Propulsor Teeter Parking System for VTOL Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft propulsors experience strain during edgewise flight due to unbalanced loads, leading to unwanted teetering, which can cause stress and potential damage, especially when transitioning between vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and fixed-wing flight modes.
Innovation Solution
A parking system for a propulsor teeter includes a hub mechanically connected to a rotor, a teeter mechanism allowing the propulsor plane to pivot, and a locking mechanism that selectively locks the teeter mechanism during flight, restricting pivoting and preventing teetering by using springs or magnetic locks controlled by an actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a teeter mechanism is provided to reduce strain on the propulsor during edgewise flight, then the strain on mechanical elements is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the additional locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The teeter mechanism incorporates a locking mechanism that can dynamically transition between locked and unlocked states. The locking mechanism includes a locking member that can engage with a locking surface, and an actuator that responds to control signals to lock or unlock the teeter mechanism. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different flight conditions, reducing strain during edgewise flight while maintaining simplicity when teetering is not needed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the teeter mechanism is locked to prevent teetering during certain flight modes, then unwanted teetering is prevented, but the ability to reduce strain during edgewise flight is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be dynamically controllable, transitioning between locked and unlocked states based on flight conditions. The actuator receives control signals to engage or disengage the locking member with the locking surface, allowing the system to maintain stability when needed while enabling strain reduction during edgewise flight through controlled unlocking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a locking mechanism is added to selectively lock the teeter mechanism, then control over teetering is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism employs dynamic elements including a locking member with a movable portion and an actuator that can shift the locking member between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic design provides adaptable control over the teeter mechanism, allowing the system to respond to different flight conditions while maintaining a relatively simple structural implementation.
Data Source
AI summary
A parking system for a propulsor teeter of an aircraft is disclosed. The system includes a propulsor including a hub. The hub is mechanically connected to a rotor, wherein the hub is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. A teeter mechanism is connected to the hub, wherein the teeter mechanism is configured to permit a propulsor plane of the propulsor to pivot with respect to a point of intersection between the propulsor plane and the rotational axis of the propulsor. A locking mechanism is configured to selectively lock the teeter mechanism while the aircraft is in flight, wherein selectively locking the teeter mechanism restricts the pivoting of the propulsor plane.