Power Rotor Drive for Slowed Rotor Winged Aircraft
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rotor aircraft, comprising:
- an engine having an output shaft;
at least one forward thrust device driven by the engine to provide forward thrust to the aircraft;
wings for providing lift while in forward flight;
a rotor having a rotor drive shaft and mounted for selectively providing lift; and
rotor drive means for selectively providing torque to the rotor drive shaft from the output shaft of the engine at a speed proportional to a speed of the output shaft of the engine while in a first mode and for selectively providing torque to the rotor drive shaft to rotate at a speed independent of a speed of the output shaft of the engine while in a second mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rotor aircraft has an engine having an output shaft. At least one propeller is driven by the engine to provide forward thrust to the aircraft. Wings provide lift while in forward flight. A rotor is driven by rotor drive mechanism, which selectively provides torque to the rotor drive shaft from the engine while in a first mode. The rotor drive mechanism selectively provides torque to the rotor drive shaft to rotate at a speed independent of a speed of the output shaft of the engine while in a second mode. In one embodiment, the rotor drive mechanism is a variable speed transmission powered by the engine. In another embodiment, the rotor drive mechanism is an electric motor.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A rotor aircraft, comprising:
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an engine having an output shaft; at least one forward thrust device driven by the engine to provide forward thrust to the aircraft; wings for providing lift while in forward flight; a rotor having a rotor drive shaft and mounted for selectively providing lift; and rotor drive means for selectively providing torque to the rotor drive shaft from the output shaft of the engine at a speed proportional to a speed of the output shaft of the engine while in a first mode and for selectively providing torque to the rotor drive shaft to rotate at a speed independent of a speed of the output shaft of the engine while in a second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A rotor aircraft, comprising:
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an engine having an output shaft; at least one forward thrust device driven by the engine to provide forward thrust to the aircraft; wings for providing lift during forward flight; a rotor having a rotor drive shaft and mounted for selectively providing lift; a clutch located between the output shaft of the engine and the rotor drive shaft, having an engaged position for causing the engine to provide torque to the rotor drive shaft and a disengaged position releasing the output shaft of the engine from driving engagement with the rotor drive shaft; and an electric motor coupled to the rotor drive shaft for selectively providing torque to the rotor drive shaft while the clutch is in the disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A rotor aircraft, comprising:
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an engine having an output shaft; at least one forward thrust device driven by the output shaft of the engine to provide forward thrust to the aircraft; wings for providing lift during forward flight; a rotor having a rotor drive shaft and mounted for selectively providing lift; and a transmission having an input-driven by the output shaft of the engine and an output coupled to the rotor drive shaft, the output of the transmission being selectively variable in rotational speed relative to the input shaft of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification