Abstract:
An aircraft is described and includes a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and a rotor system including a proprotor system and an engine. An interconnect driveshaft gear is configured to communicate mechanical energy between a gearbox and an interconnect driveshaft. An accessory gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the driveshaft gear. A proprotor gear is coplanar with and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft gear and the accessory gear and communicates mechanical energy to the proprotor system. An engine gear coplanar and in mechanical communication with the interconnect driveshaft ear, the accessory gear, and the proprotor gear transmits mechanical energy to the proprotor system via the proprotor gear.
Abstract:
According to one embodiment, an aircraft features a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and a first rotor system. The first rotor system includes a first proprotor system and a first engine. The first proprotor system is coupled proximate to a first wing tip of the wing and is tiltable between a helicopter mode position and an airplane mode position. The first engine is in mechanical communication with the first proprotor system and coupled above the wing, outboard of the fuselage and inboard of the first pylon.
Abstract:
An aircraft including a nacelle disposed at a fixed location relative a wing member; a proprotor housing coupled to the nacelle, the proprotor housing configured to selectively rotate between a horizontal orientation and a non-horizontal orientation; a door pivotably coupled to the proprotor housing; and a linkage to connect the door and the nacelle, the linkage configured to move with the door from a closed position when the proprotor housing is in a horizontal orientation to an open position when the proprotor housing is in a non-horizontal orientation. In some embodiments, there can be a hinge member for hingedly coupling the door to the proprotor and/or nacelle. In other embodiments, the door includes a flexure portion. In some embodiments, the nacelle includes a plurality of doors. In other embodiments, proprotor includes a forward portion and a stationary aft portion; wherein the forward portion is configured to selectively pivot.
Abstract:
A method for applying adhesive to sides of a flange, such as in rotorcraft connection joints, includes attaching an intermediate member to an edge of a flange and flowing adhesive in gaps between sides of the flange and inner edges of a double lap joint element by inserting the flange with the intermediate member into the double lap joint element.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, an aircraft may include a retractable or extendable landing gear. The landing gear may include a wheel connected to an axle, a strut configured to resist longitudinal compression, and a linear actuator that is partially disposed within an opening of the strut.
Abstract:
A tiltrotor aircraft includes a fuselage; a wing member having a first rib, a second rib, a first spar, second spar; and an upper wing skin; an engine disposed at a fixed location relative to the wing member; and a proprotor having a spindle gearbox, rotor mast, and a plurality of rotor blades drivable in rotation about the rotor mast, the spindle gearbox being rotatable about a conversion axis. The spindle gearbox is located above the upper wing skin of the wing member.
Abstract:
A rotor system for tilt rotor aircraft comprises an engine disposed at a first fixed position on a wing member, and a prop-rotor pylon mechanically coupled to the engine along a drive path extending through the wing member. The engine is disposed adjacent a fuselage of the tilt rotor aircraft, and the prop-rotor pylon is configured to selectively rotate between a vertical position and a horizontal position. The prop-rotor pylon is coupled to a plurality of rotor blades.