초록 ▼

A torque tube/spar assembly (100) for transferring operational loads of a Variable Diameter Rotor blade assembly (16) to a rotor hub assembly (18) and includes a torque tube member (24), a spar member (30) and a bearing assembly (40a, 40b) for telescopically mounting the spar member (30) to the torq

A torque tube/spar assembly (100) for transferring operational loads of a Variable Diameter Rotor blade assembly (16) to a rotor hub assembly (18) and includes a torque tube member (24), a spar member (30) and a bearing assembly (40a, 40b) for telescopically mounting the spar member (30) to the torque tube member (24) and furthermore defines an internal channel (62) for housing a retraction/extension mechanism (64) which mounts to an internally formed restraint surface (86) of the spar member (30) and is operative to vary the length of the rotor blade assembly (18). The torque tube member (30) has a substantially constant external geometry along the length of bearing assembly engagement and defines a root end region (102), a tip end region (106) and an intermediate transition region (104) disposed therebetween. The spar member (30) has a substantially constant internal geometry and defines a root end region (110), a first transition (112), an intermediate region (114), a second transition region (116), a restraint region (118) and a tip end region (120). Each of the various regions of the torque tube and spar members (24, 30) have a characteristic stiffness value wherein the characteristic values (104m, 106m) of the intermediate transition and tip end regions (104,106) of the torque tube member (24) are less than the characteristic stiffness value (102m) of the root end region (102) thereof, and wherein the characteristic stiffness value (118m) of the restraint region (118) of the spar member (30) is greater than said characteristic stiffness values (114m, 120m) of the intermediate and tip end regions (114, 120) thereof, and wherein the characteristic stiffness value (114m) of the intermediate region (114) is less than the characteristic stiffness values (110m, 112m, 116m, 118m) of the root end, first transition, second transition and restraint regions (110, 112, 116, 118).

대표청구항 ▼

A torque tube and spar assembly (100) for a Variable Diameter Rotor blade assembly (16), said torque tube and spar assembly (100) operative to transfer the operational loads thereof to a rotor hub assembly (18), said torque tube and spar assembly (100) furthermore having a longitudinal axis (26) alo

A torque tube and spar assembly (100) for a Variable Diameter Rotor blade assembly (16), said torque tube and spar assembly (100) operative to transfer the operational loads thereof to a rotor hub assembly (18), said torque tube and spar assembly (100) furthermore having a longitudinal axis (26) along which radial stations are defined, and a internal channel (62) for accepting a retraction and extension mechanism (64), said retraction and extension mechanism (64) operative to vary the length of the rotor blade assembly (16), said torque tube and spar assembly (100), furthermore, comprising: a torque tube member (24) having a root end region (102), a tip end region (106) and an intermediate transition region (104) disposed therebetween, each of said regions having a characteristic wall thickness, said characteristic wall thickness of said intermediate transition region (104) decreasing with increasing radial station, said wall thickness of said tip end region (106) being less than said characteristic wall thicknesses of said intermediate transition and root end regions (104, 106) said torque tube member (24) including unidirectional and first crossply laminates (160, 162) having reinforcing fibers disposed in a binding matrix, said reinforcing fibers of said unidirectional laminates (160) being oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (26), and said reinforcing fibers of said first crossply laminates (162) being oriented between about ±15 to about ±35 degrees relative to said longitudinal axis (26); said torque tube member (24), furthermore, having a substantially constant external peripheral geometry along said longitudinal axis (26); a spar member (30) having a root end region (110), a first transition region (112), an intermediate region (114), a second transition region (116), a restraint region (118) and a tip end region (120), each of said regions having a characteristic wall thickness, said characteristic wall thickness of said restraint region (118) being greater than said characteristic wall thickness of said intermediate and said tip end regions (114, 120), and said characteristic wall thickness of said intermediate region (114) being less than said characteristic wall thicknesses of said root end, first transition, second transition and restraint regions (110, 112, 116, 118) said spar member (30) including first crossply laminates (162) having reinforcing fibers disposed in a binding matrix, said reinforcing fibers of said first crossply laminates (162) being oriented between about ±15 to about ±35 degrees relative to said longitudinal axis (26); said spar member (30), furthermore, including unidirectional laminates (160) disposed in said root end, first transition, second transition and restraint regions (110, 112, 116, 118) thereof, said unidirectional laminates (160) having reinforcing fibers disposed in a binding matrix, said reinforcing fibers of said unidirectional laminates (160) being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (26); said spar member (30), furthermore, having a substantially constant internal peripheral geometry along said longitudinal axis (26) and, furthermore, having a restraint surface (86) for engaging said retraction and extension mechanism (64); and, a bearing assembly (40a, 40b) for telescopically mounting said spar member (30) to said torque tube member (24).