Tiltrotor aircraft having optimized hover capabilities
US10421540B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 2017 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64C27/08
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A tiltrotor aircraft is operable in a helicopter flight mode and an airplane flight mode. The tiltrotor aircraft has an airframe including a fuselage and a wing. First and second pylon assemblies are respectively coupled to the airframe proximate outboard ends of the wing. Each pylon assembly includes a mast and a proprotor assembly operable to rotate with the mast to generate thrust. The pylon assemblies are rotatable relative to the wing to selectively operate the tiltrotor aircraft between the helicopter flight mode and the airplane flight mode. The thrust of each proprotor assembly has a thrust vector with an inboard angle between about 5 degrees and about 12 degrees relative to an axis parallel to the yaw axis during hover operations, thereby reducing download on the airframe and improving hover efficiency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.