Electric Torque Arm Helicopter Autorotation Safety Landing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional helicopters face inefficiencies and control issues due to the need for tail rotors and complex transmission systems, which consume power and increase manufacturing difficulties, and jet engines at the rotor tip generate centrifugal forces that complicate rotor control.
Innovation Solution
A helicopter design using a torque arm assembly with an electric propeller to directly drive the main rotor, eliminating the need for a tail rotor and reducing centrifugal forces by aligning the motor's output shaft with the main rotor axis, thereby increasing drive efficiency and simplifying the mechanical structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional tail rotor and long tail boom system is used to balance fuselage torque, then the fuselage maintains directional stability, but the system consumes nearly 20% of power and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tail rotor and long tail boom system from the helicopter configuration. Instead of using a separate tail rotor to counteract main rotor torque, the invention integrates torque cancellation directly into the main rotor drive system by positioning the motor's output shaft along the main rotor axis, eliminating the need for the extracted tail rotor subsystem while maintaining fuselage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of the motor, main rotor drive, and torque cancellation system into a single integrated configuration. The motor's output shaft is aligned with the main rotor axis, merging the power transmission function with the torque reaction management function, thereby eliminating the separate tail rotor system and reducing overall device complexity.
2Device complexity
If a jet engine is mounted at the tip of the main rotor assembly to drive rotation, then the fuselage experiences no torque and the tail rotor system is eliminated, but the rotating engine generates huge centrifugal force that complicates control
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the motor at the rotor tip where it would generate centrifugal force, the invention inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the motor's output shaft along the main rotor axis at the center. This inverted configuration eliminates centrifugal force generation while still achieving the goal of direct rotor drive and torque cancellation.
3Power
If a gearbox is used to decelerate engine power and increase torque for the main rotor, then the main rotor can be driven effectively, but the transmission system becomes more complex and power loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical gearbox transmission system with a direct-drive electric motor configuration. The motor's output shaft is directly aligned with the main rotor axis, eliminating the need for mechanical gears, shafts, and离合ers while providing efficient torque transmission and reducing mechanical complexity.
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 design enhances drive efficiency by 35%, simplifies the mechanical structure by 40%, allows for safer autorotation landing, and improves hovering and climbing capabilities, enabling longer flight times and stable operation in various conditions.
Implementation Method 1
high energy motors and highly efficient batteries. The helicopter of the present disclosure uses a torque arm assembly with propellers generating power to drive a main rotor assembly
Implementation Method 2
A timing belt with a center distance of approximately 1 meter drives the tip of the propeller from inside the torque arm to push or pull the main rotor to rotate
Implementation Method 3
The main rotor assembly generates lifting force so that the helicopter takes off
Implementation Method 4
When the main rotor assembly is under rotation, the weight of the engine installed at the tip of the rotor generates huge centrifugal force
Data Source
AI summary
A battery powered helicopter uses one or more torque arms as the power source directly driving the main rotor blades, causing them to rotate. The helicopter does not require a combustion engine, a clutch, a reducer, a tail driver, a tail boom, a tail rotor, or a fuel supply system. The output shaft of the high-energy motor is coaxial with the main rotor shaft. The centrifugal force of one or more motor(s) is negligible or minimized. The torque arm assembly includes a plurality of torque arms. Each of the torque arms of the plurality of torque arms includes a propeller and a driving system. The torque arm propellers are hinged so that they can move between a first closed position and a second open position to institute an autorotation safety system.