Propulsion nacelle alignment system for tilt-rotor aircraft
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorTsze C. Tai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The propulsion nacelles of a tilt-rotor type aircraft are adjustably positioned on the aircraft wings under control of a programmed actuator in response to error signals produced by change in angle of attack between the aircraft fuselage and the air stream to minimize drag imposed on the aircraft by the air stream during flight.
Claims4
In combination with an aircraft having a propulsion nacelle subjected to drag during flight at an angle of attack between the aircraft and a resulting air stream flow;
- an alignment control system for adjustably positioning the nacelle, comprising:
- sensor means on the aircraft for detection of changes in orientation of the aircraft relative to said air stream flow;
- attitude converter means connected to the sensor means for generating an error signal in response to said detection of the changes in orientation by the sensor means;
- and controller means connected to said attitude converter means for regulating said positioning of the nacelle on the aircraft as a function of the error signal to minimize the drag imposed thereon during said flight.
In combination with an aircraft having a propulsion nacelle subjected to drag during flight at an angle of attack between the aircraft and a resulting air stream flow;
- a method of controlling angular positioning of the nacelle on the aircraft to minimize drag imposed thereon during said flight, comprising the steps of:
- detecting changes in orientation of the aircraft relative to said air stream flow;
- and adjusting said angular positioning of the nacelle on the aircraft as a function of said change in the orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.