Textron Inc.
Segmented duct for tilting proprotors

Abstract:

A tiltrotor assembly has a central hub with a plurality of rotor blades extending therefrom and is configured to rotate about a mast axis to generate lift in a hover position. The central hub is configured to rotate about a tilt axis between the hover position and a forward-flight position such that rotation about the mast axis generates forward thrust. The central hub is surrounded by a segmented duct that includes a thin rotatable inner ring and a wide fixed outer ring. The inner ring is configured to rotate with the central hub about the tilt axis leaving the wide outer ring in a generally horizontal position.