公开(公告)号：US20190002085A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-03

申请号：US15636448

申请日：2017-06-28

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jouyoung Jason Choi ,  Thomas Clement Parham, JR. ,  Gary Miller ,  Frank Bradley Stamps

IPC: B64C11/06 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C11/32 ,  F16F15/121

CPC classification number: B64C11/06 ,  B64C11/32 ,  B64C27/35 ,  B64C27/51 ,  B64C27/635 ,  B64C29/0033 ,  F16C23/043 ,  F16C27/02 ,  F16C2326/43 ,  F16F15/1208 ,  F16F15/121 ,  F16F15/124

Abstract: A proprotor system operable for use on a tiltrotor aircraft having a helicopter flight mode and an airplane flight mode. The proprotor system includes a rotor hub and a plurality of proprotor blades coupled to the rotor hub such that each proprotor blade has three independent degrees of freedom relative to the rotor hub including blade pitch about a pitch change axis, blade flap about a flapping axis and lead-lag about a lead-lag axis. Each of a plurality of spherical bearings couples one of the proprotor blades with the rotor hub. In addition, each of a plurality of lead-lag dampers couples one of the proprotor blades with the rotor hub, wherein each lead-lag damper is aligned with the pitch change axis of the respective proprotor blade, thereby providing pitch independent lead-lag damping.

公开(公告)号：US20180162520A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-14

申请号：US15375394

申请日：2016-12-12

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Jouyoung Jason Choi ,  Thomas Clement Parham, JR. ,  Gary Miller ,  Richard Erler Rauber

IPC: B64C11/06 ,  B64C29/00

Abstract: A soft-in-plane proprotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft having a helicopter mode and an airplane mode. The proprotor system includes a hub, a plurality of proprotor blades and a plurality of blade support assemblies coupling the proprotor blades with the hub. Each blade support assembly includes a flapping bearing coupled to the hub and a yoke having first and second longitudinal sections with outboard grip members and an inboard arcuate section connecting the first and second longitudinal sections and coupled to the flapping bearing. A lead-lag damper is coupled between the hub and an inboard station of the respective proprotor blade. A twist shank is coupled between the outboard grip members of the yoke and an outboard station of the respective the proprotor blade. The twist shank defines a virtual lead-lag hinge outboard of the yoke and coincident with the respective pitch change axis.

公开(公告)号：US20180141650A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-24

申请号：US15359594

申请日：2016-11-22

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Dalton T Hampton ,  Thomas Clement Parham, JR.

IPC: B64C27/43 ,  B64C27/78

CPC classification number: B64C27/43 ,  B64C27/32 ,  B64C27/35 ,  B64C27/78 ,  B64C27/82

Abstract: A rotor hub assembly for a rotorcraft includes a yoke forming a bearing bore. The yoke has a teetering axis extending through the bearing bore. The rotor hub assembly includes a flapping bearing disposed in the bearing bore. The flapping bearing is operable to regulate teetering of the yoke about the teetering axis. The rotor hub assembly includes an axial spring abutting the flapping, thereby reducing movement of the flapping bearing along the teetering axis.

公开(公告)号：US20180162526A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-14

申请号：US15375367

申请日：2016-12-12

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Thomas Clement Parham, JR. ,  Jouyoung Jason Choi ,  Gary Miller ,  Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Richard Erler Rauber

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C27/41 ,  B64C27/54 ,  B64C27/51

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C27/41 ,  B64C27/51 ,  B64C27/54

Abstract: A proprotor system for tiltrotor aircraft having a helicopter mode and an airplane mode. The proprotor system includes a hub and a plurality of proprotor blades coupled to the hub such that each proprotor blade is operable to independently flap relative to the hub about a flapping axis and independently change pitch about a pitch change axis. The proprotor blades have a first in-plane frequency less than 1.0/rev.

公开(公告)号：US20180162519A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-14

申请号：US15375385

申请日：2016-12-12

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Thomas Clement Parham, JR. ,  Jouyoung Jason Choi ,  Gary Miller ,  Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Richard Erler Rauber

IPC: B64C11/06 ,  B64C29/00

Abstract: A soft-in-plane proprotor system for a tiltrotor aircraft having a helicopter mode and an airplane mode. The proprotor system includes a hub, a plurality of proprotor blades and a plurality of loop yokes, each coupling one of the proprotor blades with the hub and each including first and second longitudinal sections extending between inboard and outboard arcuate sections and a bearing assembly disposed between the inboard and outboard arcuate sections of each loop yoke. Each bearing assembly includes a flapping bearing disposed generally within the inboard arcuate section of the respective loop yoke and coupled to the hub, a lead-lag damper coupled to the hub, a centrifugal force bearing disposed generally within the outboard arcuate section of the respective loop yoke and a blade anchor coupled between the lead-lag damper and the centrifugal force bearing. The blade anchor is also coupled to the respective proprotor blade.

公开(公告)号：US20180162518A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-14

申请号：US15375356

申请日：2016-12-12

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Thomas Clement Parham, JR. ,  Jouyoung Jason Choi ,  Gary Miller ,  Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Richard Erler Rauber

IPC: B64C11/04 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B29C70/32

Abstract: A yoke for providing a centrifugal force retention load path between a proprotor blade and a hub of a soft-in-plane proprotor system operable for use on a tiltrotor aircraft. The yoke includes a continuous loop having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal sections extending between inboard and outboard arcuate sections. A flapping bearing receiving region is disposed at least partially within the inboard arcuate section to an interior of the continuous loop. A centrifugal force bearing receiving region is disposed at least partially within the outboard arcuate section to the interior of the continuous loop. The continuous loop is formed from a composite material having a plurality of double bias material plies and a plurality of unidirectional material plies such that the number of unidirectional material plies is greater than the number of double bias material plies.

公开(公告)号：US20180141654A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-24

申请号：US15355347

申请日：2016-11-18

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jouyoung Jason Choi ,  Gary Miller ,  Richard Erler Rauber ,  Thomas Clement Parham, JR. ,  Alan Carl Ewing ,  Frank Bradley Stamps

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C27/41 ,  B64C27/54 ,  B64C27/473

Abstract: A proprotor system for tiltrotor aircraft having a helicopter mode and an airplane mode. The proprotor system includes a hub and a plurality of proprotor blades coupled to the hub such that each proprotor blade is operable to independently flap relative to the hub and independently change pitch. In the airplane mode, the proprotor blades have a first in-plane frequency greater than 2.0/rev.