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US 2020/0392897 A1Published application
Variable Engine Inlet Geometry Algorithm
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorThomas Dewey Parsons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for determining an optimal engine inlet area to minimize spillage drag. An algorithm may utilize aircraft parameters, aircraft performance charts, and engine models to determine the engine inlet area as a function of engine air mass flow, airspeed, and air density at current ambient conditions.
Claims20
A method for controlling an aircraft engine inlet, comprising:
- determining a required engine power based upon current aircraft parameters;
- determining a desired engine air mass flow based upon the required engine power;
- calculating an optimum engine inlet area based upon the desired engine air mass flow, a current airspeed, and an air density;
- and
- providing a command to one or more actuators to adjust the aircraft engine inlet to conform to the calculated optimum engine inlet area.
2 more elements
An aircraft, comprising:
- an engine having an inlet section with variable geometry;
- a flight control system configured to:
- determine a required engine power based upon current aircraft parameters;
- determine a desired engine air mass flow based upon the required engine power;
- calculate an optimum engine inlet area based upon the desired engine air mass flow, a current airspeed, and an air density;
- and
- provide a command to one or more actuators to adjust the inlet section geometry to conform to the calculated optimum engine inlet area.
4 more elements
A flight control computer, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the processors to:
- determine a required engine power based upon current aircraft parameters;
- determine a desired engine air mass flow based upon the required engine power;
- calculate an engine inlet area based upon the desired engine air mass flow, a current airspeed, and an air density;
- and
- provide a command to one or more actuators to adjust the aircraft engine inlet to conform to the calculated engine inlet area.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.