Rotor blade stowing system

US5868351A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. · US

Inventors

• Frank B. Stamps · Colleyville, US
• Joe J. Zierer · Harper, US
• Cecil E. Covington · Hurst, US
• Charles L. Baskin · Arlington, US
• Glenn Alan Shimek · Fort Worth, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 23, 1996
• Grant date: Feb 9, 1999
• Expiry date: May 23, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64C27/50
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Rotor blade stowing system for stowing rotor blades that conserves storage space without adding significant weight or cost to the aircraft. The system includes a rotary actuator disposed on a blade grip member. A rotor blade is pivotally connected to the blade grip member. The rotary actuator is operably coupled to a blade pivoting cam and a locking cam. The system includes a cam follower linkage which has a first end which includes a blade pivoting cam follower and a locking cam follower and a second end. The blade pivoting cam follower follows the blade pivoting cam. The locking cam follower follows the locking cam. The second end of the cam follower linkage is coupled to the blade grip member. The system includes a shaft rotatably coupled to the blade grip member, a locking linkage bell crank operably coupled to the shaft, a delay cam coupled to the blade grip member, and a locking linkage idler operably coupled to the locking linkage bell crank. The locking linkage idler includes a delay cam follower that follows the delay cam. The system includes a locking linkage which has a first end coupled to the locking cam and a second end coupled to the locking linkage idler.