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US 2006/0067822 A1Published application
Pitch lock and lag positioner for a rotor blade folding system
OwnerFrank D'Annainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotor blade folding system includes a blade lock assembly, a rotary actuator and a blade fold controller to selectively position each rotor blade assembly in a particular predetermined folded position. The blade lock assembly positions each blade yoke in a predetermined lead/lag and pitch position to minimize strain upon an elastomeric bearing between the blade yoke and the rotor hub. The rotor blade is then folded relative to the blade yoke to a predetermined blade fold angle.
Claims19
A blade lock assembly for rotor blade assembly comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a gear train in meshing engagement with said electric motor;
- a lag lock pin in meshing engagement with said gear train;
- and
- a pitch lock pin in meshing engagement with said gear train.
2 more elements
A rotor blade assembly comprising:
- a rotor hub;
- a yoke mounted to said rotor hub through an elastomeric bearing;
- an electric motor mounted to said rotor hub;
- a planetary gear train in meshing engagement with said electric motor;
- a lag lock pin in meshing engagement with said gear train, said lag lock pin selectively engageable with said yoke to locate said yoke in a blade fold position;
- and
- a pitch lock pin in meshing engagement with said gear train, said pitch lock pin engageable with aid yoke in response to engagement of said lag lock pin with said yoke to locate said yoke in said blade fold position.
4 more elements
A method of folding a rotor blade comprising the steps of:
- (1) driving an electric motor to engage a lag lock pin with a tapered lag lock bushing mounted within a blade yoke to overcome an elastomeric bearing between the rotor blade hub and the blade yoke;
- (2) driving the electric motor to sequentially engage a pitch lock pin with the blade yoke to overcome the elastomeric bearing in response to engagement of the lag lock pin with the tapered lag lock bushing;
- and
- (3) folding a rotor blade to a predetermined blade fold angle about a blade fold pivot axis.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.