# US 11,999,503 B2 · Articulating bifurcated integrated transition duct assembly

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,999,503 B2
- Document ID: US11999503B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/449,145
- Filed: 2023-08-14
- Published: 2023-12-07
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-23
- Assignees: Textron Innovations Inc.
- Applicants: Textron Innovations Inc.
- Inventors: Keith David Weaver; Michael Pujol; Andrew Jordan Birkenheuer; Nicholas Plagianos; Karl Burge; Thomas Mast
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999503B2

## CPC

- B64D 33/08: of power plant cooling systems
- B64C 27/12: Rotor drives
- F01P 1/06: Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
- F01P 11/10: Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers
- F16H 57/0416: {Air cooling or ventilation}
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28)
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A transition duct assembly includes a shared connector, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways for cooling one or more systems or components. Each primary cooling pathway includes a transition duct in fluid communication with the shared connector, and a transition connector in fluid communication with the transition duct.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rotorcraft, comprising:
a fuselage;
one or more engines coupled to the fuselage;
a transition duct assembly coupled to the fuselage, wherein the transition duct assembly comprises:
a shared connector comprising an articulatable partition that forms a plurality of channels within the shared connector;
a plurality of primary cooling pathways for cooling one or more systems or components, wherein each of the primary cooling pathways is in fluid communication with a respective channel within the shared connector:
a respective transition duct in fluid communication with a single respective channel within the shared connector; and
a respective transition connector in fluid communication with the respective transition duct, wherein articulation of the articulatable partition from a first to a second position allows for air flow over most or all of a cooling apparatus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rotorcraft of claim 1, wherein the articulatable partition is articulated or actuated.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rotorcraft of claim 1, wherein:
each transition duct comprises at least a portion that is a rigid material, a flexible material, an articulated portion, a flexible portion, or a combination thereof;
the shared connector comprises at least a portion that is a rigid material, a flexible material, an articulated portion, a flexible portion, or a combination thereof; or
each transition connector comprises at least a portion that is a rigid material, a flexible material, an articulated portion, a flexible portion, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rotorcraft of claim 1, wherein the transition duct assembly further comprises one or more secondary cooling pathways, wherein each of the one or more secondary cooling pathways comprises a conduit in fluid communication with the transition duct one of the primary cooling pathways.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The rotorcraft of claim 4, wherein each conduit comprises at least a portion that is a rigid material, a flexible material, an articulated portion, a flexible portion, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The rotorcraft of claim 4, wherein the conduit is operably coupled with a distributed cooling device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The rotorcraft of claim 1, wherein the shared connector is operably coupled with a shared cooling device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The rotorcraft of claim 1, wherein each transition connector is positioned in fluid communication with a fan.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The rotorcraft of claim 1, wherein:
the plurality of primary cooling pathways comprise two primary cooling pathways; and
the plurality of channels comprise two channels.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The rotorcraft of claim 1, further comprising two secondary cooling pathways.