ROTOR/WING DUAL MODE HUB FAIRING SYSTEM
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hub fairing system (12) for a stopped-rotor aircraft (10) having a fuselage (14) including a hub (16). The hub (16) is mechanically coupled to the fuselage (14) and to multiple blades (40) and is rotated by an engine (22). A retractable fairing (60, 64) covers a portion of the hub (16). An actuator (26) is coupled to the fairing (60, 64). A controller (28) is coupled to the actuator (26) and retracts the fairing (60, 64). A method of reducing drag on the aircraft includes transitioning between a rotary-wing mode and a fixed-wing mode. The fairing (60, 64) is deployed over a portion of the hub (16) upon the completion of the transition between flight modes.
21 Citations
44 Claims
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1-25. -25. (canceled)
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26. A hub fairing system for an aircraft having a fuselage and a rotor that is rotatable relative to the fuselage in a rotary-wing mode of operation and is fixed relative to the fuselage in a fixed-wing mode of operation, said hub fairing system comprising:
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a hub mechanically coupled to said rotor and rotatable relative to said fuselage; a first fairing that is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, said first fairing having an edge that is disposed near to said rotor in said deployed position and further away from said rotor in said retracted position, and said first fairing in said deployed position covering a portion of said hub disposed between said rotor and said fuselage; a controller for controlling the position of said first fairing; and a first actuator mechanically coupled to said first fairing for moving said first fairing between said deployed and retracted positions in response to command signals from said controller. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A hub fairing system for an aircraft having a fuselage and a rotor that is rotatable relative to the fuselage in a rotary-wing mode of operation and is fixed relative to the fuselage in a fixed-wing mode of operation, said hub fairing system comprising:
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a hub mechanically coupled to said rotor and rotatable relative to said fuselage; a first fairing that is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, said first fairing having an edge that is disposed near to said rotor in said deployed position and further away from said rotor in said retracted position, and said first fairing in said deployed position covering a forward portion of said hub disposed between said rotor and said fuselage; a second fairing that is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, said second fairing having an edge that is disposed near said rotor in said deployed position and further away from said rotor in said retracted position, and said second fairing in said deployed position covering an aft portion of said hub disposed between said rotor and said fuselage; a controller for controlling the positions of said first and second fairings; a first actuator mechanically coupled to said first fairing for moving said first fairing between said deployed and retracted positions in response to first command signals from said controller; and a second actuator mechanically coupled to said second fairing for moving said second fairing between said deployed and retracted positions in response to second command signals from said controller, wherein said controller is programmed to send said first and second command signals before the aircraft can be operated said fixed-wing mode. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification