Gimbaled tail rotor hub with spherical elastomeric centrifugal force bearing for blade retention and pitch change articulation
US9657582B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 13, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF01D7/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rotor hub comprises a gimbal assembly and an elastomeric centrifugal force bearing. The gimbal assembly is configured to transfer rotational movement of a mast to the rotor hub and to enable the rotor hub to flap relative to the mast. The elastomeric centrifugal force bearing is configured to withstand centrifugal force of a rotor blade when the mast is rotated and is configured to accommodate pitch changes of the rotor blade. A method comprises designing a gimbal assembly that enables a tail rotor hub to flap relative to a tail rotor mast. A centrifugal force bearing is selected that enables tail rotor blades to withstand centrifugal force and that allows for tail rotor blade pitch change articulation. Then, instructions are provided to use the gimbal assembly and the centrifugal force bearing in an in-plane tail rotor assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.