432results about "Depending on number of propellers" patented technology

A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft design particularly suitable as a full-sized aircraft or remote controlled (RC) model aircraft is disclosed. The invention employs lightweight, high strength materials to reduce the power requirements of the propulsion plant. A preferred system of the invention comprises one internal combustion engine able to spit shaft power to four fan units. The fan units further employ counter rotating fan blades for stability. Separate horizontal and vertical tilting mechanisms delivered to the fan units are additionally disclosed. A variation in design is further included wherein electric motors provide the necessary shaft power.

A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft design particularly suitable as a full-sized aircraft or remote controlled (RC) model aircraft is disclosed. The invention employs lightweight, high strength materials to reduce the power requirements of the propulsion plant. A preferred system of the invention comprises one internal combustion engine able to spit shaft power to four fan units. The fan units further employ counter rotating fan blades for stability. Separate horizontal and vertical tilting mechanisms delivered to the fan units are additionally disclosed. A variation in design is further included wherein electric motors provide the necessary shaft power.

An aircraft including an airframe having a fuselage which extends longitudinally, and having fixed wings including a main wing, a horizontal tail wing and a vertical tail wing. A propeller-rotor torque transmission has a bevel gear which transmits the rotation of an input shaft simultaneously to a propeller shaft and to a rotor shaft. An engine gearbox supplies the above-mentioned input shaft with rotationalal motive power. The aircraft further includes a propeller collective pitch controller, a rotor collective pitch controller, an engine power controller which controls the output of the above-mentioned engine gearbox for the purpose of changing the rotational speed of the input shaft, and a flight control system having a directional (yaw) control system which controls the flight direction of the aircraft by controlling the positions of the above-mentioned control surfaces.

Aircraft comprising an airframe having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, a top extending between the forward end and the aft end, and a bottom opposite the top side. The aircraft further includes a power plant mounted on the airframe. In addition, the aircraft includes at least two propellers rotatably mounted on the airframe and powered by the power plant for moving the aircraft in a generally forward direction during operation of the propellers. Also, the aircraft includes at least two counter-rotatable fan sets mounted on the airframe and powered by the power plant for providing upward lift to the aircraft during operation of the fan sets.

An air vehicle incorporating a hybrid propulsion system. The system includes a gas turbine engine as a first motive power source, and one or more battery packs as a second motive power source. Through selective coupling to a DC electric motor that can in turn be connected to a bladed rotor or other lift-producing device, the motive sources provide differing ways in which an aircraft can operate. In one example, the gas turbine engine can provide operation for a majority of the flight envelope of the aircraft, while the battery packs can provide operation during such times when gas turbine-based motive power is unavailable or particularly disadvantageous. In another example, both sources of motive power may be decoupled from the bladed rotor such that the vehicle can operate as an autogyro.

Aircraft comprising an airframe having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, a top extending between the forward end and the aft end, and a bottom opposite the top side. The aircraft further includes a power plant mounted on the airframe. In addition, the aircraft includes at least two propellers rotatably mounted on the airframe and powered by the power plant for moving the aircraft in a generally forward direction during operation of the propellers. Also, the aircraft includes at least two counter-rotatable fan sets mounted on the airframe and powered by the power plant for providing upward lift to the aircraft during operation of the fan sets.

A dual, coaxial rotor helicopter is provided that is relatively easy to fly. Thrust is provided by two ducted fans that are mounted at the rear of the aircraft and spaced apart laterally. Differential thrust generated by the fans provides yaw control for the aircraft, and forward thrust is provided by the fans working in combination. The coaxial rotors are preferably utilized primarily for lift, and not for forward thrust, which simplifies the control requirements. The coaxial rotor with ducted fan configuration also results in lower vibratory loads being imposed on the helicopter, thereby increasing its speed capability. The fan ducts serve to protect the fans, augment the fan thrust at low airspeeds, increase the efficiency of the fans at cruise speeds, and provide horizontal and vertical stabilizing surfaces to ensure aircraft flight stability.

An aircraft propulsion system comprises a power plant driving a number of outboard propulsion units to propel a fixed wing aircraft.

The system of the present application includes an engine and pylon arrangement for a tilt rotor aircraft in which the engine is fixed in relation to a wing portion of the aircraft, while the pylon is rotatable. The pylon supports a rotor hub having a plurality of rotor blades. Rotation of the pylon allows the aircraft to selectively fly in a helicopter mode and an airplane mode, as well as any combination thereof.

