Deployable inlet scoop for an inboard ram air turbine

• US 9,957,060 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Riordan, Conor
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Keith L
• Application Number:
  US13/425,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20130248657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,232 Days
• Field of Search: 244 53 B, 2441185, 2441294, 2441295
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/007 Ram air turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/04 having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels F03D9/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/00 Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations hybrid wind-photovoltaic energy systems for the generation of electric power H02S10/12
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/31 in ram-air turbines ("RATS")
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

An aircraft includes a fuselage that has an exterior contour with an opening and a duct that is arranged interiorly of the exterior contour and extends from the opening. A ram air turbine is arranged within the duct. A deployable inlet scoop is mounted on the fuselage and is configured to be moveable between stowed and deployed positions. The stowed position blocks the opening into the duct and the deployed position exposes the opening and permits airflow through the duct. A method of providing electrical power includes identifying an electrical power demand condition, deploying an inlet scoop from an aircraft fuselage, and driving a ram air turbine with an airflow through the inlet scoop into the fuselage.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

a fuselage having an exterior contour with an opening and a duct arranged interiorly of the exterior contour and extending from the opening;

a ram air turbine arranged within the duct;

a deployable inlet scoop mounted on the fuselage and configured to be moveable between stowed and deployed positions, the stowed position blocking the opening into the duct, and the deployed position exposing the opening and permitting airflow through the duct;

an actuator coupled to the inlet scoop; and

a controller in communication with the actuator, the controller configured to command the actuator to move the inlet scoop between the stowed and deployed positions, the controller configured to regulate a position of the inlet scoop between the stowed and deployed positions and associated opening size to meter an amount of airflow through the duct in response to an output, at least one of a ram air turbine speed sensor and a ram air turbine voltage sensor providing the output, the controller configured to prevent at least one of an overspeed condition and an overvoltage condition of the ram air turbine with the inlet scoop, wherein the inlet scoop includes a rigid door and a flexible member arranged on each of opposing lateral sides of the rigid door, the flexible member connected to the fuselage.

2. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the flexible members are arranged in folds in the stowed position.

3. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein each of the flexible members is wrapped about a roller, the roller is configured to extend and retract the flexible member.

4. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the ram air turbine is fixed relative to the fuselage.

5. The aircraft according to claim 4, wherein the ram air turbine includes axial or mixed flow turbine blades configured to rotationally drive a generator.

6. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the fuselage includes an exit in communication with the duct opposite the inlet scoop and provided in the exterior contour.

14. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the ram air turbine voltage sensor provides the output.

15. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to prevent the overvoltage condition.

7. A ram air turbine system comprising:

an inlet scoop configured to be moveable between stowed and deployed positions, wherein the inlet scoop includes a rigid door and a flexible member arranged on each of opposing lateral sides of the rigid door that together define an opening;

a ram air turbine in fluid communication with the inlet scoop;

an actuator connected to the inlet scoop and configured to move the inlet scoop between stowed and deployed positions; and

a controller in communication with the actuator and configured to provide a command to the actuator to move the inlet scoop between the stowed and deployed positions, at least one of a ram air turbine speed sensor and a ram air turbine voltage sensor providing the output, the controller configured to regulate a position of the inlet scoop between the stowed and deployed positions to meter an amount of airflow through the duct in response to an output from at least one of the ram air turbine speed and voltage sensors, the controller configured to prevent at least one of an overspeed condition and an overvoltage condition of the ram air turbine with the inlet scoop, wherein the ram air turbine voltage sensor provides the output.

8. The ram air turbine system according to claim 7, wherein the flexible members are arranged in folds in the stowed position.

9. The ram air turbine system according to claim 7, wherein each of the flexible members is wrapped about a roller, the roller is configured to extend and retract the flexible member.

16. The ram air turbine system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to prevent the overvoltage condition.

10. A method of providing electrical power comprising:

identifying an electrical power demand condition;

deploying an inlet scoop from an aircraft fuselage;

driving a ram air turbine with an airflow through the inlet scoop into the fuselage; and

regulating an opening size in between a fully deployed position and a fully closed position of the inlet scoop to selectively vary an airflow through the ram air turbine to prevent at least one of an overspeed condition and an overvoltage condition of the ram air turbine with the inlet scoop, wherein the regulating step is configured to prevent the overvoltage condition.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising the step of monitoring a generator output, and regulating the inlet scoop opening size based upon the output.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the output includes one of a ram air turbine speed and a ram air turbine voltage.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the deploying step includes extending a flexible member of an inlet scoop.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the ram air turbine voltage sensor provides the output.