Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft includes a spanwise-flow redirector having a pair of flow-redirection panels respectively mounted on the aircraft's mid-fuselage area for rotation about a panel pivot axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, each panel is substantially flush with an adjacent surface of the mid-fuselage area. In the deployed position, each panel is raised into the path of one of the inbound spanwise flows generated by the aircraft's rotors during hover operation, whereupon each panel redirects the respective one of the inbound spanwise flows either forward or aft of the other inbound spanwise flow. In this manner, the deployed panels prevent stagnation of the inbound spanwise flow atop the mid-fuselage area while further serving to minimize re-ingestion of merged spanwise flow into the rotors, resulting in decreased airframe download forces, increased rotor thrust, and reduced noise levels during hover operation.

Abstract: A centrifugally activated variable damper assembly for a stopped-rotor aircraft is disclosed for adjusting dampening level of teetering motions produced by the rotors during the in-flight conversion process from rotary-wing to fixed-wing flight, or vise versa. The assembly includes a damper valve responsive to centrifugal forces produced by rotational speed of the aircraft rotor. The assembly also includes dampers within the rotor system that operate at variable damping levels in response to centrifugal forces acting upon the damper valve.

Abstract: A helicopter aircraft with an upper hollow center circular plenum in gaseous communication with a plurality of hollow hinged attached rotor blades. Below the plenum and in gaseous communication with it are two fan jet engines whose gaseous output can be inputted to the plenum and their attached hollow rotor blades through a operator controlled valve system. This same valve system can be adjusted to completely or partially by-pass the plenum and discharge the jet engines' gas to a common rear rudder located on the aircraft's to provide directional control to the aircraft when in flight. The plenum is shaped lenticular in cross section similar to an airplane wing to provide a lifting body when the helicopter is in forward flight.

Abstract: Rotor blade stowing system for stowing rotor blades that conserves storage space without adding significant weight or cost to the aircraft. The system includes a rotary actuator disposed on a blade grip member. A rotor blade is pivotally connected to the blade grip member. The rotary actuator is operably coupled to a blade pivoting cam and a locking cam. The system includes a cam follower linkage which has a first end which includes a blade pivoting cam follower and a locking cam follower and a second end. The blade pivoting cam follower follows the blade pivoting cam. The locking cam follower follows the locking cam. The second end of the cam follower linkage is coupled to the blade grip member. The system includes a shaft rotatably coupled to the blade grip member, a locking linkage bell crank operably coupled to the shaft, a delay cam coupled to the blade grip member, and a locking linkage idler operably coupled to the locking linkage bell crank.

Abstract: An improved VTOL/STOL free wing aircraft providing damping and absorption of shock landing loads upon landing. A pair of resilient struts is provided, projecting forwardly from the trailing edge of either side of the fuselage when the fuselage is tilted. Preferably, the aircraft includes a pair of articulated tail booms, the strut being a portion of the tail boom extending forward from the pivot axis of the tail boom. Landing wheels are disposed on the strut in tandem spaced relationship. The resiliency of the strut causes the strut to act as a leaf spring and thus dampen shock landing loads. Operatively secured to the bottom surface of the fixed wing portions and the forward portion of the landing gear struts is a pair of dashpots for absorbing the shock landing loads.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft has a fuselage with a wing located above the fuselage at the rearward end and with a horizontal stabilizer located at the forward end. The propellers are mounted on booms separate from the wings and located just behind the center of gravity of the aircraft. The propellers are pivotable between horizontal and vertical axes and brakes are provided to allow locking of propeller position. When the brakes are released, the propellers automatically pivot between vertical and horizontal orientations and vice-versa based upon control of the aircraft by the pilot.

Abstract: A conversion access gearset includes a first bevel gear, which is connected to a wing cross shaft leading from the proprotor drive train path to the second turbine engine. A second bevel gear is connected to a main transmission input shaft, which is adapted for driving the proprotor. A bevel pinion receives power from the turbine engine, and drives both the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear. An input pinion is connected between the turbine engine and the bevel pinion, and several idler gears are connected between the input pinion and the bevel pinion. A helical gear is connected between the several idler gears and the bevel pinion. The main transmission input shaft is connected to a main transmission input pinion, which is located on the main transmission input shaft opposite of the second bevel gear. The main transmission input pinion receives torque from the main transmission input shaft, and a torque-splitting device splits the torque received from the main transmission input pinion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tiltrotor helicopter comprising a fuselage (1), a wing arrangement (2) and at least one power plant (5), and including two contrarotating, cyclically controllable rotors (7, 8) which are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the fuselage and arranged substantially on a longitudinal axis of the fuselage (1) as well as being respectively tiltable out of a first tilted position for helicopter flight into a second tilted position for airplane flight, the first rotor (7) being arranged at the front end of the fuselage (1) and substantially above the same and the second rotor (8) being arranged at the rear end of the fuselage (1) and substantially beneath the same, and the first rotor (7) being tiltable about a tilting axis (17) extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage (1) out of the first tilted position downwardly and in front of the fuselage (1) into the second tilting position and the second rotor (8) being tiltable about a ti

