Multi-mode tiltrotor nacelle control system with integrated envelope protection
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsDavid W. King, Peter M. Shultz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tiltrotor aircraft (11) has a multi-mode tiltrotor nacelle control system with integrated envelope protection (13). The tiltrotor aircraft (11) has a fuselage (15), a tail section (17), a left wing member (21a), a right wing member (21b), a right engine nacelle (23b), a left engine nacelle (23a), a left proprotor (25a), and a right proprotor (25b). Activation of the nacelle control system causes preselected rotational movement of the tiltrotor assembly.
Claims20
A tiltrotor aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- at least one wing member coupled to the fuselage;
- a tiltrotor assembly pivotally coupled to the at least one wing member;
- at least one flight control computer;
- a power lever for controlling the operations of the tiltrotor aircraft, the power lever being electrically coupled to the at least one flight control computer;
- and
- a nacelle control system electrically coupled to the at least one flight control computer for controlling the rotational movement of the tiltrotor assembly;
- wherein activation of the nacelle control system causes pre-selected rotational movement of the tiltrotor assembly.
A method controlling the rotation of a tiltrotor assembly in a tiltrotor aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a flight control computer for controlling the operations of the tiltrotor aircraft;
- electrically coupling a power lever to the flight control computer;
- electrically coupling an electronic input device to the power lever;
- disposing a plurality of detent positions on the electronic input device;
- electrically coupling a voltage range switch to each detent position;
- and
- rotating the tiltrotor assembly by activating the electronic input device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.