Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080267778 | Torque Coupling for Rotary-Wing Aircraft - A torque coupling ( | 10-30-2008 |
20090184209 | Constant-Velocity Drive System for Gimbaled Rotor Hubs - A constant-velocity drive system for a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed. A rotary-wing aircraft having a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed. | 07-23-2009 |
20100009764 | Rotary-Wing Aircraft Torque Coupling with Pad Bearings - A torque coupling for a rotor head of a rotary-wing aircraft is configured for rotation with a mast and for causing rotation of an attached yoke. The coupling has trunnions that rotate with the mast and extend generally radially. Pad-bearing assemblies each have a central member coupled to one of the trunnions with a laminated spherical bearing and have laminated pad bearings affixed to opposing sides of the central member. The laminated bearings have alternating rigid and elastomeric layers. A bearing mount is affixed to each pad bearing and is connected to a yoke for rotating the yoke with the mast. The pad-bearing assemblies allow for relative motion between each central member and the associated trunnion and between each central member and the bearing mounts through elastic shear deformation, and this allows for gimballing of the attached yoke relative to the mast. | 01-14-2010 |
20100230529 | CF BEARING WITH STEADY PITCHING MOMENT - A centrifugal force bearing having a means for providing a steady pitching moment is disclosed. The centrifugal force bearing may optionally comprise a coning means. A rotor system having the centrifugal force bearing is disclosed. A rotary-wing aircraft having the centrifugal force bearing is disclosed. | 09-16-2010 |
20130156580 | Constant-Velocity Drive System for Gimbaled Rotor Hubs - A constant-velocity drive system for a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed. A rotary-wing aircraft having a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed. | 06-20-2013 |
20130164129 | Hub Assembly with Grease Lubricated Roller Bearing and Tension-Torsion Strap - A rotary system and method to control feathering and centrifugal forces of a rotor blade during flight. The rotary system having a hub assembly, which includes a hollow yoke arm to receive a spindle section of the rotor blade. A tension-torsion strap extends through the hollow yoke arm and couples the rotor blade and the hub assembly. The method includes allowing the spindle section of the rotor blade to pivot within the hollow yoke arm and controlling rotational and centrifugal movement of the rotor blade with the tension-torsion strap. | 06-27-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140271223 | Spinner Fairing Assembly - An apparatus comprising a spinner fairing assembly comprising a spinner configured to be fixed relative to a gimbaled yoke coupled to a mast system, and a spinner base configured to be fixed relative to the mast system. A spinner fairing assembly comprising a spinner aligned along a first axis, and a spinner base aligned along a second axis and configured to interface with the spinner, wherein the spinner is configured to transition between a neutral position and a canted position with respect to the spinner base, wherein the first axis and the second axis are coincident in the neutral position, and wherein the first axis and the second axis are not coincident and meet at an origin within the spinner in the canted position. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274427 | Multilink Constant Velocity Joint - An apparatus comprising a rotor hub system comprising a floating plate, a plurality of drive link trunnions each comprising a pivoting arm and positioned radially about the floating plate, wherein each drive link trunnion is coupled to the floating plate via the pivoting arm, and a housing disposed about the floating plate, coupled to each of the drive link trunnions, and configured to couple to a mast. Included is an apparatus comprising a floating plate, a plurality of drive link trunnions each comprising a pivoting arm and positioned radially about the floating plate, wherein each drive link trunnion is coupled to the floating plate via the pivoting arm, and wherein the drive link trunnions are configured to move the floating plate in response to a force applied to the drive link trunnions, and a housing disposed about the floating plate and coupled to each of the drive link trunnions. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080292468 | Stiff-in-Plane Gimbaled Tiltrotor Hub - A rotor-hub for a rotary-wing aircraft is disclosed. The rotor-hub comprises a yoke comprising a plurality of yoke arms and a plurality of yoke straps, wherein the yoke arms are joined together by the yoke straps, and wherein a plurality of inner walls of the yoke define a central void space. A pitch horn is movably connected to the yoke and a portion of the pitch horn is located within the central void space. A connecting shell is fixedly attached to the yoke. | 11-27-2008 |
20090179107 | Yoke with Notched Arm Roots - A yoke for a rotary wing aircraft rotor system has a plurality of arms, each arm having a root. Each root has a notched portion configured to allow passage of a portion of a blade-pitch control system through the notched portion. | 07-16-2009 |
20090325718 | Constant Velocity Joint for Tiltrotor Hubs - A constant-velocity joint is configured for use with a rotary-wing aircraft having at least one engine. A driver is coupled to an output shaft of the engine, the driver being rotatable about an axis. A yoke is at least partially rotatable relative to the driver about a first center of rotation, the center of rotation being located on the axis. A plurality of upright links couple the yoke to the driver, each link being translatable relative to the yoke, the driver, or both. Each link is also rotatable relative to the yoke, the driver, or both, about a second center of rotation. | 12-31-2009 |
