초록 ▼

This invention relates to helicopter rotors in which the rotor blades are supported by flexure members and resilient means to permit flap and lead/lag movements. Hitherto such support means have been subjected to centrifugal forces thus complicating their design and requiring compromises such that o

This invention relates to helicopter rotors in which the rotor blades are supported by flexure members and resilient means to permit flap and lead/lag movements. Hitherto such support means have been subjected to centrifugal forces thus complicating their design and requiring compromises such that optimum properties in flap and lead/lag planes have been unattainable. In this invention, each blade is attached by an individual spindle 19 supported in an elastomeric bearing 21 secured in a hollow rotor hub 12. Arms 26, flexible in a flapping plane, extend from the rotor hub 12 and a bearing 46 at the outer end of each spindle is attached to its associated arms through resilient means 30 to permit lead/lag movement of the spindle 19 relative the arms 26. In operation, centrifugal loads are transmitted to the hub 12 so that the arms 26 and resilient means 30 can be designed to provide optimum properties in the flap and lead/lag planes. Furthermore, bending of the spindles 19 due to such blade movements significantly reduces corresponding deflections of the elastomeric bearing 21.

대표청구항 ▼

A helicopter rotor including a rotor hub arranged for rotation about an axis and a plurality of rotor blades extending radially of that axis, each blade being attached to the outer end of an individual spindle having its inner end so supported in a spindle-support bearing attached to structure of th

A helicopter rotor including a rotor hub arranged for rotation about an axis and a plurality of rotor blades extending radially of that axis, each blade being attached to the outer end of an individual spindle having its inner end so supported in a spindle-support bearing attached to structure of the rotor hub as to permit rotational movement of the spindle about its axis to change the pitch of its associated blade and to transmit centrifugal forces to the hub structure, means for rotating said spindle about its axis, a generally flat arm assembly associated with each said spindle, each arm assembly being flexible in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation and extending outwardly from said rotor hub to outer end parts spaced-apart from each side of said associated spindle in the plane of rotation of said spindle, and bearing means adjacent the outer end of each spindle and supported by both of said spaced-apart outer end parts of said arm assembly through resilient means arranged to permit movement of the spindle and its associated rotor blade relative the arm assembly in the plane of rotation of the spindle.