Main rotor shaft mounted hydraulic pressure system

• US 6,908,286 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Eadie, William J., Leskow, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kershteyn, Igor
• Application Number:
  US10/617,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20050008490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 416/170.R, 416/142, 416/143, 416/157.R, 416/95, 417/460, 417/461, 417/462, 92/58, 92/57
• US Class Current: 416/170.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2027/7272 of the electro-hydraulic type
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/32 Rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/615 including flaps mounted on blades
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/64 using fluid pressure, e.g. having fluid power amplification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/30 Wing lift efficiency

Abstract

A rotor system includes a hydraulic pressure system located within a rotor shaft along an axis or rotation. The hydraulic pressure system is within the rotating field such that fluid pressure is generated and supplied from within the rotational field without the need to cross a rotational interface. Differential rotation between the rotor shaft and a standpipe rotates a hydraulic pump body relative a hydraulic pump shaft. The hydraulic pressure system is contained within a support structure so as to be readily mounted and removed from the rotor hub for replacement or maintenance. A gear system is mounted to the support structure between the standpipe and the hydraulic pump shaft to step-up or step-down the relative rotation between the rotor shaft and the standpipe.

Claims

1. A hydraulic pressure system for a rotor hub assembly comprising:

a support structure defined along an axis said support structure removably mounted at least partially within the rotor hub assembly along an axis of rotation of the rotor hub assembly for rotation with the rotor hub assembly;

a hydraulic pump comprising a pump body and a pump shaft;

said pump body mounted within said support structure for rotation with said support structure relative to said pump shaft.

2. The hydraulic pressure system as recited in claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a cylinder includes a flange radially extending therefrom.

3. The hydraulic pressure system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a high-pressure fluid reservoir and a lower pressure fluid reservoir mounted to said pump body, said high-pressure fluid reservoir and said lower pressure fluid reservoir streamlined in shape to minimize aerodynamic drag.

4. The hydraulic pressure system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a gear system which drives said pump shaft, said gear system including a sliding but non-rotational interface to provide a fastener-free rotational coupling between said gear system and a rotor standpipe.

5. The hydraulic pressure system as recited in claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a flanged cylinder mounted within a main rotor shaft.

6. The hydraulic pressure system as recited in claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a cylinder having a flange extending radially therefrom, said flange mounted to a rotor hub and said cylinder mounted within a main rotor shaft, a cylinder outer diameter of said cylinder spaced away from an inner diameter of said main rotor shaft.

7. The hydraulic pressure system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a gear system mounted between said pump shaft and a rotationally fixed standpipe.

8. A rotor hub assembly for a rotary wing aircraft comprising:

a standpipe mounted along an axis of rotation;

a main rotor shaft mounted concentric with said standpipe and along said axis of rotation,

said main rotor shaft rotationally mounted relative said standpipe; and

a hydraulic pump mounted along said axis of rotation, said hydraulic pump comprising a pump body mounted for rotation relative a pump shaft mounted to said standpipe.

9. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said standpipe is mounted for rotation opposite said main rotor shaft.

10. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a flanged cylinder mounted within said main rotor shaft, said pump body mounted to said flanged cylinder.

11. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a flanged cylinder mounted to a rotor hub assembly, said pump body mounted to said flanged cylinder.

12. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a cylinder having a flange extending radially therefrom, said flange mounted to a rotor hub and said cylinder mounted within said main rotor shaft, a cylinder outer diameter of said cylinder spaced away from an inner diameter of said main rotor shaft.

13. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 12, further comprising a conduit passing between said cylinder outer diameter and said inner diameter of said main rotor shaft.

14. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said conduit comprises an electrical conduit.

15. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said conduit comprises a fiber optic cable.

16. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a cylinder having a flange extending radially therefrom, said flange mounted to a segment of said main rotor shaft and said cylinder mounted within said main rotor shaft, a cylinder outer diameter of said cylinder spaced away from an inner diameter of said main rotor shaft.

17. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 16, further comprising a conduit passing between said cylinder outer diameter and said inner diameter of said main rotor shaft.

18. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein said conduit comprises an electrical conduit.

19. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein said conduit comprises a fiber optic cable.

20. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a gear system mounted between said pump shaft and said standpipe.

21. The rotor hub assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a harmonic drive system mounted between said pump shaft and said standpipe.

22. A hydraulic pressure system for a rotor hub assembly comprising:

a support structure defined along an axis, said support structure comprises a flanged cylinder mounted within a main rotor shaft;

a hydraulic pump comprising a pump body and a pump shaft;

said pump body mounted within said support structure for rotation relative said pump shaft.

23. A hydraulic pressure system for a rotor hub assembly comprising:

a support structure defined along an axis, said support structure comprises a cylinder having a flange extending radially therefrom, said flange mounted to a rotor hub and said cylinder mounted within a main rotor shaft, a cylinder outer diameter of said cylinder spaced away from an inner diameter of said main rotor shaft;

a hydraulic pump comprising a pump body and a pump shaft;

said pump body mounted within said support structure for rotation relative said pump shaft.

24. A hydraulic pressure system for a rotor hub assembly comprising:

a support structure defined along an axis;

a hydraulic pump comprising a pump body and a pump shaft;

a gear system mounted between said pump shaft and a rotationally fixed standpipe;

said pump body mounted within said support structure for rotation relative said pump shaft.