Aircraft Side Body Articulating Propulsion System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VTOL aircraft face challenges in achieving high-speed forward flight while maintaining safety, efficiency, and reduced noise and maintenance costs, due to complex rotating machinery and vulnerability to damage in hostile environments.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft employs a side body articulating propulsion system with propulsor sets mounted on the fuselage, which articulate to provide vertical lift and transition to high-speed forward flight without disturbing airflow, using a unique propulsor slope and synchronization mechanism to minimize interference and optimize thrust.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional helicopters and rotorcraft use rotating rotor blades to generate vertical lift, then vertical take-off and landing capability is achieved, but the downward airflow impacts the airframe structures causing negative impact and requires complex anti-torque devices that add weight and consume power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical rotating systems with a simpler articulating propulsor system. Instead of using rotating rotor blades with clutches, gearboxes, and anti-torque devices, the invention uses propulsors that can articulate (pivot) to change thrust direction. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical transmission systems while maintaining VTOL capability through direct thrust vectoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful downward airflow impact on the airframe by changing the thrust generation mechanism. Instead of rotating blades pushing air downward that impacts the airframe, the invention uses articulating propulsors that can direct thrust without creating harmful airflow patterns against the airframe structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If open-exposed rotor blades or propellers are used for VTOL transition, then transition between VTOL and forward flight is achieved, but safety hazards increase due to exposed rotating parts within the human safety zone and excessive noise is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nacelles that can enclose the propulsors during forward flight operations. These nacelles act as protective shells that contain the rotating propellers, eliminating safety hazards to personnel on the ground and reducing noise propagation. The nacelles can be opened or removed when VTOL operations are required, providing flexible protection based on operational mode.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tilt rotor or tilt wing designs with open-exposed rotors or propellers are used, then VTOL and high-speed forward flight capability is achieved, but vulnerability to flying metal shrapnel and small arms fire increases in hostile military environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses enclosable nacelles that can protect the propulsors from external threats. In hostile environments, the nacelles can be closed to shield the rotating propellers from flying metal shrapnel and small arms fire, significantly reducing vulnerability while maintaining the ability to operate in VTOL and forward flight modes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex rotating turbo-machinery with mechanical rotating transition is used, then VTOL and forward flight modes are achieved, but aerodynamic instability increases and controlled flight becomes very difficult to sustain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical rotating transition systems with a simpler articulating propulsor system. Instead of using rotating mechanisms that create aerodynamic instability, the invention uses propulsors that pivot on fixed axes to change thrust direction. This eliminates the aerodynamic instability caused by rotating mass and changing thrust points, making controlled flight much easier to sustain.
5Ease of operation
If high rotor blade forces interact with the leading edge of the main wing in tilt wing or tilt motor aircraft, then VTOL capability is achieved, but exterior skin and interior structural (spar) cracking and fatigue issues are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful interaction between rotor blade forces and the main wing leading edge by using a different thrust generation approach. Instead of tilting rotors or wings that cause prop wash to beat against the leading edge, the invention uses articulating propulsors mounted on the fuselage that direct thrust without creating harmful airflow patterns against the wing structures, preventing cracking and fatigue.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables efficient and safe VTOL and high-speed forward flight with reduced noise, lower maintenance costs, and increased operational flexibility, while avoiding structural fortification of the main wing and minimizing thrust interference.
Implementation Method 1
Each propulsor set comprises a port propulsor unit and a starboard propulsor unit... The side body articulating propulsion system enables a next generation solution suitable for a wide range of applications. The propulsor sets produce VTOL thrust then articulate to produce high-speed forward flight.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft capable of VTOL and forward flight is fitted with a side body articulating propulsion system on the port and starboard sides of the fuselage. The side body articulating propulsion system has plural sets of port and starboard propulsor units controlled for synchronized rotation. The propulsor sets are supported in a triangular airframe designed to support the propulsor units equally spaced apart from one another along a propulsor slope that is angled about 30-60 degrees from horizontal. Synchronized rotation of the propulsor sets is accomplished by an articulation controller, which may be a parallelogram linkage and linear actuator. A port nacelle surrounds the port propulsor units and a starboard nacelle surrounds the starboard propulsor units. A cargo cavity is accessed through the aft end of the airframe. The airframe can be lengthened in the fore direction by attaching an ante-module and/or in the aft direction by an expansion module.