Abstract: A VTOL/STOL free wing aircraft includes a free wing having wings on opposite sides of a fuselage connected to one another respectively adjacent fixed wing inboard or center root sections fixedly attached to the fuselage for free rotation about a spanwise access. Horizontal and vertical tail surfaces are located at the rear end of a boom assembly rotatably connected to the fuselage. A gearing or screw rod arrangement controlled by the pilot or remote control operator selectively relatively pivots the fuselage in relation to the tail boom assembly to enable the fuselage to assume a tilted or nose up configuration to enable VTOL/STOL flight.

Abstract: A helicopter comprising: a single main rotor for forwards motion and for support; and an anti-torque system comprising: an auxiliary, anti-torque rotor rotated from the engine means of said main rotor and exerting controllable anti-torque lateral thrust; and at least one steering airfoil that is controllable in steering and that generates anti-torque transverse lift. According to the invention, the helicopter includes automatic swivel control means for automatically controlling the swivel angle of said steering airfoil as a function of the collective pitch angle of said main rotor and of the forward speed of said helicopter.

Abstract: An aircraft wing pivot structure is described which provides a flexible ring attached to the aircraft wing at flexible wing attachment points by spherical bearings. The ring is attached to the fuselage of the aircraft by pins fixed to the fuselage and fittings partially enclosing sliding shoes formed at the bottom edge of the ring to allow rotation of the wing. The wing is locked in the flight position by retractable pins connected to the primary fuselage attachment fittings. The ring is a unitary stainless structure which accepts wing strains induced by flight loads by flexing at the wing attachment points. The use of a flexible ring eliminates truss-like members mounted on spherical bearings used in conventional designs. The elimination of a substantial number of components by the use of a flexible ring substantially reduces the weight of the aircraft and improves the reliability.

Abstract: A backup flight control system for controlling the flightpath of a multi-engine airplane using the main drive engines. The backup flight control system comprises an input device for generating a control command indicative of a desired flightpath, a feedback sensor for generating a feedback signal indicative of at least one of pitch rate, pitch attitude, roll rate and roll attitude, and a control device for changing the output power of at least one of the main drive engines on each side of the airplane in response to the control command and the feedback signal.

Abstract: It works like a helicopter in vertical flight or like an airplane in horizontal flight, being able to land accurately on a small area. It is equipped with a rotor, a couple of wings fitted with ailerons and other control surfaces actuated differentially, with support wheels at their ends. It has a vertical stabilizer at the end of which there is a wheel. It has a horizontal stabilizer with elevators that are actuated simultaneously or differentially. It incorporates a propeller ahead of the rotor.

Abstract: To ensure the power transmission between a driving shaft (42) and two assemblies to be driven, such as the rotor or rotors and the ancillary systems of a gyroplane, a mechanism is proposed, which has a connection shaft (48) constantly engaged on the driving shaft and on device (54) for riving the ancillary systems. An actuator (80) controls a translation of the connection shaft between a first position in which a free wheel (44), interposed between the driving shaft (42) and a device (46) for driving the rotor or rotors, occupies a rotation engagement state and a second position, in which the free wheel occupies a rotation disengagement state. This particularly simple mechanism can be switched from one state to the other, even during the rotation of the driving shaft.

Abstract: An aircraft may have vertical take-off and landing capability including a power-generating mechanism, a propulsion-developing mechanism, and laterally extending wings. Each wing includes an aerodynamically composite airfoil having a lower camber possessing an aerodynamic thrust-flap. A rotor is provided at the free end of each wing for rotating in a plane parallel to the plane of the wing. The lower surface of each wing includes thrust flap aerofoils which may be moved to shape a convergent-divergent nozzle and with the cooperation of the rotor to produce thrust. The rotor is driven by a wing turbine embodied in the wing. Any combination of different power plants provides the initial stage of compressed air to the wing turbine and/or motive fluid.

Abstract: A helicopter with a retractable rotor for transport wherein the rotor and its blades, the swashplate, the pitch change rods and support mast are lowered or raised in unison by the hydraulic flight control servos as commanded by the helicopter computerized flight control when being commanded by special rotor retraction/extension software.

