Patent ID: 9004394
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: B64C,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A rotorcraft comprising: an airframe; a rotor mounted to the airframe, the rotor including a plurality of blades each defining a blade duct and a plurality of vents along a longitudinal extent thereof; a plurality of valves positioned to control airflow from the blade duct through the plurality of vents; a compressed air source in fluid communication with the blade ducts; and a control unit operably coupled to the plurality of valves and programmed to adjust the valves to control a velocity of air exiting the valves effective to achieve a first longitudinally varying flow velocity magnitude profile of airflows exiting the valves of the plurality of valves along each blade in a first operational mode and adjust the valves effective to achieve a second longitudinally varying flow velocity magnitude profile of air flows exiting the valves of the plurality of valves along each blade in a second operational mode, the control module further programmed to adjust the valves to achieve one of the first and second longitudinally varying flow velocity magnitude profiles responsive to a pilot input.