US 11,718,392 B2
Helicopter tail rotor drive system on demand speed control
Yann Lavallee, Joliette (CA); and Scott D. Poster, Arlington, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/357,361.
Prior Publication US 2022/0411050 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 27/56 (2006.01); B64C 27/82 (2006.01); B64C 13/04 (2006.01); B64C 27/12 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 27/56 (2013.01) [B64C 13/044 (2018.01); B64C 27/12 (2013.01); B64C 27/82 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A helicopter, comprising:
a tail rotor configured to spin two or more tail rotor blades;
a main rotor configured to spin two or more main rotor blades;
left and right pedals configured to be manipulated by a pilot;
a pedal position sensor configured to detect a pedal position of the left and right pedals; and
a controller coupled to the pedal position sensor and operable to adjust a speed of the tail rotor, wherein if the pedal position is greater than a first number, then the controller maintains the speed at a normal operating speed, and if the pedal position is less than the first number then the control increases the speed above the normal operating speed until the pedal position is greater than a second number.