Abstract: A helicar is provided which consists of a body being in the shape of an automobile, a plurality of wheels depending from the body for supporting the body on the ground, a top rotor assembly operatively secured to the body, a rear rotor assembly operatively secured to the body and a mechanism for operating the top rotor assembly and the rear rotor assembly in a helicopter mode for travel through the air and for operating the wheels in an automobile mode for travel on the ground.

Abstract: A compound helicopter includes a main sustaining rotor for hover and low speed flight, a propeller for providing propulsion in high speed flight and an engine. Engine output power is controlled so as to ensure efficient use of available power in both modes of operation. A preferred form of control includes a variable area exhaust nozzle from a gas turbine engine which has the advantage also in providing an augmenting jet thrust during high speed flight.

Abstract: A retractable helicopter rotor in which the rotor and its blades, the swashplate and the pitch change rods are retracted and extended as a unit during the helicopter rotor retraction/extension mode of operation, wherein the connection between the rotor support system and the fuselage constitutes a single interface between overlapping circumferentially extending flanges of each, and with the bolts joining those flanges being loaded in compression.

Abstract: A blade pitch control system for a rotary wing aircraft which incorporates a mast and rotor which is pivotally adapted for movement of the mast between a generally horizontal stored position and a vertical position for operation in a helicopter mode. The pitch control system incorporates a motion amplification mechanism such as a star gear arrangement connected to the pitch horn to amplify control motions which are transmitted to the pitch horns through a push-pull control tube generally parallel to the folding axis of the rotor blade. In another embodiment, the push-pull tube inputs parallel to the mast axis. A locking mechanism retains the blades so pitch changes cannot be made during a predetermined portion of the blade coning cycle.

Abstract: This helicopter invention uniquely has no anti-torque tail rotor. The tail propeller is used only for forward thrust during the airplane mode of flight and during the transition from vertical helicopter flight to forward airplane mode of flight, when the helicopter rotor may be feathered in a no-lift attitude. The anti-torque balancing forces during the hovering mode are developed by the differentially controlled aileron forces when the wings are aligned vertically with the vertically downward airflow from the helicopter rotor. There is also a vertically moveable horizontal airfoil on the tail cone, or tail boom, with controllable means which can provide anti-torque reaction forces during the helicopter hovering mode from the lifting rotor down flow air. An angular moveable tail fin assembly and rudder are provided to improve transition from VTOL hovering flight to horizontal airplane flight.

Abstract: A drive system for a tiltrotor aircraft that provides for the operation of both proprotors by either engine or by both engines. The drive system provides an interconnecting drive shaft that extends between and connects the engines in such a manner that power is transferred from one engine to the opposite proprotor in the case of an engine failure. Also, the arrangement provides for the operation of a redundant essential systems for the aircraft should an electrical or hydraulic system fail to operate properly.

Abstract: Conventional cantilever wings of a tiltrotor aircraft are replaced by a joined-wing configuration that eliminates some major speed-limiting constraints of prior tiltrotor configurations--thereby allowing operation into the intermediate speed range of roughly 350 to 450 knots. Joined wings offer relatively rigid, stiffened support for the additional wing-mounted hardware, and also stiffen the system to resist rotor flutter and other sources of aggravated loading, that are characteristic of tiltrotor craft. Joined wings provide this advantage, however, while simultaneously significantly lowering airfoil thickness--and thereby importantly increasing the drag divergence Mach number, and hence the maximum speed. In addition, some joined-wing configurations have significantly lower rotor-wing downwash interactions in hover.

Abstract: An aircraft has a pair of wing portions with propellers of a propeller pair which are driven and synchronized by a fluid transmission between the power plant and the propellers. A fluid line structure keeps most components of the craft together and consists preferredly of three pipes which are also utilized to carry the driving fluid to and from the motors, to hold the motors and to hold the wings. The take over of a plurality of functions by the interior pipe structure reduces weight and secures safe and economic operation of the craft. The pipe structure can be pivoted in respective bearings to effect the pivotal movement of the propellers and wing portions for either vertical take off and landing or for horizontal flight. The pipe structure is built by pipes without bends in order to make the cleaning of the interiors of the pipes from dirt and from remainders of welding possible.

Abstract: A rotor system for a rotor convertible fixed winged aircraft comprising a rotatable rotor shaft mounted on one of the wings of the aircraft, the shaft tiltable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, a rotor mounted to the shaft and including at least one blade, the blade having an adjustable blade angle relative to the shaft, apparatus for tilting the shaft between the vertical and horizontal positions, controls responsive to the tilting of the shaft for automatically adjusting the blade angle of a blade to an autogyro blade angle when the shaft is in the vertical position and to a substantially feathered blade angle when the shaft is in the horizontal position.

