GB717365A - Controller for jet propelled helicopter rotors - Google Patents

Abstract

717,365. Rotary wing aircraft. COSTA, A. DA S. May 28, 1952 [May 29, 1951; Dec. 3, 1951; Dec. 27, 1951; March 26, 1952], No. 13605/52. Class 4 A jet propelled rotor for a helicopter comprises a central distributing chamber for supplying the propulsion gases to the propulsion nozzles through apertures in the walls of the chamber whereby certain of the apertures may be masked by a movable member within the chamber in order that the direction of the resultant thrust of the nozzles may be varied. The rotor head comprises a chamber 1 having a plurality of apertures 3 around its circumference connected by tubes 4 to propulsion nozzles. A part-cylindrical baffle member 9 is mounted for rotary and axial movement on a control shaft 10 and when, as shown in Fig. 4, it is raised clear of the apertures 3, the rotor, which is mounted on a vertical axis, will be propelled to create direct lift. When the baffle is lowered to mask selected apertures as in Figs. 1 and 2, the resultant reaction of the jet efflux will cause translational movement of the aircraft as in the direction of arrow A-B. In the embodiment of Fig. 8 the tubes 4 each pass through a rotor blade, the rotor being supported by bearings 32 on a shaft 29 which at its lower end is supported by a bearing 30 in a central fairway enclosing the control mechanism. The baffle 9 is mounted on a tube 10 surrounding the shaft 29. A pilot's control member, Figs. 14 and 15, capable of fore and aft rocking movement is connected by a chain 35 to a sprocket 34 and a handwheel 49 is connected by a chain 52 to a sprocket 36, the sprockets 34, 36 being connected respectively by a pinion and rack mechanism 39 and bevel gears 15 to the tube 10 for transmitting axial and rotational movement thereto. In other embodiments (not shown) the propelling nozzles do not form part of each blade but are mounted below the rotor and they may be in single or double contra-rotating vertically spaced rings and may drive a single or double contra-rotating rotors through reduction gearing. Instead of the arrangement described the chamber may be divided into four compartments by vertical walls arranged normal to one another and the baffle member may be formed as one or more sectors in sliding contact with the lower surface of the chamber wherein apertures are formed. (Figs. 41-45, (not shown)). The rotor blades may be connected at their tips by a hollow ring formed around its outer edge with angularly adjusted vanes whereby the tangential direction of the jet may be varied. In one embodiment the jet nozzle comprises two branches, one radial and the other substantially normal to the axis of the blade.