BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are directed to rotor systems and more particularly to slip ring assemblies for transmitting power and data together in a rotorcraft.

An aircraft can include a component that changes position or is otherwise in motion relative to another component of the aircraft. Take, for example, a helicopter that includes a rotor assembly having rotor blades attached thereto. The rotor assembly is connected to a rotor mast that rotates about an axis and is driven by an engine. When the engine rotates the rotor mast, the rotor assembly rotates with respect to an airframe of the helicopter to cause the helicopter to fly and maneuver.

Rotorcraft commonly employ rotor systems to generate lift and provide control for the aircraft during flight. Some rotor systems employ rotor assemblies with electrical devices fixed to rotary portions of the rotor assembly, such as to the rotor assembly hub and/or rotor blades. Examples of such electrical devices include sensors, heater mats for ice protection systems, and actuators for active vibration control systems. Such devices generally communicate with electrical components in the rotorcraft airframe, typically using electrical signals or electrical power conveyed across an interface between a stationary component and a rotating component. Slip ring assemblies, for example, communicate electrical signals or power across such interfaces using a brush and metal plate arrangement. As one rotates relative to the other, electrical current crosses the interface by flowing between the brush and metal plate.

In some cases, it may be desirable to send and/or receive power and data between components on the aircraft that are moving with respect to each other. For example, lights (e.g., a navigation light) and sensors (e.g., a vibration sensor) can be attached to an end of a rotor blade on a rotor assembly. It is therefore desirable to send power to the light to cause the light to illuminate and to receive data from the sensor to receive sensor readings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a rotorcraft comprises: an airframe, the airframe comprising a power source and a first data transceiver, a rotor assembly rotatable about an axis with respect to the airframe, the rotor assembly comprising an electronic device and a second data transceiver; and a slip ring assembly comprising a stationary element coupled to the airframe and a rotatable element rotatable relative to the stationary element and coupled to the rotor assembly, the slip ring assembly being configured to complete an electrical circuit between the power source and the electronic device to provide power from the power source to the electronic device, wherein the first data transceiver is configured to encode data and transmit the encoded data to the second data transceiver via the electrical circuit completed by the slip ring assembly, and wherein the second data transceiver is configured to receive the encoded data via the electrical circuit completed by the slip ring assembly and decode the data.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the second data transceiver is configured to encode second data and transmit the second encoded data to the first data transceiver via the electrical circuit completed by the slip ring assembly, and wherein the first data transceiver is configured to receive the second encoded data via the electrical circuit completed by the slip ring assembly and decode the second encoded data.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the stationary element comprises a plurality of brushes, the plurality of brushes being in electrical contact with the rotatable element to complete the electrical circuit

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of brushes comprise composite carbon fiber and silver brushes.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of brushes generate noise in the electrical circuit, and wherein the first data transceiver and the second data transceiver are configured to filter the noise generated by the plurality of brushes.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the noise generated by the plurality of brushes is less than an amount of noise that can be filtered by the first data transceiver and the second data transceiver.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the rotatable element comprises a plurality of brushes, the plurality of brushes being in electrical contact with the stationary element to complete the electrical circuit.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of brushes comprise composite carbon fiber and silver brushes.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of brushes generate noise in the electrical circuit, wherein the first data transceiver and the second data transceiver are configured to filter the noise generated by the plurality of brushes, and wherein the noise generated by the plurality of brushes is less than an amount of noise that can be filtered by the first data transceiver and the second data transceiver.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a method comprises providing a slip ring assembly comprising a stationary element coupled to an airframe of a rotorcraft and a rotatable element rotatable relative to the stationary element and coupled to a rotor assembly of the rotorcraft, the rotor assembly rotatable about an axis with respect to the airframe; transmitting power from a power source associated with the airframe to an electronic device associated with the rotor assembly, the slip ring assembly being configured to complete an electrical circuit between the power source and the electronic device to provide power from the power source to the electronic device; and transmitting data from a first data transceiver associated with the airframe to a second data transceiver associated with the rotor assembly, wherein the first data transceiver is configured to encode data and transmit the encoded data to the second data transceiver via the electrical circuit completed by the slip ring assembly, and wherein the second data transceiver is configured to receive the encoded data via the electrical circuit completed by the slip ring assembly and decode the data.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the stationary element comprises a plurality of brushes, the plurality of brushes being in electrical contact with the rotatable element to complete the electrical circuit.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of brushes comprise composite carbon fiber and silver brushes.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of brushes generate noise in the electrical circuit, and wherein the first data transceiver and the second data transceiver are configured to filter the noise generated by the plurality of brushes.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the noise generated by the plurality of brushes is less than an amount of noise that can be filtered by the first data transceiver and the second data transceiver.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the rotatable element comprises a plurality of brushes, the plurality of brushes being in electrical contact with the stationary element to complete the electrical circuit over which both power and data are serviced, wherein the plurality of brushes comprise composite carbon fiber and silver brushes, wherein the plurality of brushes generate noise in the electrical circuit, wherein the first data transceiver and the second data transceiver are configured to filter the noise generated by the plurality of brushes, and wherein the noise generated by the plurality of brushes is less than an amount of noise that can be filtered by the first data transceiver and the second data transceiver.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

