Helicopter drive device

Abstract

To solve the problem that since performance of a helicopter is related to weight of an airframe and driving output, weight reduction of a driving device is an important factor, so that there is a demand for an electric helicopter in which safety is taken into consideration and the weight is suppressed to weight at which the airframe can be safely lowered in an emergency situation.SOLUTION: A helicopter drive device is characterized in that an electric motor and a rotor blade are supported by one sliding bearing having a simple structure, a shifter sleeve for variably pitching the rotor blade is provided inside the sliding bearing in which the rotor has a large diameter, landing is possible by auto rotation, the rotor having a large diameter has torque at low speed, a speed reducer is eliminated, and force of the rotor is transmitted to the rotor blade by direct coupling.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a helicopter drive device, and more particularly to a drive device that enhances the lightness and safety of an electric helicopter.

Background Art

[0002] Today, electric helicopters that are driven electrically and do not require a runway are being developed as a means of transportation, and their advantage of being able to carry people and arrive at the exact time has been reevaluated. A helicopter without wind-receiving wings can land safely if the rotor is rotating in an emergency. An electric helicopter requires a rotor with a diameter that allows it to descend in an emergency.

[0003] The performance of a helicopter is related to the weight of the airframe and the output for driving, so weight reduction of the drive device is an important factor. Safety must also be considered in an electric helicopter, and there is a desire to provide an electric helicopter that can land safely in an emergency and has a weight that can be controlled.

[0004] Conventional electric helicopters have a structure in which a high-speed motor is connected to a speed reducer, and power is transmitted to the vertical axis for driving the rotor after deceleration, and the structure is complex and heavy.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a helicopter drive device that has a lightweight electric rotating rotor and can land safely in an emergency, focusing on the above-mentioned conventional problems.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] To achieve the above object, a helicopter drive device according to the present invention is characterized in that a sliding bearing is provided for a bearing that supports a rotor blade of a helicopter body and a bearing that supports the rotor blade, the rotor blade and the rotor are supported by one sliding bearing, and a load is received on a sliding surface over the entire circumference.

[0008] In such a configuration, the outer race of the sliding bearing of the helicopter body is sandwiched by the inner race, a stator is provided on the outer race, a rotor is provided on the inner race, and a force is transmitted to the rotational force at the upper part of the inner race. Alternatively, the inner race of the sliding bearing of the helicopter body is sandwiched by the outer race, a stator is provided on the outer race, a rotor is provided on the inner race, and a force is transmitted to the rotor blade at the upper part of the inner race.

[0009] Further, in such a configuration, a variable pitch arm of the rotor blade and a drive source for operating the variable pitch arm are provided, and the drive source is configured to be drivable by electric operation and to be pitch movable by a manual handle.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the above configuration, the motor and the rotor blade are supported by a simple-structured set of sliding bearings, and one end of the bearing is placed on the helicopter body. A structure in which a large-diameter rotor is directly connected can suppress the generation of vibration.

[0011] A shifter sleeve for varying the pitch of the rotor blade is provided inside the sliding bearing, and it becomes possible to descend and land by autorotation in an emergency.

[0012] Since it becomes an electric helicopter that directly transmits the power of the motor to the rotor blades, the rotating part is supported by a single sliding bearing, and the outer circumference of the outer race is used and mounted on the airframe, reducing weight and the number of parts. A structure with fewer failure factors and inspection parts results in reduced maintenance costs. Furthermore, it can be an electric helicopter that does not require a clutch mechanism during descent in autorotation in an emergency and can have variable pitch with manual operation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, the support part that supports the rotor blades of the electric helicopter according to the present invention, the stator, and the sliding bearing that supports the rotor will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the illustrated example is only one example, and as long as the technical idea is the same, it includes other modified examples.

[0015] The electric helicopter 10 according to the first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. This electric helicopter 10 has a configuration in which a cabin 12 is mounted on a body frame 14 in the front. Further, the body frame 14 is provided with a tail frame 16 extending rearward, and a tail rotor 18 is provided at the tip of the tail frame 16. The body frame 14 has a side frame 14A extending from the outer side portion to the top of the cabin 12, and a motor 22 constituting the main rotor 20 is incorporated at the top.

