Method and system for regulation of speed and position of a rotor in wing-borne flight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12024307-B2
Application number	US-202217721890-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2022
Priority date	Oct 14, 2021
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

A rotor-regulation system includes a rotor that includes a plurality of rotor blades, a rotor mast operable to drive the rotor, and a rotor disc-brake system operable to modulate rotation of the rotor mast.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotor-regulation indexing system for use in wing-borne flight, the rotor-regulation indexing system comprising:
a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor blades;
a rotor mast operable to drive the rotor; and
a rotor disc-brake system operable to modulate rotation of the rotor mast and stop the rotor mast at a desired azimuthal position during the wing-borne flight;
wherein the rotor disc-brake system comprises:
a transducer operable to monitor rotation of the rotor mast; and

a disc brake comprising a disc and a caliper.

2. The rotor-regulation indexing system of claim 1 , wherein the transducer monitors at least one of angular velocity and position error of the rotor mast.

3. The rotor-regulation indexing system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor-regulation system recognizes a direction of rotor rotation and is operable to perform at least one of indexing and biasing of the rotor in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction.

4. The rotor-regulation indexing system of claim 1 , comprising:
a computer operably coupled to the transducer; and
wherein the computer outputs a pressure controller command responsive, at least in part, to a signal output by the transducer.

5. The rotor-regulation indexing system of claim 4 , comprising:
the pressure controller; and
wherein the pressure controller outputs a pressure-modulation signal to the disc brake to modulate rotation of the rotor mast.

6. The rotor-regulation indexing system of claim 5 , comprising a rotor lock operable to lock one of the plurality of rotor blades in an indexed and unfolded position.

7. The rotor-regulation indexing system of claim 6 , wherein the rotor lock is operable to restrain the rotor in the event of a failure of the rotor disc-brake system.

8. A rotor disc-brake indexing system for use in wing-borne flight, the rotor disk-brake indexing system comprising:
a disc brake comprising a disc and a caliper and operable to modulate rotation of a rotor mast and stop the rotor mast at a desired azimuthal position during the wing-borne flight;
a transducer operably coupled to the rotor mast; and
a computer operably coupled to the transducer.

9. The rotor disc-brake indexing system of claim 8 , wherein the transducer outputs at least one of a signal that indicates rotor position and a signal that indicates angular velocity of the rotor mast.

10. The rotor disc-brake indexing system of claim 8 , wherein an engine driving the rotor mast supplies residual torque to the rotor.

11. The rotor disc-brake indexing system of claim 8 , comprising:
wherein the rotor disc-brake system is interoperably coupled to a rotor lock to lock in a final, indexed position of the rotor coupled to the rotor mast; and
wherein the rotor lock is operable to restrain the rotor in the event of failure of the disc-brake rotor system.

12. The rotor disc-brake indexing system of claim 8 , comprising a pressure controller operable to receive a pressure command.

13. The rotor disc-brake indexing system of claim 12 , wherein the pressure controller is operable to control the disc brake via a hydraulic valve.

14. An indexing method of modulating rotation during wing-borne flight of a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor blades, the method comprising:
receiving information indicative of at least one of a position and rate of angular rotation during the wing-borne flight of a rotating rotor coupled to a rotor mast; and
responsive to the received information, modulating rotation of the rotor and stopping the rotor mast at a desired azimuthal position during the wing-borne flight via a disc-brake system comprising a disc and a caliper and coupled to the rotor mast.

15. The indexing method of claim 14 , wherein the received information comprises a signal output by a transducer operably coupled to the rotor mast.

16. The indexing method of claim 14 , wherein the modulating comprises monitoring, by a transducer operably coupled to the rotor mast, of rotation of the rotor mast.

17. The indexing method of claim 16 , wherein the modulating comprises the transducer outputting, responsive to the monitoring, a signal to a computer.

18. The indexing method of claim 17 , wherein the modulating comprises the computer:
receiving the signal; and
adjusting a pressure command responsive, at least in part, to the signal.

19. The indexing method of claim 18 , wherein the modulating comprises regulating pressure of the disc brake of the disc-brake system responsive to the adjusting.

Assignees

• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Atkins Brady Garrett
• Schank Troy Cyril
• Covington Charles Eric
• Fenny Carlos Alexander
• Toth Jonathan

Classifications

• B64D31/06 Primary

  actuated automatically · CPC title

• B64C27/30 Primary

  with provision for reducing drag of inoperative rotor · CPC title

• B64C11/002

  Braking propellers, e.g. for measuring the power output of an engine · CPC title

• B64C11/04

  Blade mountings · CPC title

• B64C27/26

  characterised by provision of fixed wings · CPC title