Semi-automatic rotor blade fold mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10787244-B2
Application number	US-201816011721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2018
Priority date	Jun 19, 2018
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

A blade-fold bushing system includes a splined bushing comprising a first plurality of teeth, a castellated bushing comprising a second plurality of teeth and a shaft portion configured to coaxially fit within the splined bushing, and a lock bushing coaxially aligned with the castellated bushing. A support tool for use with a blade-fold bushing system includes an outer head comprising a third plurality of teeth configured to mesh with the first plurality of teeth of the splined bushing, and an inner head comprising a fourth plurality of teeth configured to mesh with the second plurality of teeth of the castellated bushing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blade-fold bushing system comprising:
a splined bushing comprising a first plurality of teeth;
a castellated bushing comprising a second plurality of teeth and a shaft portion configured to coaxially fit within the splined bushing;
a lock bushing coaxially aligned with the castellated bushing; and
wherein:
the lock bushing is configured to engage the castellated bushing and extend through a grip coupled to a rotor blade;
the shaft portion of the castellated bushing comprises an extended portion; and
the lock bushing comprises a recess configured to receive the extended portion and prevent rotation of the castellated bushing relative to the lock bushing.

2. The blade-fold bushing system of claim 1 , wherein the splined bushing further comprises a support tab configured to connect to the rotor blade.

3. The blade-fold bushing system of claim 1 , wherein the splined bushing further comprises a sloped face configured to work with a v-band clamp.

4. The blade-fold bushing system of claim 1 , wherein the castellated bushing further comprises blade-fold bolt teeth that are configured to mesh with teeth of a blade-fold bolt.

5. A blade-fold bushing system comprising:
a splined bushing comprising a first plurality of teeth;
a castellated bushing comprising a second plurality of teeth and a shaft portion configured to coaxially fit within the splined bushing;
a lock bushing coaxially aligned with the castellated bushing;
a support tool comprising:
an outer head comprising a third plurality of teeth configured to mesh with the first plurality of teeth of the splined bushing; and
an inner head comprising a fourth plurality of teeth configured to mesh with the second plurality of teeth of the castellated bushing; and

wherein;
the lock bushing is configured to engage the castellated bushing and extend through a grip coupled to a rotor blade;
the shaft portion of the castellated bushing comprises an extended portion; and
the lock bushing comprises a recess configured to receive the extended portion and prevent rotation of the castellated bushing relative to the lock bushing.

6. The blade-fold bushing system of claim 5 , wherein the outer head is configured to rotate in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.

7. The blade-fold bushing system of claim 5 , wherein the inner head and the outer head are configured to rotate in opposite directions.

8. The blade-fold bushing system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a v-band clamp;
wherein the splined bushing comprises a sloped face configured to mate with the v-band clamp; and
wherein the outer head comprises a sloped face configured to mate with the v-band clamp.

9. The blade-fold bushing system of claim 5 , wherein the splined bushing further comprises a support tab configured to connect to the rotor blade.

10. The blade-fold bushing system of claim 5 , wherein the castellated bushing further comprises blade-fold bolt teeth that are configured to mesh with teeth of a blade-fold bolt.

11. A method of assembling a blade-fold bushing system, the method comprising:
securing a splined bushing in a blade tang, the splined bushing comprising a first plurality of teeth;
securing a lock bushing in a grip, the lock bushing being coaxially located with the splined bushing; and
inserting a castellated bushing into the splined bushing;
wherein:
the castellated bushing engages the lock bushing and comprises a second plurality of teeth and a shaft portion configured to coaxially fit within the splined bushing;
the castellated bushing comprises an extended portion on a bottom of the shaft portion; and
the lock bushing comprises a recess configured to receive the extended portion and prevent rotation of the castellated bushing relative to the lock bushing.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising inserting a blade-fold bolt into the castellated bushing to secure the castellated bushing to the lock bushing.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the splined bushing further comprises a support tab configured to connect to a rotor blade.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the splined bushing further comprises a sloped face configured to work with a v-band clamp.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the castellated bushing further comprises blade-fold bolt teeth that are configured to mesh with teeth of a blade-fold bolt.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lock bushing is secured to the grip via adhesive.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the splined bushing is secured to the blade tang via adhesive.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Shundo Ken
• Shimek Glenn Alan

Classifications

• B64U30/20

  Rotors; Rotor supports · CPC title

• B64U60/55

  the legs being also used as ground propulsion · CPC title

• B64U30/12

  Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep · CPC title

• B64C3/56

  Folding or collapsing to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft · CPC title

• B64C27/50 Primary

  Blades foldable to facilitate stowage of aircraft · CPC title