Patent · US Expired

Helicopter blade folding system

US4252504A · kind A · utility

31Cited by

6References

7Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Textron Inc. · US

Inventors

Cecil E. Covington · Hurst, US
David Snyder · Bainbridge Island, US

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 10, 1978
Grant date	Feb 24, 1981
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 10, 1998

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB64C27/50
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for folding a helicopter rotor blade (16) for storage. The blade (16) is secured to a grip (12) by blade bolts (18, 20) which are locked in place by a latch plate (22). Each bolt (18, 20) has an annular groove (30, 31) in which is mated a corresponding aperture (42, 46) in the latch plate (22). To fold the blade (16) the latch plate (22) is translated against the tension of spring (24) to expose a blade bolt (18) to an enlarged aperture (40). This bolt (18) can then be removed to permit pivoting of the blade (16) about the remaining bolt (20). To further secure the latch plate (22), a cap (54) is provided to lock the latch plate (22) to the blade bolt (18).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.