Tiltrotor Engine and Proprotor Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tiltrotor aircraft configurations, such as the V-22 Osprey, face challenges in storage and maintenance due to the mechanical requirements of engine and proprotor placement, which limit wing extensions and lift generation, and complicate storage and shipment.
Innovation Solution
The engine is fixed below the wing, and the proprotor assembly is mounted above, allowing for increased wing surface area and flexibility in placement, with gearboxes and an interconnect drive system facilitating engine and proprotor separation and power interconnection, enabling wing extensions and efficient storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the engine and proprotor are configured linearly with the engine having a straight shaft that drives the rotor, then the mechanical structure is simple, but the wing surface area is reduced and storage flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear engine-proprotor configuration to a three-dimensional arrangement where the engine is positioned below the wing and the proprotor above it, utilizing vertical space to resolve the conflict between structural simplicity and wing surface area maximization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the engine and proprotor into distinct locations (below and above the wing respectively) connected by a drivetrain, allowing independent optimization of each component's position to maximize wing surface area while maintaining mechanical connectivity
2Ease of operation
If the engine is located on the wing axis, then the alignment is simplified, but the lift generation is reduced because the wing length is reduced by the engine width
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the engine from the wing's horizontal plane and positions it below the wing, removing the obstruction that previously reduced wing surface area and lift generation while maintaining proper alignment through vertical positioning
3Volume of moving object
If the proprotor is located inboard, then the structure is compact, but the propeller diameter is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the proprotor above the wing rather than inboard along the wing span, utilizing the vertical dimension to allow larger propeller diameters without increasing the aircraft's ground footprint or compromising structural compactness
4Productivity
If the engine is located outboard of the proprotor, then the engine and proprotor are positioned at the end of the wing, but wing extensions outboard of the engine are limited and the ability to break down the wing for storage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the engine and proprotor along the vertical axis rather than positioning them end-to-end outboard, creating space for wing extensions while maintaining the benefits of outboard positioning for flight efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the wing to be configured in multiple states - with extensions during flight operations and without extensions during storage, providing adaptability between operational and logistical modes
Data Source
AI summary
A tiltrotor aircraft includes a propulsion system with a fixed engine and a rotatable proprotor. The engine is located below the wing of the tiltrotor aircraft, and the rotatable proprotor assembly is mounted on the top surface of the wing. The engine and proprotor assembly are connected via a series of one or more gearboxes that route the engine output from the engine to the proprotor.