A system includes a thermal engine operatively connected to drive a propeller. An electric motor is operatively connected to the thermal engine to drive the propeller together with the thermal engine. An external input system is configured to accept input and output a thrust command. A protection function module is configured to enforce limits on the thermal engine, electric motor, and propeller. A low select module is operatively connected to receive input from the external input system and form the protection function module and to output the lower of input from the protection function module and external input system to the thermal engine, the electric motor, and the propeller.

The present disclosure describes a propeller control unit for controlling the blade pitch of a propeller. The unit includes an electrohydraulic servo valve (“EHSV”) and is connected to a propeller actuator that adjusts the blade pitch of a propeller. The EHSV operates to allow pressurized fluid to flow from a pressurized fluid source to the actuator to adjust the blade pitch of the propeller in a flight pitch range and a ground pitch range, to allow pressurized fluid to flow from the source to the actuator to adjust the blade pitch of the propeller in a flight pitch range but not a ground pitch range, and to block the flow of pressurized fluid from the source to the actuator and drain pressurized fluid from the actuator to prevent adjustment of the blade pitch of the propeller in the flight pitch range or the ground pitch range.

An electric propulsion unit comprising a housing, an AC motor, a beta rod, a propeller, a governor, an inverter, and a controller. The AC motor is disposed within the housing and includes a plurality of bearings supported inside the housing, a hollow motor shaft rotatably coupled to the housing by the plurality of bearings, a stator which is supported by the housing, and a rotor which is mounted to the hollow motor shaft. The beta rod is axially translatable inside the hollow motor shaft. The propeller is mechanically coupled to the hollow motor shaft. The propeller includes propeller blades having an adjustable pitch angle which depends on an axial position of the beta rod. The governor is configured to adjust a pitch angle of the propeller blades by actuating axial translation of the beta rod. The inverter is disposed within the housing and connected to receive DC power for conversion into AC power. The controller is disposed inside the housing and configured to control operation of the inverter and control the pitch angle of the propeller blades.

A system includes a thermal engine operatively connected to drive a propeller. An electric motor is operatively connected to the thermal engine to drive the propeller together with the thermal engine. An external input system is configured to accept input and output a thrust command. A protection function module is configured to enforce limits on the thermal engine, electric motor, and propeller. A low select module is operatively connected to receive input from the external input system and form the protection function module and to output the lower of input from the protection function module and external input system to the thermal engine, the electric motor, and the propeller.

A method for the control of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft which reduces the acoustic profile of the rotary airfoil in hover for VTOL applications. The rotary airfoil incurs an efficiency penalty in order to improve the acoustic performance during hover. The aircraft operates the rotary airfoils of the propeller during hover in the hover angle of attack range, and the aircraft operates the rotary airfoils during forward flight in the forward angle of attack range.

The invention describes a system for controlling the cyclic setting of blades (1) of a turbine engine propeller, the blades (1) being arranged in a plane normal to the axis of rotation (r) of the propeller, the system comprising: —a plate assembly (40) that can be tilted relative to the normal plane (P), —an articulation system (50) articulating the plate assembly (40) relative to the blades (1) such that tilting the plate assembly (40) modifies the setting of the blades (1), —a force sensor (5) designed to measure a force applied in the normal plane (P) by an air flow at the inlet of the propeller blades (1), —a cylinder (60) suitable for tilting the plate assembly (40) in response to a force measured by the force sensor (5).

An electric propulsion unit comprising a housing, an AC motor, a beta rod, a propeller, a governor, an inverter, and a controller. The AC motor is disposed within the housing and includes bearings supported inside the housing, a hollow motor shaft rotatably coupled to the housing by the bearings, a stator which is supported by the housing, and a rotor which is mounted to the hollow motor shaft. The beta rod is axially translatable inside the hollow motor shaft. The propeller is mechanically coupled to the hollow motor shaft. The propeller includes propeller blades having an adjustable pitch angle which depends on an axial position of the beta rod. The governor is configured to adjust a pitch angle of the propeller blades by actuating axial translation of the beta rod. The controller is disposed inside the housing and configured to control the pitch angle of the propeller blades.

A method for the control of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft which reduces the acoustic profile of the rotary airfoil in hover for VTOL applications. The rotary airfoil incurs an efficiency penalty in order to improve the acoustic performance during hover. The aircraft operates the rotary airfoils of the propeller during hover in the hover angle of attack range, and the aircraft operates the rotary airfoils during forward flight in the forward angle of attack range.

A system for controlling a propeller having a plurality of blades having a primary control system and a backup control system. The primary control system including a sensor responsive to a propeller state, and a controller connected to the sensor and to an electrohydraulic control actuator. The electrohydraulic control actuator is connected via a bypass valve to a hydraulic actuator that controls at least a blade angle of a blade of the propeller. The controller generating commands to the electrohydraulic control actuator based on at least the propeller state. The backup control system including a second controller, an electrohydraulic solenoid operably connected to the bypass valve. The backup control system is operable to hydraulically disable the primary control system via the bypass valve upon the occurrence of a selected condition, the second controller modulates the operation of the electrohydraulic solenoid to control the bypass actuator based on the propeller state.

An automatic aircraft powerplant control system includes a throttle servo for adjusting a throttle valve via a throttle control linkage. A throttle control lever provides a user input to the throttle servo, and a throttle controller controls the throttle servo for controlling a throttle valve. A propeller servo is provided for adjusting a propeller governor setting of an engine. A propeller control lever provides a user input to the propeller servo, and a propeller controller controls the propeller servo. A mixture control servo is configured for providing a mixture control output to the engine via a mixture control linkage for adjusting an air-fuel mixture. A mixture controller is configured for controlling the mixture control servo.