Folding of rotorcraft rotor blades
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rotorcraft, comprising:
- a body;
a wing coupled to the body;
a power train coupled to at least one of the body or the wing and comprising a power source and a shaft in mechanical communication with the power source;
a tiltrotor assembly pivotally coupled to the wing and in mechanical communication with the shaft, the tiltrotor assembly comprising;
a hub in mechanical communication with the shaft;
a rotor blade in mechanical communication with the hub and pivotable about an axis of rotation;
a swashplate comprising a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion;
a pitch link coupled to the rotating portion of the swashplate and in mechanical communication with the rotor blade; and
an actuator coupled to the non-rotating portion of the swashplate and operable to reposition the swashplate from a first position to a second position such that the pitch links pivot the rotor blade from a deployed position to a folded position.
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, a rotor blade rotation system includes a hub, a rotor blade in mechanical communication with the hub and pivotable about an axis of rotation, a swashplate, a pitch link, and an actuator. The swashplate includes a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion. The pitch link is coupled to the rotating portion of the swashplate and in mechanical communication with the rotor blade. The actuator is coupled to the non-rotating portion of the swashplate and operable to reposition the swashplate from a first position to a second position such that the pitch links pivot the rotor blade from a deployed position to a folded position.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A rotorcraft, comprising:
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a body; a wing coupled to the body; a power train coupled to at least one of the body or the wing and comprising a power source and a shaft in mechanical communication with the power source; a tiltrotor assembly pivotally coupled to the wing and in mechanical communication with the shaft, the tiltrotor assembly comprising; a hub in mechanical communication with the shaft; a rotor blade in mechanical communication with the hub and pivotable about an axis of rotation; a swashplate comprising a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion; a pitch link coupled to the rotating portion of the swashplate and in mechanical communication with the rotor blade; and an actuator coupled to the non-rotating portion of the swashplate and operable to reposition the swashplate from a first position to a second position such that the pitch links pivot the rotor blade from a deployed position to a folded position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A rotor blade rotation system, comprising:
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a hub; a rotor blade in mechanical communication with the hub and pivotable about an axis of rotation; a swashplate comprising a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion; a pitch link coupled to the rotating portion of the swashplate and in mechanical communication with the rotor blade; and an actuator coupled to the non-rotating portion of the swashplate and operable to reposition the swashplate from a first position to a second position such that the pitch links pivot the rotor blade from a deployed position to a folded position. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification