Duct Vane Rotation System for Aircraft Mode Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ducted-rotor aircraft systems face challenges in efficiently transitioning between helicopter and airplane modes due to limitations in the rotation and control of duct vanes, which affect directional control and thrust distribution.
Innovation Solution
A duct vane rotation system comprising a structural hoop connected to control vanes via spherical joints, allowing for ±25 degrees rotation about a hinge line axis while preventing the structural hoop's rotation about the same axis, thereby facilitating efficient vane rotation and thrust control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control vanes are made rotatable to improve directional control and thrust distribution, then the aircraft's adaptability between helicopter and airplane modes is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional rotation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into individual rotatable control vanes that can independently rotate about a horizontal axis, rather than rotating the entire duct structure. This segmentation allows for precise directional control while reducing the complexity of the overall rotation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The control vanes are designed with dynamic rotation capability about a horizontal axis, allowing them to change orientation during flight. This dynamic adjustment enables seamless transition between helicopter and airplane modes by varying the vane angles to control thrust distribution and directional forces.
2Ease of operation
If the structural hoop allows free rotation to simplify the mechanism, then the ease of operation is improved, but the control precision deteriorates due to uncontrolled rotation about the vane axis
Solution Approach 1:
The structural hoop is designed with asymmetric connection features - spherical joints at the vane-hoop interfaces that provide rotational freedom in one direction (about the horizontal axis) while constraining rotation in another direction (about the vane axis). This asymmetric constraint system achieves both ease of operation and control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Spherical joints serve as intermediary elements between the control vanes and the structural hoop, mediating the rotation motion. These joints allow the vanes to rotate freely about the horizontal axis for ease of operation, while simultaneously preventing unwanted rotation about the vane axis through their geometric constraints, thus maintaining control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment is a rotor system comprising a duct ring; a hub disposed centrally to the duct ring; first and second stators each connected between the duct ring and the hub; first and second control vanes rotatably connected to the first and second stators, respectively; and a structural hoop having a first end connected to the first control vane and a second end connected to the second control vane, the structural hoop for translating rotation of the first control vane about a vane axis to the second control vane.