Abstract:
A snubber assembly for a rotor assembly having ducted, coaxial counter-rotating rotors that is design optimized to facilitate utilization of a self-aligning bearing and for installation inboard of the corresponding flexbeam-to-rotor hub attachment joint, thereby enhancing accessibility and reducing maintenance costs. The rotor hub of the rotor assembly is design optimized for securing the snubber assembly in combination therewith and includes a plurality of arms, each arm forming an outboard clevis for attaching the rotor assembly flexbeam to the rotor hub. Inboard of the clevis, each rotor hub arm includes an outboard internal bulkhead having a bolt hole therethrough and an inboard internal bulkhead having a bolt hole therethrough. The inboard and outboard internal bulkheads in combination define a bearing cavity and an internal cavity for securing the snubber assembly in combination with the rotor hub. The snubber assembly includes a spherical self-aligning bearing, a bearing bolt, a locking nut, a snubber bracket secured in combination with the spherical bearing, and securing bolts. The spherical bearing, snubber bracket combination is rotatably mounted within the bearing cavity utilizing the bearing bolt. The bearing bolt is secured in combination with the rotor hub utilizing the locking nut, which is threaded onto the bearing bolt in the internal cavity to jam against the inboard internal bulkhead. The securing bolts are utilized to secure the snubber bracket in combination with the corresponding integrated torque tube/spar member of the rotor assembly.
Abstract:
An unmanned air vehicle capable of vertical take-off and landing, hovering and high-speed horizontal cruise flight. A forward centerbody houses an engine and carries a single rotor assembly having a plurality of propellers lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the forward centerbody. A coaxial aft centerbody is secured to the aft end of the forward centerbody and typically houses the vehicle avionics. A plurality of stators extend outwardly of the aft centerbody, in a plane substantially parallel to the propellers. A single toroidal duct surrounds the rotor assembly and the stators and is secured to the stators. A plurality of movable control vanes are secured between the duct and aft centerbody aft of the stators. A flight control system, typically housed in the aft centerbody, controls the engine and the vanes to cause the vehicle to selectively move upwardly, downwardly, hover or translate to forward, horizontal, motion with the rotor in a plane within 80.degree. of vertical. A sensor, cargo, or other payload may be carried at the forward end of the forward centerbody, extending well in front of the duct. The vehicle is highly maneuverable, light weight and safe for operation from a small area due to the ducted rotor.
Abstract:
An integrated spline/cone seat subassembly for a rotor assembly that is design optimized to minimize the radial dimensions of the rotor shafts, the rotor shaft bearings, the transmission housing, and the swashplate subassemblies thereof. The integrated subassembly includes a rotor hub having a shaft aperture with a plurality of hub splines extend radially inwardly therefrom. The lower portion of each hub spline has an outwardly tapered portion that makes a predetermined angle with respect to the hub centerline. The integrated subassembly further includes a rotor shaft having a primary shaft portion of a first diameter, an end shaft portion having an intermediate second diameter less than the first diameter, and a conic transition portion that makes a predetermined angle with respect to the rotor shaft axis. The end shaft portion has a plurality of shaft splines extending radially outwardly therefrom that defines a third diameter that is equal to the first diameter. The hub and shaft splines are sized to accommodate the torque required by the rotor assembly and interleaved to provide a rotational interlock between the rotor hub and rotor shaft. The tapered portions of the hub splines abuttingly engage and are mechanically supported by the conic transition portion of the rotor shaft. The first diameter of the rotor shaft defines the radial dimensions of the rotor shafts, the rotor shaft bearings, the transmission housing, and the swashplate subassemblies of the rotor assembly.
Abstract:
A drone type aircraft having a telescopic fuselage and folding aerodynamic surfaces to facilitate installation in a limited capacity bomb bay or storage compartment of a launch aircraft. Prior to launch, the drone is lowered from the aircraft on a supporting frame, the aerodynamic surfaces are extended, and the nose section of the fuselage is extended. The added fuselage capacity is used as fuel tankage, which is filled from the launch aircraft to increase the operating range of the drone.
Abstract:
The invention is related to a thrust producing unit 3d for producing thrust in a predetermined direction 23, comprising at least two rotor assemblies 7d, 8d and a shrouding 6d, each one of the at least two rotor assemblies 7d, 8d defining an associated rotor plane 21, 22, wherein a first rotor assembly 7d of the at least two rotor assemblies 7d, 8d is provided for operating in a failure-free operating mode of the thrust producing unit 3d and a second rotor assembly 8d of the at least two rotor assemblies 7d, 8d is provided for operating at least in case of a failure of the first rotor assembly 7d, and wherein the shrouding 6d accommodates at most one of the at least two rotor assemblies 7d, 8d.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing firefighting drone which, in case of a fire in a house, a structure, a building, or the like, can be rapidly introduced and extinguish a fire in an early stage of the fire, and can be remotely operated in an unmanned manner through connection with a central control system. The fire extinguishing firefighting drone includes a flight unit configured to include propeller units, a disaster prevention turret unit configured to spray a fire-extinguishing chemical, a plurality of movement units configured to move a body unit, and a disaster prevention means unit configured to be provided with items adapted to spray a fire-extinguishing chemical, to launch a fire-extinguishing bomb, or to save lives.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide an aircraft (200) for vertical take-off and landing. In various embodiments, an aircraft assembly includes at least one first wing portion (210) providing a lift force during a horizontal flight, at least one wing opening disposed on a vertical axis of the at least one first wing portion (210) and at least one thruster (240) positioned inside the at least one wing opening to provide vertical thrust during a vertical flight. The aircraft assembly can further include air vents (2030) positioned inside at least one of the wing openings. The air vents can further include louvres (2040) positioned over or under the air vents (2030) to open and close the wing openings. The thruster can further be used to provide flight control for the aircraft.