Propulsive anti-torque system for rotorcraft
A rotorcraft having an enhanced configuration in which a simple wing and a propulsive anti-torque system are combined is disclosed. The propulsive anti-torque system includes an anti-torque thruster system in which a variable pitch fan is installed internal to the tail boom of the rotorcraft and an anti-torque thruster nozzle is mounted at the extremity of the tail boom. The fan is driven directly from the main rotor drive. The configuration and location of the fan allows the primary exhaust from the engine to be mixed with the compressed air flow from the fan. The mixed air flow from the fan and the engine passes through the tail boom and out the thruster nozzle.
1. A rotorcraft comprising:
a means for lift compounding; and
a separate means for propulsion compounding, which is a pneumatic propulsive anti-torque system, comprising:
a tail boom disposed at the aft end of the rotorcraft;
an engine disposed in the tail boom for providing torque through a drive shaft to a rotor system of the rotorcraft;
a fan module disposed in the tail boom and driven by the drive shaft for producing a flow of compressed air through the tail boom;
a thrust nozzle disposed at the end of the tail boom for selectively producing anti-torque thrust and forward thrust;
a duct system disposed within the tail boom for directing the air flow through the tail boom to the thrust nozzle;
adjustable spillage doors disposed near the aft end of the tail boom for selectively releasing excess airflow from within the duct system and for selectively controlling a temperature within the duct system; and
wherein the fan module is located in relation to the engine, such that the compressed air flow from the fan module is mixed with exhaust from the engine to cool the exhaust from the engine a plurality of control vanes disposed at the aft end of the tail boom for selectively controlling the anti-torque thrust and forward thrust, the control vanes being configured to pivot about a vertical axis as well as being pivotally connected to the control vanes located adjacently.
2. The rotorcraft according to claim 1 , wherein the thrust nozzle comprises:
a plurality of stationary vertical fins located aft of the control vanes.
3. The rotorcraft according to claim 2 , wherein the control vanes articulate between a left-thrust mode in which the control vanes are pivoted relative to the tail boom and to one another so as to direct the air flow from to the left of the tail boom, thereby producing left thrust; a right-thrust mode in which the control vanes are pivoted relative to the tail boom and to one another so as to direct the air flow to the right of the tail boom, thereby producing right thrust; and a forward thrust mode in which the control vanes are aligned longitudinally so as to direct the air flow out the aft end of the tail boom, thereby producing forward thrust.
4. The rotorcraft according to claim 2 , wherein the control vanes are configured to produce a reduced exit area, thereby increasing the thrust generated by the fan module.
5. The rotorcraft according to claim 1 , wherein the fan module has variable-pitch fan blades.
6. The rotorcraft according to claim 1 , wherein the fan module comprises:
inlet guide vanes;
a rotor disk; and
a stator.
7. The rotorcraft according to claim 6 , wherein the inlet guide vanes are configured to not rotate, the rotor disk is configured to rotate, and the stator is configured to not rotate.
8. The rotorcraft according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a freewheeling clutch disposed between the fan and the drive shaft to allow anti-torque thrust to be provided during autorotation if the engine is shut down in flight.
9. The rotorcraft according to claim 1 , wherein the thrust nozzle is a scoop shaped nozzle.
10. The rotorcraft according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a freewheeling clutch operably associated with the fan module to allow anti-torque thrust to be provided during autorotation if the engine is shut down in flight.
11. A rotorcraft having an engine for driving a rotor system comprising:
a plurality of wings disposed on the side of the rotorcraft to provide lift compounding; and
a pneumatic propulsive anti-torque system comprising:
a tail boom disposed at the aft end of the rotorcraft;
a fan module disposed in the tail boom and driven by the engine for producing a flow of compressed air through the tail boom;
adjustable spillage doors disposed near the aft end of the tail boom for selectively releasing excess airflow from within the tail boom and for selectively controlling a temperature within the duct system; and
a thrust nozzle disposed at the end of the tail boom for selectively producing anti-torque thrust and forward thrust, wherein the thrust nozzle comprises:
a plurality of articulating control vanes which pivot about an axis that is generally vertical relative to the tail boom and disposed at the aft end of the tail boom for selectively controlling the anti-torque thrust and forward thrust. wherein the control vanes articulate between a left-thrust mode in which the control vanes are pivoted relative to the tail boom and to one another so as to direct the air flow from to the left of the tail boom, thereby producing left thrust; a right-thrust mode in which the control vanes are pivoted relative to the tail boom and to one another so as to direct the air flow to the right of the tail boom, thereby producing right thrust; and a forward thrust mode in which the control vanes are aligned longitudinally so as to direct the air flow out the aft end of the tail boom, thereby producing forward thrust.
12. The rotorcraft according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a freewheeling clutch operably associated with the fan to allow anti-torque thrust to be provided during autorotation if the engine is shut down in flight.
13. The rotorcraft according to claim 11 , wherein the control vanes are configured to produce a reduced exit area, thereby increasing the thrust generated by the fan module.
14. A rotorcraft, comprising:
a tail boom disposed at the aft end of the rotorcraft;
an engine disposed in the tail boom for providing torque to a rotor system of the rotorcraft;
a fan module disposed in the tail boom and driven by the engine for producing a flow of compressed air through the tail boom;
a thrust nozzle disposed at the end of the tail boom for selectively producing anti-torque thrust and forward thrust; and
a plurality of sets of control vanes configured so that the control vanes within each set are located adjacently in a longitudinal direction, such that adjacent control vanes within each set are pivotally connected to each other;
wherein each control vane within a set of control vanes is configured to pivot on a generally vertical axis; and
wherein the fan module is located in relation to the engine, such that the compressed air flow from the fan module is mixed with exhaust from the engine to cool the exhaust from the engine.
15. The rotorcraft according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a freewheeling clutch operably associated with the fan module to allow anti-torque thrust to be provided during autorotation if the engine is shut down in flight.