Asymmetric Wing Engine Mounting for VTOL Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
VTOL aircraft designs face challenges in maintaining balance and stability during hovering due to engine failures, and conventional fossil fuel engines have inefficiencies and environmental drawbacks, while existing configurations either require multiple wings or pivotable engines near the cockpit for balance.
Innovation Solution
A wing structure with two pivotable engines mounted on the leading and trailing edges of a single wing, allowing for balance around the aircraft's center of gravity without additional engines, and using electric ducted fans for reduced noise and environmental impact, with optional additional engines for redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If engines are mounted symmetrically at tip ends of wings for forward flight balance, then aircraft balance in forward direction is improved, but safety during hovering deteriorates due to loss of balance in case of engine failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by mounting one engine at the leading edge and another at the trailing edge of the wing, creating an asymmetric engine arrangement that enables independent control of longitudinal and lateral balance. This asymmetric configuration allows the aircraft to maintain stability during hovering even if one engine fails, as the remaining engine can be positioned to compensate for the imbalance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics through pivotable engine mounts that allow the engines to be tilted between a hover position (vertical thrust) and a cruise position (horizontal thrust). This dynamic positioning capability enables the engine thrust vectors to be adjusted in real-time to maintain aircraft balance during different flight phases and to compensate for engine failures.
2Stability of the object's composition
If two pairs of wings are used to distribute engines before and behind center of gravity, then stability during hovering is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple wing pairs into a single wing structure. By mounting two engines on one wing (one at leading edge, one at trailing edge), the patent achieves the balance and stability functions that would otherwise require two pairs of wings, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining hovering stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single wing structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, carries two engines for thrust generation, and enables both longitudinal and lateral balance control. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate structures for each function, reducing overall device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If pivotable engines near cockpit are used for balance control, then hovering balance is improved, but device complexity and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the engines from a conventional fuselage-mounted configuration to a wing-mounted configuration, utilizing the wing structure as a mounting platform. This dimensional relocation allows the engines to be positioned at the leading and trailing edges of the wing, creating leverage arms for balance control without requiring complex pivotable mechanisms near the cockpit.
4Power
If fossil fuel powered engines are used for propulsion, then power output is improved, but environmental impact and noise level worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional fossil fuel-powered mechanical engines with electric propulsion systems. This substitution eliminates combustion processes, thereby removing the associated noise generation and harmful emissions, while still providing the necessary power output for VTOL operations through electric motors and ducted fans.
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 configuration maintains aircraft balance and stability during hovering and cruise, reduces noise and environmental impact, and allows for efficient operation with redundancy in case of engine failure, while minimizing complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
each engine being mounted to the wing such as to be movable, preferably pivotable, between hover position with vertical thrust direction and a cruise position with horizontal thrust direction
Implementation Method 2
using electric ducted fans for reduced noise and environmental impact
Implementation Method 3
one of the two engines is mounted adjacent to a leading edge of the wing and the other one of the two engines is mounted adjacent to a trailing edge of the wing... the engines will be capable of maintaining balance of the aircraft during hovering
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a wing structure for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft (10), comprising a wing (16) and at least two engines (18), each engine of the two engines being mounted to the wing (16) such as to be movable between a hover position with vertical thrust direction and a cruise position with horizontal thrust direction, wherein one of the two engines is mounted to a leading edge (22) of the wing and the other one of the two engines is mounted to a trailing edge (24) of the wing.