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US 4,307,996 AGranted
Helicopter rotors
AssigneeWestland Aircraft Limited
InventorKenneth Watson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A helicopter rotor has at least one pair of diametrically opposed rotor blades interconnected by a strap member flexible in torsion and in a plane perpendicular to a plane of rotation and stiff in a plane coincident with the plane of rotation. A torsionally flexible tie-bar having a tensile elastic modulus greater than that of the strap member is extended between pivotal attachments adjacent opposed ends of the interconnecting strap member. In operation, a major portion of centrifugal loads caused by the rotating blades is carried by the tie-bar.
Claims10
A helicopter rotor comprising:
- a pair of diametrically opposed rotor blades arranged for rotation about an axis;
- a strap member interconnecting said opposed rotor blades, said strap member being flexible in torsion and in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation, said strap member further being substantially stiff in the plane of rotation;
- and
- a torsionally flexible tie-bar having a tensile elastic modulus greater than that of said strap member, said tie-bar being pivotally attached adjacent opposed ends of said strap member so as to permit relative pivotal movements of said tie-bar in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation and so as to bear the majority of the centrifugal load of said rotor blades.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.