Enhanced performance rotorcraft rotor blade
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDavid L. Perlman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enhanced performance rotorcraft rotor blade system and methods are presented. A rotor blade comprises an inboard blade portion, and at least one controllable surface coupled to the inboard blade portion. The at least one controllable surface is operable to improve a lift of the inboard blade portion by altering an angle of attack of the inboard blade portion independent of the rotor blade.
Claims20
An enhanced performance rotorcraft rotor blade system comprising;
- a rotor blade comprising an inboard blade portion;
- and
- at least one controllable surface coupled to the inboard blade portion and operable to improve a lift of the inboard blade portion by altering an angle of attack of the inboard blade portion independent of the rotor blade.
A method for operating an enhanced performance rotorcraft rotor blade system to reduce effects of retreating rotor blade stall, the method comprising:
- detecting a high directional velocity of a rotorcraft comprising a rotor blade;
- and
- deploying at least one controllable surface coupled to an inboard blade portion of the rotor blade located in a low velocity region of the rotor blade.
A method for providing a rotor blade comprising:
- providing a rotor blade comprising an inboard blade portion;
- and
- providing at least one controllable surface coupled to the inboard blade portion and operable to improve a lift of the inboard blade portion by controlling an angle of attack of the inboard blade portion independently from the rotor blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.