VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLER APPARATUS AND VARIABLE THRUST AIRCRAFT USING SMAE

• Main Author: Zachary, Kyriacos
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 20.10.2021
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; BLASTING; COSMONAUTICS; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; HEATING; HELICOPTERS; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; RELATED EQUIPMENT; SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; STEAM ENGINES; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A variable pitch propeller apparatus enables a propeller to have different pitch angles in one revolution about the drive shaft. The propellers are coupled to a race that is flexible and actuated into different offset distances by a race-deflector. A race-linkage may extend between the race and the propeller or drive shaft coupler to rotate the propeller to a pitch angle as determined by the offset distance to the race. A race-linkage may incorporate one or more wheels that engages with the race and rolls along the race and about the drive shaft. An aircraft utilizing one or more of the variable pitch propeller apparatus may be able to produce downward thrust for vertical take-off and landing and transition to forward flight. The pitch of the propellers may be changed from take-off to flight to provide the required propulsion for the aircraft.