10. Propeller Systems - Sections 1-4 Flashcards
Design and construction
A propeller system comprises of 2 or more blades connected to what
CENTRAL HUB
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Design and construction
The central hub is enclosed inside of a fairing called what
SPINNER
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Design and construction
What are the 2 key purposes of a spinner
Other than encasing the central hub
- REDUCE DRAG
- ORDERLY AIRFLOW
Encourages orderly airflow around the hub
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Design and construction
What is the hub attached to in the engine
DRIVE SHAFT
Either directly or via a gearbox
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Design and construction
The hub is connected to the drive shaft by either of what 2 methods
- DIRECTLY
- GEARBOX
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Design and construction
On a simple piston engine, the propeller is connected directly to what
ENGINE DRIVE SHAFT
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Design and construction
what is the result of the propeller being directly connected to the engine drive shaft
ROTATES AT SAME SPEED
2000 - 3000 rpm
As a result of the propeller beign directly connected to the engine drive shaft, the propeller rotates at the same speed as the engine, usually between 2000 - 3000 rpm
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Design and construction
On more powerful engines, what component is introduced to translate large amounts of power through high RPM to large amounts of torque for a slow turning propeller
REDUCTION GEARBOX
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Design and construction
What is the purpose of a reduction gearbox
On more powerful engines;
Translates LARGE amounts of power to LARGE amounts fo torque for a SLOW turning propeller
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Design and construction
What is the name given to the component that swivels the baldes on their bearings in complex design aircraft
PITCH CONTROL UNIT
(PCU)
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Design and construction
What is the purpose of a pitch control unit
SWIVIL BLADES on their BEARINGS
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Design and construction
What 2 materials are typical blades on modern aircraft made from
- ALUMINIUM ALLOY
- COMPOSITES
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Variable pitch systems
What is the name of the aerodynamic force in-line with the drive shaft
THRUST
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Variable pitch systems
What must engine power (torque) overcome on a propeller system in order to produce thrust
TORQUE DRAG
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Variable pitch systems
On a fixed pitch propeller system, how is thrust increased
INCREASE RPM
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Variable pitch systems
What happens to the engine on any piston aero engine if acting outside of the narrow range of efficiency
LESS EFFICIENT
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Variable pitch systems
Which type of propeller system is most of the time operating outside of its optimum RPM
FIXED PITCH PROPELLER
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Variable pitch systems
Obtaining the optimum efficiency range means what 2 things relating to the blade have been achieved
MAX THRUST for LEAST DRAG
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Variable pitch systems
What is the purpose of a variable pitch propeller system
ACHIEVE OPTIMUM AoA
Adjust blade pitch to achieve optimum Angle of Attack
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Variable pitch systems
On a variable pitch propeller system how is thrust increased
INCREASING BLADE AoA
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Variable pitch systems
Torque drag is a result of an increase in what
INCREASE BLADE AoA
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Variable pitch systems
As a result of torque drag through an increase in thrust, to maintain propeller RPM at a constant speed, what must happen
INCREASE POWER
Increase in thrust needs an increase in power
Increase in power needed to overcome the torque drag and maintain the RPM at a constant speed
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Variable pitch systems
What is the primary component of a PCU that operates the pins or links to move the blades
PISTON
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Variable pitch systems
When the piston inside of a PCU moves, what devices connected to the piston and the blade subsequently change the blade angle
LINKS or PINS
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Variable pitch systems
Movement of the piston in a PCU converts what movement from the piston into what movement in the blade
LINEAR MOVEMENT
into
ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT
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Variable pitch systems
What are the 3 common methods of driving a Pitch Control Unit (PCU)
- ELECTRIC MOTOR
- OIL PRESSURE
- OIL and SPRING PRESSURE
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Variable pitch systems
What are the 2 basic types of a pitch control unit
- SINGLE acting
- DOUBLE acting
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Variable pitch systems
“Pressurised oil is fed to one side of a piston to drive a pitch angle towards coarse”
This describes what sort of PCU system
SINGLE ACTING
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Variable pitch systems
How does a single acting PCU unit work
PRESSURISED OIL is fed to
ONE SIDE of the piston
to drive the pitch angle TOWARDS COARSE
when OIL PRESSURE REDUCED, blade MOVE BACK TO FINE
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Variable pitch systems
What does CTM stand for
CENTRIFUGAL TWISTING MOMENT
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Variable pitch systems
What 2 things happen for the propellers to move back to fine in a single acting Pitch Control Unit (PCU)
- OIL PRESSURE REDUCED
- CENTRIFUGAL TWISTING MOMENT
As oil pressure is reduced, the CTM moves the propeller back to fine
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Variable pitch systems
In a single acting PCU, as RPM is reduced, what would CTM have a tendancy to do
REDUCE
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Variable pitch systems
What component is fitted to help a single acting PCU overcome the reduction in CTM with a reduction in RPM
SPRING
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Variable pitch systems
In a single acting PCU, if the engine develops a fault and power output drops, what is an associated risk to the PCU
DROP IN OIL PRESSURE
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What is the advantage of a fined off propeller blade after the loss of oil pressure on a light aircraft
REDUCED TORQUE DRAG
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