Abstract:
A torque dependent rotor assembly (1) with a spring system (100), the torque dependent rotor assembly (1) being designed to operate in resonance, where changes in applied torque on the rotor controls the blade pitch angle and ultimately the movements of a rotary wing aircraft. The stiffness of an associated spring member (14) is allowed to vary in response to the torque applied from a motor (31) to the rotor assembly (1).
Abstract:
Disclosed are embodiments of flow diverting lift elements which, when placed in the proper orientation and propelled through a fluid, produce a lift force with improved lift versus velocity performance. The flow diverting lift elements can produce lift for rotary lift devices such as aircraft. The flow diverting lift devices include an airfoil and a diversion wall extending from an upper surface of the airfoil. The airfoil can be an annular airfoil.
Abstract:
A rotor blade includes an elongated body having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a proximal end, and a distal end; a fluid inlet; a fluid outlet arranged near the distal end of the elongated body; and a fluid duct contained within the elongated body, the fluid duct being substantially open between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the fluid duct having a shape to reduce fluid velocities generated by the interaction of fluid exiting the fluid duct and external fluid at the distal end.
Abstract:
A rotor blade rotated about a rotor hub is provided including a first section configured to mount to the rotor hub. The first section includes a spindle and an inboard torque tube surrounding a portion of the spindle. A second section of the rotor blade includes a flexbeam and an outboard torque tube attached to and surrounding the flexbeam. An inboard end of the flexbeam is rotatable coupled to a first end of the spindle. The second section is configured to rotate about a blade axis between an aligned position and a rotated position. A transitional brace configured to surround a portion of the rotor blade adjacent the coupled flexbeam and spindle is movable between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the transitional brace limits movement of the second section about the blade axis.
Abstract:
An aircraft is provided and includes an airframe, a blade disk, which is rotatable relative to the airframe, including a plurality of rotor blades, a rotor shaft disposed to drive rotation of the blade disk relative to the airframe and a pitching of each of the rotor blades about corresponding pitch axes and a rotor assembly configured to form couplings by which each of the rotor blades is coupled to the rotor shaft. The rotor assembly includes a composite laminate arranged to resolve loading associated with the couplings in-plane of the composite laminate.
Abstract:
Improvements to slip rings (200) and methods for the operation thereof include an improved slip ring assembly (200) that has a stationary element (202), a rotating element (210) rotatable with respect to the stationary (202) element, a bearing assembly coupled between the stationary element (202) and the rotating element (210), and one or more contact brushes (213) on one of the stationary element (202) or the rotating element (210). In some embodiments, the bearing assembly includes a primary bearing, a secondary bearing, a shear pin coupling the secondary bearing to the primary bearing, and an electrical monitoring circuit (206) in communication with the shear pin. In some embodiments, the one or more contact brushes (213) includes one or more metal fiber brushes constructed of a plurality of metal fibers that are configured to transmit one or more of electrical power or data between the stationary element (202) and the rotating element (210).