COUNTER-ROTATING ROTOR SYSTEM WITH FAIRING

• US 20150122941A1
• Filed: 11/06/2013
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Harrigan, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/073,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20150122941A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/17.23
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/10 arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 7/00 Structures or fairings not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/46 Systems consisting of a plurality of gear trains each with orbital gears, i.e. systems having three or more central gears

Abstract

A coaxial, dual rotor system for an aircraft includes a first rotor assembly located at a rotor axis and a second rotor assembly located at the rotor axis. An aerodynamic fairing is positioned between the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly along the rotor axis. A planetary gear arrangement is operably connected to the fairing and operably connected to an airframe of the aircraft to maintain a selected rotational orientation of the fairing about the rotor axis relative to the airframe.

Claims

1. A coaxial, dual rotor system for an aircraft comprising:

a first rotor assembly disposed at a rotor axis;

a second rotor assembly disposed at the rotor axis;

an aerodynamic fairing disposed between the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly along the rotor axis; and

a planetary gear arrangement operably connected to the fairing and operably connected to an airframe of the aircraft to maintain a selected rotational orientation of the fairing about the rotor axis relative to the airframe.

2. The rotor system of claim 1, wherein the planetary gear arrangement comprises:

a first sun gear secured to the airframe;

a second sun gear secured to the fairing; and

one or more planet gear assemblies secured to the lower rotor assembly and interactive with the first sun gear and the second sun gear to maintain a selected position of the fairing relative to the airframe.

3. The rotor system of claim 2, wherein the planet gear assembly includes:

a planet carrier secured to the lower rotor assembly;

a first planet gear rotatably secured to the planet carrier and meshed with the first sun gear; and

a second planet gear rotatably secured to the planet carrier and meshed with the second sun gear.

4. The rotor system of claim 3, wherein the second planet gear is synchronously rotated with the first planet gear.

5. The rotor system of claim 3, wherein the second planet gear and the first planet gear are connected via a shaft.

6. The rotor system of claim 2, wherein the one or more planet gear assemblies are located between adjacent rotor blades of the lower rotor assembly.

7. The rotor system of claim 2, wherein the second sun gear is supported by one or more bearing assemblies.

8. The rotor system of claim 7, wherein the one or more bearing assemblies support the second sun gear both axially and radially.

9. The rotor system of claim 7, wherein the one or more bearing assemblies are disposed between the lower rotor assembly and the second sun gear.

10. A dual coaxial rotor rotorcraft comprising:

an airframe;

a drive system disposed at the airframe; and

a coaxial, dual rotor system operably connected to the drive system including;

a first rotor assembly disposed at a rotor axis;

a second rotor assembly disposed at the rotor axis;

an aerodynamic fairing disposed between the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly along the rotor axis; and

a planetary gear arrangement operably connected to the fairing and operably connected to the airframe of the rotorcraft to maintain a selected rotational orientation of the fairing about the rotor axis relative to the airframe.

11. The rotorcraft of claim 10, wherein the planetary gear arrangement comprises:

a first sun gear secured to the airframe;

a second sun gear secured to the fairing; and

one or more planet gear assemblies secured to the lower rotor assembly and interactive with the first sun gear and the second sun gear to maintain a selected position of the fairing relative to the airframe.

12. The rotorcraft of claim 11, wherein the planet gear assembly includes:

a planet carrier secured to the lower rotor assembly;

a first planet gear rotatably secured to the planet carrier and meshed with the first sun gear; and

a second planet gear rotatably secured to the planet carrier and meshed with the second sun gear.

13. The rotorcraft of claim 12, wherein the second planet gear is synchronously rotated with the first planet gear.

14. The rotorcraft system of claim 12, wherein the second planet gear and the first planet gear are connected via a shaft.

15. The rotorcraft of claim 11, wherein the one or more planet gear assemblies are located between adjacent rotor blades of the lower rotor assembly.

16. The rotorcraft of claim 11, wherein the second sun gear is supported by one or more bearing assemblies.

17. The rotorcraft of claim 16, wherein the one or more bearing assemblies support the second sun gear both axially and radially.

18. The rotorcraft of claim 16, wherein the one or more bearing assemblies are disposed between the lower rotor assembly and the second sun gear.