-
公开(公告)号:US11827344B2
公开(公告)日:2023-11-28
申请号:US17116726
申请日:2020-12-09
Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
Inventor: Alexander Dang Quang Truong , Karl Schroeder , Michael John Ryan
CPC classification number: B64C27/20 , B64C39/024 , B64D2033/0206 , B64U10/13 , B64U30/20 , B64U50/14
Abstract: An exemplary ducted fan includes a duct having a central longitudinal axis, a rotor hub and stator hub extending along the central longitudinal axis, rotor blades extending from the rotor hub, each of the rotor blades operable to rotate about its own pitch-change axis, the pitch-change axes lying in a rotor plane that is generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, each of the rotor blades having a rotor trailing edge and a rotor chord length, stators extending from the stator hub to an interior surface of the duct, each of the stators having a stator leading edge and a stator thickness, and a first separation between the rotor plane and the stator leading edge of not less than approximately 1.5 times the stator thickness.
-
公开(公告)号:US11104439B2
公开(公告)日:2021-08-31
申请号:US16161279
申请日:2018-10-16
Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
Inventor: Carlos Alexander Fenny , Joseph Scott Drennan , Michael John Ryan , John Richard McCullough , Brett Rodney Zimmerman
Abstract: A system for deploying and retrieving a parasite aircraft includes a parasite aircraft with a dock and a carrier aircraft that includes a maneuverable capture device tethered to the carrier aircraft via a cable. The maneuverable capture device includes a plurality of rotors and is configured to dock in the dock of the parasite aircraft. A method of deploying a parasite aircraft includes positioning a parasite aircraft on a loading surface; positioning a carrier aircraft above the parasite aircraft; releasing, from the carrier aircraft, a maneuverable capture device comprising a plurality of rotors; securing the maneuverable capture device to a dock positioned on the parasite aircraft; lifting, via a cable secured at a first end to the carrier aircraft and at a second end to the maneuverable capture device, the parasite aircraft with the carrier aircraft; and releasing the parasite aircraft from the maneuverable capture device.
-
3.
公开(公告)号:US11008102B2
公开(公告)日:2021-05-18
申请号:US16161455
申请日:2018-10-16
Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
Inventor: Michael John Ryan , Carlos Alexander Fenny , Joseph Scott Drennan , John Richard McCullough , Brett Rodney Zimmerman
Abstract: In an embodiment, a maneuverable capture device includes a frame, a plurality of rotors secured to the frame, an attachment point disposed on the frame for securing a cable of a carrier aircraft to the frame, and an attachment feature configured to secure maneuverable capture device to a dock of a parasite aircraft. In an embodiment, a method of docking a maneuverable capture device with a parasite aircraft includes positioning a carrier aircraft above a parasite aircraft, releasing the maneuverable capture device attached to the carrier aircraft by a cable from the carrier aircraft, flying the maneuverable capture device to a dock of the parasite aircraft, and securing the maneuverable capture device to the dock of the parasite aircraft.
-
公开(公告)号:US11548608B2
公开(公告)日:2023-01-10
申请号:US17223274
申请日:2021-04-06
Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
Inventor: Joseph Scott Drennan , Carlos Alexander Fenny , Michael John Ryan , John Richard McCullough , Brett Rodney Zimmerman
Abstract: A parasite aircraft for airborne deployment and retrieve includes a wing; a fuselage rotatably mounted to the wing; a dock disposed on top of the fuselage and configured to receive a maneuverable capture device of a carrier aircraft; a pair of tail members extending from the fuselage; and a plurality of landing gear mounted to the wing. A method of preparing a parasite aircraft for flight includes unfolding an end portion of a wing; unfolding an end portion of a tail member of the parasite aircraft; and rotating a fuselage of the parasite aircraft so that the fuselage is perpendicular to the wing. A method of preparing a parasite aircraft for storage includes rotating a fuselage of the parasite aircraft to be parallel with a wing of the parasite aircraft; folding an end portion of the wing; and folding an end portion of a tail member of the parasite aircraft.
-
公开(公告)号:US20220177121A1
公开(公告)日:2022-06-09
申请号:US17116726
申请日:2020-12-09
Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.
Inventor: Alexander Dang Quang Truong , Karl Schroeder , Michael John Ryan
Abstract: An exemplary ducted fan includes a duct having a central longitudinal axis, a rotor hub and stator hub extending along the central longitudinal axis, rotor blades extending from the rotor hub, each of the rotor blades operable to rotate about its own pitch-change axis, the pitch-change axes lying in a rotor plane that is generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, each of the rotor blades having a rotor trailing edge and a rotor chord length, stators extending from the stator hub to an interior surface of the duct, each of the stators having a stator leading edge and a stator thickness, and a first separation between the rotor plane and the stator leading edge of not less than approximately 1.5 times the stator thickness.
-
-
-
-