Dynamic rotor-phasing unit
A dynamic rotor-phasing unit can phase rotors in-flight for dynamic rotor tuning and in an idle state for aircraft storage. The input and output shafts can be clocked (e.g., rotated) from 0 degrees apart to in excess of 360 degrees apart or from 0 degrees apart to 140 degrees apart. Such rotation can minimize the footprint of an aircraft for stowing purposes, as the rotor blades can be folded to fit within a smaller area without disconnecting the drive system. Additionally, the unit can allow tiltrotor blades to be clocked during flight, which can allow the live-tuning of the aircraft's rotor dynamics. A fail-safe rotary actuator can rotate a stationary planet carrier to clock the input shaft and the output shaft. Alternatively, an actuator can position a slider housing to clock the input shaft and the output shaft.
1. A planetary dynamic rotor-phasing unit, comprising:
a stationary planet carrier;
a clocking planet gear operably coupled to the stationary planet carrier;
a rotating ring gear; and
a rotary actuator configured to rotate the stationary planet carrier, wherein the clocking planet gear rotates around the stationary carrier and the rotating ring gear to create a phasing differential between an input shaft and an output shaft.
2. The planetary dynamic rotor-phasing unit of claim 1 , wherein the rotating ring gear transmits torque to the common gears.
3. The planetary dynamic rotor-phasing unit of claim 1 , wherein a last gear set ratio is such that the input and output speeds are the same.
4. The planetary dynamic rotor-phasing unit of claim 1 , wherein the phasing differential between the input shaft and the output shaft can vary between 0 degrees and 360 degrees.
5. The planetary dynamic rotor-phasing unit of claim 4 , wherein the phasing differential between the input shaft and the output shaft can vary during flight.
6. The planetary dynamic rotor-phasing unit of claim 1 , wherein the phasing differential between the input shaft and the output shaft can exceed 360 degrees.
7. A method for creating a phasing differential in a planetary rotor-phasing unit, comprising:
rotating a clocking planet gear around a stationary carrier and the rotating ring gear to create a phasing differential between an input shaft and an output shaft; and
transmitting torque to one or more common gears via the rotating ring gear.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising rotating the stationary carrier to create an angular misalignment.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein a last gear set ratio is such that the input and output speeds are the same.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the phasing differential between the input shaft and the output shaft can vary between 0 degrees and 360 degrees.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the phasing differential between the input shaft and the output shaft can vary during flight.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the phasing differential between the input shaft and the output shaft can exceed 360 degrees.