Compliant helicopter rotor pitch link
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsConor Briggi, Todd Waaramaa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A helicopter rotor blade control pitch link for transmitting movement of a rotating swashplate to a rotor blade pitch horn includes a spring module. The spring module includes at least one elastic member configured to generate link compliance when a force is transferred through the pitch link from the rotating swashplate to the rotor blade pitch horn. A plurality of such rotor blade control pitch links is used in a helicopter rotor blade control system having a swashplate assembly operatively connected to each of a rotor shaft and a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades with respective rotor pitch horns. Each rotor blade pitch link is configured to control a pitch of one rotor blade via the corresponding rotor blade pitch horn.
Claims19
A helicopter rotor blade control system comprising:
- a swashplate assembly operatively connected to each of a rotor shaft and a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades with respective rotor pitch horns, the swashplate assembly including:
- a stationary swashplate mounted on the rotor shaft;
- and
- a rotating swashplate rotatably mounted to the stationary swashplate via a swashplate bearing;
- and
- a plurality of pitch links configured to transmit movement of the rotating swashplate to the rotor pitch horns for controlling a pitch of each rotor blade;
- wherein each pitch link includes a spring module having a plurality of Belleville springs configured to generate link compliance when a force is transferred through the respective pitch link from the rotating swashplate to a corresponding rotor blade pitch horn;
- and
- wherein at least some of the plurality of Belleville springs are arranged in parallel.
A helicopter rotor blade control pitch link for transmitting movement of a rotating swashplate to a rotor blade pitch horn, the helicopter rotor blade control pitch link comprising:
- a spring module having at least one elastic member configured to generate link compliance when a force is transferred through the pitch link from the rotating swashplate to the rotor blade pitch horn;
- a casing arranged along a longitudinal axis and configured to house the spring module;
- a first tie rod operatively connected to the spring module;
- a second tie rod operatively connected to the casing;
- a plunger arranged inside the casing on the longitudinal axis, connected to one of the first and second tie rods, and configured to compress the spring module when the respective pitch link transmits the force to control a pitch of a rotor blade;
- and
- a cap configured to interlock with the casing and thereby enclose the spring module and retain the plunger inside the casing.
A helicopter rotor blade control pitch link for transmitting movement of a rotating swashplate to a rotor blade pitch horn, the helicopter rotor blade control pitch link comprising:
- a spring module having at least one Belleville spring configured to generate link compliance when a force is transferred through the pitch link from the rotating swashplate to the rotor blade pitch horn;
- a casing arranged along a longitudinal axis and configured to house the spring module;
- a first tie rod operatively connected to the spring module;
- a second tie rod operatively connected to the casing;
- a plunger arranged inside the casing on the longitudinal axis, connected to one of the first and second tie rods, and configured to compress the spring module when the respective pitch link transmits the force to control a pitch of a rotor blade;
- and
- a cap configured to interlock with the casing and thereby enclose the spring module and retain the plunger inside the casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.