Redundant drive train for pylon mounted rotors
A pylon is coupled to a wing. A tiltrotor, having a range of motion, is coupled to the wing via the pylon, such that the tiltrotor is aft of the wing. The tiltrotor includes a redundant drivetrain, including a plurality of motors and a plurality of motor controllers, that drives one or more blades included in the tiltrotor.
1. A system, comprising:
an inboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an inboard pylon;
an inboard tiltrotor; and
a single and non-redundant drivetrain, including a single motor having a non-redundant motor height and a single motor controller; and
an outermost tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an outermost pylon, wherein the outermost pylon is coupled to a forward-swept and tapered wing;
an outermost tiltrotor, wherein:
the outermost tiltrotor has a range of motion; and
the outermost tiltrotor is coupled to the forward-swept and tapered wing via the outermost pylon, such that the outermost tiltrotor is aft of the forward-swept and tapered wing;
a redundant drivetrain, including a plurality of coaxially-arranged motors having a redundant motor height that is less than the non-redundant motor height associated with the single and non-redundant drivetrain in the inboard tiltrotor and a plurality of motor controllers, that drives one or more blades; and
the one or more blades, wherein the one or more blades are forward of a center of thrust.
2. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the system is included in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle.
3. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the system is included in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle; and
the eVTOL tiltrotor vehicle further includes a canard.
4. A method, comprising:
providing an inboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an inboard pylon;
an inboard tiltrotor; and
a single and non-redundant drivetrain, including a single motor having a non-redundant motor height and a single motor controller; and
providing an outermost tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an outermost pylon, wherein the outermost pylon is coupled to a forward-swept and tapered wing;
an outermost tiltrotor, wherein:
the outermost tiltrotor has a range of motion; and
the outermost tiltrotor is coupled to the forward-swept and tapered wing via the outermost pylon, such that the outermost tiltrotor is aft of the forward-swept and tapered wing;
a redundant drivetrain, including a plurality of coaxially-arranged motors having a redundant motor height that is less than the non-redundant motor height associated with the single and non-redundant drivetrain in the inboard tiltrotor and a plurality of motor controllers, that drives one or more blades; and
the one or more blades, wherein the one or more blades are forward of a center of thrust.
5. The method recited in claim 4 , wherein:
the inboard tiltrotor subsystem and outermost tiltrotor subsystem are included in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle.
6. The method recited in claim 4 , wherein:
the inboard tiltrotor subsystem and outermost tiltrotor subsystem are included in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle; and
the eVTOL tiltrotor vehicle further includes a canard.
7. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the redundant drivetrain includes a belt-driven shaft.
8. The method recited in claim 4 , wherein the redundant drivetrain includes a belt-driven shaft.
9. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the redundant drivetrain includes a gear-driven shaft.
10. The method recited in claim 4 , wherein the redundant drivetrain includes a gear-driven shaft.