Patent classifications
B64C2027/8254
CONNECTION BETWEEN A PITCH CONTROL UNIT ARM AND A PITCH HORN
The present disclosure is directed to a detachable connection between a pitch control unit arm and a pitch horn of a blade holder in a tail rotor head of a tail rotor of a rotary wing aircraft. The detachable connection includes a pin connecting the pitch horn, attached to a blade holder, with the pitch control unit arm of a pitch control unit, by protruding through an arm through hole and at another edge through a pitch horn through hole. By this arrangement, material wear is reduced and maintenance intervals can be reduced. This is reached because the pin is designed as a sliding pin projecting between pitch horn and pitch control unit arm, which is running in the course of its length through a spherical bearing in form of a ball with a central ball through hole.
ANTI-TORQUE CONTROL USING MATRIX OF FIXED BLADE PITCH MOTOR MODULES
The present invention includes an a plurality of first variable speed motors arranged in a first matrix pattern and mounted on a tail boom of the helicopter; one or more fixed pitch blades attached to each of the plurality of first variable speed motors; and wherein a speed of one or more of the plurality of first variable speed motors is varied to provide an anti-torque thrust.
PROPELLER DIVERTER DUCT
A diverter duct for a propeller includes a second duct element having a semi-annular wedge shape, which is pivotably coupled to the first duct element, a first drive structure configured to drive a pivoting of the second duct element relative to the first duct element and a second drive structure configured to drive a rotation of the first and second duct elements about an axis of rotation of the propeller.
Rotor drive system
A rotor drive for a tail rotor of a helicopter is provided. The system includes a stator and a rotor mounted to the stator with a rotatable central carrier. Rotor blades are radially attached to the rotatable central carrier and each of the rotor blades is pivotable about their respective radial central axis for variation of blade pitch. At least one permanent magnet is provided on each rotor blade. A plurality of electromagnets is provided on the stator close enough to allow inductive interaction between the plurality of electromagnets and the at least one permanent magnet on each rotor blade. The permanent magnets are offset from the radial central axis in a direction perpendicular to the rotation plane for individual pitch control of the rotor blades by individual control of electric supply to the electromagnets.
Duct vane rotation system
One embodiment is a rotor system comprising a duct ring; a hub disposed centrally to the duct ring; first and second stators each connected between the duct ring and the hub; first and second control vanes rotatably connected to the first and second stators, respectively; and a structural hoop having a first end connected to the first control vane and a second end connected to the second control vane, the structural hoop for translating rotation of the first control vane about a vane axis to the second control vane.
DISTRIBUTED PROPULSION WITH THERMAL MANAGEMENT
An exemplary distributed propulsion system with thermal management includes two or more rotors individually controlled by associated motors and an input control connected to the associated motors to demand the associated motors produce a demanded thrust, wherein a motor power output of each motor of the associated motors is independently controlled to produce the demanded thrust and to control a motor temperature of one or more of the associated motors.
ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT WITH AN ASYMMETRICAL REAR SECTION
A rotary wing aircraft that extends along an associated roll axis between a nose region and an aft region and that comprises a fuselage with a front section and a rear section, the rotary wing aircraft comprising: a main rotor that is rotatably mounted at the front section, a shrouded duct that is arranged in the aft region, and a propeller that is rotatably mounted to the shrouded duct, wherein the rear section extends between the front section and the shrouded duct and comprises an asymmetrical cross-sectional profile in direction of the associated roll axis.
Rudders for Rotorcraft Yaw Control Systems
A yaw control system for a helicopter having a tailboom and a forward flight mode includes a surface coupled to the tailboom, one or more tail rotors coupled to the surface, a flight control computer implementing a yaw controller having a rudder control module and a tail rotor rotational speed reduction module and a rudder rotatably coupled to the surface. The tail rotor rotational speed reduction module is configured to selectively switch the one or more tail rotors into a rotational speed reduction mode in the helicopter forward flight mode. The rudder control module is configured to rotate the rudder in the rotational speed reduction mode of the one or more tail rotors to control the yaw of the helicopter.
Power Management Systems for Electrically Distributed Yaw Control Systems
An electrically distributed yaw control system for a helicopter having a tailboom and a power system includes one or more tail rotors including a motor rotatably coupled to the tailboom and a power distribution unit. The power distribution unit includes a power management monitoring module configured to monitor one or more flight parameters of the helicopter and a power management command module configured to allocate power between the power system and the one or more tail rotor motors based on the one or more flight parameters of the helicopter.
Rotorcraft Quiet Modes
A yaw control system for a helicopter having a tailboom includes one or more tail rotors rotatably coupled to the tailboom and a quiet mode controller. The quiet mode controller includes a noise monitoring module configured to monitor one or more flight parameters of the helicopter and a quiet mode command module configured to selectively switch the one or more tail rotors to a quiet mode based on the one or more flight parameters. The quiet mode command module is also configured to modify one or more operating parameters of the one or more tail rotors in the quiet mode to reduce noise emitted by the helicopter.