Rotor blade assembly
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMurray Fisher, Stefan Herr, David Cole Magnuson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotor blade assembly is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a main rotor blade, the main rotor blade including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and an auxiliary rotor blade associated with the main rotor blade, the auxiliary rotor blade including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The rotor blade assembly further includes a support member connecting the auxiliary rotor blade to the main rotor blade. The auxiliary rotor blade is configured to modify a lift force associated with the rotor blade assembly.
Claims17
A rotor blade assembly, comprising:
- a main rotor blade, the main rotor blade including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- an auxiliary rotor blade associated with the main rotor blade, the auxiliary rotor blade including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- and,
- a support member connecting the auxiliary rotor blade to the main rotor blade,
- wherein the auxiliary rotor blade is configured to modify a lift force associated with the rotor blade assembly, and wherein the auxiliary rotor blade is configured to be passively activated when the rotor blade assembly incurs a load greater than or approximately equal to a load limit.
A rotor blade assembly, comprising:
- a main rotor blade, the main rotor blade including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the main rotor blade having a span;
- a plurality of auxiliary rotor blades associated with the main rotor blade, the auxiliary rotor blades each including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades generally aligned along at least a portion of the span of the main rotor blade;
- a plurality of support members connecting the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades to the main rotor blade, at least a portion of the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades pivotally connected to the plurality of support members, the plurality of support members include a plurality of root support members and a plurality of tip support members, each of the plurality of root support members associated with a root end of one of the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades and each of the plurality of tip support members associated with a tip end of one of the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades;
- and,
- a plurality of spring elements associated with at least a portion of the plurality of support members and at least a portion of the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades, the plurality of spring elements configured to resist pivotal movement of at least a portion of the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades about at least a portion of the plurality of support members,
- wherein the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades are configured to modify a lift force associated with the rotor blade assembly, and wherein the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades are configured to be passively activated when the rotor blade assembly incurs a load greater than or approximately equal to a load limit.
A rotor blade assembly, comprising:
- a main rotor blade, the main rotor blade including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the main rotor blade having a span;
- a plurality of auxiliary rotor blades associated with the main rotor blade, the auxiliary rotor blades each including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades generally aligned along at least a portion of the span of the main rotor blade;
- and,
- a plurality of support members connecting the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades to the main rotor blade,
- wherein the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades are configured to modify a lift force associated with the rotor blade assembly, and wherein the plurality of auxiliary rotor blades are configured to be passively activated when the rotor blade assembly incurs a load greater than or approximately equal to a load limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.