Composite rotor blade and method of manufacture
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsAjay Sehgal, Eric C. Boyle, Christopher Finch, Robert S. Thompson
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a rotor blade and method of manufacture thereof. The rotor blade of the present invention incorporates a number of novel features in order to increase its reliability and strength while reducing its weight. In certain embodiments, the rotor blade of the present invention incorporates a flexural strap in place of traditional pitch bearings. In certain embodiments, the rotor blade of the present invention is manufactured using a unique fiber placement layup technique to reduce failure modes and maximize the fatigue strength of the part.
Claims20
A rotor blade for an aircraft comprising:
- a flexural strap having an inboard end and an outboard end;
- and
- a generally-conical, hollow rotor cuff, disposed about the flexural strap and attached to the outboard end of the flexural strap.
A rotor blade for an aircraft comprising:
- a flexural strap having an inboard end and an outboard end;
- a generally-conical, hollow rotor cuff, disposed about the flexural strap and attached to the outboard end of the flexural strap;
- and
- an outboard blade section attached to the outboard end of the flexural strap and extending in the outboard direction from the outboard end of the flexural strap.
A method for manufacturing a composite part having a varying cross-section comprising the steps of:
- providing a lay-up tool having an impression therein having one or more edges corresponding to the shape of the part to be manufactured;
- arranging resin-impregnated composite fibers into strips;
- and
- aligning each strip in such a manner as to generally follow the one or more edges of the tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.