초록 ▼

An active control device for reducing blade-vortex interactions (BVI) noise generated by a rotorcraft, such as a helicopter, comprises a segmented trailing edge flap located near the tip of each of the rotorcraft's rotor blades. The various flap segments may be independently actuated according to fl

An active control device for reducing blade-vortex interactions (BVI) noise generated by a rotorcraft, such as a helicopter, comprises a segmented trailing edge flap located near the tip of each of the rotorcraft's rotor blades. The various flap segments may be independently actuated according to flap deflections schedules which are tailored to address a particular operating regime with maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Through the careful azimuth-dependent independent actuation of the flap segments, blade tip vortices which are the primary source for BVI noise are (a) made weaker and (b) pushed farther away from the rotor disk (that is, larger blade-vortex separation distances are achieved), resulting in lower BVI noise.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An active control device for reducing undesirable effects generated by a rotorcraft having a rotor blade including a tip end, a root end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, said rotor blade being attached at said root end to a rotor hub on said rotorcraft and extending radially outwardly theref

1. An active control device for reducing undesirable effects generated by a rotorcraft having a rotor blade including a tip end, a root end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, said rotor blade being attached at said root end to a rotor hub on said rotorcraft and extending radially outwardly therefrom, having a radius R and a chord C, such that when said rotor hub is rotatably driven, said rotor blade rotates about said hub through a 360 degree azimuth, said active control device comprising:a movable flap comprised of a plurality of segments which are each pivotally attached to said rotor blade trailing edge so that they each may be selectively independently deflected in both positive and negative directions; wherein a radially outer one of said flap segments has a smaller chord length than a radially inner one of said flap segments.