The present invention relates to a power plant (10) having a single engine (13) together with both a main gearbox (MGB) suitable for driving the rotary wing (3) of a helicopter (1) and a tail gearbox (TGB) suitable for driving an anti-torque rotor (4) of a helicopter (1). The power plant (10) also includes a first electric motor (11) mechanically connected to said main gearbox (MGB) in order to be capable of driving said main gearbox (MGB), and a second electric motor (12) mechanically connected to said tail gearbox (TGB) in order to be capable of driving said tail gearbox (TGB).

An apparatus comprising a body defining a first vertical axis, two or more frame members each having a longitudinal axis and having an inner-end and an outer-end connected to the body at the inner-end and where a first horizontal geometrical plane is generally coincident with the longitudinal axis of each of the two or more frame members and where the first horizontal geometrical plane is generally orthogonal to the first vertical axis, two or more rotary-wings each comprising one or more blades whose rotation defines a first rotational axis which is configurable to be nearly parallel with the first vertical axis and comprising a second rotational axis which is configurable to be approximately parallel first horizontal geometrical plane where a first of the two or more rotary-wings having a blade-inner-end and a first blade-outer-end rotatably connected by its blade-inner-end to a first transmission is disposed substantially on the outer-end of a first of the two or more frame members, a second of the two or more rotary-wings having a blade-inner-end and a blade-outer-end rotatably connected by its blade-inner-end to a second transmission is disposed substantially on the outer-end of a second of the two or more frame members, where each of the first rotational axes is disposed on the opposite side of plane which is coincident with the first vertical axis, where the direction of rotation of a first of the two or more rotary-wings about its first rotational axis is opposite of that of the second of the two or more rotary-wings about its first rotational axis, and, where the rotational disk defined by the rotation of the blade-outer-end of the first of the two or more rotary-wings is at least partially coincident with rotational disk defined by the rotation of the blade-outer-end of the second of the two or more rotary-wings.

The system of the present application includes an engine and pylon arrangement for a tilt rotor aircraft in which the engine is fixed in relation to a wing portion of the aircraft, while the pylon is rotatable. The pylon supports a rotor hub having a plurality of rotor blades. Rotation of the pylon allows the aircraft to selectively fly in a helicopter mode and an airplane mode, as well as any combination thereof.

An aircraft may have a fuselage, a left wing extending from the fuselage, a right wing extending from the fuselage, a tail section extending from a rear portion of the fuselage, and a first engine and a second engine operably connected by a common driveshaft, wherein the first and second engines are configured for freewheeling such that if one of the first and second engines loses power the other of the first and second engines continues to power the aircraft.

An aircraft propulsion system comprises a power plant driving a number of outboard propulsion units to propel a fixed wing aircraft.

A vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and a control method for the aircraft, are disclosed. The aircraft has a vertical motion mode and a forward thrust mode. The aircraft comprises an airframe, having a wing section; a forward thrust means, for use during the forward thrust mode; a vertical lift rotor system, the rotor system being housed in a portion of the airframe; and a rotor control component configured to, during forward thrust, actuate the rotor system to modify the aerodynamic flow around the portion of the airframe housing the rotor system. Forward thrust may occur during the forward thrust mode, or other flight modes, such as transition phases to / from vertical motion and forward thrust modes. Modification of the aerodynamic flow may be used to optimize the aerodynamic flow around the portion of the airframe housing the rotor system.

A gas turbine engine has a fan drive turbine for selectively driving a fan rotor. A drive shaft between the fan drive turbine and the fan rotor includes a clutch, and an electric motor. The electric motor is positioned such that it is not downstream of a flow path relative to the fan drive turbine. A method of operating a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

A translational thrust system for a high speed rotary-wing aircraft includes a propeller system driven by a propeller gearbox, a hydraulic system, and a mechanical-hydraulic control system. The mechanical-hydraulic control system utilizes a hydraulic fluid which travels to and from a propeller dome via an oil transfer / position feedback tube which translates with a propeller pitch change piston. Translation of the oil transfer / position feedback tube and the propeller pitch change piston pitches the blades between high (coarse) and low (fine) pitch positions.

A propulsion system includes an engine disposed within a fuselage, a first gearbox coupled to the engine, a wing member having an upper wing skin and torque box formed by a first rib, a second rib, a first spar and second spar, a drive shaft coupled to the first gearbox and disposed within the wing member, a second gear box coupled to the drive shaft and disposed outboard from the second rib or inboard from the first rib, and a rotatable proprotor coupled to the second gear box. The rotatable proprotor includes a plurality of rotor blades, a rotor mast having a mast axis of rotation, and a proprotor gearbox coupled to the rotor mast. The proprotor gearbox is rotatable about a conversion axis, which intersects with the mast axis of rotation at a point within a central region of the torque box and above the upper wing skin.

