Rotor hub vibration attenuator
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Popelka, Frank B. Stamps
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vibration attenuator for an aircraft has at least one weight mounted in a rotating system of a rotor hub of the aircraft, each weight being rotatable about an axis of rotation of the hub relative to the hub and to each other weight. Drive means are provided for rotating each weight about the axis of rotation at a selected speed for creating oscillatory shear forces that oppose and attenuate rotor-induced vibrations having a selected frequency. A vertically oriented vibration attenuator is configured to oppose and attenuate vertical rotor induced oscillatory forces that would otherwise travel vertical down the rotor mast and into the airframe.
Claims17
A vibration attenuator for a rotor hub of an aircraft, the vibration attenuator comprising:
- a weight adapted to be mounted to a non-rotating member of the rotor hub of the aircraft, each weight also being adapted to be rotatable about a weight axis of rotation which is perpendicular to a rotor mast axis;
- and
- a motor configured to rotate the weight about the axis of rotation at a selected speed during operation;
- wherein during operation the weight is driven in rotation for creating oscillatory vertical forces along the rotor mast axis for attenuation of rotor-induced vibrations having a selected frequency wherein the weight includes a translatable weight that is configured to be selectively translated on a track that extends radially from the weight axis of rotation.
A method of attenuating vibrations in an aircraft having at least one rotor having blades, the rotor having a rotor hub configured for being driven in rotation by a mast about a mast axis of rotation, the method comprising:
- (a) locating a rotatable weight in the rotor hub;
- (b) rotating each weight at a selected speed about a weight rotation axis that is approximately perpendicular to the mast axis of rotation, the weight being associated with a non-rotating member of the rotor hub;
- and
- (c) controlling the rotation of the rotatable weight for creating oscillatory vertical forces that oppose rotor-induced vibrations having a selected frequency by controlling the translation of the rotatable weight on a track that extends radially from the weight rotation axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.