Actuation system for an active element in a rotor blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9938006-B2
Application number	US-201213596141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2012
Priority date	Aug 28, 2012
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present application, an actuation system is configured for actuation of an airfoil member with a flap mechanism. The actuation system can include an upper drive tape and a lower drive tape, each partially wrapped around a first bearing and second bearing. An inboard frame can be actuated by at least one linear actuator. Similarly, an outboard frame can be actuated by at least one linear actuator. The inboard frame is coupled to the upper drive tape, while the outboard frame is coupled to the lower drive tape. An actuation of the inboard frame and outboard frame in a reciprocal manner acts move a flap input lever reciprocally upward and downward. A flap mechanism is configured to convert the movement of the flap input lever into rotational movements of the airfoil member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A frame member for an actuation system that is configured for actuating a moveable airfoil member on a rotor blade, the frame member comprising:
a center plate defining a horizontal center plane of the frame member;
a first track member located above the center plate;
a second track member located below the center plate;
an upper plate located above the first track member;
a lower plate located below the second track member; and
an extension member forming an extended arm of frame member;
wherein the geometry of the frame member forms at least a first pocket through the frame member;
wherein the frame member is configured to receive a linear actuator in the first pocket and transmit a linear force to a tape member coupled to the extension member.

2. The frame member according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an upper shoe member located between the center plate and the first track member.

3. The frame member according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower shoe member located between the center plate and the second track member.

4. The frame member according to claim 1 , wherein the first track and the second track are composite members having unidirectional fibers wound in an enclosed loop to form the first pocket.

5. The frame member according to claim 2 , wherein the upper shoe is a composite member having unidirectional fibers.

6. The frame member according to claim 3 , wherein the lower shoe is a composite member having unidirectional fibers.

7. The frame member according to claim 1 , wherein the frame member is configured to receive a linear actuator in the first pocket, such that an actuation force from the linear actuators is transmitted to the frame member.

8. The frame member according to claim 1 , the extension member comprising:
a filler member; and
a torsion box shell at least partially surrounding the filler member.

9. The frame member according to claim 8 , wherein the upper plate extends on top of the torsion box shell and the lower plate extends below the torsion box shell.

10. The frame member according to claim 1 , wherein the extension member has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.

11. The frame member according to claim 1 , wherein the frame member is a composite assembly.

12. The frame member according to claim 1 , wherein the combination of the center plate, the first track, the second track, the upper plate, the lower plate, and the extension member in a rigid composite assembly provides a stiffness sufficient for loads to be transferred from an actuator within the first pocket to a member coupled to the extension member.

13. The frame member according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured such that a plane of the frame is approximately parallel with a plane of the rotor blade.

14. A frame member for an actuation system in a rotor blade, the frame comprising:
a plurality of layers of composite material having a geometry that defines a pocket for housing a linear actuator;
an extension member positioned approximately perpendicular to an axis of the linear actuator, the extension member is configured for coupling to a drive tape at a portion of the drive tape located between a first bearing and a second bearing which collectively support the drive tape in tension;
wherein the extension member is configured for coupling to the drive tape such that the extension member can pull the drive tape in a direction parallel to the axis of the linear actuator.

15. The frame member according to claim 14 , wherein the extension member is configured as a torsion box to resist load deflection.

16. A frame member for an actuation system that is configured for actuating a moveable airfoil member on a rotor blade, the frame member comprising:
a center plate defining a horizontal center plane of the frame member;
a first track member located above the center plate;
a second track member located below the center plate;
an upper plate located above the first track member;
a lower plate located below the second track member; and
an extension member forming an extended arm of frame member, the extension member comprising a filler member and a torsion box shell at least partially surrounding the filler member;
wherein the geometry of the frame member forms at least a first pocket through the frame member;
wherein the upper plate extends on top of the torsion box shell and the lower plate extends below the torsion box shell.

Assignees

• Schank Troy C
• Kintzinger Peter H
• Knoll Jonathan A
• Foskey Christopher E
• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Schank Troy C
• Kintzinger Peter H
• Knoll Jonathan A
• Foskey Christopher E

Classifications

• B64C2027/7266

  actuated by actuators · CPC title

• B64C27/615 Primary

  including flaps mounted on blades · CPC title

• Y10T74/18888

  Reciprocating to or from oscillating · CPC title

• Y02T50/34

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02T50/30

  Wing lift efficiency · CPC title