# US 12,110,101 B2 · Rotor blade weight system

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- Number: US 12,110,101 B2
- Document ID: US12110101B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/178,897
- Filed: 2023-03-06
- Published: 2024-09-12
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2023-03-06
- Assignees: Textron Innovations Inc.
- Applicants: Textron Innovations Inc.
- Inventors: David Shultz; Bryan Baskin; Jason Owens; Robert Self; Paul Sherrill; Nicholas Allen Torske
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110101B2

## CPC

- B64C 27/008: {Rotors tracking or balancing devices}
- B64C 27/001: {Vibration damping devices}
- B64C 27/473: Constructional features
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS

## Abstract

A rotorcraft has a rotor blade having a spar comprising an internal space. A weight system is disposed within the spar and the weight system includes a weight tray having an open top, a weight guide rod connected to the weight tray. The weight guide rod extends in a spanwise direction through an interior of the weight tray and a weight is disposed on the weight guide rod and vertically captured by at least one side wall of the weight tray. The weight guide rod is insertable into the weight tray from a location above the weight tray to restrict longitudinal movement of the weight guide rod relative to the weight tray.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A weight system, comprising:
a weight tray having an open top; and
a weight guide rod connected to the weight tray to restrict longitudinal movement of the weight guide rod relative to the weight tray, the weight guide rod extending in a spanwise direction into an interior of the weight tray; and
wherein the weight guide rod is insertable into the open top from a location above the open top; and
wherein the weight guide rod is received by the weight tray in a manner that restricts rotation of the weight guide rod about a longitudinal axis of the weight guide rod.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The weight system of claim 1, wherein the weight tray comprises a vertical retention profile complementary to a vertical retention profile of a weight disposed on the weight guide rod.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The weight system of claim 2, wherein the vertical retention profile of the weight tray comprises a rectangular channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The weight system of claim 3, wherein the vertical retention profile of the weight comprises a rectangular tab.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The weight system of claim 4, wherein the weight guide rod comprises a box end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The weight system of claim 5, wherein the weight tray comprises a rear wall comprising a weight guide rod receptacle complementary to the box end.

### Claim 7

A rotor blade, comprising:
a weight system, the weight system comprising:
a weight tray having an open top; and
a weight guide rod connected to the weight tray to restrict longitudinal movement of the weight guide rod relative to the weight tray, the weight guide rod extending in a spanwise direction into an interior of the weight tray;
wherein the weight guide rod is insertable into the open top from a location above the open top; and
wherein the weight guide rod is received by the weight tray in a manner that restricts rotation of the weight guide rod about a longitudinal axis of the weight guide rod.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The rotor blade of claim 7, wherein the weight tray comprises a vertical retention profile complementary to a vertical retention profile of a weight disposed on the weight guide rod.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The rotor blade of claim 8, wherein the vertical retention profile of the weight tray comprises a rectangular channel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The rotor blade of claim 9, wherein the vertical retention profile of the weight comprises a rectangular tab.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The rotor blade of claim 10, wherein the weight guide rod comprises a box end.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The rotor blade of claim 11, wherein the weight tray comprises a rear wall comprising a weight guide rod receptacle complementary to the box end.

### Claim 13

A rotorcraft, comprising:
a weight system disposed within a spar, the weight system comprising:
a weight tray having an open top; and
a weight guide rod connected to the weight tray to restrict longitudinal movement of the weight guide rod relative to the weight tray, the weight guide rod extending in a spanwise direction into an interior of the weight tray;
wherein the weight guide rod is insertable into the open top from a location above the open top; and
wherein the weight guide rod is received by the weight tray in a manner that restricts rotation of the weight guide rod about a longitudinal axis of the weight guide rod.