Abstract:
A variable stiffness liquid inertia vibration isolation device includes a liquid inertia vibration elimination isolator and a variable stiffness spring operably associated with the liquid inertia vibration elimination isolator for varying the stiffness of the liquid inertia vibration isolator. The variable stiffness spring may include an elastomeric pad exhibiting a first stiffness along a first axis and a second stiffness, significantly greater than the first stiffness, along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
Abstract:
A pitch control system for blades on a rotor of an aircraft has a gimballing rotor hub (31) and a plurality of step-over arms (61) connected to the hub and capable of pivoting relative to the hub about a pivot axis. Each of a plurality of pitch links (55) connects one of the step-over arms (61) to a flight control system for pivoting the connected step-over arm (61) about the pivot axis and relative to the hub in response to inputs from the control system. Each of a plurality of step-over links (69) connects one of the step-over arms (61) to one of the blades for rotating the associated blade about the pitch axis in response to pivoting of the associated step-over arm.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a rotor hub comprises a yoke (202) for attaching a plurality of rotor blades, a constant velocity joint (206) to drive torque from a mast (201) to the yoke (202) and to enable the yoke (202) to pivot, and a rotor control system configured to adjust an orientation of the plurality of rotor blades. Moreover, the rotor control system comprises: a swashplate (210), a phase adapter fulcrum (212), a plurality of actuators (221a-c) controlled based on a flight control input, a plurality of lower pitch links (222) configured to transfer motion between the plurality of actuators (221a-c) and the swashplate (210), a plurality of phase adjustment levers (213) configured to adjust a control phase associated with motion transferred between the plurality of actuators (221a-c) and the plurality of lower pitch links (222), and a plurality of upper pitch links (224) configured to adjust a pitch of the plurality of rotor blades, wherein there are more upper pitch links (224) than lower pitch links (222).
Abstract:
An aircraft rotor assembly (15) has a central yoke (21) and a plurality of rotor blades (17) coupled to the yoke (21) for rotation with the yoke (21) about an axis, each blade (17) having a Lock number of approximately 5 or greater. A lead-lag pivot for each blade (17) is a radial distance from the axis and allows for in-plane lead-lag motion of the associated blade (17) relative to the yoke (21), each pivot allowing for in-plane motion from a neutral position of at least 1 degree in each of the lead and lag directions. Lead and lag motion of each blade (17) is opposed by a biasing force that biases the associated blade (17) toward the neutral position, and the biasing force is selected to achieve a first in-plane frequency of greater than 1/rev for each blade (17).