# US 12,181,038 B2 · Aircraft capable of hovering

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- Number: US 12,181,038 B2
- Document ID: US12181038B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/549,272
- Filed: 2022-03-01
- Published: 2024-05-23
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-11
- Assignees: Leonardo S.P.A.
- Applicants: Leonardo S.P.A.
- Inventors: Daniele Podda; Andrea Gabrielli; Federico Montagna; Diego Scaltritti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181038B2

## CPC

- B64C 29/0033: {the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage}
- F16H 57/082: {Planet carriers}
- B64C 27/12: Rotor drives
- B64D 35/00: Transmitting power from power plants to propellers or rotors; Arrangements of transmissions
- B64D 35/02: specially adapted for specific power plants
- F02C 7/36: Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user ({F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and} F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H)
- F16H 1/2809: {with means for equalising the distribution of load on the planet gears}
- F05D 2220/90: in vehicles adapted for vertical or short take off and landing (v/stol vehicles)
- F05D 2230/642: using maintaining alignment while permitting differential dilatation
- F05D 2260/40311: of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type
- F16H 2057/085: {Bearings for orbital gears}
- F16H 2200/2007: with two sets of orbital gears
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- F16H: GEARING
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

An aircraft capable of hovering is described, comprising a motor member; a rotor connected to the motor member; a transmission shaft rotatable around a first axis and adapted to drive the rotor; and a transmission interposed between the motor member and the rotor and comprising a planetary gear formed by a sun rotatable around a second axis; a crown that is angularly fixed; and two satellites meshing, each, with the crown and the sun, and rotatable around respective third axes, which are, in turn, rotatable around the second axis; and a satellite carrier rotatable around the second axis and comprising two first pins with respect to which the satellites are rotatable around the respective third axes; the transmission comprises an interface, angularly integral with the satellite carrier around the second axis and said transmission shaft around the first axis; the interface being coupled to said satellite carriers and the transmission shaft so as to allow an angular misalignment between the second axis and a portion of the interface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Aircraft capable of hovering, comprising:
at least one motor member;
at least one rotor operatively connected to said motor member;
at least one transmission shaft rotatable around a first axis and adapted to drive said rotor; and
at least one transmission interposed between said motor member and said rotor;
said transmission comprising a planetary gear formed by:
a sun rotatable around a second axis with a first angular speed;
a crown angularly fixed with respect to said second axis or rotatable around said second axis with a second angular speed different from said first angular speed;
at least two satellites meshing, each, with said crown and said sun, and being rotatable around respective third axes, which are in turn rotatable around said second axis; and
a satellite carrier rotatable around said second axis and comprising at least two first pins with respect to which said satellites are rotatable around said respective third axes;
wherein said transmission comprises:
an interface interposed between said satellite carrier and said transmission shaft, coupled to said satellite carrier around said second axis and said transmission shaft around said first axis;
said interface being coupled to said satellite carriers and to said transmission shaft so as to allow an angular misalignment between a portion of said interface and said second axis;
said interface being articulated on said satellite carrier, so that said portion is tiltable with respect to said satellite carrier around at least a fourth axis orthogonal to said first and second axes;
said portion comprising a plurality of second elongated pins that are parallel to respective fifth axes; and in that it comprises a plurality of ball joints coupled to respective said second pins around said first axis and articulated on said satellite carrier, so as to allow said inclination of said interface with respect to said satellite carrier around said at least one fourth axis;
said interface comprising an annular body, coupled in a rotationally integral manner with said transmission shaft and from which said second pins project axially in a cantilevered manner;
wherein said annular body comprises a plurality of angularly equally spaced spokes;
each second pin projecting axially cantilevered from a relative said spoke;
said annular body comprising:
a first circumferential, continuous and radially internal, end edge; and
a second circumferential, continuous and radially external, end edge, said second circumferential end edge being axially superimposed on said second pins;
said spokes extending radially between said first and second circumferential end edges.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Aircraft according to claim 1, wherein each ball joint comprises:
a first element defining a first spherical surface and fixed to the respective second pin; and
a second element defining a second spherical surface arranged in contact with the relative first spherical surface and fixed to said satellite carrier.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Aircraft according to claim 1, wherein said satellite carrier defines:
a plurality of first seats angularly equally spaced and housing respective said first pins; and
a plurality of second seats angularly equally spaced and housing respective said second pins.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Aircraft according to claim 3, wherein said second seats are radially external with respect to said first seats.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

Aircraft according to claim 3, wherein each said second seat is circumferentially interposed between two said first seats circumferentially consecutive between them.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Aircraft according to claim 1, wherein said satellite carrier comprises a pair of half-elements axially superimposed on each other parallel to said second axis, defining respective axial end portions of said first seats, and defining a plurality of said second seats receiving respective said ball joints.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Aircraft according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rolling bearings interposed, each, between a respective first pin and respective ones of said at least two satellites;
said bearing each comprising, in turn:
a first ring coupled to said first pin and defining a first raceway;
a second ring coupled to the respective said satellite and defining a second raceway; and
a plurality of rolling bodies shaped as cylindrical rollers, radially interposed between said first and second ring, and rolling, in use, on said first and second raceway.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

Aircraft according to claim 7, wherein said satellites have a plane of symmetry orthogonal to the respective said third axis;
said rolling bodies of each said rolling bearing being arranged symmetrically with respect to said plane of symmetry;
said satellite carrier being symmetrical with respect to the said plane of symmetry.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Aircraft according to claim 1, wherein said first and second element extend symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

Aircraft according to claim 1, wherein said aircraft is a convertiplane or a helicopter or a heliplane;
said convertiplane comprising, in turn, a pair of said motor members, a pair of said rotors and a pair of said transmissions each interposed between a respective motor member and a respective rotor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

Aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis are coextensive with each other.