Redundant drive train for pylon mounted rotors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11634218-B2
Application number	US-202117362683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2021
Priority date	Oct 9, 2019
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

A system includes an inboard tiltrotor subsystem and an outboard tiltrotor subsystem. The inboard tiltrotor subsystem includes an inboard pylon, an inboard tiltrotor, and a single and non-redundant drivetrain. The outboard tiltrotor subsystem includes an outboard pylon that is coupled to a wing and an outboard tiltrotor. The outboard tiltrotor has a range of motion and is coupled to the wing via the outboard pylon, such that the outboard tiltrotor is aft of the wing. The outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a redundant drivetrain (which has a plurality of motors and a plurality of motor controllers) that drives one or more blades and the one or more blades.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an inboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an inboard pylon;
an inboard tiltrotor; and
a single and non-redundant drivetrain; and

an outboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an outboard pylon, wherein the outboard pylon is coupled to a wing;
an outboard tiltrotor, wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor has a range of motion; and
the outboard tiltrotor is coupled to the wing via the outboard pylon, such that the outboard tiltrotor is aft of the wing;

a redundant drivetrain, including a plurality of motors and a plurality of motor controllers, that drives one or more blades; and
the one or more blades.

2. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the system is included in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle.

3. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the outboard tiltrotor subsystem is an outermost tiltrotor subsystem.

4. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor are independently powered by a first battery and a second battery, respectively.

5. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a belt-driven shaft.

6. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a belt and a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor rotate about non-coaxial axes of rotation and drive the shaft via the belt.

7. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the redundant drivetrain includes a gear-driven shaft.

8. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes at least one gear and a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor rotate about non-coaxial axes of rotation and drive the shaft via said at least one gear.

9. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor, the second motor, and the shaft are coaxial.

10. A method, comprising:
providing an inboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an inboard pylon;
an inboard tiltrotor; and
a single and non-redundant drivetrain; and

providing an outboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an outboard pylon, wherein the outboard pylon is coupled to a wing;
an outboard tiltrotor, wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor has a range of motion; and
the outboard tiltrotor is coupled to the wing via the outboard pylon, such that the outboard tiltrotor is aft of the wing;

a redundant drivetrain, including a plurality of motors and a plurality of motor controllers, that drives one or more blades; and
the one or more blades.

11. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the inboard tiltrotor subsystem and the outboard tiltrotor subsystem are in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle.

12. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the outboard tiltrotor subsystem is an outermost tiltrotor subsystem.

13. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor are independently powered by a first battery and a second battery, respectively.

14. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a belt-driven shaft.

15. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a belt and a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor rotate about non-coaxial axes of rotation and drive the shaft via the belt.

16. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the redundant drivetrain includes a gear-driven shaft.

17. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes at least one gear and a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor rotate about non-coaxial axes of rotation and drive the shaft via said at least one gear.

18. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor, the second motor, and the shaft are coaxial.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Sinha Pranay
• Vander Lind Damon

Classifications

• B64D27/357

  using batteries · CPC title

• B64C27/26

  characterised by provision of fixed wings · CPC title

• B64C29/00

  Aircraft capable of landing or taking-off vertically, e.g. vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft (rotorcraft B64C27/00) · CPC title

• B64D27/33 Primary

  Hybrid electric aircraft · CPC title

• B64D27/34

  All-electric aircraft · CPC title