

Filed:

May 24, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/752542

Inventors:

- Providence RI, US
Daniel Bryan Robertson - Southlake TX, US

Assignee:

Textron Innovations Inc. - Providence RI

International Classification:

B64C 27/80
B64C 29/00
B64C 27/58
B64C 5/06
F16H 1/28
B64C 27/52
B64C 27/57
B64C 11/00
B64C 27/20
B64C 13/24

Abstract:

A differential thrust vectoring system includes a first thruster, a second thruster, a main actuator, and a trim actuator. The system is configured such that actuation of the main actuator causes rotation of the thrusters together about an axis, whereas actuation of the trim actuator causes relative rotation of the first and second thrusters about the axis.

US Patent:

20230002047, Jan 5, 2023

Filed:

Sep 2, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/902483

Inventors:

- Providence RI, US
Daniel Bryan ROBERTSON - Southlake TX, US
William Benjamin JOHNS - Little Elm TX, US

Assignee:

Textron Innovations Inc. - Providence RI

International Classification:

B64C 39/02
B64F 3/02
G01R 31/08
H02G 1/02
H04N 7/18

Abstract:

An exemplary unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mountable to a conductor of an aerial power transmission line system includes a body having a rotor system, a motivation system attached to the body to motivate the UAV along the conductor, a battery carried by the body and electrically connected to at least one of the rotor system and the motivation system, a monitoring tool mounted with the body and an inductive coil carried by the body and in electric connection with the battery, wherein the inductive coil is configured to harvest electricity from the aerial power transmission line system and charge the battery.

US Patent:

20210331793, Oct 28, 2021

Filed:

Jul 2, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/366834

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
Daniel B. ROBERTSON - Southlake TX, US

Assignee:

Bell Textron Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B64C 29/00

Abstract:

An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode includes tiltable rotors located at forward boom ends, tiltable ducted fans located at wings aft of the forward boom ends, and aft rotors located on aft boom portions.

US Patent:

20210300536, Sep 30, 2021

Filed:

Mar 29, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/833628

Inventors:

- Providence RI, US
Daniel Bryan Robertson - Southlake TX, US
Kirk Landon Groninga - Keller TX, US
Matthew Edward Louis - Fort Worth TX, US

Assignee:

Textron Innovations Inc. - Providence RI

International Classification:

B64C 29/00
B64C 27/30
B64C 15/14
B64C 21/00
B64C 27/78
B64D 33/04
B64C 27/22
B64C 27/26

Abstract:

An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a forward flight orientation. The aircraft has a blended wing body and includes first and second engines, a binary lift fan system, first and second forced air bypass systems and first and second exhaust systems. The engines have turboshaft and turbofan modes. The lift fan system includes ducted fans in a tandem longitudinal orientation. In the VTOL orientation of the aircraft, the engines are in the turboshaft mode coupled to the lift fan system such that the engines provide rotational energy to the ducted fans generating the thrust-borne lift. In the forward flight orientation of the aircraft, the engines are in the turbofan mode coupled to the forced air bypass systems such that the bypass air combines with the engine exhaust in the exhaust systems to provide forward thrust generating the wing-borne lift.

US Patent:

20210237866, Aug 5, 2021

Filed:

Jan 31, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/778269

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
Daniel Bryan ROBERTSON - Southlake TX, US
William Benjamin JOHNS - Little Elm TX, US

Assignee:

Bell Textron Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B64C 39/02
H02G 1/02
G01R 31/08
H04N 7/18
B64F 3/02

Abstract:

An exemplary unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mountable to a conductor of an aerial power transmission line system includes a body having a rotor system, a motivation system attached to the body to motivate the UAV along the conductor, a battery carried by the body and electrically connected to at least one of the rotor system and the motivation system, a monitoring tool mounted with the body and an inductive coil carried by the body and in electric connection with the battery, wherein the inductive coil is configured to harvest electricity from the aerial power transmission line system and charge the battery.