20100209242 | Rotor Hub Vibration Attenuator - A vibration attenuator for an aircraft has at least one weight mounted in a rotating system of a rotor hub of the aircraft, each weight being rotatable about an axis of rotation of the hub relative to the hub and to each other weight. Drive means are provided for rotating each weight about the axis of rotation at a selected speed for creating oscillatory shear forces that oppose and attenuate rotor-induced vibrations having a selected frequency. | 08-19-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110274548 | Stiff-in-Plane Rotor Configuration - A rotor assembly for a rotary-wing aircraft, the rotor having a central hub assembly with a flexure-type, twist-shank yoke with multiple arms, each arm being adapted for a rotor blade to be mounted thereto. The arms provide for pitch changes of blades attached to the yoke through twisting of portions of the arms about a corresponding pitch axis. An inboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the hub assembly and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis, the inboard pitch bearing also allowing for out-of-plane motion of the arm relative to the hub assembly about a flapping axis. An outboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the associated arm a selected distance from the inboard pitch bearing and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis. | 11-10-2011 |
20110274550 | Yoke and Bearing Fitting Assembly for Rotors - A yoke and bearing fitting assembly for a multi-blade aircraft rotor is disclosed. The assembly has a yoke having arms extending generally radially from a central portion of the yoke, the arms each having opposing surfaces. An aperture is formed in each arm and extends between the surfaces. A bearing fitting has a body configured for insertion into the aperture of the yoke and has two rims protruding from a periphery of the body, the body also having a bearing mount adapted for mounting a pitch change bearing assembly to the yoke. Each rim abuts one of the surfaces of the associated yoke arm when the bearing fitting is installed within the aperture, so as to create clamping forces between the rims and the arm and the arm. The bearing fitting transmits forces from the pitch bearing assembly into the yoke. | 11-10-2011 |
20110280727 | Improved Rotor-Blade Control System and Method - A blade-pitch control system has a swashplate configured for continuous rotation with an associated rotor and mast, and at least one link connects the swashplate to each blade of the rotor. The swashplate provides for collective control of the pitch angle of the blades through selective rotation of the swashplate about a swashplate axis while the swashplate is rotating with the rotor and mast. The system can be configured to provide for cyclic control of the pitch angle of the blades through planar translation of the swashplate or through tilting of the swashplate about axes generally perpendicular to the swashplate axis. | 11-17-2011 |
20130149151 | Multiple-Yoke Main Rotor Assembly - The present application includes a main rotor assembly for an aircraft. The rotor assembly has a main rotor mast configured for rotation about a mast axis and two yokes pivotally connected to the mast for rotation therewith about the mast axis. Each yoke is independently pivotable relative to the mast about at least one flap axis that is generally perpendicular to the mast axis. In at least one embodiment, a torque splitter connects the yokes and allows for limited rotation of the yokes relative to each other about the mast axis. Each yoke is configured for the attachment of rotor blades extending generally radially relative to the mast axis. | 06-13-2013 |
20130287576 | Aircraft Rotor with Discrete Flap Hinge - An aircraft rotor assembly has upper and lower hub plates adapted to be mounted to a central rotor mast for rotation therewith. A plurality of radial arms is connected to at least two flap bearings mounted between the hub plates and forming a discrete flap hinge, each flap hinge defining a flap axis and allowing rotation of the associated arm relative to the hub plates and about the corresponding flap axis. Each of a plurality of blade grips is rotatably connected to one of the arms for rotation about a pitch axis and adapted for mounting of a blade to each blade grip, such that each blade is capable of rotation with the grip about the pitch axis and capable of rotation together with the corresponding arm relative to the hub plates and about the corresponding flap axis. | 10-31-2013 |
20140133980 | Blade-Pitch Control System with Indexing Swashplate - The present application includes a blade-pitch control system with an indexing swashplate. A swashplate assembly has a non-rotating portion and a rotating portion and an indexing portion of the mast. The swashplate assembly is translatably affixed to the indexing portion. A pitch link connects the rotating portion of the swashplate assembly to each blade. Translation of the swashplate assembly along the indexing portion causes a change in pitch of the blades and a corresponding indexing of the rotating portion of the swashplate assembly relative to the mast, the indexing causing a change in an angular orientation of each pitch link, thus providing for selected pitch-flap coupling between flapping motion of the yoke and pitch motion of the blades. | 05-15-2014 |
20140322010 | CONSTANT-VELOCITY JOINT LINK WITH REDUCED AXIAL STIFFNESS - The present application provides a drive link for a constant-velocity joint of an aircraft rotor, the link connecting a drive hub attached to a driveshaft to a rotor yoke. The link comprises a leading bearing connected to the drive hub, a trailing bearing connected to the yoke, a central portion between the bearings, and a tension loop connecting the bearings. The tension loop is formed from a composite material and is formed as a continuous band. The tension loop transfers drive forces from the leading bearing to the trailing bearing for driving the yoke in rotation with the driveshaft. | 10-30-2014 |