US2019017569A1PendingUtilityA1

Elevator and rudder control of a rotorcraft

61
Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPPriority: Oct 1, 2014Filed: Jun 18, 2018Published: Jan 17, 2019
Est. expiryOct 1, 2034(~8.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Erez EllerMatthew T. LuszczWilliam J. Eadie
B64C 2027/8227F16F 15/02B64C 27/52B64C 13/18B64D 45/02B64C 27/80B64C 27/473B64C 7/00F16D 13/74B64C 27/008B64C 2027/8263B64C 27/51F16H 37/02B64C 2027/8272B64C 2027/8209B64C 13/503B64C 27/322B64C 27/48F16D 13/52F02C 9/28B64C 27/78B64C 27/82B64C 27/33B64C 27/12B64C 19/00F16D 13/72B64D 39/06B64D 39/00B64C 27/32F05D 2220/329B64C 27/54F05D 2270/021B64C 2027/8281B64C 2027/004B64C 27/14B64C 27/57B64C 2027/8236B64C 27/467B64C 27/001B64C 27/006B64C 27/10B64C 13/50B64C 13/04B64D 35/06B64U 10/10B64C 27/08B64C 1/0009G05D 1/0816G05D 1/0858G05D 1/08G05D 1/0204G05D 1/0202G05D 1/0077B64C 27/16Y02T50/10
61
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

An aircraft includes an airframe having an empennage, a counter rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly located at the airframe including an upper rotor assembly and a lower rotor assembly, and a translational thrust system positioned at the empennage and providing translational thrust to the airframe. At least two control surfaces located at the empennage are independently operable via commands from one or more flight control computers. A method of operating an aircraft includes transmitting a first signal from one or more flight control computers to a first control surface located at a first lateral side of a translational thrust system, and actuating the first control surface to a first position via the first signal. A second signal is transmitted to a second control surface located at a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, and the second control surface is actuated to a second position via the second signal.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An aircraft comprising:
 an airframe having an empennage;   a counter rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly disposed at the airframe including an upper rotor assembly and a lower rotor assembly;   a translational thrust system positioned at the empennage and providing translational thrust to the airframe; and   at least two control surfaces disposed at the empennage, the at least two control surfaces independently operable via commands from one or more flight control computers.   
     
     
         2 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two control surfaces comprise:
 a first control surface disposed at a first lateral side of the translational thrust system; and   a second control surface disposed at a second lateral side of the translational thrust system, opposite the first lateral side.   
     
     
         3 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two control surfaces are at least two elevators. 
     
     
         4 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two control surfaces are at least two rudders. 
     
     
         5 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two control surfaces are driven by a single actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two control surfaces are driven by at least two actuators. 
     
     
         7 . A control surface system for an aircraft having a dual coaxial main rotor assembly and a translation thrust system, comprising:
 at least two control surfaces disposed at an empennage of an aircraft, a first control surface of the at least two control surfaces disposed at a first lateral side of the translational thrust system, and a second control surface disposed at a second lateral side of the translational thrust system, opposite the first lateral side; and   one or more flight control computers operably connected to the at least two control surfaces, such that the at least two control surfaces are independently operable via commands from the one or more flight control computers.   
     
     
         8 . The control surface system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two control surfaces are at least two elevators. 
     
     
         9 . The control surface system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two control surfaces are at least two rudders. 
     
     
         10 . The control surface system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two control surfaces are driven by a single actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The control surface system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two control surfaces are driven by at least two actuators. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating an aircraft having a dual coaxial main rotor assembly and a translation thrust system, the method comprising:
 transmitting a first signal from one or more flight control computers to a first control surface disposed at a first lateral side of a translational thrust system;   actuating the first control surface to a first position via the first signal;   transmitting a second signal from the one or more flight control computers to a second control surface disposed at a second lateral side of the translational thrust system opposite the first lateral side; and   actuating the second control surface to a second position different from the first position via the second signal.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first control surface is a first elevator and the second control surface is a second elevator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first control surface is a first rudder and the second control surface is a second rudder.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2019017569A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.