초록 ▼

A rotor system according to this invention includes a structurally flexible rotor shaft for transmitting rotor torque and other rotor loads to a rotor hub. The rotor hub is adapted to have rotor blades mounted thereon and is mounted by an elastomeric spherical bearing whose center is located at the

A rotor system according to this invention includes a structurally flexible rotor shaft for transmitting rotor torque and other rotor loads to a rotor hub. The rotor hub is adapted to have rotor blades mounted thereon and is mounted by an elastomeric spherical bearing whose center is located at the rotor center. A flexible shaft made from fiber reinforced resin matrix material, connected to the rotor shaft at a connection located below the bearing center, extends vertically from that location through the bearing to a position located above the bearing center where it is connected to a connecting member fixed to the upper surface of the rotor hub. The flexible shaft is structurally stiff with respect to the mode in which it transmits rotor torque compared to the rotor torque stiffness of the other components. However, the bending stiffness and axial stiffness of the flexible shaft is substantially less compared to the mode in which rotor moments and forces are transmitted from the other components to the rotor shaft.

대표청구항 ▼

A rotor for supporting helicopter rotor blades that extend radially outward from the rotor comprising: a rotor shaft driveably connecting the rotor to a power source, mounted for rotation about a central longitudinal axis; a rotor hub surrounding the axis of the rotor shaft and adapted for attachmen

A rotor for supporting helicopter rotor blades that extend radially outward from the rotor comprising: a rotor shaft driveably connecting the rotor to a power source, mounted for rotation about a central longitudinal axis; a rotor hub surrounding the axis of the rotor shaft and adapted for attachment to the rotor blades; bearing means located between the rotor hub and the rotor shaft, defining a center about which the rotor hub is supported on the rotor shaft; and flexible shaft means coaxial with, connected to and forming an extension of the rotor shaft, said flexible shaft means also being connected to the rotor hub for flexibly connecting the rotor shaft to the rotor hub for pivotal movement about said center and for inflexibly connecting the rotor shaft to the rotor hub for torsional movement, wherein the load path by which rotor torque is transmitted between the rotor shaft and the rotor hub through the bearing means is flexible in relation to the load path by which rotor torque is transmitted between the rotor shaft and rotor hub through the flexible shaft means.