Propeller System with Electromagnetic Blade Pitch Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing propeller systems lack the ability to independently control the angle of attack of individual blades, limiting the directional thrust vector capabilities and requiring complex and heavy mechanical systems for tiltrotor mechanisms or relying on flight control surfaces for pitch, yaw, and roll control.
Innovation Solution
A propeller system with a hub and blade attachment apparatuses that allow each blade to rotate independently about its own axis, utilizing electromagnets and a controller to rotate the blades and hub, enabling independent control of each blade's angle of attack and thrust direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tiltrotor mechanism is used to generate thrust at an angle to the longitudinal axis, then directional thrust control is achieved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tiltrotor system with an electromagnetic control system. Electromagnets mounted on the hub interact with permanent magnets on the blades to rotate blades about their spanwise axes, enabling thrust vectoring without complex mechanical tilt mechanisms. This substitution of electromagnetic fields for mechanical linkages directly reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the propeller system into independently controllable segments - each blade can be rotated about its own spanwise axis independently of other blades. The blade attachment apparatus includes a permanent magnet that interacts with electromagnets on the hub, allowing individual blade pitch and orientation control. This segmentation enables precise directional thrust control without requiring movement of the entire propeller assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cyclic variable pitch propeller system is used to generate thrust at an angle, then lift generation is achieved, but independent angle of attack control of individual blades is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements independent control of each blade's angle of attack through individually mounted permanent magnets on each blade and corresponding electromagnets on the hub. This allows each blade to be rotated about its spanwise axis independently, enabling unique pitch and orientation control for each blade throughout its rotation, unlike cyclic variable pitch systems that tie all blades together.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cyclic pitch linkage system with electromagnetic actuation. Electromagnets on the hub interact with permanent magnets on each blade to provide independent rotational control about the spanwise axis. This eliminates the mechanical coupling that prevents independent blade control while maintaining the ability to generate thrust at various angles.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heavy flight control surfaces are used to achieve flight dynamics, then pitch, yaw, and roll control is achieved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the propeller system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both thrust generation and flight control functions. By allowing independent rotation of blades about their spanwise axes through electromagnetic actuation, the propeller can vector thrust to control pitch, yaw, and roll without requiring separate flight control surfaces. This consolidation of functions reduces overall vehicle weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the flight control function from traditional heavy flight control surfaces and transfers it to the propeller system. The electromagnetic blade rotation mechanism provides thrust vectoring capability that directly controls aircraft attitude, eliminating or reducing the need for separate pitch, yaw, and roll control surfaces and their associated mechanisms.
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 solution reduces the need for heavy flight control surfaces, allows for dynamic thrust direction control, and minimizes aerodynamic drag by enabling independent control of each blade's pitch and orientation, enhancing flight dynamics and reducing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing electromagnets and a controller to rotate the blades and hub
Implementation Method 2
The body structure may be configured such that rotation thereof causes the rotation of a blade attached thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A propeller system with directional thrust control comprising a hub, a plurality of blade attachment apparatuses attached to the hub, and a plurality of blades, each blade of the plurality of blades being attached to a blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses. The hub is operable to rotate about a rotation axis thereof. The plurality of blades is attached to the hub via the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses such that the plurality of blades rotates about the rotation axis of the hub when the hub rotates about the rotation axis thereof. Each blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses is operable to rotate the blade attached thereto about a blade rotation axis.