公开(公告)号：US11320841B2

公开(公告)日：2022-05-03

申请号：US16879081

申请日：2020-05-20

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Andrew Thomas Carter ,  Sung Kyun Kim ,  Matthew John Hill

IPC: B64C5/10 ,  B64C29/02 ,  G05D1/08

Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe with first and second wings having a fuselage extending therebetween. A propulsion assembly is coupled to the fuselage and includes a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system that is tiltable relative to the fuselage to generate a thrust vector. First and second yaw vanes extend aftwardly from the fuselage. A flight control system is configured to direct the thrust vector of the coaxial rotor system and control movements of the yaw vanes. In a VTOL orientation of the aircraft, differential operation of the yaw vanes and/or differential operations of first and second rotor assemblies of the coaxial rotor system provide yaw authority for the aircraft. In a biplane orientation of the aircraft, collective operation of the yaw vanes provides yaw authority for the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US11091257B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-17

申请号：US16925196

申请日：2020-07-09

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/08

Abstract: An autonomous package delivery aircraft is operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a forward flight orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe with a distributed thrust array coupled thereto. A flight control system is operably associated with the distributed thrust array and is configured to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies of the distributed thrust array. A package delivery module is coupled to the airframe. In the VTOL orientation, a first pair of propulsion assemblies is forward of the package delivery module while a second pair of propulsion assemblies is aft of the package delivery module. In a forward flight orientation, the first pair of propulsion assemblies is below the package delivery module and the second pair of propulsion assemblies is above the package delivery module.

公开(公告)号：US11027837B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-08

申请号：US16154359

申请日：2018-10-08

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C27/57 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C27/52 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C29/02

Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons extending therebetween and having a two-dimensional distributed thrust array of outboard propulsion assemblies attached thereto. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control a rotor speed and a thrust vector of each propulsion assembly. In a low thrust to weight configuration, transitions from the VTOL orientation to the biplane orientation include establishing a pitch down flight attitude while engaging in collective thrust vectoring of the outboard propulsion assemblies to maintain hover stability followed collectively reducing the thrust vector angles to initiate forward flight. In a high thrust to weight configuration, transitions from the VTOL orientation to the biplane orientation include maintaining a level flight attitude while collectively increasing the thrust vector angles of the outboard propulsion assemblies to initiate forward flight.

公开(公告)号：US20210114719A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-22

申请号：US17134378

申请日：2020-12-26

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Michael K. McNair ,  John Richard McCullough

IPC: B64C27/00 ,  B64D27/10 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64D27/24

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a blade assembly, a drive shaft coupled to the blade assembly and an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and operable to provide rotational energy to the drive shaft to rotate the blade assembly. The propulsion assembly includes a landing assistance turbine coupled to the drive shaft and operable to selectively provide rotational energy to the drive shaft during an underpowered descent to rotate the blade assembly and provide upward thrust, thereby reducing a descent rate of the rotorcraft prior to landing.

公开(公告)号：US10604249B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-31

申请号：US16154188

申请日：2018-10-08

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

Inventor： John Richard McCullough ,  Paul K. Oldroyd

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C1/06 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C27/28 ,  B64C27/30 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/08 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D27/26 ,  B64C29/02

Abstract: A man portable aircraft system includes first and second wings with first and second pylons couplable between pylon stations thereof to form an airframe. Each of a plurality of propulsion assemblies is couplable to one of a plurality of nacelle stations of the wings to form a two-dimensional distributed thrust array. A flight control system is couplable to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A payload is couplable between payload stations of the first and second pylons. A man portable container is operable to receive the wings, pylons, propulsion assemblies, flight control system and payload in a disassembled configuration. The connections between the wings, pylons, propulsion assemblies and payload are operable for rapid in-situ assembly. In an assembled configuration, the aircraft is operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation.