Rotor redundant force retention system for VTOL and VSTOL aircraft

• US 5,059,094 A
• Filed: 10/13/1989
• Issued: 10/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Neathery, William D., Lufkin, Martin H., Robinson, Madison K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSON, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/420,958
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 416/103, 416/105, 416/131, 416/132 R, 416/134 A, 416/141, 416/230, 416/241 A
• US Class Current: 416/134.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/33 having flexing arms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/48 Root attachment to rotor head

Abstract

The system comprises a grip of composite material having belts, filament windings unidirectional material and fillers of off axis bias ply material for directing the CF exerted on the grip by the blade rotation to the clevis throat of the grip. The force is further directed through a CF fitting, a CF bearing and an OPCBA to the yoke, thereby maintaining the yoke in tension. Should this load path fail, the CF will be transmitted through the length of the grip to the IPCBA that will in turn load the yoke with the CF.

Claims

1. A redundant force retention system for attaching a helicopter rotor blade to the yoke of the helicopter, comprising:

a composite material grip having a clevis, a sleeve connected to said clevis, bolt holes for attaching said blade to said clevis, a clevis throat, and belts and filament windings for directing the centrifugal force created by blade rotation to the clevis throat;

a hollow cylindrical fitting for transmitting centrifugal forces, having a first and second extension for mating with the clevis throat, a first and second shoulder located in the fitting and a bore therethrough;

an elastomeric bearing having a force therethrough for transmitting centrifugal forces;

an elastomeric pitch change bearing having a spindle and bolting clevis for transmitting centrifugal forces;

a means for attaching said spindle to said elastomeric bearing;

a means for attaching said bolting clevis to said yoke;

the fitting is located in the clevis throat, mating the first and second extensions therewith, the elastomeric baring is located in the hollow cylindrical fitting and abuts the first shoulder thereof, the spindle of the pitch change bearing extends through the bore of the fitting and the bore in the elastomeric bearing and is attached to the elastomeric bearing such that the pitch change bearing abuts the second shoulder of the hollow cylindrical fitting; and

centrifugal force is exerted on the grip by the blade, said force is directed by the belts and filament windings to said clevis throat, through the fitting, the elastomeric bearing and pitch change bearing, thereby loading the yoke in tension.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an elastomeric inboard pitch change bearing having a housing abutting said yoke, means for attaching the grip to the yoke, a mating surface, a gap located between the mating surface and the housing; and

when centrifugal force is applied to the inboard pitch change bearing through the grip, the gap closes and the inboard pitch change bearing mates with the yoke, thereby transmitting the centrifugal force load to the yoke.