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US 9,308,992 B2Granted
Helicopter blade retention composite yoke
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsPedro L. Cabrera, Kenneth F. Deyo, David Templeton, Kevin Laitenberger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotary wing aircraft yoke is provided including an arcuate medial portion. A pair of arms extends from the medial portion and each terminates in a distal end. The yoke is made from multiple plies of glass and graphite fibers of varying orientations. The number of graphite plies increases along each arm from adjacent the medial portion to the distal end.
Claims15
A rotary wing aircraft yoke comprising:
- an arcuate medial portion;
- and
- a pair of arms, each extending from the medial portion and terminating in a distal end, the distal ends being substantially aligned such that an adjacent component is received within an opening formed between the distal ends of the pair of arms, each arm being made from plies of glass fibers and graphite fibers having varying configurations such that no two consecutive plies are identical in material and orientation, wherein at least a portion of the glass plies in the yoke have a ±4° fiber orientation;
- wherein a number of graphite plies increases along each arm from adjacent the medial portion to the distal end and wherein the distal end of each arm is formed from a plurality of graphite plies and a plurality of glass plies arranged in an alternating configuration.
1 more element
A rotary wing aircraft rotor mount assembly comprising:
- a hub plate having a plurality of spokes and arcuate segments;
- at least one rotor blade;
- at least one yoke for connecting the blade to the hub plate including:
- an arcuate medial portion;
- a pair of arms, each extending from the medial portion and terminating in a distal end, the distal ends being substantially horizontally aligned such that an adjacent component is received within an opening formed between the distal ends of the pair of arms, each arm being made from plies of glass fibers and graphite fibers having varying configurations such that no two consecutive plies are identical in material and orientation, wherein at least a portion of the glass plies in the yoke have a ±4° fiber orientation;
- wherein a number of graphite plies increases along each arm from adjacent the medial portion to the distal end and wherein the distal end of each arm is formed from a plurality of graphite plies and a plurality of glass plies arranged in an alternating configuration;
- and
- an elastomeric bearing disposed between the medial portion of the yoke and an arcuate segment of the hub plate to accommodate the loading and displacement of the rotor blade, wherein a cap fastened to the elastomeric bearing adjacent the edges of the medial portion of the yoke holds the elastomeric bearing to the yoke.
5 more elements
A method of manufacturing a rotary wing aircraft yoke comprising:
- placing a plurality of plies of glass fibers of varying orientations around a tool head contoured to form at least two yokes facing each other, each yoke including a pair of arms, a distal end of each arm being substantially aligned such that an adjacent component is receivable within an opening formed between the distal ends, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of glass plies having a ±4° fiber orientation;
- placing a plurality of plies of graphite fibers of varying orientations around at least a portion of the tool head to form a preform, the plurality of glass plies and the plurality of graphite plies having varying configurations such that no two consecutive plies are identical in material and orientation;
- and
- curing the preform;
- and
- machining a plurality of yokes from the preform.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.