Power and Data Transfer for Advanced Rotor Systems

摘要

Currently, there are only two Army aircraft that utilize slip rings to transfer power from the non-rotating frame (fuselage) to the rotating frame (rotor), the AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk. Both aircraft use slip rings as a means of providing power to the blade de-icing system. However, these slip ring units are plagued by reliability issues and are often removed from the aircraft, rendering the de-icing system inoperable. Furthermore, currently fielded slip ring units do not have sufficient capability to provide the power and data required for future advanced rotor systems. In support of a Technology Investment Agreement with the US Army, the Boeing Company, and three subcontractors developed two state-of-the-art power and data transfer units that interface with a helicopter and are built with sufficient accuracy, quality and reliability to support the next generation of on-rotor controls and sensors that are being developed. Defense Holdings Inc. (DHi), developed a metal fiber brush (MFB) slip ring for power and data transfer. Diamond-Roltran, fabricated a roll-ring for power transfer and Accumetrics, developed a capacitive coupler for non-contacting data transfer. The results show that the MFB slip ring and capacitive coupler represent significant improvements in transfer unit endurance and capability. The roll ring requires further development for transfer of high power levels using couplers instead of flexures. This research was partially funded by the Government under Agreement No. W911W6-08-2-0007. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Government purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon.