公开(公告)号：US20210396247A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-23

申请号：US16907071

申请日：2020-06-19

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： Jonathan Andrew Knoll ,  George Matthew Thompson ,  Nicholas Ralph Carlson

IPC: F04D29/52 ,  F04D29/38

Abstract: A tip gap control system for a ducted aircraft includes a flight control computer including a blade length control module configured to generate a blade tip actuator command and a proprotor system in data communication with the flight control computer. The proprotor system includes a duct and proprotor blades surrounded by the duct. Each of the proprotor blades includes an active blade tip movable into various positions including a retracted position and an extended position. The tip gap control system also includes one or more actuators coupled to the active blade tips. The one or more actuators move the active blade tips between the various positions based on the blade tip actuator command, thereby controlling a tip gap between the proprotor blades and the duct.

公开(公告)号：US20210394893A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-23

申请号：US16907079

申请日：2020-06-19

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： Jonathan Andrew Knoll ,  George Matthew Thompson ,  Nicholas Ralph Carlson

IPC: B64C27/20 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C27/82

Abstract: A tip gap control system for a ducted aircraft includes a flight control computer including an inner duct surface control module configured to generate an inner duct surface actuator command and a proprotor system in data communication with the flight control computer. The proprotor system includes a duct having active inner duct surfaces movable into various positions including a retracted position and an extended position. The proprotor system also includes proprotor blades surrounded by the duct and one or more actuators coupled to the active inner duct surfaces. The one or more actuators move the active inner duct surfaces between the various positions based on the inner duct surface actuator command, thereby controlling a tip gap between the proprotor blades and the duct.

公开(公告)号：US20210394888A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-23

申请号：US16907093

申请日：2020-06-19

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： George Matthew Thompson ,  Jonathan Andrew Knoll ,  Nicholas Ralph Carlson ,  Timothy Brian Carr

IPC: B64C11/28 ,  B64C27/20 ,  B64C11/00 ,  B64C11/26

Abstract: A proprotor blade for a ducted aircraft including a duct includes a main body having a distal end and a sacrificial blade tip coupled to the distal end of the main body. The sacrificial blade tip includes a deformable core material and a shell layer at least partially covering the deformable core material. The sacrificial blade tip deforms upon contact with the duct, thereby reducing damage to the ducted aircraft.