Abstract: The invention provides an aircraft with propellers with vertical and horizontal axes in combination with pivotable wing portions. At vertical take off and landing the propellers with vertical axes bear the craft while the wing portions are set with their chord parallel to the airstreams through the lifting propellers. When the aircraft flies forward with enough speed, driven by the propeller(s) with the horizontal axis (axes), the lift propellers are set to rest parallel to the forward flight direction of the craft while the wing portions then pivot under the airflow over them into a horizontal position with their chords, at which they are prevented from further pivoting by stoppers in order that the wing portions then carry the craft at the forward flight.

Abstract: The invention concerns the forming of vertical thrust by rotor blades and their subsequent stopping to act as wings, by changing the angle of of attack of the individual stationary blades during foward flight. The horizontal movement of each blade is independent from one another around the perimeter of the central rotor axis hub, and the opposing diagonal set's move up against each other and interconnect to become an integrated single wing from the two separate blades. A common pivot is utilized across the intersecting edges of the blades comprising the singular wing to have this common pivot hinge between them to allow changes in pitch of the leading and trailing parts of the wing. Such joined blades acting as wings are able to move together to accomplish a variable swing wing movement that would include swept foward and back configurations and infinite changes of their attitude between those two extreme positions.

Abstract: A rotorcraft is provided with laterally placed dual rotors which rotate in opposite directions with the axis through the center of the rotors being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft's fuselage. Between the two rotor hubs a wing structure is placed above and below the blades with the two wings joined together forming a leading edge outward of the blades' radius toward the designated front of the craft thus forming a sheltered wing structure that allows the two rotors to revolve in their retreating mode phase out of the air stream when the craft is in horizontal flight. A compressed gas ejection system would aid in the transition of the blades from operating in free air to operating within the sheltered wing structure. A louver system in the upper and lower wings would operate to allow air flow freely through the wing during the lifting or hovering mode.

Abstract: The basic characteristics of an airplane and of a helicopter are combined into one flying craft: a HELIPLANE. This aircraft can fly forward like an airplane and hover like a helicopter. In the hovering mode, the craft lifting force is generated by gyrating blades and the craft control forces and moments are provided by a tail end propeller. In the forward flying mode, the craft lifting forces are generated by two wings and the gyrating blades. The propeller alone provides the forward propulsive thrust. The operations of the gyrating blades, of the craft control surfaces and of the power plant are all integrated, monitored and controlled to coordinate such operations during hovering, forward flight and any transition phase between hovering and forward flight. The gyrating blades never generate any forward propulsive thrust. The cyclic pitch motion of the gyrating blades needed to accommodate the craft forward flight velocity is induced by this forward velocity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a single seat aircraft having the capabilities of vertical takeoff, landing and hovering operations utilizing the X-Wing as a conventional helicopter rotating wing. After transition to forward flight following takeoff, the rotating wing is stopped and becomes a fixed wing of "X" configuration. The aircraft utilizes two engines within the fuselage, one engine being positioned vertically above the other along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, the particular arrangement of engines allowing aircraft size and weight to be substantially reduced.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for folding the wing of a tilt-rotor aircraft, hav a rotatable load bearing member cooperatively disposed between a high point of the fuselage and the tilt-rotor wing, and a plurality of locking, load bearing pin joints disposed between the fuselage and the tilt-rotor wing, concentric to the rotatable load bearing member, and wherein the tilt-rotor wing may be stored by rotating the tilt-rotor wing, as a single segment, about the rotatable load bearing member, to a position substantially parallel to the fuselage, and wherein the wing may be locked in the flight configuration and the storage configuration with the same pin joints.

Abstract: An aircraft has a pair of wing portions with propellers of a propeller pair which are driven and synchronized by a fluid transmission between the power plant and the propellers. A fluid line structure keeps most components of the craft together and consists preferredly of three pipes which are also utilized to carry the driving fluid to and from the motors, to hold the motors and to hold the wings. The take over of a plurality of functions by the interior pipe structure reduces weight and secures safe and economic operation of the craft. In the type of the aircraft where this application deals with, a variable pitch propeller may be applied which operates with variable pitch at flight to obtain its best efficiency at the respective speed of flight while the propeller is set with its chord parallel to the chord of the wing or tail when it is retracted into a slot in the wing or tail when another propeller drives the craft forward in leveled flight.

