Inboard Engine Tiltrotor with Interconnect Driveshaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tiltrotor aircraft face challenges in storage due to limited wing length, which restricts rotor blade length and affects control, especially when fitting into small spaces like ships, and existing configurations compromise between operational efficiency and storage requirements.
Innovation Solution
The rotor systems are positioned towards the tips of the wing to maximize wing and rotor blade length, with inboard engines and a gearbox configuration that allows for mechanical energy transmission and redundancy, enabling efficient operation and storage by optimizing the layout and accessibility of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If rotor systems are positioned outboard on the wing, then storage space is reduced, but wing and rotor blade length are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional outboard engine/rotor configuration by placing engines inboard on the fuselage and positioning rotor systems at the wing tips. This inversion allows the rotors to be positioned as far outboard as possible (maximizing blade length) while engines remain protected and accessible inboard, resolving the contradiction between storage compactness and rotor blade length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces long shafts as intermediary components that transmit mechanical energy from the inboard engines to the outboard rotor systems. This intermediary mechanism allows decoupling of engine location (inboard for accessibility) from rotor location (outboard for maximum blade length), solving the spatial contradiction.
2Device complexity
If engines are positioned outboard near rotor systems, then power transmission is simplified, but maintenance accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses long shafts as intermediary power transmission components, allowing engines to be positioned inboard for accessibility while rotors remain outboard. The shaft acts as a mediator that bridges the spatial gap, transmitting power over distance without requiring engines to be positioned in difficult-to-access locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The power transmission system is segmented into distinct components: inboard engines, long shafts, and outboard rotor systems. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - engines for accessibility, shafts for power transmission, and rotors for aerodynamic performance - resolving the contradiction between simplified transmission and maintenance accessibility.
3Productivity
If wing length is increased to accommodate longer rotor blades, then operational efficiency is improved, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing engines inboard rather than outboard. This inversion allows wing spans to be maximized for operational efficiency while the inboard engine position enables more compact folding and storage configurations, as engines don't need to be positioned at the extreme wing tips during storage.
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 allows for longer rotor blades and wings, enhancing operational efficiency while facilitating storage by reducing the overall length, and provides improved maintenance accessibility and redundancy in power transmission, addressing the storage and control issues of tiltrotor aircraft.
Implementation Method 1
a gearbox configuration that allows for mechanical energy transmission
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft is described and includes a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and a rotor system including a proprotor system and an engine. An interconnect driveshaft gear is configured to communicate mechanical energy between a gearbox and an interconnect driveshaft. An accessory gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the driveshaft gear. A proprotor gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft gear and the accessory gear and communicates mechanical energy to the proprotor system. An engine gear coplanar and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft ear, the accessory gear, and the proprotor gear transmits mechanical energy to the proprotor system via the proprotor gear.