Rotor sequencing for dual rotor aircraft
First Claim
1. An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage having first and second rotor stations;
a first rotor assembly positioned proximate the first rotor station, the first rotor assembly including a first rotor hub and first rotor blades having support arms pivotably coupled to the first rotor hub;
a second rotor assembly positioned proximate the second rotor station, the second rotor assembly including a second rotor hub and second rotor blades pivotably coupled to the second rotor hub; and
a sequencing cam positioned between the first and second rotor stations and coupled to the second rotor blades;
wherein, the first rotor blades and the second rotor blades have deployed configurations extending radially from the fuselage and stowed configurations extending parallel with the fuselage;
wherein, the sequencing cam has a retracted orientation when the second rotor blades are in the stowed configuration; and
wherein, the sequencing cam has an extended orientation when the second rotor blades are in the deployed configuration in which the sequencing cam props the support arms of the first rotor blades preventing transition of the first rotor blades from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft has a fuselage, a first rotor assembly having a first rotor hub and first rotor blades pivotably coupled to the first rotor hub and a second rotor assembly having a second rotor hub and second rotor blades pivotably coupled to the second rotor hub. The first and second rotor blades have deployed configurations extending generally radially from the fuselage and stowed configurations extending generally parallel with the fuselage. A sequencing cam, positioned between the first and second rotor hubs, is coupled to the second rotor blades. The sequencing cam has a retracted orientation when the second rotor blades are in the stowed configuration and an extended orientation when the second rotor blades are in the deployed configuration in which the sequencing cam props support arms of the first rotor blades preventing transition of the first rotor blades from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aircraft comprising:
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a fuselage having first and second rotor stations; a first rotor assembly positioned proximate the first rotor station, the first rotor assembly including a first rotor hub and first rotor blades having support arms pivotably coupled to the first rotor hub; a second rotor assembly positioned proximate the second rotor station, the second rotor assembly including a second rotor hub and second rotor blades pivotably coupled to the second rotor hub; and a sequencing cam positioned between the first and second rotor stations and coupled to the second rotor blades; wherein, the first rotor blades and the second rotor blades have deployed configurations extending radially from the fuselage and stowed configurations extending parallel with the fuselage; wherein, the sequencing cam has a retracted orientation when the second rotor blades are in the stowed configuration; and wherein, the sequencing cam has an extended orientation when the second rotor blades are in the deployed configuration in which the sequencing cam props the support arms of the first rotor blades preventing transition of the first rotor blades from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of sequencing rotors blades of an aircraft having a fuselage, a first rotor assembly having a first rotor hub and first rotor blades, a second rotor assembly having a second rotor hub and second rotor blades and a sequencing cam positioned between the first and second rotor hubs and coupled to the second rotor blades, the method comprising:
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transitioning the first rotor blades from a stowed configuration extending parallel with the fuselage to a deployed configuration extending radially from the fuselage by rotating the first rotor hub; transitioning the second rotor blades from a stowed configuration extending parallel with the fuselage to a deployed configuration extending radially from the fuselage by rotating the second rotor hub; translating the sequencing cam from a retracted orientation to an extended orientation responsive to transitioning the second rotor blades; and preventing transitioning of the first rotor blades from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration by propping support arms of the first rotor blades with the sequencing cam in the extended orientation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of sequencing rotors blades of an aircraft having a fuselage, a first rotor assembly having a first rotor hub and first rotor blades, a second rotor assembly having a second rotor hub and second rotor blades and a sequencing cam positioned between the first and second rotor hubs and coupled to the second rotor blades, the method comprising:
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rotating the first rotor hub with the first rotor blades in a deployed configuration extending radially from the fuselage; rotating the second rotor hub with the second rotor blades in a deployed configuration extending radially from the fuselage; preventing transition of the first rotor blades from the deployed configuration to a stowed configuration extending parallel with the fuselage by propping support arms of the first rotor blades with the sequencing cam in an extended orientation; transitioning the second rotor blades from the deployed configuration to a stowed configuration extending parallel with the fuselage by stopping rotation of the second rotor blades; unpropping the support arms of the first rotor blades by translating the sequencing cam from the extended orientation to a retracted orientation responsive to transitioning the second rotor hub; and transitioning the first rotor blades from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration by stopping rotation of the first rotor hub after unpropping the support arms. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification