Spar end cap with drain hole provisions
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsJonathan Bremmer, Joseph B. Ozelski, Mark J. Derienzo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotor blade spar for use in a rotor blade is provided comprising a housing defining an interior and having an open end. An end cap is affixed to and sealed on the open end to seal the interior from an exterior outside of the housing. The end cap includes a first port and a second port fluidly coupling the interior to the exterior. A port sealing system closes the first and second ports. The first port is connectable to an external device configured to generate a pressure differential between the interior and the exterior sufficient to create an airflow through the first and second ports which removes a liquid disposed in the housing through one of the first and second ports.
Claims11
A rotor blade spar for use in a rotor blade, the rotor blade spar comprising:
- a housing defining an interior and having an open end and a closed end;
- an end cap affixed to the open end to seal the interior from an exterior outside of the housing, the end cap including a first port and a second port fluidly coupling the interior to the exterior;
- and
- a port sealing system which closes the first and second ports, wherein the first port includes a one-way valve configured to allow liquid to flow into the interior of the housing and the second port includes another one-way valve configured to allow air and liquid to flow out of the interior of the housing;
- wherein the first port is connectable to an external device which generates a pressure differential between the interior and the exterior sufficient to create an airflow through the first and second ports which removes the liquid disposed within the interior of the housing through one of the first or second port.
A method of removing water from an interior of a rotor blade spar, comprising:
- fluidly coupling an external device to an inlet port of an end cap mounted at and sealing an outboard end of the spar;
- the inlet port being arranged in fluid communication with an interior of the spar, and
- generating a pressure differential between an exterior of the spar and the interior of the spar such that the water flows from the interior of the spar through an outlet port in the end cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.