公开(公告)号：US10377480B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-13

申请号：US15483602

申请日：2017-04-10

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Kirk L. Groninga ,  Daniel B. Robertson ,  Matthew E. Louis

IPC: B64C15/12 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64D27/24 ,  F04D17/04 ,  F04D29/28 ,  B64C23/02 ,  B64C39/00 ,  B64D27/02

Abstract: A variable thrust cross-flow fan system for an aircraft including a rotatable wing member having a first housing member; an actuator assembly operably coupled to the first housing member; and a variable thrust cross-flow fan assembly including a first and second driver plates having a plurality of blades rotatably mounted therebetween. The plurality of blades has a circular path of travel when rotating and includes a control assembly coupled to the plurality of blades to generate a variable thrust force. The control assembly includes a control cam that is substantially non-rotatable relative to the first and second driver plates and a hinge member that is fixedly connected to the control cam and to the first housing member at a hinge axis. Rotation of the first housing member by the actuator assembly imparts rotation of the control cam about the hinge axis, thereby changing the direction of the variable thrust force.

公开(公告)号：US20180044012A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-15

申请号：US15483541

申请日：2017-04-10

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Kirk L. Groninga ,  Daniel B. Robertson ,  Matthew E. Louis

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  F04D25/04 ,  B64C3/38 ,  B64C15/12 ,  B64D27/24 ,  F04D25/06 ,  F04D29/28 ,  B64C9/00

Abstract: An aspect provides an aircraft including a fuselage and a cross-flow fan system attached to the fuselage. The cross-flow fan system including a cross-flow fan assembly associated with a rotatable wing member having an exterior aerodynamic surface. In one aspect, there is provided an aircraft with a fuselage having a forward portion and an aft portion; a first cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the left side of the forward portion of the fuselage; a second cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the right side of the forward portion of the fuselage; a third cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the left side of the aft portion of the fuselage; and a fourth cross-flow fan system rotatably attached to the right side of the aft portion of the fuselage.

公开(公告)号：US11286037B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-29

申请号：US16159208

申请日：2018-10-12

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Robert Glenn Vaughn ,  Michael J. Ryan ,  Brent Randal Achttien ,  Kirk L. Groninga ,  Daniel B. Robertson ,  Matthew Edward Louis

IPC: B64C11/00 ,  B64C11/18 ,  B29C39/10 ,  B64C29/00 ,  F16J15/3288 ,  B29L31/08

Abstract: A rotor system is provided in one example embodiment and may include a rotor duct; at least one rotor blade, wherein the at least one rotor blade comprises a tip end; and a tip extension affixed at the tip end of the at least one rotor blade, wherein the tip extension comprises a plurality of flexible elements and the rotor blade has a fixed extended length based on the tip extension. The tip extension may provide a clearance distance between the tip extension and the rotor duct.

公开(公告)号：US20190135423A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-09

申请号：US15808801

申请日：2017-11-09

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Kirk L. Groninga ,  Frank B. Stamps ,  Daniel B. Robertson ,  Matthew E. Louis

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/08 ,  B64C9/14 ,  B64C3/38

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tiltrotor aircraft may comprise a fuselage; a biplane wing coupled to the fuselage, wherein the biplane wing comprises an upper wing structure and a lower wing structure; a plurality of tiltrotors coupled to the biplane wing; and at least one engine to power the plurality of tiltrotors.

公开(公告)号：US20180354616A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-13

申请号：US15621686

申请日：2017-06-13

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Kirk L. Groninga ,  Daniel B. Robertson

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64D27/26 ,  B64D29/02 ,  B64D35/08

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64D27/02 ,  B64D27/26 ,  B64D29/02 ,  B64D33/02 ,  B64D35/08

Abstract: In a first aspect, there is a rotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft, the rotor system including an upper outboard engine in a fixed location on a wing member of the tiltrotor aircraft; a lower outboard engine in a fixed location on the wing member; and a prop-rotor pylon in power communication with the upper and lower outboard engines, the prop-rotor pylon being configured to selectively rotate between a vertical position and a horizontal position. In another aspect, there is provided a tiltrotor aircraft including a fuselage; a wing member; an upper outboard engine in a fixed location on the wing member; a lower outboard engine in a fixed location on the wing member; and a prop-rotor pylon in power communication with the upper and lower outboard engines, the prop-rotor pylon being configured to selectively rotate between a vertical position and a horizontal position.

公开(公告)号：US20180273167A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-27

申请号：US15468069

申请日：2017-03-23

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Matthew R. Carr ,  Matthew E. Louis ,  Kirk L. Groninga ,  Daniel B. Robertson ,  Frank B. Stamps ,  Albert G. Brand ,  Eric A. Sinusas

IPC: B64C27/82 ,  F04D17/16 ,  F04D29/46

CPC classification number: B64C27/82 ,  B64C2027/8245 ,  B64C2027/8254 ,  F04D17/16 ,  F04D29/462

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotorcraft comprises a fuselage, a tail boom, a rotor system, and a centrifugal blower system. The centrifugal blower system comprises a centrifugal blower configured to generate thrust using an airflow, wherein the centrifugal blower is located within the tail boom. The centrifugal blower system also comprises a plurality of ducts configured to control the thrust generated by the centrifugal blower, wherein the plurality of ducts is located on a portion of the tail boom surrounding the centrifugal blower, and wherein the plurality of ducts comprises one or more adjustable ducts configured to vary a size of an associated duct opening.

公开(公告)号：US20180044010A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-15

申请号：US15483652

申请日：2017-04-10

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Kirk L. Groninga ,  Daniel B. Robertson ,  Matthew E. Louis

IPC: B64C27/82 ,  B64C27/06 ,  F04D17/04 ,  F04D29/42 ,  F04D25/16 ,  F04D27/00

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided an aircraft, including a fuselage having a longitudinal axis extending from a front portion through an aft portion; first and second tail members extending from the aft portion; a first cross-flow fan system rotatably mounted to the first tail member; and a second cross-flow fan system rotatably mounted to the second tail member. The first and second cross-flow fan systems are configured to provide a forward thrust vector and an anti-torque vector on the aircraft. The first and second cross-flow fan systems can have a rotational axis oriented generally vertically. In another aspect, there is an aircraft including a fuselage having a front portion and a tail portion; and a cross-flow fan system supported by the tail portion. Embodiments include a cross-flow fan system retrofittable onto an aircraft and methods for retrofitting an aircraft with a cross-flow fan system.