ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED ROTOR DRIVE FOR SLOWED ROTOR WINGED AIRCRAFT
摘要
<p>A rotor aircraft has an engine, a propeller, wings, and a rotor. An electric motor is coupled to the rotor drive shaft for applying torque to the rotor drive shaft. The electric motor is sized to supply all of the torque to pre-rotate the rotor to a selected speed prior to liftoff of the aircraft. The wings are capable of providing substantially all of the lift required during forward flight at a cruise speed. The rotor being is capable of being trimmed to provide substantially zero lift and auto-rotate at cruise speed. Sensors sense flight conditions of the aircraft and provide signals to a controller that selectively causes the electric motor to cease applying torque to the rotor drive shaft during autorotation at cruise speed. The controller also causes the electric motor to apply torque to the rotor drive shaft if the sensors indicate additional rotor speed is needed.</p>
