公开(公告)号：US11650604B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-16

申请号：US17720254

申请日：2022-04-13

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

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

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

CPC classification number: G05D1/0858 ,  B64C5/10 ,  B64C29/02

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：US11479353B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-25

申请号：US16879074

申请日：2020-05-20

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

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

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/08 ,  B64C11/48 ,  B64C27/52 ,  B64C13/16 ,  B64C5/08

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. Tail assemblies are coupled to wingtips of the first and second wings each having an elevon that collectively form a distributed array of elevons. A flight control system is configured to direct the thrust vector of the coaxial rotor system and to control movements of the elevons such that the elevons collectively provide pitch authority and differentially provide roll authority for the aircraft in the biplane orientation. In addition, when the flight control system detects an elevon fault, the flight control system is configured to perform corrective action responsive thereto at a distributed elevon level or at a coordinated distributed elevon and propulsion assembly level.

公开(公告)号：US11479354B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-25

申请号：US16879129

申请日：2020-05-20

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

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

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64D35/06 ,  B64D27/24

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for an aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The propulsion assembly includes a housing coupled to the fuselage of the aircraft. A coaxial rotor system includes a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly that are rotatable about a common axis of rotation. The first rotor assembly counter-rotates relative to the second rotor assembly. A motor assembly is operably associated with the coaxial rotor system. The motor assembly provides torque and rotational energy to the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly. A gimbal assembly couples the coaxial rotor system to the housing such that the coaxial rotor system is tiltable relative to the fuselage to generate a thrust vector.

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：US20210362852A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-25

申请号：US16879129

申请日：2020-05-20

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc

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

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D35/06

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for an aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The propulsion assembly includes a housing coupled to the fuselage of the aircraft. A coaxial rotor system includes a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly that are rotatable about a common axis of rotation. The first rotor assembly counter-rotates relative to the second rotor assembly. A motor assembly is operably associated with the coaxial rotor system. The motor assembly provides torque and rotational energy to the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly. A gimbal assembly couples the coaxial rotor system to the housing such that the coaxial rotor system is tiltable relative to the fuselage to generate a thrust vector.

公开(公告)号：US20210362851A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-25

申请号：US16879070

申请日：2020-05-20

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

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

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/08

Abstract: An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft has an airframe including first and second wings with 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. A flight control system is configured to direct the thrust vector. In the VTOL orientation, the first wing is forward of the fuselage, the second wing is aft of the fuselage and the coaxial rotor system is configured to provide thrust in line with a yaw axis of the aircraft. In the biplane orientation, the first wing is below the fuselage, the second wing is above the fuselage and the coaxial rotor system is configured to provide thrust in line with a roll axis of the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US11479352B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-25

申请号：US16879070

申请日：2020-05-20

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

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

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/08 ,  B64C27/52

Abstract: An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft has an airframe including first and second wings with 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. A flight control system is configured to direct the thrust vector. In the VTOL orientation, the first wing is forward of the fuselage, the second wing is aft of the fuselage and the coaxial rotor system is configured to provide thrust in line with a yaw axis of the aircraft. In the biplane orientation, the first wing is below the fuselage, the second wing is above the fuselage and the coaxial rotor system is configured to provide thrust in line with a roll axis of the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US20220291697A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-15

申请号：US17720254

申请日：2022-04-13

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

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

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

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：US20210365049A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-25

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: G05D1/08 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C5/10

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：US20210362857A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-25

申请号：US16879074

申请日：2020-05-20

Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.

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

IPC: B64C39/08 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C5/08 ,  B64C11/48 ,  B64C13/16

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. Tail assemblies are coupled to wingtips of the first and second wings each having an elevon that collectively form a distributed array of elevons. A flight control system is configured to direct the thrust vector of the coaxial rotor system and to control movements of the elevons such that the elevons collectively provide pitch authority and differentially provide roll authority for the aircraft in the biplane orientation. In addition, when the flight control system detects an elevon fault, the flight control system is configured to perform corrective action responsive thereto at a distributed elevon level or at a coordinated distributed elevon and propulsion assembly level.