[0016] First, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a circular ring frame 14B is provided on the side frame 14A so as to form a hole at the center of the top. A disk-shaped outer race 24 protruding toward the center side of the cabin 12 is attached to the top end of the ring frame 14B, and an inner race 26 that can rotate using the outer race 24 as a guide is arranged. The inner race 26 has a U-shaped opposing surface with the outer race 24 and is configured to sandwich the outer race 24. A resin metal 28 is provided between the two races 24 and 26, and the outer race 24 can rotate smoothly via the resin metal 28. Thereby, the sliding portion between the outer race 24 and the inner race 26 constitutes a sliding bearing.

[0017] Receiving bases 30 are arranged at three equiangular positions on the upper surface plane of the outer race 24, and the base portions of the long rotating blades 32 are fixed and attached to each of the receiving bases 30 via metal caps 30A. Thereby, using the outer race 24 as a guide, the inner race 26, the receiving base 30, and the rotating blade 32 can rotate integrally.

[0018] In such a configuration, in order to obtain the rotational drive of the rotary blades 32, an electric motor 22 is provided. A stator 34 is provided at the inner surface portion of the aforementioned ring frame 14B, and this is screwed to the lower surface portion of the aforementioned outer race 24. And a coil 36 along the circular ring frame 14B is provided on the inner surface of the stator 34. Also, a magnet 38 is provided inside the coil 36 at a spaced-apart facing surface. This magnet 38 is fixed to the lower surface of the inner race 26 and is rotatable together with the inner race 26. Therefore, when an electric current is passed through the coil 36 of the electric motor 22, the magnet 36 is driven, and accordingly, the inner race 26 rotates with the outer race 24 as a guide, and the main rotor 20 including the rotary blades 32 is rotated.

[0019] Also, a variable pitch mechanism 42 is disposed in the central space portion 40 surrounded by the ring frame 14B. The variable pitch mechanism 42 has a pitch change end plate 44 provided at the base end surface of each rotary blade 32. The pitch change end plate 44 is formed with a pitch arm 46 that projects and extends laterally therefrom. By vertically driving this pitch arm 46, the pitch of the rotary blade 32 is changed. In order to vertically drive the pitch arm 46, an elevating guide 48 is erected at the center of an upper frame 14C connected to the side frame, and a shifter sleeve 50 is fitted thereto so as to be vertically movable. The shifter sleeve 50 is connected to a rod 52 that communicates with the pitch arm 46 provided at the base end of the aforementioned rotary blade 32 via a connecting tongue piece 54. Therefore, the pitch of the rotary blade 32 can be changed by the vertical movement of the shifter sleeve 50.

[0020] At the lower part of the upright shifter sleeve 50, a shifter arm 56 is arranged perpendicular thereto. One end of the shifter arm 56 is pivotally attached to a circumferential retaining wall 14D formed on the upper frame 14C, and the other end is screwed onto a ball screw 58 erected on the upper frame 14C. Therefore, by rotating the ball screw 58, the shifter arm 56 can move up and down with the pivotal attachment part as the starting point. The shifter sleeve 50 is provided with a shifter ring 62 having an annular groove 60 at the lower end, and the shifter arm 56 intersects at the annular groove 60 portion. And a slider 64 fitted into the annular groove 60 of the shifter ring 62 is provided on the shifter arm 56. Therefore, when the shifter arm 56 is driven up and down, the shifter sleeve 50 moves up and down along the lifting guide 48, and the pitch of the rotary blade 32 can be changed.

[0021] A variable pitch electric motor 66 for driving the ball screw 58 is attached to the lower surface of the upper frame 14C, and a manual handle 68 for manually operating the ball screw 58 is provided. Therefore, normally, the pitch of the rotary blade 32 is operated by the variable pitch electric motor 66, and it can be operated by the manual handle 68 in an emergency.

[0022] The circumferential retaining wall 14D is formed concentrically with the ring frame 14B, and is arranged facing these to protect the lower half of the inner race 26 constituting the rotor and the inner surface of the magnet 38 fixed thereto, and at the same time, is surrounded and protected by a bottom plate portion 71 reaching the lower surface of the stator 34 described above. And the upper half of the inner race 26 is provided with a waterproof cover 70 to protect the upper end portion of the circumferential retaining wall 14D from rainwater, and the waterproof cover 70 is provided with a vibration damping member 72 for damping the vibration of the shifter sleeve 50.

