Tiltrotor propulsion system for an aircraft

US10392106B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Randy M. Vondrell · Cincinnati, US
• Matthew R. Polakowski · Greenfield, US
• Kurt David Murrow · Kyles, US
• Glenn David Crabtree · Oregonia, US
• Darek Tomasz Zatorski · Fort Wright, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 8, 2016
• Grant date: Aug 27, 2019
• Expiry date: Jan 9, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64D2221/00
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An aircraft includes a fuselage, a forward wing assembly, and aft wing assembly, and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a port forward propulsor and a starboard forward propulsor, each of which rotatable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position and together defining a maximum forward thrust capability. The propulsion system also includes a port aft propulsor and a starboard aft propulsor, each of which also rotatable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position, and together defining a maximum aft thrust capability. The maximum forward thrust capability is different than the maximum aft thrust capability to achieve certain efficiencies.