David A Prater

US Patent:

20220212783, Jul 7, 2022

Filed:

Nov 1, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/516093

Inventors:

- Providence RI, US
David Andrew Prater - Hurst TX, US
Eric Stephen Olson - Fort Worth TX, US
David Bryan Roberts - Bedford TX, US
Chia-Wei Su - Lewisville TX, US
Michael David Trantham - Arlington TX, US
Charles Eric Covington - Colleyville TX, US

Assignee:

Textron Innovations Inc. - Providence RI

International Classification:

B64C 27/12
B64D 35/08
F16D 41/04

Abstract:

A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly shifts the bypass assembly between engaged and disengaged positions. An engagement status sensor is configured to determine the engagement status of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.

US Patent:

20210070430, Mar 11, 2021

Filed:

Oct 5, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/063712

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
David Andrew Prater - Hurst TX, US
Eric Stephen Olson - Fort Worth TX, US
David Bryan Roberts - Bedford TX, US
Chia-Wei Su - Lewisville TX, US
Michael David Trantham - Arlington TX, US
Charles Eric Covington - Colleyville TX, US

Assignee:

Bell Textron Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B64C 27/12
B64D 35/08
F16D 41/04

Abstract:

A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly shifts the bypass assembly between engaged and disengaged positions. An engagement status sensor is configured to determine the engagement status of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.

US Patent:

20210061452, Mar 4, 2021

Filed:

Sep 29, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/037476

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
David Andrew Prater - Hurst TX, US

Assignee:

Bell Textron Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B64C 27/12
B64D 27/10
B64D 27/24
B64D 35/02
B64C 27/06
F16D 41/08
F16D 48/02
F16D 28/00
F16D 25/062

Abstract:

A failsafe multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having input and output races. The freewheeling unit has a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly must be energized to shift the bypass assembly from the engaged position to a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.