Bistable pitch propeller system with unidirectional propeller rotation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933989-B2
Application number	US-201916584570-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2019
Priority date	Aug 1, 2016
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A propeller includes a blade free to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade. The propeller also includes a mechanical stop positioned to engage mechanically a first portion of the blade and/or a first structure coupled mechanically to the blade when the blade is in a first position. The propeller also includes a magnetic stop positioned to engage magnetically a second portion of the blade and/or a second structure coupled mechanically to the blade when the blade is in a second position. The blade rotates to the first position against the mechanical stop when the propeller is rotated at a first rotational speed and the blade rotates to the second position against the magnetic stop when the propeller is rotated at a second rotational speed in a same direction as when the blade is in the first position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
measuring an amount of vibration associated with a propeller, wherein the propeller includes:
a blade free to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the blade within at least a defined range of motion;
a mechanical stop positioned to engage mechanically one or both of a first portion of the blade and a first structure coupled mechanically to the blade when the blade is in a first position at a first end of said defined rotational range of motion; and
a magnetic stop positioned to engage magnetically one or both of a second portion of the blade and a second structure coupled mechanically to the blade when the blade is in a second position at a second end of said defined rotational range of motion;
wherein the blade rotates to the first position against the mechanical stop when the propeller is rotated at a first rotational speed and the blade rotates to the second position against the magnetic stop when the propeller is rotated at a second rotational speed in a same direction as when the blade is in the first position;

determining if the measured amount of vibration exceeds a threshold; and
in the event it is determined that the measured amount of vibration exceeds the threshold:
determining a desired blade position;
in the event it is determined that the desired blade position is the first position, temporarily increasing the rotational speed of the propeller; and
in the event it is determined that the desired blade position is the second position, temporarily decreasing the rotational speed of the propeller.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the desired blade position includes setting the desired blade position to be a last programmed position.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rotational speed is faster than the second rotational speed.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first structure is the same as the second structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first position is associated with hovering and the second position is associated with forward flight.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Vander Lind Damon
• Reichert Todd

Classifications

• B64C29/02

  having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded · CPC title

• B64C11/343 Primary

  actuated by the centrifugal force or the aerodynamic drag acting on the blades · CPC title

• B64C27/57 Primary

  automatic or condition responsive, e.g. responsive to rotor speed, torque or thrust · CPC title

• B64C11/46

  Arrangements of, or constructional features peculiar to, multiple propellers {(B64C11/306 takes precedence)} · CPC title