Back to results
US 2026/0200574 A1Published application
Helicopter tail rotor drive system on demand speed control
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsYann Lavallee, Scott D. Poster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tail rotor control system is described for helicopters. A pedal position sensor operable by a pilot yields greater tail rotor RPM relative to the main rotor RPM, giving the pilot increased control over the vehicle. This proves especially useful in certain situations, such as high altitude, where increasing tail rotor speed from main rotor speed can give a pilot increased maneuverability and stability.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A system of a helicopter, comprising:
- a tail rotor including two or more tail rotor blades, wherein the tail rotor is configured to spin the two or more tail rotor blades at a standard tail operating speed, wherein the tail rotor is further configured to adjust a pitch of the two or more tail rotor blades;
- and
- a controller configured to be operable by a user to adjust a speed of the tail rotor, wherein the controller is configured to allow the user to increase a rotational speed of the tail rotor above the standard tail operating speed, wherein the controller is configured to receive an input, wherein the controller includes physical instructive components configured to change the rotational speed of the tail rotor between a slow speed and a fast speed upon the input transitioning between a second value and a first value, wherein the change in rotational speed of the tail rotor between the slow speed and the fast speed demonstrates hysteresis relative to the input transitioning between the second value and the first value.
A method of operating a tail rotor on a helicopter, comprising:
- operating the tail rotor at a standard operating speed;
- receiving, by a controller, an input from a user, the controller being operable to change a rotational speed of the tail rotor between a slow speed and a fast speed upon receiving the input;
- and
- changing the rotational speed of the tail rotor between the slow speed and the fast speed to thereby demonstrate hysteresis relative to the input transitioning between two different values.
1 more element
A control system for a helicopter, comprising:
- a controller, the controller being configured to be coupled to a tail rotor of the helicopter, wherein the controller is structurally configured and positioned to receive an input from a user, wherein the controller includes physical instructive components configured to change a rotational speed of the tail rotor between a slow speed and a fast speed upon the input transitioning between a second value and a first value, wherein the change in rotational speed of the tail rotor between the slow speed and the fast speed demonstrates hysteresis relative to the input transitioning between the second value and the first value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.