Systems and methods for tiltrotor rotor tilting with aerodynamic surfaces
OwnerDonatas Skulskisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tiltrotor rotor tilting system for an aircraft includes a fixed wing, an engine nacelle rotatably connected to the fixed wing, and a propellor connected to the engine nacelle. The propellor is configured to generate airflow. The engine nacelle includes a first engine nacelle flap pivotably connected to the engine nacelle and a first moveable joint. The first movable joint is configured to pivot the first engine nacelle flap from a stowed flap position to a deployed flap position. The engine nacelle is configured to tilt from a first nacelle position to a second nacelle position relative to the fixed wing in response to the airflow contacting the first engine nacelle flap while in the deployed flap position.
Claims20
A tiltrotor rotor tilting system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a fixed wing;
- an engine nacelle rotatably connected to the fixed wing, the engine nacelle including:
- a first engine nacelle flap pivotably connected to the engine nacelle;
- and
- a first movable joint configured to pivot the first engine nacelle flap from a stowed flap position to a deployed flap position;
- and
- a propellor operably connected to the engine nacelle by a shaft, the propellor configured to generate airflow,
- wherein the engine nacelle is configured to tilt from a first nacelle position to a second nacelle position relative to the fixed wing in response to the airflow contacting the first engine nacelle flap while in the deployed flap position.
A tiltrotor rotor tilting system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a fixed wing;
- an engine nacelle rotatably connected to the fixed wing, the engine nacelle including:
- an inlet duct configured to receive an airflow;
- and
- a first exhaust outlet configured to direct the airflow, the first exhaust outlet including a first actuator disposed in the first exhaust outlet, wherein the first actuator is configured to direct the airflow out of the first exhaust outlet in a first direction;
- and
- a propellor operably connected to the engine nacelle by a shaft, the propellor configured to generate airflow;
- a rotor control system configured to actuate the first actuator;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory including instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
- receive, by the inlet duct, the airflow from the propellor through the first exhaust outlet;
- actuate the first actuator from a closed position to an open position in response to the rotor control system;
- direct the airflow out of the first exhaust outlet in the first direction in response to actuation of the first actuator;
- and
- tilt the engine nacelle from a first nacelle position to a second nacelle position relative to the fixed wing in response to the airflow out of the first exhaust outlet in the first direction.
A method for tilting a tiltrotor rotor tilting system for an aircraft, comprising:
- receiving, by an inlet duct of an engine nacelle of the aircraft, an airflow from a propellor of the engine nacelle through a first exhaust outlet of the engine nacelle;
- actuating a first actuator of the first exhaust outlet from a closed position to an open position in response to a rotor control system;
- directing the airflow out of the first exhaust outlet in a first direction in response to actuation of the first actuator;
- and
- tilting the engine nacelle from a first nacelle position to a second nacelle position relative to a fixed wing of the aircraft in response to the airflow out of the first exhaust outlet in the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.