Patent ID: 7748958
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: B64C,F03D,F05B,F05D,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An airborne mobile platform comprising: a plurality of rotating rotor blades operating in an airflow that forms a boundary layer on each of the rotor blades, at least one of said rotor blades including: a section that encounters the airflow, where the airflow includes an unsteady subsonic airflow having at least a varying angle of attack; one or more vortex generators on said at least one of the rotor blades that generate a vortex that interacts with the boundary layer to at least delay an onset of separation of the boundary layer, to increase a value of an unsteady maximum lift coefficient and to reduce a value of an unsteady pitching moment coefficient for said section; wherein said one of the vortex generators includes a vane that extends outwardly from a surface of said section; and said vane is adjustable about an axis generally perpendicular to a surface of its associated said rotor blade, to move in a yaw direction relative to the airflow.