B64C11/305

Method and apparatus for proximity control between rotating and non-rotating aircraft components

The aircraft includes a rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor blades. The aircraft further includes a non-rotating aircraft component. A proximity sensor is disposed with at least one of the non-rotating aircraft component and the rotor blades. A flight control computer is electrically coupled to the proximity sensor.

Aircraft engine assembly comprising a pylon leading edge incorporated with an annular row of unfaired after-guide vanes

To reduce the overall mass of an engine assembly for aircraft, this assembly comprises a part of the fuselage of an aircraft, a turbomachine comprising an unfaired propeller, together with an annular row of unfaired after-guide vanes located aft of the propeller and rotationally fixed in relation to a longitudinal axis of the turbomachine, and a mounting pylon. At least part of the leading edge of the pylon is incorporated within the annular row between two after-guide vanes.

Systems and Methods for Acoustic Radiation Control
20200023957 · 2020-01-23 ·

Disclosed is a system, method, and aircraft for controlling acoustic radiation from an aircraft comprising a plurality of rotor systems and a noise controller configured to regulate acoustic radiation from the plurality of rotor systems. The noise controller can be configured to regulate a commanded flight setting from the flight control system and to output a regulated flight setting to the plurality of rotor systems. Based on the regulated flight setting, the plurality of rotor systems are configured to generate, individually and in aggregate, acoustic radiation having a target acoustic behavior. In certain aspects, the noise controller can change the directionality of acoustic radiation from the plurality of rotor systems, or otherwise tune the acoustic radiation to reduce detectability or annoyance.

PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM
20200023956 · 2020-01-23 ·

A pitch control system configured to vary a pitch angle of at least one of a plurality of propeller blades of a propeller system is provided including a switch movable between a neutral position and a plurality of non-neutral positions. Movement of the switch to a first non-neutral position generates a command to move the propeller blades in a first direction. Movement of the switch to a second non-neutral position generates a command to move the propeller blades in a second direction. Movement of the switch to a third non-neutral position generates a command to move the propeller blades to a zero thrust position.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROXIMITY CONTROL BETWEEN ROTATING AND NON-ROTATING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS

The aircraft includes a rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor blades. The aircraft further includes a non-rotating aircraft component. A proximity sensor is disposed with at least one of the non-rotating aircraft component and the rotor blades. A flight control computer is electrically coupled to the proximity sensor.

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SPEED AND THE POWER OF A TURBINE ENGINE PROPELLER
20190390607 · 2019-12-26 ·

The invention relates to a method for controlling the speed and the power of a turbine engine propeller, wherein at least two operating modes are implemented: one operating mode, called speed mode, in which the pitch () of the propeller is controlled as a function of the desired propeller speed, while the fuel flow is controlled as a function of the desired torque; the other operating mode, called mode, in which the fuel flow is controlled as a function of the desired propeller speed, the pitch () of the propeller being set to a limit angle (min) that limits the pitch of the propeller in the two operating modes, the pitch angle (min(t)) being continuously computed and updated during a flight on the basis of parameters relating to the flight conditions estimated in real time.

TURBOPROPELLER ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD, PROVIDING OPTIMIZED EFFICIENCY

An electronic control system (30) for a turbopropeller engine (1) having a gas turbine (2, 4, 5, 6) and a propeller (7), coupled to the gas turbine, the control system (10) having a propeller control unit (14) and a turbine control unit (15) to jointly control engine power output based on an input request (PLA), wherein the propeller control unit (14) has a first reference generator (16), to determine a reference propeller speed (N.sub.pref) based on the input request (PLA), and a first regulator (19), to regulate a propeller speed (N.sub.p). The propeller control unit (14) has a reference correction stage (31) to apply a correction to the reference propeller speed (N.sub.pref) and generate thereby a corrected reference propeller speed (I), and the first regulator (19) regulates the propeller speed (N.sub.p) based on the corrected reference propeller speed (I) to achieve optimized efficiency.

Automatic blade pitch control

The invention relates to a method for controlling a pitch angle of the vanes or blades of a propellant body of a turbine engine, comprising generating a pitch command (i.sub.final) according to a rotational speed of the propeller (XN.sub.mes) and a speed setpoint (XN.sub.cons), the method comprises a nominal regulating chain (13), wherein the pitch command is further generated according to a value of a pitch angle (mes) of the vanes or blades of the propellant body, and an off-nominal regulating chain (16), wherein the pitch command is generated independently of a value of a pitch angle of the vanes or blades of the propellant body.

POWER MANAGEMENT BETWEEN A PROPULSOR AND A COAXIAL ROTOR OF A HELICOPTER
20190352014 · 2019-11-21 ·

One aspect is a flight control system for a rotary wing aircraft that includes flight control computer configured to interface with a main rotor system, a translational thrust system, and an engine control system. The flight control computer includes processing circuitry configured to execute control logic. The control logic includes a primary flight control configured to produce flight control commands for the main rotor system and the translational thrust system. A main engine anticipation logic is configured to produce a rotor power demand associated with the main rotor system. A propulsor loads engine anticipation logic is configured to produce an auxiliary propulsor power demand associated with the translational thrust system. The flight control computer providing the engine control system with a total power demand anticipation signal based on a combination of the rotor power demand and the auxiliary propulsor power demand.

Power plant thrust management system for turboprop engines

Methods and systems for operating a turboprop engine having a high pressure spool and a low pressure spool rotating independently from one another. Each spool contains at least one compressor stage and the low pressure spool is connected to a propeller. The method comprises determining a target temperature-corrected rotational speed of the low pressure spool for a given set of operating parameters; and controlling a mechanical speed of the low pressure spool to maintain the temperature-corrected rotational speed of the low pressure spool substantially constant throughout at least a portion of a range of a power demand on the turboprop engine.