Aircraft with retractable rotor wing

• US 3,986,686 A
• Filed: 06/02/1975
• Issued: 10/19/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teledyne RYAN Aeronautical
• Original Assignee: Teledyne RYAN Aeronautical
• Inventors: Girard, Peter F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US05/582,872
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 244/6, 244/7 R, 244/7 A, 244/12 C, 244/17.11, 244/17.27, 416/170, 416/149, 416/161, 416/20, 416/93, 416/90, 416/92, 416/22, 416/21
• US Class Current: 244/7.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/24 with rotor blades fixed in flight to act as lifting surfaces

Abstract

An aircraft having a rotor wing which in one position is locked against theirframe for forward flight, and in another position is extended clear of the airframe. In the extended position the wing is rotated and the tip portions are controllable in the manner of a helicopter rotor. A single power source provides propulsive and wing rotation power. In the preferred form the power source is a turbojet engine and the wing is rotated by a tip jet powered drive beam, separated from the wing to avoid aerodynamic interference. For forward flight the drive beam is enclosed in the airframe as the wing is retracted to fixed position.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

an airframe having a longitudinal axis,

a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said airframe substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,

a wing attached to one end of said drive shaft, the wing having multiple extended arms of airfoil cross section,

drive means coupled to said drive shaft for rotating the wing,

said wing arms having variable pitch tip portions,

control means coupled to said tip portions for cyclically controlling the pitch thereof during wing rotation,

wing actuating means including a telescopic mast having a fixed outer portion secured in the airframe coaxial with said drive shaft,

a movable mast axially slidable in said outer portion,

said wing being rotatably mounted on said movable mast,

an actuator connected between said outer portion and said movable mast for extension and retraction of the movable mast,

stop means on the airframe for holding the wing in the retracted position with certain of said arms extending on opposite sides of the airframe, and said control means including a pitch control shaft extending from each of said wing arms, and actuators mounted on said movable mast and connected to said pitch control shafts.

2. An aircraft according to claim 1, wherein said stop means includes alignment pins projecting from the airframe toward said wing,

said wing having sockets therethrough to receive said alignment pins as the wing is moved to the retracted position,

each of said alignment pins having hanger means retractably mounted therein, for extension beyond the wing for engagement with aircraft supporting means.

3. An aircraft according to claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises:

a gas generator,

a drive beam fixed to the other end of said drive shaft, the drive beam having opposed hollow arms and each arm having a tip nozzle directed substantially tangential to the path of rotation thereof,

gas conducting means connecting said gas generator to said drive beam,

said drive beam having a bearing hub rotatably mounted on the mast outer portion,

and means for conducting cooling air through the bearing hub.

4. An aircraft according to claim 3, wherein said gas conducting means includes a plenum chamber concentric with and spaced from said mast outer portion, and defining an air conducting duct therebetween,

said drive beam having a central portion supported on said bearing hub and rotatably coupled to said plenum chamber.

5. An aircraft according to claim 3, wherein said airframe has a longitudinally extending bay in which said drive beam is contained in the stopped position of the wing, and hinged doors mounted on the airframe for enclosing said bay.

6. An aircraft according to claim 5, wherein said doors are hinged to swing open together substantially along the center line of the airframe and clear of the airflow from the rotating wing.

7. An aircraft according to claim 3, wherein said airframe has a longitudinally extending bay in the lower portion thereof, in which said drive beam is contained in the stopped position of the wing;

and doors hinged on the airframe for enclosing said bay.

8. An aircraft according to claim 7, wherein said doors are hinged below the airframe adjacent the center line thereof, to swing downwardly below the airframe;

and landing gear retractably mounted in said bay.

9. An aircraft according to claim 8, and including retaining means holding said doors closed and said landing gear retracted, and actuating means for opening the doors and extending the landing gear when the retaining means are released.