A translational thrust system for a high speed rotary-wing aircraft includes a propeller system driven by a propeller gearbox, a hydraulic system, and a mechanical-hydraulic control system. The mechanical-hydraulic control system utilizes a hydraulic fluid which travels to and from a propeller dome via an oil transfer / position feedback tube which translates with a propeller pitch change piston. Translation of the oil transfer / position feedback tube and the propeller pitch change piston pitches the blades between high (coarse) and low (fine) pitch positions.

An aircraft gas turbine engine (110) comprises first and second non-coaxial propulsors (113a, 113b), each propulsor (113a, 113b) being driven by a common gas turbine engine core (176) comprising a propulsor drive turbine (143) arranged to drive the first and second propulsors (113a, 113b) via a propulsor drive coupling (127). The core (176) further comprises a first core module (190) comprising a first compressor (129) and a first turbine (131) interconnected by a first shaft (177), and a second core module (191) comprising a second compressor (128) and the propulsor drive turbine (143) interconnected by a second shaft (127), the first and second core modules (190, 191) being axially spaced.

A personal flight device which consists of a housing securable to a pilot, at least one pair of fans, and at least one engine mounted on the housing for driving the fans; one fan of the pair is mounted to one side of the housing and the other fan of the pair is mounted to the other side of the housing; in use, both fans rotate in the same direction for producing thrust.

Contemplated gearboxes provide first and second power-balanced paths in which a speed changer is configured to operate with only one path. Most preferably, the gearbox includes a friction clutch and a sprag clutch arranged such that, together with a layshaft and spur-gear differential, gear shifting can be done while transmitting power.

A gearbox system for a dual coaxial counter rotating rotor assembly includes an input shaft to input a first torque into the gearbox system and a transfer shaft operably connected to the input shaft to transfer the first torque therethrough. Two gear sets are operably connected to the transfer shaft. Each gear set includes a first output gear to transfer a second torque acting in a first direction to a first rotor of a rotor assembly and a second output gear to transfer the second torque acting in a second direction opposite the first direction to a second rotor of the rotor assembly. The second torque transferred by each gear set of the two gear sets is substantially equal.

The present invention relates to a non-co-axial multi-rotor aircraft, which comprises an aircraft body, a power system, a transmission system, a flying control system, and 2N rotor components, wherein N is more than or equal to 2, the power system drives the rotor component to rotate through the transmission system, the flying control system controls the power system to work, every rotor component comprises a rotor and a blade pitch driving mechanism for changing a rotor blade pitch, the flying control system is provided for controlling works of every blade pitch driving mechanism, the transmission system comprises N forward direction transmission mechanisms and N reverse direction transmission mechanisms, the forward direction transmission mechanisms and the reverse direction transmission mechanisms are sequentially and staggedly distributed, and the power system drives the rotors of the N rotor components to rotate along the same direction through the N forward direction transmission mechanisms. With the present invention, technical problems of single driving manner, low aircraft load, short flying time and the like due to application of rotor rotation speed changing to control an aircraft attitude by the existing multi-rotor aircraft are solved.

The present invention relates to a power plant (10) having a single engine (13) together with both a main gearbox (MGB) suitable for driving the rotary wing (3) of a helicopter (1) and a tail gearbox (TGB) suitable for driving an anti-torque rotor (4) of a helicopter (1). The power plant (10) also includes a first electric motor (11) mechanically connected to said main gearbox (MGB) in order to be capable of driving said main gearbox (MGB), and a second electric motor (12) mechanically connected to said tail gearbox (TGB) in order to be capable of driving said tail gearbox (TGB).

A vertical take-off and landing high speed aircraft comprising a fuselage having a first and a second end; a first pair of wings positioned between the first and second end; a secondary pair of wings positioned at the second end, wherein the first and second pairs of wings are joined by a pair of booms, each boom of the pair of booms having an fore end and an aft end; a drive propeller positioned at the first or second end; and a plurality of lift rotors positioned at the fore and aft ends of the pair of booms, the plurality of lift rotors providing a lift force necessary for vertical take-off and landing.

Contemplated couplings include an intermediate shaft internal and coaxial to a driver and a driven shaft, wherein the intermediate shaft moves a plurality of teethed rollers that engage with corresponding splined inner surfaces of the driver and the driven shaft. Such devices allow separation of the shafts under load using substantially reduced force and will typically have a friction coefficient virtual μ of less than 0.05.