초록 ▼

A Variable Diameter Rotor (VDR) system (4) having telescoping odd and even blade assemblies (Ob, Eb) wherein the odd blade assemblies define a radial length RO and the even blade assemblies define a radial length RE. Each blade assembly (Ob, Eb) defines an internal chamber (64) for accepting a posit

A Variable Diameter Rotor (VDR) system (4) having telescoping odd and even blade assemblies (Ob, Eb) wherein the odd blade assemblies define a radial length RO and the even blade assemblies define a radial length RE. Each blade assembly (Ob, Eb) defines an internal chamber (64) for accepting a positioning mechanism (70) operative to effect telescopic translation of the blade assemblies (Ob, Eb) such that the radial length RE of the even blade assemblies (Eb) is equal to the radial length RO of the odd blade assemblies (Ob) in a first operating mode, and such that the radial length RE is between about 70% to about 95% of the length RO in a second operating mode. The positioning mechanism (70) includes a centrifugal restraint assembly (80) disposed within each internal chamber (64), a stop surface (64s) formed internally of each internal chamber (64), and an actuation mechanism (90) operative for transpositioning the centrifugal restraint assemblies (80) within the internal chambers (64) such that, in one operating mode, the centrifugal restraint assemblies (80)are disposed in abutting engagement with the stop surfaces (64s) and, in another operating mode, the actuation mechanism (90) is disposed in abutting engagement with the centrifugal restraint assemblies (80) of at least one of the blade assemblies (Ob, Eb). The actuation mechanism includes a reeling assembly (110) having a cylindrical drum (112) disposed internally of the rotor assembly (8), end fixities (114) disposed internally of the chambers (64) and operative for engaging and disengaging the centrifugal restraint assembly (80), straps (116) for mechanically coupling the end fixities (114) to the cylindrical drum (112), and a drive mechanism (120) for effecting rotation of the cylindrical drum (112).

대표청구항 ▼

A Variable Diameter Rotor system (4) for rotorcraft and operative to reduce Blade-Vortex Interaction (BVI) noise, said rotorcraft operating in first and second operating modes, comprising: a rotor hub assembly (6) defining an axis of rotation (8) about which said rotor hub assembly (6) rotates; odd

A Variable Diameter Rotor system (4) for rotorcraft and operative to reduce Blade-Vortex Interaction (BVI) noise, said rotorcraft operating in first and second operating modes, comprising: a rotor hub assembly (6) defining an axis of rotation (8) about which said rotor hub assembly (6) rotates; odd and even blade assemblies (Ob, Eb) mounting to and rotating with said rotor hub assembly (6), each of said rotor blade assemblies (Ob, Eb) having inboard and outboard blade sections (10, 12) defining an internal chamber (64), said outboard blade section (12) telescopically mounted to said inboard blade section (10) and being biased outwardly of said rotational axis (8) by centrifugal forces Cf acting thereupon; said odd and even rotor blade assemblies (Ob, Eb) each defining a radial length RO and RE, respectively; means (70) for positioning said outboard blade sections (12) with respect to said inboard blade sections (10) such that, in the first operating mode, said radial length RE of said even blade assemblies (Eb) is equal to said radial length RO of said odd blade assemblies (Ob), and, in the second operating mode, said radial length RE is between about 70% to about 95% of said radial length RO, said positioning means (70) including: a centrifugal restraint assembly (80) disposed in each said internal chamber (64) and disposed in combination with said outboard blade section (12), said centrifugal restraint assembly (80) being biased outwardly of said rotational axis (8) by said centrifugal forces Cf acting on said outboard blade section (12); a stop surface (64s) formed internally of each said internal chamber (64); actuation means (90), in combination with said centrifugal forces Cf, operative for transpositioning said centrifugal restraint assemblies (80) within said internal chambers (64) such that, in the first operating mode, said centrifugal restraint assemblies (80) of said even blade assemblies (Eb) are disposed in abutting engagement with said stop surfaces (64sE) thereof and said centrifugal restraint assemblies (80) of said odd blade assemblies (Ob) are disposed in abutting engagement with said actuation means (90) and, in the second mode, said centrifugal restraint assemblies (80) are disposed in abutting engagement with said stop surfaces (64s), said actuation means further including: a reeling assembly (110) including: a cylindrical drum (112) disposed internally of said rotor hub assembly (6) and operative for rotation about said rotor hub assembly axis (8); end fixities (114) disposed internally of said chambers (64) and operative for engaging and disengaging said centrifugal restraint assembly (80); strap means (116) for mechanically coupling said end fixities (114) to said cylindrical drum (112), said strap means (116) being disposed in winding combination therewith; and drive means (120) for effecting rotation of said cylindrical drum (112) thereby effecting linear translation of said end fixities (114) within said internal chambers (64), said drive means (120) further including: an input drive shaft (122); and a planetary gear system (140) including: a driving sun gear (142) coaxially aligned with said rotor hub assembly (6), said driving sun gear (142) being affixed to and driven by said input drive shaft (122); a ring gear (144) affixed to and supported by said rotor hub assembly (6); a plurality of planetary pinions (146) disposed between and interacting with said sun and ring gears (142, 144), such that said planetary pinions translate about said rotational axis (8), in response to rotation of said sun gear; and carrier posts (148) disposed in combination with said planetary pinions (146) and said cylindrical drum (112) for driving said cylindrical drum about said rotational axis (8).