Monolithic Hub Fitting for Ducted-Rotor Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ducted-rotor aircraft hubs have multiple components that increase weight and stress due to the number of separate parts and joints, which complicates their operation and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hub assembly with upper and lower integral fittings that integrates stator supports, motor attachment, and fairing mounts, reducing the number of separate components and joints by using monolithic fittings that facilitate secure attachment and reduced stress during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used in the hub assembly, then each component can be manufactured and assembled independently, but the overall weight increases and the number of stress-prone joints increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate hub components (motor mounting structure, stator support structure, and fairing mounting structure) into a single integrated monolithic hub assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate components and their connecting joints, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through monolithic construction techniques.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used in the hub assembly, then each component can be manufactured and assembled independently, but the number of joints increases leading to more stress during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates motor mounting, stator support, and fairing mounting functions into a single monolithic structure, eliminating multiple joints that would be prone to stress. The unified structure distributes and withstands operational stresses more effectively than assembled components with multiple connection points.
3Ease of operation
If multiple separate components are used in the hub assembly, then assembly flexibility is improved, but the overall complexity of the hub assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monolithic hub assembly performs multiple functions (motor mounting, stator support, fairing mounting) within a single integrated structure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby simplifying the overall assembly while maintaining the flexibility to accommodate various operational requirements through the design of the integrated structure itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A hub assembly for a ducted-rotor aircraft includes a plurality of stator supports, a first integral fitting that attaches to first ends of the stator supports, and a second integral fitting that attaches to second ends of the stator supports. The first fitting includes a plurality of motor attachment portions configured to locate and support a motor of the ducted-rotor aircraft, a plurality of fairing mounts configured to support attachment of an aerodynamic fairing to the hub assembly, and a plurality of stator locators configured to locate respective ones of the plurality of stator supports for attachment to the hub assembly. The first fitting has a body portion with an annular wall that supports the motor attachment portions, the fairing mounts, and the stator locators. The first fitting may be fabricated as a monolith that includes the body portion, motor attachment portions, fairing mounts, and stator locators.