Tiltrotor Propulsion System with Rotatable Propulsors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing often have engines optimized for vertical thrust but not for efficient forward flight, leading to a mismatch in thrust capabilities for different flight modes.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft features a propulsion system with rotatable propulsors on both forward and aft wing assemblies, allowing for maximum forward and aft thrust capabilities to be differentiated, and includes a hybrid-electric propulsion system with unducted and ducted fans for efficient thrust generation in various flight conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If engines are optimized for vertical thrust generation, then vertical takeoff and landing capability is achieved, but forward flight efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the engine orientation adjustable rather than fixed. The engines can rotate between a vertical orientation for takeoff/landing and a horizontal orientation for forward flight, allowing the propulsion system to adapt its configuration to match different flight phases and optimize performance for each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the engines from fixed to variable. By adjusting the engine angle relative to the fuselage, the system can transition between vertical thrust generation (for V/STOL) and horizontal thrust generation (for efficient forward flight), effectively resolving the contradiction between vertical capability and forward efficiency.
2Device complexity
If a single thrust capability is designed for both vertical and forward flight, then system simplicity is maintained, but performance optimization for different flight modes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable engine orientation mechanism allows a single propulsion system to dynamically reconfigure itself for different flight modes, maintaining system simplicity while achieving optimized performance for both vertical and forward flight through motion-based adaptation rather than multiple separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft includes a fuselage, a forward wing assembly, and aft wing assembly, and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a port forward propulsor and a starboard forward propulsor, each of which rotatable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position and together defining a maximum forward thrust capability. The propulsion system also includes a port aft propulsor and a starboard aft propulsor, each of which also rotatable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position, and together defining a maximum aft thrust capability. The maximum forward thrust capability is different than the maximum aft thrust capability to achieve certain efficiencies.