Redundant drive train for pylon mounted rotors
A system includes an inboard tiltrotor subsystem and an outboard tiltrotor subsystem. The inboard tiltrotor subsystem includes an inboard pylon, an inboard tiltrotor, and a single and non-redundant drivetrain. The outboard tiltrotor subsystem includes an outboard pylon that is coupled to a wing and an outboard tiltrotor. The outboard tiltrotor has a range of motion and is coupled to the wing via the outboard pylon, such that the outboard tiltrotor is aft of the wing. The outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a redundant drivetrain (which has a plurality of motors and a plurality of motor controllers) that drives one or more blades and the one or more blades.
1. A system, comprising:
an inboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an inboard pylon;
an inboard tiltrotor; and
a single and non-redundant drivetrain; and
an outboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an outboard pylon, wherein the outboard pylon is coupled to a wing;
an outboard tiltrotor, wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor has a range of motion; and
the outboard tiltrotor is coupled to the wing via the outboard pylon, such that the outboard tiltrotor is aft of the wing;
a redundant drivetrain, including a plurality of motors and a plurality of motor controllers, that drives one or more blades; and
the one or more blades.
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 outboard tiltrotor subsystem is an outermost tiltrotor subsystem.
4. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor are independently powered by a first battery and a second battery, respectively.
5. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a belt-driven shaft.
6. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a belt and a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor rotate about non-coaxial axes of rotation and drive the shaft via the belt.
7. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the redundant drivetrain includes a gear-driven shaft.
8. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes at least one gear and a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor rotate about non-coaxial axes of rotation and drive the shaft via said at least one gear.
9. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor, the second motor, and the shaft are coaxial.
10. A method, comprising:
providing an inboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an inboard pylon;
an inboard tiltrotor; and
a single and non-redundant drivetrain; and
providing an outboard tiltrotor subsystem, including:
an outboard pylon, wherein the outboard pylon is coupled to a wing;
an outboard tiltrotor, wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor has a range of motion; and
the outboard tiltrotor is coupled to the wing via the outboard pylon, such that the outboard tiltrotor is aft of the wing;
a redundant drivetrain, including a plurality of motors and a plurality of motor controllers, that drives one or more blades; and
the one or more blades.
11. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the inboard tiltrotor subsystem and the outboard tiltrotor subsystem are in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) tiltrotor vehicle.
12. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the outboard tiltrotor subsystem is an outermost tiltrotor subsystem.
13. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor are independently powered by a first battery and a second battery, respectively.
14. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a belt-driven shaft.
15. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a belt and a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor rotate about non-coaxial axes of rotation and drive the shaft via the belt.
16. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the redundant drivetrain includes a gear-driven shaft.
17. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes at least one gear and a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor and the second motor rotate about non-coaxial axes of rotation and drive the shaft via said at least one gear.
18. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the outboard tiltrotor subsystem further includes a shaft;
the plurality of motors includes a first motor and a second motor; and
the first motor, the second motor, and the shaft are coaxial.