Abstract: An aircraft has a pair of wing portions with propellers of a propeller pair which are driven and synchronized by a fluid transmission between the power plant and the propellers. A fluid line structure keeps most components of the craft together and consists preferredly of three pipes which are also utilized to carry the driving fluid to and from the motors, to hold the motors and to hold the wings. The take over of a plurality of functions by the interior pipe structure reduces weight and secures safe and economic operation of the craft. The aircraft is provided with a propeller and motor arrangement that is retractable into a slot formed in the front portion of the wings.

Abstract: Tilting the stabilizer at an extreme angle to the fuselage, with leading edge down, and controlling and varying engine thrust comprise a method for all-axis control of a generally conventional aircraft in ultra deep stall. The method is effective in recovery from unstable and unusual flight attributes and in landing emergencies; the aircraft may land in the ultra deep stall configuration or conventional flight may be resumed. So-called flying wing aircraft, where pitch control surfaces are incorporated with the trailing edge of the primary lift surface, are also controllable in ultra deep stall by the method of this invention.

Abstract: A plurality of variable diameter rotors with mechanism for varying the diameter of the rotors synchronously, and including mechanism to limit the diameter of the rotors.

Abstract: A universally flexible rotor mast for a rotary wing aircraft wherein the universal flexing of the mast is accomplished by the use of multiple elastomer mounts of elastomer metal plate sandwich formation and with high strength cables embedded in the elastomer and anchored to opposing metal plates of the sandwich mounts. A static on-ground rotor mast lock is employed to secure the rotor mast in an upright position, the mast lock is used in conjunction with the elastomer mounts of the flexible mast.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft features an improved tail-lifting rotor and rotor directional controls. A new type of suction pressure jet-mechanical-flap rotor blade with a higher coefficient of lift is employed. The aircraft has a mechanism for loading and unloading passengers and a more efficient method of handling baggage and cargo. A much more efficient utilization of space in the fuselage is achieved through a reduced height passenger space and overhead rotor storage compartment.

Abstract: Tilting the stabilizer at an extreme angle to the fuselage, with leading edge down, and varying engine thrust comprise a method for all-axis control of a generally conventional aircraft in deep stall. In an alternative embodiment, tilting the engines upward at an extreme angle to the fuselage and varying engine thrust comprise a method for all-axis control in deep stall.

Abstract: A convertiplane having control apparatus for modification of the control signals during the course of transition in either direction between a helicopter mode and the aircraft mode. The convertiplane has at least one pylon rotatable about a lateral axis, positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the convertiplane to a position normal to the axis for selective operation in the airplane mode and in the helicopter mode, respectively. Rotor blades are provided on each pylon with a control linkage responsive to pilot input in the helicopter mode to vary the collective and cyclic pitch of the rotor blades. Drive linkages are provided to change the pylons from one mode position to the other mode position. Control linkages are operatively associated in synchronism with the drive linkages to alter the authority of the pilot control to change the pitch of the blade during transition.

Abstract: An aircraft which operates between the surface and the air as a rotating wing aircraft (helicopter-autogiro). When airborne a rotor pylon latch is released and the pilot flies the rotor system aft about its pivot to the fuselage to form the tail of a high speed jet propelled airplane. Altering the pitch angle of the blades controls the aircraft, called a convertiblade, for helicopter-autogiro and airplane configurations and for moving the rotor between its configurations. The rotor is revved up with rocket fuel piped to burner jet nozzles located at the blade tips. A jump-take-off may be used to efficiently get the convertiblade airborne at a good climbing speed. Prior to landing, the rotor blades are released from their operation as roll control surfaces for the airplane configuration; then, they are permitted to rev-up and act as a brake to reduce the speed of the airplane.

Abstract: An aircraft forwardly propelled by a power plant including a pair of jet engines, is operated in a VTOL mode by powered rotation of a rotary wing mechanically rotoring the engines. When unloaded during fixed wing flight, the power plant is operated in an accelerating rocket mode preceding high speed ram jet operation. Radially extensible blades of the rotary wing vary the mechanical loading on the engines while adjustable chokes at the intake of each engine and in the outlet of a common after-burner for the engines, condition the power plant for its different operational modes.

Abstract: A jet aircraft is equipped with powered helicopter type rotor blades and control mechanisms whereby it can take off and land vertically, yet in horizontal flight can operate at speeds and altitudes typical of jet aircraft. The rotor blades are foldably retractable to a compact locked, trailing position for horizontal travel and are readily unfoldable by a manually operated control mechanism within the aircraft. While the rotors are rotating, the blade pitch can be selectively controlled and, on power failure, will be automatically controlled to provide for same direction autogyro rotation. In one form, the wings and stabilizers are tiltable between substantially horizontal positions for normal horizontal flight and substantially vertical positions for vertical flight. The craft is ground supported by flexible legs.