Claims
- 1. A helicopter, comprising:
- a rotor;
- an engine;
- rotor drive means including an overrunning clutch for connecting said rotor to said engine whenever the speed of said rotor does not exceed the speed of said engine; and
- engine control means for providing an engine speed signal indicative of the rotary speed of said engine, for providing a fuel command signal indicative of fuel flow required for desired engine operation, and for metering fuel flow to said engine in response to said fuel command signal;
- characterized by:
- rotor speed means for providing a rotor speed signal indicative of the rotary speed of said rotor; and
- said engine control means comprising means for providing, in response to said rotor speed signal, a rotor deceleration signal indicative of the deceleration of said rotor in excess of a predetermined threshold deceleration, for providing an autorotation signal indicative of said rotor being declutched from said engine, and for providing said fuel command signal with a fuel increase-indicating component in response to said rotor deceleration signal.
- 2. A helicopter according to claim 1, characterized by said engine control means comprising means responsive to said engine speed signal and to said rotor speed signal for providing said autorotation signal in response to said rotor speed signal indicating that the speed of said rotor exceeds the engine speed indicated by said engine speed signal.
- 3. A helicopter, comprising:
- a rotor;
- an engine;
- rotor drive means including an overrunning clutch for connecting said rotor to said engine whenever the speed of said rotor does not exceed the speed of said engine; and
- engine control means for providing an engine speed signal indicative of the rotary speed of said engine, for providing a fuel command signal indicative of fuel flow required for desired engine operation, and for metering fuel flow to said engine in response to said fuel command signal;
- characterized by:
- rotor speed means for providing a rotor speed signal indicative of the rotary speed of said rotor; and
- said engine control means comprising means for providing, in response to said rotor speed signal, a rotor deceleration signal indicative of the deceleration of said rotor in excess of a predetermined threshold deceleration, for providing an autorotation signal indicative of said rotor being declutched from said engine, and for providing said fuel command signal with a fuel increase-indicating component in response to said rotor deceleration signal in the presence of said autorotation signal and continuing thereafter until the rotor deceleration signal is nearly zero.
Government Interests
The Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DAAK51-80-C-0038 awarded by the Department of the Army.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
2961052 |
Smith et al. |
Nov 1960 |
|
2991618 |
Marscher et al. |
Jul 1961 |
|
4244244 |
Rembold et al. |
Jan 1981 |
|