DUCTED FAN ASSEMBLY WITH MATERIAL-FILLED CAVITY IN LEADING EDGE
In an embodiment, a ducted fan assembly includes a housing that further includes a rotor. The ducted fan assembly also includes a rim that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the ducted fan assembly, where the rim defines an opening surrounding at least a portion of the housing. The ducted fan assembly also includes a skin that is attached to the rim and extends around the at least a portion of the perimeter of the ducted fan assembly to form a leading edge of the ducted fan assembly, the skin and the rim creating a cavity therebetween. The cavity is at least partially filled with a material to absorb energy from an impact of the skin with a foreign object.
1 . A ducted fan assembly comprising:
a housing comprising a rotor;
a rim that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the ducted fan assembly, wherein the rim defines an opening surrounding at least a portion of the housing;
a skin that is attached to the rim and extends around the at least a portion of the perimeter of the ducted fan assembly to form a leading edge of the ducted fan assembly, the skin and the rim creating a cavity therebetween; and
wherein the cavity is at least partially filled with a material to absorb energy from an impact of the skin with a foreign object.
2 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material makes contact with the skin and provides structural support for the skin.
3 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the skin is configured to at least one of deform and break upon impact with a foreign object.
4 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material conforms to a shape of the cavity.
5 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 4 , wherein the material comprises an orifice configured to provide a deflection point for the leading edge.
6 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 5 , wherein the material is at least partially formed from rubber.
7 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a honeycomb core.
8 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 6 , wherein the honeycomb core comprises an array of hollow cells, wherein at least some of the hollow cells in the array have a point that is oriented in a direction of the leading edge.
9 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a lattice structure that varies in density throughout the cavity.
10 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein a density of the lattice structure progressively increases from the skin to the rim.
11 . The ducted fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises foam.
12 . A rotorcraft comprising a plurality of fan assemblies, each fan assembly comprising:
a housing comprising a rotor;
a rim that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the fan assembly, wherein the rim defines an opening surrounding at least a portion of the housing;
a skin that is attached to the rim and extends around the at least a portion of the perimeter of the fan assembly to form a leading edge of the fan assembly, the skin and the rim creating a cavity therebetween; and
wherein the cavity is at least partially filled with a material to absorb energy from an impact of the skin with a foreign object.
13 . The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the plurality of fan assemblies are ducted fan assemblies.
14 . The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the rotorcraft is a tiltrotor aircraft and the plurality of fan assemblies rotate between an airplane mode and a helicopter mode.
15 . The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein, for at least one of the plurality of fan assemblies, the material conforms to a shape of the cavity and provides structural support for the skin.
16 . The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein, for at least one of the plurality of fan assemblies, the skin is configured to at least one of deform and break upon impact with a foreign object.
17 . The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein, for at least one of the plurality of fan assemblies, the material comprises an orifice configured to provide a deflection point for the leading edge.
18 . The rotorcraft of claim 17 , wherein, for at least one of the plurality of fan assemblies, the material is at least partially formed from rubber.
19 . The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein, for at least one of the plurality of fan assemblies, the material comprises a honeycomb core including an array of hollow cells, at least some of the hollow cells in the array having a point that is oriented in a direction of the leading edge.
20 . The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein, for at least one of the plurality of fan assemblies, the material comprises a lattice structure, wherein a density of the lattice structure progressively increases from the skin to the rim.