초록 ▼

A system is disclosed for controlling the external flow passing along the external surface of an aircraft such as the tailboom of a helicopter. A fan blows air into a cavity within a surface, and the air exits the surface through one or more axially oriented slots. A ramp structure is positioned wit

A system is disclosed for controlling the external flow passing along the external surface of an aircraft such as the tailboom of a helicopter. A fan blows air into a cavity within a surface, and the air exits the surface through one or more axially oriented slots. A ramp structure is positioned within the cavity and upstream of each slot, and a set of fence structures are mounted in each slot and spaced from each other as well as from the ramp structure. The ramp and fence structures trip the airflow which then couples to the downstream side of the ramp and fence structures, thus eliminating the axial airflow component adjacent to the slot, and exits the slot in a direction normal to the axis. The airflow exits the slot in a direction tangential to the external surface and generally parallel with the external flow, resulting in deflection of the external flow and generating lift which is used to augment antitorque control in the helicopter implementation described.

대표청구항 ▼

A helicopter antitorque control system comprising: a fuselage tailboom having a forward end, an aft end, an axis, and an exterior surface enclosing a cavity; a main rotor mounted above said tailboom, and being adapted to rotate about an axis generally normal to said tailboom axis for creating a down

A helicopter antitorque control system comprising: a fuselage tailboom having a forward end, an aft end, an axis, and an exterior surface enclosing a cavity; a main rotor mounted above said tailboom, and being adapted to rotate about an axis generally normal to said tailboom axis for creating a downwash, the downwash from said rotating rotor flowing about said tailboom exterior surface; a fan located in a forward portion of said tailboom for producing an airflow through said tailboom cavity in a fore to aft direction; a slot located in said exterior surface and oriented generally along the tailboom axis, said slot being adapted to permit the airflow to exit from said cavity into the main rotor downwash flowing about said exterior surface; and a fence located in said slot, said fence including a substantially flat surface extending into the airflow and oriented such that the flat surface is generally perpendicular to the airflow for slowing the airflow travelling down the cavity adjacent to the slot and causing the airflow to exit the cavity through said slot in a direction generally normal to said tailboom axis.