Tail rotor authority control for a helicopter
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsDuane L. Hicks, William L. McKeown, Tommie L. Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for interconnection in a helicopter tail rotor control linkage for changing the pitch of the tail rotor blades in response to predetermined inputs is provided. The apparatus comprises a linkage member having a variable geometry, an actuator, and a control unit. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit utilizes a microcontroller to monitor inputs corresponding to ambient air condition and automatically vary the maximum tail rotor pitch so as to provide maximum tail rotor authority over a range of altitudes.
Claims15
An apparatus for interconnection in a helicopter tail rotor control linkage for changing the maximum pitch of the tail rotor blades in response to inputs, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a linkage member having a variable geometry;
- said linkage member connected between a first portion of said tail rotor control linkage and a second portion of said tail rotor control linkage;
- said variable geometry having a range of configurations corresponding to predetermined variations in the maximum pitch of the tail rotor blades;
- (b) an actuator connected to said linkage member;
- said actuator changing said configuration of said variable geometry in response to an actuator movement signal;
- (c) a control unit;
- said control unit providing said actuator movement signal to said actuator in response to sensor inputs to said control unit;
- and
- d) sensors to detect ambient air conditions and which provide said sensor inputs to said control unit.
An apparatus for interconnection in a helicopter tail rotor control linkage for changing the maximum pitch of the tail rotor blades in response to inputs, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a stop member having a variable position within a range of positions;
- said stop member located proximate to, and in a first direction relative to, a movable link of said tail rotor control linkage;
- said stop member blocking further movement of said movable link in said first direction;
- (b) an actuator connected to said stop member for selectively changing said variable position in response to an actuator position command;
- and
- (c) a control unit providing said actuator position command to said actuator in response to sensor inputs to said control unit;
- and
- d) sensors to detect ambient air conditions and which provide said sensor inputs to said control unit.
An apparatus for interconnection in a helicopter tail rotor control linkage for changing the pitch of the tail rotor blades in response to predetermined inputs, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a linkage member having a variable geometry;
- said linkage member connected between a first portion of said tail rotor control linkage and a second portion of said tail rotor control linkage and further comprising:
- (i) a main lever having a main pivot point, a first linkage connection point, a secondary lever connection point, and a first actuator connection point;
- said main pivot point for connection to a fixed portion of the helicopter;
- said first linkage connection point for connection to said first portion of the tail rotor control linkage;
- said first actuator connection point for connection to a first portion of said actuator;
- and
- (ii) a secondary lever having a main lever connection point, a second linkage connection point, and a second actuator connection point;
- said main lever connection point pivotally connected to said secondary lever connection point of said main lever;
- said second linkage connection point for connection to said second portion of said tail rotor control linkage;
- said second actuator connection point connected to a second portion of said actuator;
- (b) an actuator connected to said linkage member;
- said actuator changing said configuration of said variable geometry in response to an actuator movement signal;
- and
- (c) a control unit;
- said control unit providing said actuator movement signal to said actuator in response to said inputs to said control unit.
An apparatus for interconnection in a helicopter tail rotor control linkage for changing the pitch of the tail rotor blades in response to predetermined inputs, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a linkage member having a variable geometry;
- said linkage member connected between a first portion of said tail rotor control linkage and a second portion of said tail rotor control linkage and further comprising:
- (i) a main lever having first and second linkage connection points, a secondary lever connection point, and a first actuator connection point;
- said first linkage connection point for connection to said first portion of said tail rotor control linkage;
- said second linkage connection point for connection to said second portion of said tail rotor control linkage;
- said first actuator connection point connected to a first portion of said actuator;
- and
- (ii) a secondary lever having a main pivot point, a main lever connection point, and a second actuator connection point;
- said main pivot point for connection to a fixed portion of the helicopter;
- said main lever connection point pivotally connected to said main lever at said secondary lever connection point;
- said second actuator connection point connected to a second portion of said actuator;
- (b) an actuator connected to said linkage member;
- said actuator changing said configuration of said variable geometry in response to an actuator movement signal;
- and
- (c) a control unit;
- said control unit providing said actuator movement signal to said actuator in response to said inputs to said control unit.
An apparatus for interconnection in a helicopter tail rotor control linkage for changing the maximum pitch of the tail rotor blades in response to inputs, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a linkage member having a variable geometry;
- said linkage member connected between a first portion of said tail rotor control linkage and a second portion of said tail rotor control linkage;
- said variable geometry having a range of configurations corresponding to
- predetermined variations in the maximum pitch of the tail rotor blades;
- (b) an actuator connected to said linkage member;
- said actuator changing said configuration of said variable geometry in response to an actuator movement signal;
- (c) a control unit;
- said control unit providing said actuator movement signal to said actuator in response to setting inputs to said control unit;
- and
- (d) a manually operated switch having a plurality of switch settings corresponding to a plurality of predetermined maximum pitches of the tail rotor blades and which provides said setting inputs to said control unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.