Abstract:
A dual rotor propulsion system (200, 300) for a tiltrotor aircraft (10, 100) having VTOL and forward flight modes. The dual rotor propulsion system (200, 300) includes an engine (202, 302) operable to provide an input torque to a transmission (206, 306) that, responsive thereto, generates an output torque. A first output shaft (214a, 314a) is coupled to the transmission (206, 306) and is operable to receive a first portion of the output torque. A first rotor assembly (216a, 316a) is coupled to and rotatable with the first output shaft (214a, 314a). A second output shaft (214b, 314b) is coupled to the transmission (206, 306) and is operable to receive a second portion of the output torque. A second rotor assembly (216b, 316b) is coupled to and rotatable with the second output shaft (214b, 314b). In operation, the first and second rotor assemblies (216a, 316a, 216b, 316b) rotate coaxially, the first rotor assembly (216a, 316a) is a different diameter than the second rotor assembly (216b, 316b) and the first rotor assembly (216a, 216b) is stoppable and foldable in the forward flight mode.
Abstract:
Systems and methods of operating a tiltrotor aircraft (100) include providing a control system (200) that includes sensors (204, 206) and/or gauges (208) that provide feedback regarding hub shear forces in rotor systems (108) of the aircraft (100) that produce aeroelastic instability known as whirl flutter. Feedback from the sensors (204, 206) and/or gauges (208) is communicated to a flight control subsystem (202) that includes an algorithm that provides a cascading set of responses to control whirl flutter and a failsafe that adjusts operational characteristics of the aircraft (100) in response to the continuation or excitation of the whirl flutter.
Abstract:
A rotor hub assembly (101; 201) that includes a yoke (111; 211) configured to attach blades (107) thereto, a universal joint (109; 209) configured to attach to, and transmit forces between, a mast (105; 205) and the yoke (111; 211), and an elastomeric member (265) configured to attenuate vibrations transmitted from the universal joint (109; 209) to the mast (105; 205).
Abstract:
A proprotor system (32a, 32b) operable for use on a tiltrotor aircraft (10) having a helicopter flight mode and an airplane flight mode. The proprotor system (32a, 32b) includes a rotor hub (102) and a plurality of proprotor blades (34) coupled to the rotor hub such that each proprotor blade has three independent degrees of freedom relative to the rotor hub including blade pitch about a pitch change axis (128), blade flap about a flapping axis (130) and lead-lag about a lead-lag axis (132). Each of a plurality of spherical bearings couples one of the proprotor blades (34) with the rotor hub (102) . In addition, each of a plurality of lead-lag dampers (134) couples one of the proprotor blades (34) with the rotor hub (102), wherein each lead-lag damper is aligned with the pitch change axis (128) of the respective proprotor blade, thereby providing pitch independent lead-lag damping.
Abstract:
A quad tiltrotor aircraft (10, 100, 200) has a longitudinally extending fuselage (12, 312) with forward and aft stations (14, 314; 16, 318). A forward wing (18, 320) having first and second outboard ends extends laterally from the forward station (14, 314). An aft wing (20, 324) having first and second outboard ends extends laterally from the aft station (16, 318). First and second forward rotors (26a, 26b, 112a, 112b, 212a, 212b, 330a, 330b) are respectively coupled proximate the first and second outboard ends of the forward wing (18, 320) and are tiltable relative to the forward wing (18, 320) between vertical lift and forward thrust orientations. First and second aft rotors (36a, 36b, 120a, 120b, 220a, 220b, 342a, 342b) are respectively coupled proximate the first and second outboard ends of the aft wing (20, 324) and are tiltable relative to the aft wing (20, 324) between vertical lift and forward thrust orientations. The forward rotors (26a, 26b, 112a, 112b, 212a, 212b, 330a, 330b) are higher disk-loading rotors than the aft rotors (36a, 36b, 120a, 120b, 220a, 220b, 342a, 342b). The aft rotors (36a, 36b, 120a, 120b, 220a, 220b, 342a, 342b) are foldable in the forward flight mode to provide extended range for the quad tiltrotor aircraft (10, 100, 200).