Tandem tip-joined rotor blade and hub coupling for passive pitch angle control
OwnerMichael L Barrowsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotor blade system includes a hub for rotational movement in a defined direction of rotation. A first airfoil having a quarter-chord defined along a span thereof is coupled to the hub, but is uncoupled from the rotational movement of the hub. A second airfoil having a quarter-chord defined along a span thereof is coupled to the hub for rotation in direct correspondence with the rotational movement of the hub. The quarter-chord of the first airfoil leads the quarter-chord of the second airfoil when the hub experiences its rotational movement in the defined direction of rotation. A connector couples the tip of the first airfoil to the tip of the second airfoil.
Claims17
A rotor blade system, comprising:
- a hub for rotational movement in a defined direction of rotation;
- a first airfoil having a quarter-chord defined along a span of said first airfoil, said first airfoil coupled to said hub but uncoupled from said rotational movement of said hub, said first airfoil having a tip;
- a second airfoil having a quarter-chord defined along a span of said second airfoil, said second airfoil coupled to said hub for rotation in direct correspondence with said rotational movement of said hub, said quarter-chord of said first airfoil leading said quarter-chord of said second airfoil when said hub experiences said rotational movement in said defined direction of rotation, said second airfoil having a tip;
- and
- a connector for coupling said tip of said first airfoil to said tip of said second airfoil.
A rotor blade system, comprising:
- a hub for rotational movement in a defined direction of rotation;
- and
- a plurality of rotor blades, each of said rotor blades including
- a first airfoil having a quarter-chord defined along a span of said first airfoil, said first airfoil coupled to said hub but uncoupled from said rotational movement of said hub, said first airfoil having a tip,
- a second airfoil having a quarter-chord, said second airfoil coupled to said hub for rotation in direct correspondence to said rotational movement of said hub, said quarter-chord of said first airfoil leading said quarter-chord of said second airfoil when said hub experiences said rotational movement in said defined direction of rotation, said second airfoil having a tip, and
- a connector for coupling said tip of said first airfoil to said tip of said second airfoil.
A rotor blade system for operation above a ground surface, comprising:
- a hub for rotational movement in a defined direction of rotation and in a plane approximately perpendicular to the ground surface;
- and
- a plurality of rotor blades, each of said rotor blades including
- a first airfoil having a quarter-chord defined along a span of said first airfoil, said first airfoil coupled to said hub but uncoupled from said rotational movement of said hub, said first airfoil having a tip,
- a second airfoil having a quarter-chord, said second airfoil coupled to said hub for rotation in direct correspondence to said rotational movement of said hub, said quarter-chord of said first airfoil leading said quarter-chord of said second airfoil when said hub experiences said rotational movement in said defined direction of rotation, said second airfoil having a tip, and
- a connector for coupling said tip of said first airfoil to said tip of said second airfoil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.