Rotor blade internal structure for trailing edge actuation
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsFrank M. Caputo, Timothy James Conti, Claude G. Matalanis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotor blade of a rotary wing aircraft includes a core defining a trailing edge of the rotor blade and a skin extending from the trailing edge defining an opening including the core. The skin defines an aerodynamic surface of the rotor blade. The rotor blade additionally includes at least one trim tab assembly including a trim portion extending from the core beyond the trailing edge of the rotor blade and an actuation system including at least one actuator disposed within the core. The actuation system is operable to adjust an angle of the trim portion relative to the rotor blade.
Claims19
A rotor blade of a rotary wing aircraft comprising:
- a core defining a trailing edge of the rotor blade;
- skin extending from the trailing edge defining an opening including the core, the skin defining an aerodynamic surface;
- and
- at least one trim tab assembly including:
- a trim portion extending from the core beyond the trailing edge of the rotor blade;
- an actuation system including at least one actuator disposed within the core, the actuation system being operable to adjust an angle of the trim portion relative to the rotor blade;
- and
- a support member coupled to the trim portion and connected to the skin and the core.
A rotary wing aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- an engine disposed in the fuselage;
- and
- a main rotor system disposed on the fuselage, the main rotor system comprising
- a rotor hub rotatable about an axis according to power supplied by the engine;
- at least one rotor blade rotatable about the axis defined by the rotor hub, the at least one rotor blade comprising:
- a core defining a trailing edge of the at least one rotor blade;
- skin extending from the trailing edge defining an opening including the core, the skin defining an aerodynamic surface;
- and
- a trim tab assembly including:
- a trim portion extending from a trailing edge of the at least one rotor blade;
- an actuation system arranged within an interior of the at least one rotor blade, the actuation system being operably coupled to the trim portion to adjust a position of the trim portion relative to the at least one rotor blade;
- and
- a support member coupled to the trim portion and connected to the skin and the core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.