[0023] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, legs 74 for supporting the helicopter body during takeoff and landing are provided at the lower part of the electric helicopter 10. And a plurality of batteries 76 are provided on the lower surface portion of the body frame 14 to support the driving of the above power supply system.

[0024] In the electric helicopter 10 configured as described above, a set of sliding bearings support the rotor blades 32 and the electric motor (stator 34, outer race 24, inner race 26). The main rotor 20 is attached to the lower part of the inner race 26 provided inside the sliding bearing, the outer race 24 is provided on the outside, and the stator 34 is attached to the lower part of the outer race 24 and rotates. The outer race 24 is sandwiched by the U-shaped part of the inner race 26 and rotates with a sliding bearing using resin metal 28 on the sliding surface of the U-shape. The rotor blades 32 are supported by the pedestal 30 provided on the upper part of the inner race 26, and it is mounted on the upper frame 14C of the helicopter body using the outer circumference of the outer race 24.

[0025] A pedestal 30 that supports the rotor blades 32 is provided on the upper part of the inner race 26, and is operated by a variable pitch mechanism 42 provided at the end of the rotor blades 32. The shifter sleeve 50 provided inside the electric motor is moved up and down, and the force is transmitted by a rod 52. It is for changing the angle, and in an emergency, by turning the manual handle 68, variable pitch can be performed and it can descend and land in autorotation, becoming the electric helicopter 10.

[0026] Figs. 5 and 6 showing the second embodiment have the electric motor provided on the upper part of the sliding bearing. The outer race 24 is provided on the outside of the inner race 26, and the inner race 26 is sandwiched by the U-shaped part formed in the outer race 24 to form a sliding bearing. Resin metal 28 is provided between the sliding surfaces. A pedestal 30 that supports the rotor blades 32 is provided on the upper part of the inner race 26, a variable pitch mechanism 42 is provided at the end of the rotor blades 32, and the force of the shifter sleeve 50 is transmitted by a rod 52 to perform variable pitch. Also by this, the electric helicopter 10 is lightweight and highly safe.

[0027] It is mounted on the upper frame 14C of the helicopter body using the outer circumference of the outer race 24. The stator 34 is provided on the upper part of the outer race 24, a rotor is provided on the inner race 26, and a mechanism for variable pitching of the rotor blades 32 supported on the upper part of the inner race 26 is provided, becoming the electric helicopter 10 that can descend and land in autorotation.

Explanation of Signs

[0028] 10……Electric helicopter, 12……Cabin, 14……Body frame, 14A……Side frame, 14B……Ring frame, 14C……Upper frame, 14D……Circumferential retaining wall, 16……Tail frame, 18……Tail rotor, 20……Main rotor, 22……Electric motor, 24……Outer race, 26……Inner race, 28……Resin metal, 30……Bracket, 30A……Metal cap, 32……Rotary wing, 34……Stator, 36……Coil, 38……Magnet, 40……Central space part, 42……Variable pitch mechanism, 44……Pitch change end plate, 46……Pitch arm, 48……Lifting guide, 50……Shifter sleeve, 52……Rod, 54……Connecting tongue piece, 56……Shifter arm, 58……Ball screw, 60……Annular groove, 62……Shifter ring, 64……Slider, 66……Variable pitch electric motor, 68……Manual handle, 70……Waterproof cover, 71……Bottom plate part, 72……Anti-vibration member, 74……Leg, 76……Battery.

Claims

1. A helicopter drive device, characterized in that a sliding bearing is provided for the motor that drives the rotor blades of the helicopter body and the bearing that supports the rotor blades, the rotor is supported by one sliding bearing, and the load is received on the sliding surface of the entire circumference.

2. The helicopter drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer race of the sliding bearing of the helicopter body is sandwiched by the inner race, a stator is provided on the outer race, the rotor is provided on the inner race, and the force is transmitted to the rotor blade at the upper part of the inner race.

3. The helicopter drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner race of the sliding bearing of the helicopter body is sandwiched by the outer race, a stator is provided on the outer race, the rotor is provided on the inner race, and the force is transmitted to the rotor blade at the upper part of the inner race.

4. The helicopter drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that a variable pitch arm of the rotor blade and a drive source for operating the variable pitch arm are provided, the drive source can be driven by electric operation, and is configured to be pitch movable by a manual handle.

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