Passive Tip Gap Management Systems for Ducted Aircraft

    公开(公告)号:US20210394895A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-12-23

    申请号:US16907087

    申请日:2020-06-19

    Abstract: A proprotor system for a ducted aircraft includes a duct and proprotor blades surrounded by the duct. Each proprotor blade is rotatable about a respective pitch change axis. The proprotor blades are configured to change collective pitch about the pitch change axes. The proprotor blades are extendable along the pitch change axes into various positions including a retracted position and an extended position. The proprotor blades change between the retracted position and the extended position based on the collective pitch of the proprotor blades, thereby controlling a tip gap between the proprotor blades and the duct.

    Tip gap control systems with active blade tips

    公开(公告)号:US11370536B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-28

    申请号:US16907071

    申请日:2020-06-19

    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.

    Ducted Proprotor Systems Having Adaptive Duct Geometries

    公开(公告)号:US20220024571A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-01-27

    申请号:US16935751

    申请日:2020-07-22

    Abstract: A proprotor system for a ducted aircraft convertible between a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and a forward flight mode includes a plurality of proprotor blades and a duct surrounding the proprotor blades. The duct includes an adaptive geometry device movable into various positions including a hover position and a cruise position. One or more actuators coupled to the adaptive geometry device are configured to move the adaptive geometry device between the hover position and the cruise position based on the flight mode of the ducted aircraft, thereby improving flight performance of the ducted aircraft.

    Ducted proprotor systems having adaptive duct geometries

    公开(公告)号:US11492107B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-11-08

    申请号:US16935751

    申请日:2020-07-22

    Abstract: A proprotor system for a ducted aircraft convertible between a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and a forward flight mode includes a plurality of proprotor blades and a duct surrounding the proprotor blades. The duct includes an adaptive geometry device movable into various positions including a hover position and a cruise position. One or more actuators coupled to the adaptive geometry device are configured to move the adaptive geometry device between the hover position and the cruise position based on the flight mode of the ducted aircraft, thereby improving flight performance of the ducted aircraft.

    Tip gap control systems with inner duct control surfaces

    公开(公告)号:US11407504B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-09

    申请号:US16907079

    申请日:2020-06-19

    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.

    Passive tip gap management systems for ducted aircraft

    公开(公告)号:US11203421B1

    公开(公告)日:2021-12-21

    申请号:US16907087

    申请日:2020-06-19

    Abstract: A proprotor system for a ducted aircraft includes a duct and proprotor blades surrounded by the duct. Each proprotor blade is rotatable about a respective pitch change axis. The proprotor blades are configured to change collective pitch about the pitch change axes. The proprotor blades are extendable along the pitch change axes into various positions including a retracted position and an extended position. The proprotor blades change between the retracted position and the extended position based on the collective pitch of the proprotor blades, thereby controlling a tip gap between the proprotor blades and the duct.

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