Active proprotor-blade retention systems
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorKyle Thomas Cravener
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for retaining a folded proprotor blade in flight. The system includes a rotary actuator mechanism operable to generate torque via a shaft that rotates about an axis generally parallel to a chordwise direction of the folded proprotor blade, a pair of clamping arms movable in a direction generally parallel to a beamwise direction of the folded proprotor blade, a pair of linkage arms interoperably responsive to the rotary actuator mechanism and coupled between the rotary actuator mechanism and the pair of clamping arms, and a first guide rod extending between the pair of clamping arms in the direction generally parallel to the beamwise direction.
Claims20
A system for retaining a folded proprotor blade, the system comprising:
- a rotary actuator mechanism operable to generate torque via a shaft that rotates about an axis generally parallel to a chordwise direction of the folded proprotor blade;
- a pair of clamping arms movable in a direction generally parallel to a beamwise direction of the folded proprotor blade;
- a pair of linkage arms interoperably responsive to the rotary actuator mechanism and coupled between the rotary actuator mechanism and the pair of clamping arms;
- and
- a first guide rod extending between the pair of clamping arms in the direction generally parallel to the beamwise direction.
A system for retaining a folded proprotor blade, the system comprising:
- a rotary actuator mechanism operable to generate torque about an axis generally parallel to a spanwise direction of the folded proprotor blade;
- a pair of clamping arms rotatably movable in a plane generally perpendicular to a spanwise direction of the folded proprotor blade;
- a pair of linkage arms interoperably responsive to the rotary actuator mechanism and coupled between the rotary actuator mechanism and the pair of clamping arms;
- and
- a pair of rotation pins, each of which is connected to one of the pair of linkage arms and about which a respective one of the pair of clamping arms rotates responsive to torque generated via the rotary actuator mechanism.
A system for retaining a folded proprotor blade, the system comprising:
- a rotary actuator mechanism operable to generate torque about an axis;
- a pair of clamping arms movable into and out of engagement with the folded proprotor blade responsive to the torque;
- and
- a pair of linkage arms interoperably responsive to the rotary actuator mechanism and coupled between the rotary actuator mechanism and the pair of clamping arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.