Kevin D Conrad

US Patent:

20040232632, Nov 25, 2004

Filed:

Feb 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/784341

Inventors:

Michael Beck - Colleyville TX, US
Kevin Conrad - Mansfield TX, US

International Classification:

B60G017/01

US Classification:

280/005500, 701/037000

Abstract:

A method of controlling stability of a vehicle having an articulated suspension includes determining at least one dynamic property of the vehicle and manipulating the articulated suspension based on the at least one dynamic property to affect the stability of the vehicle. A method of controlling stability of a vehicle having an articulated suspension includes determining a damping scenario and adjusting damping levels of a plurality of active dampers of the articulated suspension. A method of controlling stability of a vehicle having an articulated suspension includes determining a load on each of a plurality of wheel assemblies of the articulated suspension and manipulating at least one component of the vehicle to affect at least one of a center of gravity of the vehicle and the vehicle's stability limits.

US Patent:

20050023052, Feb 3, 2005

Filed:

Aug 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/639278

Inventors:

Michael Beck - Colleyville TX, US
Jon Stinchcomb - Arlington TX, US
Wendell Chun - Littleton CO, US
Donald Nimblett - Midlothian TX, US
James Tomlin - Grand Prairie TX, US
Kevin Conrad - Mansfield TX, US

International Classification:

B62D061/10

US Classification:

180024070

Abstract:

A vehicle includes a chassis and a plurality of wheel assemblies articulated with the chassis, each of the plurality of wheel assemblies comprising a rotatable wheel spaced away from the chassis. A vehicle includes a chassis and an articulated suspension system mounted to the chassis. A method includes comprising articulating at least one of a plurality of wheel assemblies with a chassis, each of the wheel assemblies including a rotatable wheel spaced apart from the chassis. A vehicle includes a chassis and articulatable means for rolling the chassis along a path.

US Patent:

20070080001, Apr 12, 2007

Filed:

Dec 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/609517

Inventors:

Michael Beck - Colleyville TX, US
Jon Stinchcomb - Arlington TX, US
Wendell Chun - Littleton CO, US
Donald Nimblett - Midlothian TX, US
James Tomlin - Grand Prairie TX, US
Kevin Conrad - Mansfield TX, US

International Classification:

B60G 17/016
B62D 61/10
B60K 1/00

US Classification:

180024070, 180065500, 180342000, 280005514, 280005508, 180024020

Abstract:

A vehicle includes a chassis and a plurality of wheel assemblies articulated with the chassis, each of the plurality of wheel assemblies comprising a rotatable wheel spaced away from the chassis. A vehicle includes a chassis and an articulated suspension system mounted to the chassis. A method includes comprising articulating at least one of a plurality of wheel assemblies with a chassis, each of the wheel assemblies including a rotatable wheel spaced apart from the chassis. A vehicle includes a chassis and articulatable means for rolling the chassis along a path.

US Patent:

20040231904, Nov 25, 2004

Filed:

Feb 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/784739

Inventors:

Michael Beck - Colleyville TX, US
Kevin Conrad - Mansfield TX, US

International Classification:

B60K001/00

US Classification:

180/197000

Abstract:

A method of controlling traction in a vehicle having an articulated suspension includes determining a performance characteristic of the vehicle; determining a performance characteristic of at least one of a plurality of wheel assemblies of the articulated suspension; comparing the performance characteristic of the vehicle and the performance characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of wheel assemblies; and altering the performance of the vehicle based upon the comparison to affect the vehicle's traction. A method of controlling traction in a vehicle having an articulated suspension includes determining a load on each of a plurality of wheel assemblies of the articulated suspension and adjusting the articulated suspension such that each of the loads is within a predetermined range.

US Patent:

20160236794, Aug 18, 2016

Filed:

Feb 13, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/622403

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
Kevin Conrad - Mansfield TX, US
Chris Thompson - Euless TX, US
Brandon Johnson - Dallas TX, US

International Classification:

B64D 43/02
B64D 45/00
G01M 17/007

Abstract:

An aircraft monitoring system includes multiple wireless aircraft sensors and multiple meta sensors mounted on-board an aircraft. Each wireless aircraft sensor is configured to sense an aircraft parameter. Each meta sensor is associated with an aircraft sensor and is configured to determine a location or orientation on the aircraft of the aircraft sensor. A data acquisition system mounted on-board the aircraft and connected to the multiple aircraft sensors and the multiple meta sensors can perform aircraft monitoring operations based on the sensed aircraft parameters and on a location or orientation of the aircraft sensors.

US Patent:

20150274312, Oct 1, 2015

Filed:

Dec 19, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/577229

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
Kevin Conrad - Mansfield TX, US

Assignee:

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B64D 45/00
G01M 17/007
G01L 5/16
G07C 5/08

Abstract:

According to one example embodiment, a method of assessing reliability of an aircraft component includes identifying, aboard an aircraft, a first probability of failure of the aircraft component installed on the aircraft. One or more measurements representative of at least one load applied against the aircraft component are received. Determined, aboard the aircraft, is a second probability of failure of the aircraft component based on the first probability of failure and the received one or more measurements representative of the at least one load applied against the aircraft component, the second probability of failure representing a probability of failure of the aircraft component after application of the at least one load.

US Patent:

20150274313, Oct 1, 2015

Filed:

Dec 19, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/577263

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
Kevin Conrad - Mansfield TX, US

Assignee:

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B64D 45/00
G01M 17/007
G01L 5/16
G07C 5/08

Abstract:

According to one example embodiment, a method of assessing use of an aircraft component installed on an aircraft includes receiving, from one or more sensors installed on the aircraft, one or more measurements representative of at least one load applied against the aircraft component; selecting at least one usage model from a plurality of usage models, each usage model of the plurality of usage models relating aircraft loads with received sensor data; determining at least one load value based on the selected at least one usage model and the received one or more measurements; and calculating, based on the determined at least one load value, an amount of change in probability of failure caused by application of the at least one load against the aircraft component.

US Patent:

20150274314, Oct 1, 2015

Filed:

Dec 19, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/577314

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
Kevin Conrad - Mansfield TX, US

Assignee:

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B64D 45/00
G01M 17/007
G01L 5/16
G07C 5/08

Abstract:

According to one example embodiment, a method of reassessing use of an aircraft component installed on an aircraft includes receiving, from one or more sensors installed on the aircraft, one or more measurements representative of at least one load applied against the aircraft component; determining, based on the received one or more measurements and based on at least one other received input, an amount of change in probability of failure caused by application of the at least one load against the aircraft component; receiving a change to one of the received one or more measurements or the at least one other received input; and redetermining the change in probability of failure based on the received change.