Autorotative enhancement system
US-9522730-B2 · Dec 20, 2016 · US
Autorotative enhancement system
US10077105B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-10077105-B2 |
| Application number | US-201615383458-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2016 |
| Priority date | Mar 15, 2013 |
| Publication date | Sep 18, 2018 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2018 |
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Abstract
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Embodiments refer generally to systems and methods for providing autorotative enhancement for helicopters using an autorotative assist unit coupled to the transmission of the helicopter. Methods of utilizing an autorotative assist unit as well as retrofitting an autorotative assist unit to an existing helicopter are also disclosed. By employing an autorotative assist unit, improved autorotation can be achieved without the need to increase the weight of the rotor.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed: 1. An autorotative assist system comprising: a motor-generator configured to attach to a transmission of an engine, wherein, during normal operation of the engine, the engine drives the transmission to rotate rotor blades connected to the transmission; a controller connected to the motor-generator; and an energy storage unit coupled to the motor-generator, wherein, during normal operation of the engine, the motor-generator is configured to convert energy from the transmission into electrical energy, and the energy storage unit is configured to receive and store the electrical energy, and wherein, upon manual and/or automatic control by the controller, the energy storage unit is configured to provide the stored energy to the motor-generator, and the motor-generator is configured to be powered by the energy received from the energy storage unit to provide supplemental power to drive the transmission-to rotate the rotor blades. 2. The system of claim 1 , wherein, during normal operation, the motor-generator is configured to operate as a generator. 3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage unit comprises a high capacity/high discharge rate battery system. 4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors in communication with the controller. 5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor-generator and energy storage unit are configured to provide about 80 hp for about 6-7 seconds. 6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor-generator and energy storage unit are operable to provide about 45 hp for about 3-4 seconds. 7. An autorotative assist system comprising: a motor-generator configured to attach to a transmission of an engine, wherein, during normal operation of the engine, the engine drives the transmission to rotate rotor blades connected to the transmission; a controller connected to the motor-generator; and an energy storage unit coupled to the motor-generator, wherein, upon manual and/or automatic control by the controller, the energy storage unit is configured to provide the stored energy to the motor-generator, and the motor-generator is configured to be powered by the energy received from the energy storage unit to provide supplemental power to drive the transmission to rotate the rotor blades. 8. The system of claim 7 , wherein, during normal operation, the motor-generator is configured to operate as a generator. 9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the energy storage unit comprises a high capacity/high discharge rate battery system. 10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising one or more sensors in communication with the controller. 11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the motor-generator and energy storage unit are configured to provide about 80 hp for about 6-7 seconds. 12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the motor-generator and energy storage unit are operable to provide about 45 hp for about 3-4 seconds.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
Operations & Transport · mapped topic
Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title
using steam or spring force (jet aircraft B64D27/16) · CPC title
Rotor drives · CPC title
- B64C27/006Primary
Safety devices · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US10077105B2 cover?
- Embodiments refer generally to systems and methods for providing autorotative enhancement for helicopters using an autorotative assist unit coupled to the transmission of the helicopter. Methods of utilizing an autorotative assist unit as well as retrofitting an autorotative assist unit to an existing helicopter are also disclosed. By employing an autorotative assist unit, improved autorotation…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Bell Helicopter Textron Inc
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification B64C27/006. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Sep 18 2018 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 5 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).