The Boeing Company

Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter Company

Ronald E Gilbert

Gregory F Heath

Stephen C Slaughter

Vijay J Sheth

Yih-Jen D Chen

Terrell W Hansen

Michael T Morris

Aircraft comprising an airframe having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, a top extending between the forward end and the aft end, and a bottom opposite the top side. The aircraft further includes a power plant mounted on the airframe. In addition, the aircraft includes at least two propellers rotatably mounted on the airframe and powered by the power plant for moving the aircraft in a generally forward direction during operation of the propellers. Also, the aircraft includes at least two counter-rotatable fan sets mounted on the airframe and powered by the power plant for providing upward lift to the aircraft during operation of the fan sets.

Aircraft capable of vertical and short take-off and landing

A concentric face gear assembly includes a first face gear having first face gear teeth and second face gear having second face gear teeth. At least one input pinion contacts both the first face gear teeth and the second face gear teeth, and at least one idler pinion contacts both the first face gear teeth and the second face gear teeth. The first face gear is adapted for directly driving a rotor, but the second face gear is not adapted for directly driving a rotor. The load carried by the first face gear includes the force needed to drive the rotor. Since it does not drive a rotor, the second face gear does not comprise a web or spline attachment and is therefore lightweight. Both the first face gear and the second face gear include thrust bearings, which are located radially outwardly of the first face gear teeth and radially inwardly of the second face gear teeth. The first face gear includes a web, which is relatively thin due to the thrust bearing of the first face gear being located radially outwardly of the first face gear teeth rather than radially inwardly of the first face gear teeth.

Concentric face gear transmission assembly

Growing community of inventors

Payson, AZ, United States of America

Ronald E Gilbert