Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Andreas P F Bernhard

William Arthur Welsh

Brian Ernest Wake

Robert C Moffitt

Peter F Lorber

Michael S Torok

Geoffrey C R Davis

James P Cycon

Mark W Davis

Alexander I Khibnik

Virtual sensors can be used to monitor the loads on the system in determining damage accumulation, remaining useful life or retirement time of the components. A virtual sensor is a mathematical construct to infer a desired system measurement (e.g. a structural load) from readily available system state parameters (e.g. speed, weight, load factors, control settings, etc.). The accuracy of the virtual sensor depends upon the mapping between the desired measurement and the state parameters. A hybrid load monitoring system and method includes one or more direct or physical sensor measurements in addition to the plurality of virtual sensors. Signals from the physical sensors are included as an input (as opposed to an output) to the mapping between system state parameters and the various target sensor feature amplitudes.

Hybrid virtual load monitoring system and method

A multi-element rotor blade includes a main element and an active slat movable relative to the main element. The slat rotates and translates relative to the main element from a base position. The base position provides a compromise between minimum coefficient of drag C and maximum coefficient of lift C . In the advancing blade, since the airspeed thereof is significantly greater than the retreating blade, the slat is positively rotated from the base position to minimizes drag at low angles of attack. In the retreating blade, since the airspeed thereof is significantly lower than the advancing blade, the slat is negatively rotated and translated to maximize the coefficient of lift C .

Active control of multi-element rotor blade airfoils

An elastomeric coupler assembly having a helical elastomeric bearing movably supports an active slat relative to a main element. An inner elastomeric coupler assembly and an outer elastomeric coupler assembly support the slat therebetween. Centrifugal force operates to drive the slat to a first position and an actuator rod operates in tension to pull upon the inner elastomeric coupler assembly to drive the slat in opposition to the centrifugal force to a second position. The helical elastomeric bearing is layered such that it defines a section of a circular helix. The circular helix provides a coupling, which converts a linear input parallel to a virtual hinge axis into a rotary output to pitch the slat. In operation, centrifugal force operates to slide the slat outboard toward the blade tip such that the attached slat moves elastomerically along the helical arc of the helical elastomeric bearing to rotate the slat nose down. To retract the slat, the actuator operates to place the actuator rod under tension to pull upon the active member and retract the slat in opposition to centrifugal force.

Directional elastomeric coupler

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Shelton, CT, United States of America

Andreas P F Bernhard