Blade fold method and apparatus for a tilt rotor hub

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933986-B2
Application number	US-201816016280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2018
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A folding rotor blade assembly includes a blade fold support and a blade-fold actuator system coupled to the blade fold support. The blade-fold actuator system includes a motor, a tab configured to selectively prevent rotation of a blade tang of a rotor blade, and a cam connected to the blade fold support and coupled to the motor, the cam configured to move the tab between a locked position that prevents rotation of the blade tang and an unlocked position that permits rotation of the blade tang.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A folding rotor blade assembly comprising:
a blade fold support; and
a blade-fold actuator system coupled to the blade fold support and comprising:
a motor;
a tab rotatably coupled to a shaft of the blade-fold actuator system and configured to rotate into and out of engagement with a blade tang of a rotor blade to selectively prevent rotation of the blade tang;
a cam connected to the blade fold support and coupled to the motor, the cam configured to rotate the tab between a locked position that prevents rotation of the blade tang and an unlocked position that permits rotation of the blade tang, wherein the tab comprises a tapered face that contacts the blade tang in the locked position;
a track; and
a track linkage comprising a first end coupled to the track and a second end connected to the blade fold support.

2. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second blade fold support; and
wherein the blade-fold actuator system further comprises:
a second tab configured to rotate into and out of engagement with a second blade tang of the rotor blade; and
a second cam connected to the second blade fold support and coupled to the cam via a linkage, the second cam configured to rotate the second tab of the blade-fold actuator system between a second locked position that prevents rotation of the second blade tang and a second unlocked position that permits rotation of the second blade tang.

3. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 2 , wherein the blade-fold actuator system further comprises an arm connected to the blade tang.

4. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a pitch lock pin coupled to the second cam and configured to lock a pitch of the rotor blade when the second tab is in the second unlocked position.

5. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a guide configured to receive the pitch lock pin.

6. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the track is configured to allow the track linkage to move therethrough for a range of motion before the motor begins to rotate the rotor blade.

7. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the blade fold support comprises a slot configured to accommodate the blade tang.

8. A folding rotor blade system comprising:
a yoke;
a grip coupled to the yoke via an inboard bearing assembly;
a rotor blade coupled to the grip via an outboard bearing assembly;
a blade fold support connected to the grip; and
a blade-fold actuator system coupled to the blade fold support and comprising:
a motor;
a tab rotatably coupled to a shaft of the blade-fold actuator system and configured to rotate into and out of engagement with a blade tang of the rotor blade to selectively prevent rotation of the blade tang;
a cam connected to the blade fold support and coupled to the motor, the cam configured to rotate the tab between a locked position that prevents rotation of the blade tang and an unlocked position that permits rotation of the blade tang, wherein the tab comprises a tapered face that contacts the blade tang in the locked position;
a track; and
a track linkage comprising a first end coupled to the track and a second end connected to the blade fold support.

9. The folding rotor blade system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second blade fold support; and
wherein the blade-fold actuator system comprises:

a second tab; and
a second cam connected to the second blade fold support and coupled to the cam via a linkage, the second cam configured to rotate the second tab of the blade-fold actuator system between a second locked position that prevents rotation of a second blade tang and a second unlocked position that permits rotation of the second blade tang.

10. The folding rotor blade system of claim 9 , further comprising a pitch lock pin coupled to the second cam and configured to lock a pitch of the rotor blade when the second tab is in the second unlocked position.

11. The folding rotor blade system of claim 10 , further comprising a guide configured to receive the pitch lock pin.

12. The folding rotor blade system of claim 9 , wherein the blade-fold actuator system further comprises an arm connected to the blade tang.

13. The folding rotor blade system of claim 8 , wherein the track is configured to allow the track linkage to move therethrough for a range of motion before the motor begins to rotate the rotor blade.

14. A folding rotor blade assembly comprising:
a first blade fold support;
a second blade fold support; and
a blade-fold actuator system coupled to the first blade fold support and comprising:
a motor;
a first tab rotatably coupled to a shaft of the blade-fold actuator system and configured to rotate into and out of engagement with a first blade tang of a rotor blade to selectively prevent rotation of the first blade tang;
a first cam connected to the first blade fold support and coupled to the motor, the first cam configured to rotate the first tab between a locked position that prevents rotation of the first blade tang and an unlocked position that permits rotation of the first blade tang;
a second tab configured to rotate into and out of engagement with a second blade tang of the rotor blade;
a second cam connected to the second blade fold support and coupled to the first cam via a linkage, the second cam configured to rotate the second tab of the blade-fold actuator system between a second locked position that prevents rotation of the second blade tang and a second unlocked position that permits rotation of the second blade tang;
a track; and
a track linkage comprising a first end coupled to the track and a second end connected to the first blade fold support.

15. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 14 , wherein the track is configured to allow the track linkage to move therethrough for a range of motion before the motor begins to rotate the rotor blade.

16. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 14 , wherein the blade-fold actuator system further comprises an arm connected to the first blade tang.

17. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a pitch lock pin coupled to the second cam and configured to lock a pitch of the rotor blade when the second tab is in the second unlocked position.

18. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 17 , further comprising a guide configured to receive the pitch lock pin.

19. The folding rotor blade assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first blade fold support comprises a slot configured to accommodate the first blade tang.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Paulson Jared Mark
• Shundo Ken

Classifications

• B64C3/56

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

• F16H37/122

  for interconverting rotary motion and oscillating motion · CPC title

• B64C29/0033 Primary

  the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage · CPC title

• B64C27/50 Primary

  Blades foldable to facilitate stowage of aircraft · CPC title