Pusher rotorcraft drivetrain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858116-B2
Application number	US-201816120676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2018
Priority date	Sep 4, 2018
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

A pusher rotorcraft is provided in one example embodiment and may include at least one engine in mechanical communication with a drop-down gearbox; a driveshaft in mechanical communication with the drop-down gearbox, a main rotor gearbox, and a tail system gearbox; a main rotor system in mechanical communication with the main rotor gearbox; an anti-torque system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox; and a pusher propeller system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotorcraft comprising:
at least one engine in mechanical communication with a drop-down gearbox;
a driveshaft in mechanical communication with the drop-down gearbox, a main rotor gearbox, and a tail system gearbox;
a main rotor system in mechanical communication with the main rotor gearbox;
an anti-torque system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox; and
a pusher propeller system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox;
wherein the tail system gearbox further includes:
an input pinion gear in mechanical communication with the driveshaft;
a spiral bevel gear in mechanical communication with a first output shaft; and
an output pinion gear in mechanical communication with a second output shaft.

2. The rotorcraft of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fuselage, wherein the fuselage comprises a wing.

3. The rotorcraft of claim 2 , wherein the wing comprises one or more moveable portions.

4. The rotorcraft of claim 1 , wherein the drop-down gearbox comprises an overrunning clutch in mechanical communication with the driveshaft.

5. The rotorcraft of claim 4 , wherein the overrunning clutch is a sprag clutch.

6. The rotorcraft of claim 1 , wherein the pusher propeller system comprises a plurality of adjustable pitch propeller blades.

7. The rotorcraft of claim 1 , wherein the first output shaft is operable to rotate the anti-torque system.

8. The rotorcraft of claim 1 , wherein the second output shaft is operable to rotate the pusher propeller system.

9. The rotorcraft of claim 1 , further comprising a clutch in mechanical communication with the driveshaft between the drop-down gearbox and the main rotor gearbox.

10. The rotorcraft of claim 1 , further comprising a clutch in mechanical communication with the driveshaft between the drop-down gearbox and the tail system gearbox.

11. A method comprising:
providing at least one engine in mechanical communication with a driveshaft of a pusher rotorcraft, wherein the driveshaft extends between a main rotor gearbox and a tail system gearbox;
providing torque for the driveshaft, wherein the torque is provided for the driveshaft at a location of the driveshaft between the main rotor gearbox and the tail system gearbox; and
adjusting forward thrust for the pusher rotorcraft based, at least in part, on torque provided to a pusher propeller system in mechanical communication with the tail system gearbox;
wherein the tail system gearbox further includes:
an input pinion gear in mechanical communication with the driveshaft;
a spiral bevel gear in mechanical communication with a first output shaft; and
an output pinion gear in mechanical communication with a second output shaft.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the main rotor gearbox is in mechanical communication with a main rotor system, the main rotor system comprising a plurality of rotor blades.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
operating the main rotor system in an autorotation state.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein torque provided to the main rotor gearbox is decreased when the main rotor system is operating in the autorotation state.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein torque provided to the pusher propeller system is increased when the main rotor system is operating in the autorotation state.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein torque is provided for the driveshaft by an overrunning clutch in mechanical communication with the driveshaft and the at least one engine.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
adjusting lift for the pusher rotorcraft based, at least in part, on a wing provided for the pusher rotorcraft.

18. A rotorcraft drivetrain comprising:
a first gearbox in mechanical communication with at least one engine;
a second gearbox in mechanical communication with a main rotor system;
a third gearbox in mechanical communication with an anti-torque system and a pusher propeller system; and
a driveshaft, wherein the driveshaft is in mechanical communication with the first gearbox, the second gearbox, and the third gearbox;
wherein the third gearbox further includes:
an input pinion gear in mechanical communication with the driveshaft;
a spiral bevel gear in mechanical communication with a first output shaft; and
an output pinion gear in mechanical communication with a second output shaft.

19. The rotorcraft drivetrain of claim 18 , wherein the first gearbox provides torque for the driveshaft at a location of the driveshaft between the second gearbox and the third gearbox.

Assignees

• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Hefner Levi C
• Stamps Frank B
• Ewing Alan C
• Burgess Jaret F
• Cannon Carey W

Classifications

• B64C27/82 Primary

  characterised by the provision of an auxiliary rotor or fluid-jet device for counter-balancing lifting rotor torque or changing direction of rotorcraft · CPC title

• B64C27/26

  characterised by provision of fixed wings · CPC title

• B64C2027/8272

  comprising fins, or movable rudders · CPC title

• B64D35/04 Primary

  characterised by the transmission driving a plurality of propellers or rotors · CPC title

• B64C2027/8236

  including pusher propellers · CPC title