HYBRID ROTOR PROPULSION FOR ROTOR AIRCRAFT
A hybrid rotor propulsion system includes a motor having a rotational output connected to a rotor and a prime mover connected to the motor through a rotational input, the prime mover configured to apply a rotational input speed to the motor.
1 . An aircraft rotor propulsion system, the system comprising:
a motor having a rotational output connected to a rotor; and
a prime mover connected to the motor through a rotational input, the prime mover configured to apply a rotational input speed to the motor.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is an electric motor.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the prime mover the prime mover is one selected from a combustion engine and an electric motor; and
the rotor is an anti-torque rotor.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the motor is an electric motor.
7 . A method of controlling a rotational speed of an aircraft rotor, the method comprising:
applying a rotational input speed from a prime mover to a motor; and
applying a rotational output speed from the motor to the aircraft rotor.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the rotational output speed is greater than the rotational input speed.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the rotational output speed is one of zero, less than the rotational input speed, or in an opposite direction from the rotational input speed.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the rotational output speed is substantially equal to the rotational input speed.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the motor is one of an electric motor or a hydraulic motor; and
the prime mover is one of a combustion engine or an electric motor.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising operating the motor at a speed greater than the rotational input speed and whereby the rotational output speed is greater than the rotational input speed.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the motor is an electric motor, and further comprising driving the electric motor to generate electricity, whereby the rotational output speed is less than the rotational input speed.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising operating the motor in an opposite direction from the rotational input speed whereby the rotational output speed is less than the rotational input speed.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising operating the motor in an opposite direction from the rotational input speed whereby the rotational output speed is in the opposite direction from the rotational input speed.
16 . A method of controlling a rotational speed of an aircraft rotor, the method comprising:
applying, from a prime mover, a rotational input speed through a drive shaft to a motor; and
applying a rotational output speed to an anti-torque rotor through the motor.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising operating the motor in a direction opposite the rotational input speed.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising locking the motor whereby the rotational output speed is approximately equal to the rotational input speed.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
locking the motor whereby the rotational output speed is approximately equal to the rotational input speed; and
slipping the motor whereby the rotational output speed is less than the rotational input speed.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising operating the motor in a same direction as the rotational input speed whereby the rotational output speed is greater than the rotational input speed.