Abstract:
Rotary wing aircraft electronic control system including a tachometer (552) and a plurality of nonrotating body vibration control sensors (554) outputting at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor data correlating to vibrations. The system includes a plurality of nonrotating body force generators (530) to input a vibration control force into said nonrotating aerostructure body. The system includes a data communications network link (150) linking together the nonrotating body force generators the tachometer sensor, the vibration control sensors, and an actuating force generator rotor track balance electronic controller (411), the actuating force generator rotor track balance electronic controller including at least a first computer processor with the actuating force generator rotor track controller controlling the nonrotating body force generators to input vibration control forces into the nonrotating aerostructure body and computing a rotor track solution for aircraft rotor blades.
Abstract:
A helicopter rotating hub mounted vibration control system (20) for a helicopter rotary wing hub (22) having a periodic vibration (24) while rotating at a helicopter operational rotation frequency (26) . The helicopter rotating hub mounted vibration control system (20) includes an annular ring rotary housing (30) attachable to the helicopter rotary wing hub (22) and rotating with the helicopter rotary wing hub (22) at the helicopter operational rotation frequency (26) . The annular ring housing is centered about the rotary wing hub axis of rotation and has an electronics housing cavity subsystem (32) and preferably an adjacent coaxial rotor housing cavity subsystem (34) . The rotor housing cavity subsystem (34) contains a first coaxial frameless AC ring motor (36) having a first rotor with a first imbalance mass (40) and a second coaxial frameless AC ring motor (42) having a second rotor with a second imbalance mass (46) . The electronics housing cavity subsystem (32) contains an electronics control system (50) which receives sensor outputs and electrically controls and drives the first coaxial frameless AC ring motor (36) and the second coaxial frameless AC ring motor (42) such that the first imbalance mass (40) and the second imbalance mass (46) are directly driven at a vibration canceling rotation frequency (52) greater than the helicopter operational rotation frequency wherein the helicopter rotary wing hub periodic vibration (24) is reduced.
Abstract:
A method for controlling helicopter ground resonance and air resonance motions as well as centrifugal force switching dampers are disclosed. A helicopter lead-lag damper (30) has a first ground resonance motion damping rate stage (FDR) and a second air resonance motion damping rate stage (SDR). The damper (30) includes a centrifugal force switch (52). The damper (30) is oriented relative to the rotary wing rotation axis (26) and helicopter blade (24). An in-flight rotation rate of the centrifugal force switching damper (30) actuates the centrifugal force switch (52) with the damper switching from the first ground resonance motion damping rate stage (FDR) to the second air resonance motion damping rate stage (SDR).
Abstract:
Motion control bearings and methods making such with the capability to monitor properties therein is provided. Devices and methods for creating and using motion control bearings for rotary wing aircraft in particular are disclosed using wireless communication and monitoring of multiple load, motion and health related information items related to the bearing and blade at the wing hub. Static and dynamic blade orientation provides additional information on flight regime, thrust vectors, and gross vehicle weight. Power is provided using kinetic energy power harvesting.
Abstract:
A rotary wing aircraft vehicle vibration control system includes a hub mounted vibration control system. The system includes a sensor for outputting data correlating to relative rotation of the hub rotating about the Z axis relative to the nonrotating body, first sensor outputting first data correlating to vibrations. The system includes first/second nonrotating body force generators fixedly coupled with the helicopter body proximate the transmission and oriented relative to the Z-axis, and a link linking together the force generators and the hub mounted vibration control system wherein such are controlled to produce forces wherein the vibration sensed by the first nonrotating body vibration sensor is reduced.