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US 10,703,461 B2Granted
Blade fold method and apparatus for a tilt rotor hub
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsKyle Thomas Cravener, Glenn Shimek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A folding rotor blade assembly for an aircraft a yoke, an inboard beam coupled to the yoke, an inboard centrifugal force bearing coupled to the inboard beam, a grip coupled to the inboard beam, an outboard bearing housing coupled to the grip, and a rotor blade pivotally coupled to the grip by a blade fold bolt that is positioned outboard of the outboard bearing housing.
Claims20
A folding rotor blade assembly for an aircraft, the folding rotor blade assembly comprising:
- a yoke;
- an inboard beam coupled to the yoke;
- an inboard centrifugal force bearing coupled to the inboard beam;
- a grip coupled to the inboard beam;
- an outboard bearing housing coupled to the grip;
- and
- a rotor blade pivotally coupled to the grip by a blade fold bolt that is positioned outboard of the outboard bearing housing.
4 more elements
A folding rotor blade assembly for an aircraft, the folding rotor blade assembly comprising:
- a yoke connected to and axially aligned with a hub spring assembly;
- an inboard beam housing an inboard centrifugal force bearing, the inboard beam connected to the yoke;
- a grip connected at a first end to the inboard beam;
- an outboard bearing housing connected to a second end of the grip;
- an outboard bearing assembly coupled between the outboard bearing housing and the second end of the grip;
- a blade fold support connected to the grip and the outboard bearing housing;
- and
- a rotor blade connected to the grip at a pivotal connection positioned outboard of the outboard bearing assembly.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- pitching a first rotor blade of a rotor blade assembly, the rotor blade assembly comprising:
- an inboard bearing assembly comprising an inboard centrifugal force bearing and connected to a yoke and a grip;
- an outboard bearing assembly connected to the yoke and the grip;
- a blade fold support connected to the grip;
- and
- wherein the first rotor blade is pivotally connected to the blade fold support via a blade fold bolt, the blade fold support configured to prevent a pivoting rotation of the first rotor blade relative to the yoke when the blade fold support is in a locked configuration, the blade fold bolt providing a pivot axis outboard of the outboard bearing assembly;
- unlocking the first rotor blade to allow the first rotor blade to pivot relative to the yoke;
- and
- rotating the first rotor blade about the pivot axis.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.