Composite rotor system using two race track style cantilevered yokes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505490-B2
Application number	US-201313801733-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A hub system comprises at least one yoke, at least one shear bearing, and at least one mast adapter. The at least one mast adapter is configured to support the at least one yoke and the at least one shear bearing, and the at least one yoke has a flapping hinge that is non-coincident with a flapping hinge of the at least one shear bearing. Another hub system comprises a stacked yoke and a mast adapter. The mast adapter is configured to transfer rotation from a rotor mast to the hub system to rotate the hub system about a central axis of rotation. The mast adapter is further configured to support the stacked yoke such that each yoke in the stacked yoke is configured to accommodate at least some amount of rotation about an axis that is perpendicular to or about perpendicular to the central axis of rotation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hub system comprising:
at least one race-track style yoke having an annular shape and comprising a mast section, an outboard section, and a flexure section extending between the mast section and the outboard section, the at least one race-track style yoke comprising a first race-track style yoke and a second race-track style yoke;
at least one shear bearing; and
at least one mast adapter comprising a plurality of mast adapter arms configured to attach to and support the at least one race-track style yoke and directly attach to and support the at least one shear bearing, the plurality of mast adapter arms comprising a first set of opposing arms extending from an intermediate member of the mast adapter and a second set of opposing arms extending from the intermediate member, the intermediate member comprising a cylindrical body having a central mast aperture configured to attach to a rotor mast, the first set of opposing arms attached to the intermediate member at a first end of the intermediate member, and the second set of opposing arms attached to the intermediate member at a second end of the intermediate member such that the first set of opposing arms is physically separate from the second set of opposing arms, the first set of opposing arms connecting to the first race track style yoke, and the second set of opposing arms connecting to the second race track style yoke;
wherein the flexure section is free from direct contact from the at least one mast adapter; and
wherein the at least one race-track style yoke has a flapping hinge that is non-coincident with a flapping hinge of the at least one shear bearing.

2. The hub system of claim 1 , wherein the flapping hinge of the at least one yoke is located inboard of the flapping hinge of the at least one shear bearing.

3. The hub system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one yoke comprises a built in pre-cone angle and the flexure section, and wherein the at least one mast adapter is configured to support the at least one yoke without extending into the flexure section.

4. The hub system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mast adapter is configured to support the at least one yoke through at least one aperture in a center or about the center of the mast section.

5. The hub system of claim 1 , wherein each arm of the plurality of mast adapter arms comprises at least one aperture that is configured to connect to a center or about the center of the mast section of a yoke of the at least one race-track style yoke.

6. The hub system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises multiple apertures, and wherein the multiple apertures are aligned in a cruciform shape.

7. The hub system of claim 1 , further comprising a damper assembly supported by the mast adapter arms, wherein the damper assembly comprises a damper mount extending from each of the plurality of mast adapter arms, and wherein the flexure section is free from direct contact with the damper assembly.

8. The hub system of claim 1 , further comprising a blade grip assembly supported by the at least one shear bearing, wherein the flexure section is free from direct contact with the blade grip assembly.

9. The hub system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mast adapter arms comprises four arms extending outward from the central mast aperture and defining a cruciform shape.

10. The hub system of claim 9 , wherein the first set of opposing arms comprises two of the four arms of the mast adapter and connects to the first race track style yoke, and wherein the second set of opposing arms comprises a remaining two of the four arms of the mast adapter and connects to the second race track style yoke.

11. The hub system of claim 10 , wherein the first set of opposing arms lie within a first plane at a first level, and the second set of opposing arms lie within a second plane at a second level offset from the first level.

12. The hub system of claim 11 , wherein the second set of opposing arms of the mast adapter fits within a central aperture of the first race track style yoke.

13. The hub system of claim 9 , wherein the central mast aperture of the mast adapter is configured to engage the mast to transfer rotational movement from the mast to the mast adapter.

14. The hub system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mast adapter comprises a top mast adapter to connect to a top side of the at least one race track style yoke and a bottom mast adapter to connect to a bottom side of the at least one race track style yoke.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Maresh Andrew
• Stamps Frank Bradley
• Tisdale Patrick Ryan
• Wardlaw Robert
• Haldeman Andrew
• Sutton Drew

Classifications

• B64C27/33 Primary

  having flexing arms · CPC title

• B64C27/48

  Root attachment to rotor head · CPC title

• B64C11/12

  flexible · CPC title

• B64C27/35 Primary

  having elastomeric joints · CPC title

• B64C11/02

  Hub construction · CPC title