Spinners for use on tiltrotor aircraft
US10589842B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2017 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/72
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A proprotor assembly for a tiltrotor aircraft having a forward flight mode. The proprotor assembly includes a spinner subjected to freestream airflow during forward flight. The spinner is elongated to form a tapered leading portion and a substantially cylindrical aft portion. The spinner forms a plurality of rotor blade cutouts exposing an inner chamber. The proprotor assembly includes a plurality of proprotor blade assemblies protruding radially from the spinner through the rotor blade cutouts. The rotor blade cutouts are formed at the substantially cylindrical aft portion of the spinner to reduce the freestream airflow into the inner chamber via the rotor blade cutouts during forward flight, thereby reducing drag experienced by the tiltrotor aircraft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.