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US 12,157,562 B2Granted
Helicopter, helicopter kit and associated reconfiguration method
AssigneeLeonardo S.P.A.
InventorsLuca Medici, Stefano Melone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A helicopter is described comprising: a tail boom; a fin projecting from the tail boom; and a tailplane arranged at the tail boom and transversal to the fin; at least one of the fin and the tailplane defining a first aerodynamic surface generating a first aerodynamic force; at least one first element transversal to the first aerodynamic surface; and a second aerodynamic surface generating a second aerodynamic force, connected to the first element, facing and spaced from the first aerodynamic surface; the second aerodynamic surface is spaced from the other of the fin and the tailplane.
Claims15
A helicopter comprising:
- a tail boom;
- a fin projecting from said tail boom;
- and
- a tailplane arranged at said tail boom and transversal to said fin;
- at least one of said fin and said tailplane defining a first aerodynamic surface generating, in use, a first aerodynamic force;
- at least a first element transversal to said first aerodynamic surface;
- and
- a second aerodynamic surface generating, in use, a second aerodynamic force, connected to said first element, facing and spaced from said first aerodynamic surface;
- said second aerodynamic surface being spaced from the other of said fin and said tailplane;
- said second aerodynamic surface extending in a spanwise direction in parallel to the spanwise direction of said first aerodynamic surface;
- wherein said tailplane comprises a pair of stabilizers projecting in a cantilever fashion from opposite sides of said tail boom;
- each said stabilizer comprising a corresponding said first aerodynamic surface, a corresponding said second aerodynamic surface and a corresponding said first element;
- and
- a second element spaced from said first element, transversal to said first and second aerodynamic surfaces, and extending starting from said second aerodynamic surface towards said first aerodynamic surface, wherein said second aerodynamic surface intersects the first element at a location between a top edge and a bottom edge of the first element such that said second aerodynamic surface lies entirely below the top edge.
11 more elements
A helicopter comprising:
- a tail boom;
- a fin projecting from said tail boom;
- and
- a tailplane arranged at said tail boom and transversal to said fin;
- at least one of said fin and said tailplane defining a first aerodynamic surface generating, in use, a first aerodynamic force;
- at least a first element transversal to said first aerodynamic surface;
- and
- a second aerodynamic surface-generating, in use, a second aerodynamic force, connected to said first element, facing and spaced from said first aerodynamic surface;
- said second aerodynamic surface being spaced from the other of said fin and said tailplane;
- said second aerodynamic surface extending in a spanwise direction in parallel to the spanwise direction of said first aerodynamic surface;
- wherein said tailplane comprises a pair of stabilizers projecting in a cantilever fashion from opposite sides of said fuselage tail boom;
- each said stabilizer comprising a corresponding said first aerodynamic surface, a corresponding said second aerodynamic surface and a corresponding said first element;
- wherein the second aerodynamic surface is arranged above the first aerodynamic surface and is configured to obstruct passage of downwash from a main rotor towards the first aerodynamic surface.
10 more elements
A helicopter comprising:
- a tail boom;
- a fin projecting from said tail boom;
- and
- a tailplane arranged at said tail boom and transversal to said fin;
- said fin defining a first aerodynamic surface generating, in use, a first aerodynamic force;
- at least a first element transversal to said first aerodynamic surface;
- and
- a second aerodynamic surface-generating, in use, a second aerodynamic force, connected to said first element, facing and spaced from said first aerodynamic surface;
- said second aerodynamic surface being spaced from said fin;
- said second aerodynamic surface extending in a spanwise direction in parallel to the spanwise direction of said first aerodynamic surface;
- said fin further defining said second aerodynamic surface, said second aerodynamic surface being spaced from said tailplane.
8 more elements
An upgrade kit for a helicopter comprising:
- at least one first element transversely fixable to a first aerodynamic surface defined by a tailplane or a fin of said helicopter;
- a second aerodynamic surface transversal to said first element and adapted to generate, in use, an aerodynamic force;
- said first element comprising:
- an edge fixable to said first aerodynamic surface;
- and
- a zone separate from said edge and from which said second aerodynamic surface projects in a cantilever fashion;
- said second aerodynamic surface being configured to be arranged, in use, at a distance from the other of said tailplane or fin of said helicopter;
- said second aerodynamic surface extending in a spanwise direction in parallel to the spanwise direction of said first aerodynamic surface;
- said kit further comprising:
- a second element projecting in a cantilever fashion from said first element in a staggered position with respect to said second aerodynamic surface;
- wherein said tailplane comprises a pair of stabilizers projecting in a cantilever fashion from opposite sides of said fuselage;
- each said stabilizer comprising a corresponding said first aerodynamic surface, a corresponding said second aerodynamic surface and a corresponding said first element.
9 more elements
An upgrade method for a helicopter;
- said helicopter comprising:
- a tail boom;
- a fin projecting from said tail boom;
- and
- a tailplane arranged on said tail portion and transversal to said fin;
- at least one of said fin and said tailplane defining a first aerodynamic surface;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- i) arranging a first element transversely to said first aerodynamic surface;
- ii) arranging a second aerodynamic surface spaced from said first aerodynamic surface and from the other of said tailplane and fin;
- and
- iii) connecting said second aerodynamic surface to said first element;
- said second aerodynamic surface extending in a spanwise direction in parallel to the spanwise direction of said first aerodynamic surface;
- wherein said tailplane comprises a pair of stabilizers projecting in a cantilever fashion from opposite sides of said fuselage;
- each said stabilizer comprising a corresponding said first aerodynamic surface, a corresponding said second aerodynamic surface and a corresponding said first element;
- and
- wherein the second aerodynamic surface is arranged above the first aerodynamic surface and is configured to obstruct passage of downwash from a main rotor towards the first aerodynamic surface.
13 more elements
An upgrade kit for a helicopter comprising:
- at least one first element transversely fixable to a first aerodynamic surface defined by a fin of said helicopter;
- a second aerodynamic surface transversal to said first element and adapted to generate, in use, an aerodynamic force;
- said first element comprising:
- an edge fixable to said first aerodynamic surface;
- and
- a zone separate from said edge and from which said second aerodynamic surface projects in a cantilever fashion;
- said second aerodynamic surface being configured to be arranged, in use, at a distance from the other of said tailplane or fin of said helicopter;
- said second aerodynamic surface extending in a spanwise direction in parallel to the spanwise direction of said first aerodynamic surface;
- said kit further comprising:
- a second element projecting in a cantilever fashion from said first element in a staggered position with respect to said second aerodynamic surface;
- wherein said first aerodynamic surface is defined by said fin, said fin further defining said second aerodynamic surface, said second aerodynamic surface being spaced from said tailplane.
8 more elements
An upgrade method for a helicopter;
- said helicopter comprising:
- a tail boom;
- a fin projecting from said tail boom;
- and
- a tailplane arranged on said tail portion and transversal to said fin;
- said fin defining a first aerodynamic surface;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- i) arranging a first element transversely to said first aerodynamic surface;
- ii) arranging a second aerodynamic surface spaced from said first aerodynamic surface and from the fin;
- and
- iii) connecting said second aerodynamic surface to said first element;
- said second aerodynamic surface extending in a spanwise direction in parallel to the spanwise direction of said first aerodynamic surface;
- said fin further defining said second aerodynamic surface, said second aerodynamic surface being spaced from said tailplane.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.