Blown wing proprotor-driven powered-lift aerodyne
AssigneeNational Research Council of Canada
InventorsZekai HONG, Trevor PHAIR
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A proprotor-driven powered-lift aircraft (PPLA) has at least four proprotors, each of which, in rotation, sweeping a respective annulus of radial extent re that covers, by axis-orthogonal projection, a collective length of 2.1×re of parallel leading edges of two or more wings to provide a blown wing enhancement that permits pitch transition during flight with greater control throughout the transition. The PPLA preferably has at least three substantially parallel wings, and at least four proprotors, each of which proprotors: affixed to a bracing extended between two of the at least three wings. Hover mode and forward flight modes can both have excellent control, allowing for better flight efficiency.
Claims21
A proprotor-driven powered-lift aircraft (PPLA) wherein, each of which proprotors:
- is driven about a respective axis that is no more than 16° from a heading vector of the PPLA in nominal forward flight;
- sweeps a respective annulus of radial extent re that covers, by axis-orthogonal projection along the heading vector, a collective length of at least 2.1×re of leading edges of two or more wings,
- where at least one set of at least one of the proprotors is on each side of:
- a pitch axis of the PPLA, and on each side of a yaw axis of the PPLA, and the sets on opposite sides of the pitch and yaw axes are operable independently of eachother.
A proprotor-driven powered-lift aircraft (PPLA) having at least three substantially parallel wings and at least four proprotors, where each of which proprotors:
- has a longitudinal axis no more than 16° from a heading vector of the PPLA in forward flight;
- is affixed to a bracing extended between two of the at least three wings;
- and
- sweeps an annulus of radial extent re sufficient to cover at least 2.1×re of leading edges of two or more wings, including at least 2% of a span of each of the two wings.
-8. (canceled)
-13. (canceled)
-18. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.