A propeller assembly of an aircraft includes a hub, a plurality of propeller blades extending from the hub and secured thereto and a propeller blade pitch change system located at at least one propeller blade of the plurality of propeller blades. The propeller blade pitch change system includes a pitch change actuator located in the propeller blade, and a drive mechanism operably connected to the pitch change actuator and to the propeller blade to urge rotation of the propeller blade about a propeller blade axis.

Methods and systems for testing a sensor of a propeller blade angle position feedback system are described. A sensor signal is received from a sensor at a known position relative to a feedback device, the feedback comprising a ring and at least one pair of position markers spaced from one another around a circumference thereof, the sensor configured for successively detecting passage of the position markers as the feedback device rotates at a known rotational speed and an axial distance between the sensor and the feedback device varies. From the sensor signal a measured position of the sensor relative to the feedback device and a measured rotational speed of the feedback device are determined. The measured position and the measured rotational speed are compared to the known position and the known rotational speed to determine a sensor accuracy.

An electric, inductively-energized, multi-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller hub is configured with an internal battery, electronic control unit and electric internal reversible hubmotor, when energized by a voltage inducted across an air gap into an annulus of receiver coils that is mounted onto said propeller hub and when said propeller hub is attached to and operated with complementary electrical, electronic and mechanical components that enable wireless command signals, together forming a novel and versatile device whose operation can provide near-instantaneous modulation of aircraft thrust, lift and drag by the action of said propeller hub to actuate precise and equal changes to the pitch of each propeller blade through a full range of useful pitch settings, both during rotation of said propeller hub and when said propeller hub is stationary, with an innovation including a coaxial driveshaft that facilitates the removal and installation of said propeller hub from a propmotor.

An electronic control system (30) for a turbopropeller engine (12) having a gas turbine (20) and a propeller assembly (13) coupled to the gas turbine (20), controls propeller operation based on a pilot input request, via generation of a driving quantity (Ip) for an actuation assembly (29) designed to adjust a pitch angle (β) of propeller blades (2) of the propeller assembly (13). The control system (30) envisages: a propeller speed regulator (39), receiving at its input a propeller speed error (ep), indicative of a difference between a propeller speed measure (Nr) and a propeller speed demand (Nrref), and generating at its output, based on the propeller speed error (ep), a first control quantity (Outi); a propeller pitch regulator (42), receiving at its input a propeller pitch error (ep), indicative of a difference between a propeller pitch demand ( ) and a pitch position measure (β), and generating at its output, based on the propeller pitch error (ep), a first control quantity (Out2); and a priority selection stage (45), configured to implement a priority selection between the first and the second control quantities, for providing at the output the driving quantity (IP), based on the priority selection between the first and the second control quantities.

There is provided a blade angle feedback assembly for a propeller of an aircraft engine. The propeller is rotatable about an axis and has propeller blades rotatable about respective spanwise axes to adjust a blade angle thereof. The blade angle feedback assembly comprises a feedback ring having a plurality of position markers disposed thereon, at least one sensor configured to provide feedback on the blade angle of the propeller blades by detecting a relative movement between the feedback ring and the at least one sensor, and at least one shielding element provided between the feedback ring and the propeller, the at least one shielding element configured to shield the feedback ring from electromagnetism.

The present disclosure is directed to a turbine engine (10) defining an axial direction, a radial direction, a circumferential direction, a first end (99) and a second end (98) opposite of the first end (99) along the axial direction. The turbine engine includes a propeller assembly (14) proximate to the first end including a plurality of blades (42) arranged in the circumferential direction disposed around an axial centerline (12), and a feathering mechanism (60) including a hollow piston rod (19). The feathering mechanism rotates the plurality of blades about a pitch axis (13) extended in the radial direction from the axial centerline. The turbine engine further includes a housing (45) proximate to the second end disposed in adjacent arrangement with the propeller assembly in the axial direction. The axial centerline is defined through the propeller assembly and the housing. The turbine engine further includes a beta tube assembly (100) extended through the hollow piston rod and at least partially through the housing in coaxial alignment with the axial centerline. The beta tube assembly defines an at least partially hollow walled pipe (101) extended along the axial direction. The beta tube assembly further defines a plurality of grooves (111, 112) extended along the axial direction proximate to the housing. A first groove (111) extends at least partially in the circumferential direction and along the axial direction to at least partially define a helix (114) corresponding to a rotatable range of the plurality of blades about the pitch axis, and a second groove (112) extends in the axial direction.

A method of verifying operation of an aircraft in a pre-defined flight mode includes operating the aircraft in a first flight mode, commanding the aircraft to transition to a second flight mode, evaluating a plurality of motor performance parameters, and based on values of the plurality of motor performance parameters, determining whether the aircraft has successfully transitioned to the second flight mode.

A method of verifying operation of an aircraft in a pre-defined flight mode includes operating the aircraft in a first flight mode, commanding the aircraft to transition to a second flight mode, evaluating a plurality of motor performance parameters, and based on values of the plurality of motor performance parameters, determining whether the aircraft has successfully transitioned to the second flight mode.

A failure detection method and system for a propeller control unit coupled to a propeller are provided. An actual value of a blade angle and/or a rotational speed of the propeller are obtained. A comparison between the actual value and a threshold is performed. In response to determining, based on the comparison, that the actual value exceeds the threshold, the propeller control unit is caused to adjust the blade angle to bring the blade angle and/or the rotational speed towards the threshold. A subsequent actual value of the blade angle and/or the rotational speed is obtained. From the subsequent value, it is determined whether the blade angle and/or the rotational speed has been brought towards the threshold. In response to determining that the blade angle and/or the rotational speed has failed to be brought towards the threshold, failure of the propeller control unit is detected and an alert is output.

A feedback device for use in a gas turbine engine, and methods and systems for controlling a pitch for an aircraft-bladed rotor, are provided. The feedback device is composed of a circular disk and a plurality of position markers. The circular disk is coupled to rotate with a rotor of the gas turbine engine, to move along a longitudinal axis of the rotor, and has first and second opposing faces defining a root surface that extends between and circumscribes the first and second faces. The plurality of position markers extend radially from the root surface, are circumferentially spaced around the circular disk, and extending along the longitudinal axis from a first end portion to a second end portion. At least part of the first end portion and/or of the second end portion comprises a material having higher magnetic permeability than that of a remainder of the position markers.