Helicopter rotor comprising a vibration damper, and method for updating the same
AssigneeAgusta S.p.A.
InventorSantino Pancotti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotor for a helicopter, having: a hub rotating about an axis and in turn having a number of blades; and an at least partly hollow drive shaft connectable to a drive of the helicopter and connected functionally to the hub to rotate the hub about the axis; the rotor also having vibration damping means in turn having a mass, and an elastically deformable member connected to the mass and supported by the shaft; the member extending at least partly inside the shaft, and being elongated parallel to the axis; and the mass vibrating, in use, at such a frequency as to oppose transmission to the shaft of the vibration produced by rotation of the hub and blades.
Claims10
A rotor for a helicopter, comprising:
- a hub rotating about an axis and in turn comprising a number of blades;
- and
- an at least partly hollow drive shaft connectable to a drive of said helicopter and connected functionally to said hub to rotate the hub about said axis;
- and characterized by comprising vibration damping means in turn comprising a mass, and an elastically deformable member connected to said mass and supported by said shaft;
- said member extending at least partly inside said shaft, and being elongated parallel to said axis;
- and said mass vibrating, in use, at such a frequency as to oppose transmission to said shaft of the vibration produced by rotation of said hub and said blades and further comprising a supporting body interposed between said shaft and said member, and angularly integral with said shaft and said member.
A method for updating a rotor of a helicopter;
- said rotor comprising:
- a hub rotating about an axis and in turn comprising a number of blades;
- and
- an at least partly hollow drive shaft connectable to a drive of said helicopter and connected functionally to said hub to rotate the hub about said axis;
- said method being characterized by comprising the steps of:
- inserting a resilient deformable member at least partly inside said shaft, and securing it to said shaft;
- interposing said member between said shaft and a mass;
- and
- interposing a supporting body between said shaft and said member, and angularly integral with said shaft and said member;
- said member and said mass defining vibration damping means for damping vibration produced by rotation of said hub and said blades;
- and said mass vibrating, in use, at such a frequency as to oppose transmission to said shaft of the vibration produced by rotation of said hub and said blades.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.