Aircraft rotor blade with reduced stress
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsKrzysztof Kopanski, Justin Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aircraft rotor blade includes a surface of the rotor blade, at least one main hole that extends through the surface and has a width and a length, and at least one leader hole that extends through the surface and has a length that is less than the length of the main hole and arranged spaced from and adjacent the main hole. The leader hole gradually increases in width from a first end of the leader hole opposite the main hole to an opposed second end of the leader hole proximate the main hole to operatively gradually distribute stress in the leader and main holes and rotor blade and reduce an amount of the stress exerted therein.
Claims12
A rotor blade comprising:
- a surface of the rotor blade;
- at least one main hole that extends through the surface and has a width and a length;
- and
- at least one leader hole that extends through the surface and has a length that is less than the length of the at least one main hole and is arranged spaced from and adjacent to the at least one main hole, the at least one leader hole gradually increasing in width from a first end of the at least one leader hole opposite the at least one main hole to an opposed second end of the at least one leader hole proximate the at least one main hole, the at least one main hole and the at least one leader hole forming a single linear row that extends substantially parallel to a leading edge of the rotor blade from an inboard end of the rotor blade to an outboard end of the rotor blade,
- wherein the first end of the at least one leader hole is directed toward a tip of the rotor blade and the at least one main hole is arranged adjacent the at least one leader hole opposite the tip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.