Patent · US Expired

Rotor hub fairing system for a counter-rotating, coaxial rotor system

US7229251B2 · kind B2 · utility

35Cited by
9References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 2005
Grant dateJun 12, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 27, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64C27/20
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A rotor hub fairing system includes an upper hub fairing, a lower hub fairing and a shaft fairing therebetween. The rotor hub fairing system is sized and configured to reduce the overall drag on a dual, counter-rotating, coaxial rotor system. Preferably, the rotor hub fairing is fully integrated. The shaft fairing preferably includes a minimal thickness at the midsection to reduce drag with an increasing thickness adjacent the upper and lower hub fairings to reduce the flow separation on the hub fairing surfaces without overly excessive drag. Other aerodynamic structures, such as a horizontal splitter and/or a plurality of turning vanes may be mounted to the shaft fairing to facilitate flow around the upper and lower hub fairings to reduce flow separation and drag.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.