Tiltrotor aircraft rotating proprotor assembly

US11046446B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. · US

Inventors

• Brent Chadwick Ross · Flower Mound, US
• Michael E. Rinehart · Fort Worth, US
• Jeffrey Matthew Williams · Hudson Oaks, US
• Clegg Benjamin Brian Smith · Keller, US
• Nick Pravanh · Fort Worth, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 27, 2017
• Grant date: Jun 29, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 15, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64D29/02
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An aircraft including a nacelle disposed at a fixed location relative a wing member; a proprotor housing coupled to the nacelle, the proprotor housing configured to selectively rotate between a horizontal orientation and a non-horizontal orientation; a door pivotably coupled to the proprotor housing; and a linkage to connect the door and the nacelle, the linkage configured to move with the door from a closed position when the proprotor housing is in a horizontal orientation to an open position when the proprotor housing is in a non-horizontal orientation. In some embodiments, there can be a hinge member for hingedly coupling the door to the proprotor and/or nacelle. In other embodiments, the door includes a flexure portion. In some embodiments, the nacelle includes a plurality of doors. In other embodiments, proprotor includes a forward portion and a stationary aft portion; wherein the forward portion is configured to selectively pivot.