US 8,317,126 B2Granted

Aircraft having a lift/propulsion unit

AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc

InventorsPaul J. H. Harris, Frank A. Hewitt, Martin C. Johnson, Christopher Wright

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Abstract

An aircraft having a lift/propulsion unit which includes a power unit such as a turboshaft engine which drives a fan through a transmission mechanism. The fan discharges to vectoring nozzles which can be independently swivelled to provide lift or propulsion thrust. An output shaft of the transmission mechanism serves as the main shaft of a motor/generator of modular form. The motor/generator can act as a generator to charge an electrical storage device such as a battery, or as a motor to drive the fan, either alone or to supplement the output of engine. Reaction control nozzles are provided at extremities of the aircraft to provide stabilizing thrust. The aircraft is capable of vertical take off and hovering, with the vectoring nozzles swivelled to a lift position, and forward thrust with the vectoring nozzles swivelled to a propulsion position.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An aircraft having a fuselage provided with a lift/propulsion unit, the lift/propulsion unit comprising:

a mechanical transmission mechanism;
a power unit;
a fan which is driveably connected to the power unit by the mechanical transmission mechanism, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises of a gearbox,
the fan having a rotary axis which extends upwardly in the attitude of the aircraft corresponding to level flight, and being provided with vectoring means for adjusting the direction of thrust generated by the fan, wherein the vectoring means has at least one vectoring nozzle which is mounted for swivelling movement with respect to the fan;
and
an electrical motor/generator operable as a motor to drive the fan, and operable as an electrical generator driven by the power unit to provide electrical energy, wherein the electrical motor/generator has
a main shaft;
a first end directly connected to the power unit via the main shaft;
and
a second end opposite to the first end directly connected to the gearbox to drive the fan via the main shaft.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/761,155Filed 15 Apr 2010
Priority: GB 0909158.829 May 2009
Published: US 2010/0301158 A12 Dec 2010
Granted: 27 Nov 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B64C 29/0016
Having its flight directional axis horizontal when grounded: the lift during taking-off being created by free or ducted propellers or by blowers
B64C 15/14
Attitude, flight direction, or altitude control by jet reaction: the jets being other than main propulsion jets
B64C 29/0075
The lift during taking-off being created by jet motors: the motors being tiltable relative to the fuselage
F02C 3/10
Having a turbine driving a compressor: with another turbine driving an output shaft but not driving the compressor