Rotor wing aircraft having an adjustable tail nozzle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An aircraft, comprising:
- an airframe having a fuselage extending between a forward end and an aft end and a fixed wing extending laterally from the fuselage;
a power plant operatively coupled to the airframe and producing exhaust during operation thereof;
a rotor/wing rotatably coupled to the airframe and including a plurality of blades;
an adjustable nozzle operatively coupled to the airframe and positioned at the aft end and operatively coupled to the power plant by a primary exhaust duct, the adjustable nozzle being configured to receive an exhaust flow from the power plant via the primary exhaust duct and for selectively directing the power plant exhaust within a range of angles extending from about horizontally rearward to about vertically downward with respect to the fuselage; and
a turbine assembly operatively coupled to the airframe and to the rotor/wing, the turbine assembly being directly coupled to the primary exhaust duct between the power plant and the adjustable nozzle and selectively engageable with the exhaust flow, the turbine assembly including;
a body coupled to the primary exhaust duct and having an inlet configured to receive a drive portion of the exhaust flow from the power plant; and
a drive assembly at least partially disposed within the body and coupled to the rotor/wing, the drive assembly being rotatable within the body about a rotation axis and configured to rotate the rotor/wing when subjected to the exhaust.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aircraft including an airframe having a fuselage extending between a forward end and an aft end and a fixed wing extending laterally from the fuselage. The aircraft includes a power plant mounted on the airframe producing exhaust during operation. The aircraft includes a rotor/wing rotatably mounted on the airframe including a plurality of blades and an adjustable nozzle mounted on the airframe downstream from the power plant exhaust for selectively directing the power plant exhaust to exit the aircraft at a pre-selected angle with respect to the airframe within a range of angles extending from about horizontally rearward to about vertically downward.
86 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. An aircraft, comprising:
-
an airframe having a fuselage extending between a forward end and an aft end and a fixed wing extending laterally from the fuselage; a power plant operatively coupled to the airframe and producing exhaust during operation thereof; a rotor/wing rotatably coupled to the airframe and including a plurality of blades; an adjustable nozzle operatively coupled to the airframe and positioned at the aft end and operatively coupled to the power plant by a primary exhaust duct, the adjustable nozzle being configured to receive an exhaust flow from the power plant via the primary exhaust duct and for selectively directing the power plant exhaust within a range of angles extending from about horizontally rearward to about vertically downward with respect to the fuselage; and a turbine assembly operatively coupled to the airframe and to the rotor/wing, the turbine assembly being directly coupled to the primary exhaust duct between the power plant and the adjustable nozzle and selectively engageable with the exhaust flow, the turbine assembly including; a body coupled to the primary exhaust duct and having an inlet configured to receive a drive portion of the exhaust flow from the power plant; and a drive assembly at least partially disposed within the body and coupled to the rotor/wing, the drive assembly being rotatable within the body about a rotation axis and configured to rotate the rotor/wing when subjected to the exhaust. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification