×

Rotor assembly having collective pitch control

  • US 10,351,232 B2
  • Filed: 05/26/2017
  • Issued: 07/16/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2017
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A rotor assembly for an aircraft operable to generate a variable thrust output at a constant rotational speed, the rotor assembly comprising:

  • a mast rotatable at the constant speed about a mast axis;

    a rotor hub coupled to and rotatable with the mast, the rotor hub including a plurality of spindle grips extending generally radially outwardly, each of the spindle grips operable to rotate about a pitch change axis and each of the spindle grips including a pinion gear;

    a plurality of rotor blades each coupled to one of the spindle grips and rotatable about the respective pitch change axis; and

    a collective pitch control mechanism coupled to and rotatable with the rotor hub, the collective pitch control mechanism including a spider assembly having a plurality of arms each including a rack gear that mates with one of the pinion gears;

    wherein, actuation of the collective pitch control mechanism translates the spider assembly relative to the rotor hub to rotate each spindle grip about the respective pitch change axis to collectively control the pitch of the rotor blades, thereby generating the variable thrust output.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×