Noise reducing profile for helicopter rotor blade tracking wedges
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRichard Piechowicz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tracking wedge, a rotor and a method for modifying a movement of air over a tracking wedge. According to aspects of the disclosure, a tracking wedge used to correct the tracking of a helicopter rotor blade may include one or more acoustic management mechanisms. The acoustic management mechanisms may change the manner in which air moves over the surface of the tracking wedge. In some examples, changing the manner in which air moves over the surface of the tracking wedge may reduce noise generated by the use of the tracking wedge.
Claims20
A tracking wedge, comprising:
- a wedge-shaped body configured for attachment to an aerodynamic surface;
- a leading edge;
- a trailing edge;
- a plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms disposed proximate to the trailing edge of the tracking wedge, each first acoustic management mechanism of the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms having a first surface abutting a second surface to create a leading junction, the second surface abutting the first surface of an adjacent first acoustic management mechanism of the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms to create a trailing junction, and the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms having a variable trailing edge configured to modify a flow of air moving over a surface of the tracking wedge;
- and
- a second acoustic management mechanism configured to shape the flow of air moving across the surface of the tracking wedge prior to the air coming in contact with the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms.
A rotor blade, comprising:
- a tracking wedge affixed to the rotor blade, the tracking wedge comprising:
- a wedge-shaped body;
- a trailing edge;
- a plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms disposed proximate to the trailing edge of the tracking wedge, each first acoustic management mechanism of the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms having a first surface abutting a second surface to create a leading junction, the second surface abutting the first surface of an adjacent first acoustic management mechanism of the plurality of acoustic management mechanisms to create a trailing junction, and the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms having a variable trailing edge configured to modify a flow of air moving over a surface of the tracking wedge;
- a second acoustic management mechanism configured to shape the flow of air moving across the surface of the tracking wedge prior to the air coming in contact with the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms.
A method of managing an acoustic profile associated with a tracking wedge, comprising:
- rotating a rotor blade about a central axis;
- routing an effluent airflow over a top surface of the tracking wedge having a wedge-shaped body;
- modifying a movement of the effluent airflow in a suitable path to reduce noise using a plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms having a first surface abutting a second surface to create a leading junction, the second surface abutting the first surface of an adjacent first acoustic management mechanism of the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms to create a trailing junction, and the plurality of acoustic management mechanisms having a variable trailing edge configured for modifying the movement of the effluent air over the tracking wedge;
- and
- modifying a flow of air moving across a surface of the tracking wedge using a second acoustic management mechanism, the second acoustic management mechanism configured to shape the flow of air prior to the air coming in contact with the plurality of first acoustic management mechanisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.