The Boeing Company

Robert P Narducci

Thomas A Zientek

Richard Bussom

Michael A McVeigh

Matthew Howard Cawthorne

Perry Ray Ziegenbein

Apparatus to adjust airfoils of rotor blades are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first surface to be attached to a trailing edge of a rotor blade; a forward edge having a first thickness; an aft edge having a second thickness; and a middle portion between the forward edge and the aft edge having a third thickness greater than the first and second thicknesses.

Apparatus to adjust airfoils of rotor blades

Embodiments of systems and methods for enhancing the performance of rotary wing aircraft through reduced torque, noise and vibration are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes configuring the rotorcraft in a selected flight condition, communicating input signals to a control system operable to position sails coupled to tips of blades of a rotor assembly, processing the input signals according to a constraint condition to generate sail positional information, and transferring the sail positional information to the sail. Alternately, input signals may be communicated to a control system operable to position a plurality of sails, each sail having an aerodynamic shape and positioned proximate to a tip portion of the rotor blade. The input signals may be configured to rotate each sail about a longitudinal axis into a corresponding pitch angle independently of the other sails.

System and method for improved rotor tip performance

The present invention discloses systems and methods for the performance enhancement of rotary wing aircraft through reduced torque, noise and vibration. In one embodiment, a system includes a sail having an aerodynamic shape positioned proximate to a tip of the rotor blade. An actuator may be configured to rotate the sail relative to the blade tip. a A control system receives information from a rotorcraft system and commands the actuator to rotate the sail to a predetermined favorable rotor blade operating condition. In another embodiment, a method includes configuring the rotorcraft in a selected flight condition, communicating input signals to a control system operable to position sails coupled to tips of blades of a rotor assembly, processing the input signals according to a constraint condition to generate sail positional information, and transferring the sail positional information to the sail.

Growing community of inventors

Glen Mills, PA, United States of America

Robert P Narducci