Inertial weight system for main rotor blades

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12491986-B2
Application number	US-202318545704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2023
Priority date	Dec 19, 2023
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

A rotor-blade weight-carrier system includes a weight carrier positioned within a rotor blade and a plurality of weights positioned within the weight carrier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rotor-blade weight-carrier system comprising:
a weight carrier positioned within a rotor blade, wherein a shape of the weight carrier comprises a convex leading edge and a trailing concave section; and a plurality of unitary weights positioned within the weight carrier; wherein at least one of the plurality of unitary weights varies in width relative to another of the plurality of unitary weights; wherein a perpendicular distance between a point on a leading edge to a same point directly below on a trailing edge of at least one of the plurality of unitary weights varies relative a perpendicular distance between a point on a leading edge to a same point directly below on a trailing edge of another of the plurality of unitary weights.

2 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the weight carrier comprises a material selected from fiberglass and a composite material.

3 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 1 , wherein: the plurality of unitary weights comprise at least one of Tungsten and a Tungsten alloy; and
a density of the plurality of unitary weights is greater than a density of the weight carrier.

4 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the weight carrier comprises a shape that conforms to an available volume at a portion of the rotor blade where the weight carrier is to be installed.

5 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 4 , wherein:
the weight carrier is positioned adjacent a leading edge of the rotor blade; and the shape comprises:
two trailing edges at terminal ends of the trailing concave section.

6 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 5 , wherein the trailing concave section is shaped so as to maximize surface-area contact between the weight carrier and an internal structural component of the rotor blade.

7 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 1 , wherein: the plurality of unitary weights are positioned within cavities formed in the weight carrier;
at least one of the plurality of unitary weights varies in at least one of density and diameter relative to another of the plurality of unitary weights; and wherein at least one of the cavities is adapted to receive weights having variable density or diameter.

8 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor-blade weight-carrier system is positioned adjacent a leading edge of the rotor blade.

9 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor-blade weight-carrier system is positioned closer to an outboard tip end of the rotor blade than a root end of the rotor blade.

10 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of unitary weights are identical in material.

11 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of unitary weights are positioned in cavities within the weight carrier.

12 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 11 , wherein the cavities are drilled parallel to a chordwise direction of the rotor blade.

13 . A rotor-blade weight-carrier system comprising:
a composite weight carrier positioned within a rotor blade, wherein the composite weight carrier comprises a leading edge and a trailing concave section; and a plurality of unitary metal weights positioned within the composite weight carrier; wherein at least one of the plurality of unitary metal weights varies width relative to another of the plurality of unitary metal weights; and wherein a perpendicular distance between a point on a leading edge to a same point directly below on a trailing edge of at least one of the plurality of unitary metal weights varies relative a perpendicular distance between a point on a leading edge to a same point directly below on a trailing edge of another of the plurality of unitary metal weights.

14 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of unitary metal weights comprise Tungsten.

15 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 13 , wherein the composite weight carrier comprises two trailing edges at terminal ends of the trailing concave section.

16 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 15 , wherein the leading edge is positioned adjacent a leading edge of the rotor blade.

17 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 15 , wherein the trailing concave section is shaped so as to maximize surface-area contact between the composite weight carrier and an internal structural component of the rotor blade.

18 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of unitary metal weights are positioned within cavities drilled in the composite weight carrier.

19 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of unitary metal weights are identical in material.

20 . The rotor-blade weight-carrier system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of metal unitary weights are oriented in cavities drilled parallel to a chordwise direction of the rotor blade.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Huber Bryan
• Barnes Brian Erik
• Miller Gary

Classifications

• B64C27/473

  Constructional features · CPC title

• B64C11/008 Primary

  characterised by vibration absorbing or balancing means · CPC title