The Boeing Company

Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter Company

Dennis K Kennedy

Ahmed A Hassan

Friedrich K Straub

Daniel W Huff

James A Moore

David B Domzalski

Zach Keely Stahlecker

Saul Opie

Neal W Muylaert

William John Bigbee-Hansen

Joshua J Bracken

Jeffrey L Sorensen

Jonathan D Roesch

Robert J Murrill

Joshua Jeffrey Bracken

Zach K Stahlecker

The present disclosure provides sol-gels, sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one sol-gel is the reaction product of an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent, the sol-gel having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the sol-gel. At least one vehicle component comprises a sol-gel coating system, comprising a metal substrate and a sol-gel disposed on the metal substrate, and the sol-gel is the reaction product of an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent, the sol-gel having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the sol-gel.

Nonaqueous sol-gel for adhesion enhancement of water-sensitive materials

A rotor assembly comprises a rotor hub and rotor-blade assemblies. The rotor hub comprises rotor-blade supports. Each rotor-blade assembly is coupled to a respective one of the rotor-blade supports and comprises a flap axle, a hub connector, a rotor blade, and a torsion strap. The flap axle extends through a respective one of the rotor-blade supports and has a central flap-axle axis. The hub connector is pivotable relative to a rotor-blade support about the central flap-axle axis and defines a central hub-connector axis. The rotor blade is coupled to and is pivotable relative to the hub connector, and, together with the hub connector, is pivotable relative to a respective one of the rotor-blade supports about the central flap-axle axis. The torsion strap has a first end, coupled to the rotor blade, and a second end, through which the flap axle passes.

Rotor assemblies for rotorcraft

The present disclosure provides sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one sol-gel formulation has about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the sol-gel formulation and comprises an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent. At least one vehicle component comprises a sol-gel coating system comprising a metal substrate and a sol-gel formulation disposed on the metal substrate. The sol-gel formulation has about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the sol-gel formulation and comprises an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent.

The present disclosure provides methods for forming sol-gels, sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one method of forming a sol-gel includes mixing a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent to form a first mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the first mixture. The method includes mixing an organosilane with the first mixture to form a second mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the second mixture.

A joint assembly includes a first component formed from a first material and a second component including a portion that extends at least partially into the first component and that has an uneven outer profile. The first material is configured to form the first component into a shape that is substantially complementary to a shape of the portion to facilitate restricting movement of the second component in an axial direction.

Joint assembly and method of forming thereof

Systems and methods for blade attachment are proved. The systems and methods include an aircraft system having a rotor hub including a blade connector and a composite blade including a lug fitting assembly. The lug fitting assembly includes a fitting core including a lug fitting aperture, a lug bushing coupled within the lug fitting aperture, and an outer fitting substantially surrounding the fitting core.

Systems and methods for blade attachment

Methods of co-curing aligned annular supports in a tubular region of a composite structure, such as a rotor blade, are disclosed. Methods include assembling an uncured composite structure by positioning an inboard annular support and an outboard annular support around an arbor, forming reinforcement fiber into a tubular region in contact with the supports, and applying a matrix material to the reinforcement fiber. The inboard and outboard annular supports are substantially composed of metal. Methods also include concentrically aligning the arbor and the supports along a common axis by applying heat to cause differential expansion of the arbor with respect to the supports, wherein the differential expansion causes an interference fit of the supports against the arbor. Methods also include curing the uncured composite structure to form the composite structure.

Rotor assemblies and other composite structures with aligned bearing supports and methods of manufacture

A method for reducing bearing stress in a composite structure is disclosed. A composite structure comprises at least one coupling hole for coupling to the composite structure, and at least one bushing structure is coupled to the at least one coupling hole. A metal bushing retainer structure is coupled to the at least one bushing structure and the composite structure.

Composite blade root-end drill-through lug and attachment method

A composite structural member is provided. The structural member includes a tubular shaft having a mating region of stiffness, and possibly thickness, greater than another region of said shaft. The shaft defines a lumen, and a fitting is disposed in the lumen. The fitting has a coupling region that defines at least one recessed portion bounded by one or more non-recessed portions, and the mating region mates with the coupling region of said fitting. As such, the shaft and fitting are mechanically restrained from at least some relative movement due to interference of the shaft and the fitting. A sleeve may be coupled to said shaft, for example, by including a tubular inner surface that proximately surrounds at least part of said shaft and mating region, for discouraging expansion of the mating region of said shaft.

Composite structural member and method for producing the same

In an exemplary variable area nozzle, a fixed duct section has an inlet and an outlet oriented approximately perpendicular to the inlet. A controllable nozzle member is disposed adjacent the outlet of the fixed duct section. The controllable nozzle member has an area that is adjustable to maintain a substantially constant nozzle pressure ratio. The controllable nozzle member may include first and second flap doors hinged and pivotable in opposite directions between an open position and a closed position and that also may be hinged and pivotable in a same direction so thrust from gas exiting the nozzle is vectorable. When disposed in rotor tips of an aircraft capable of rotary wing flight and fixed wing flight, the variable area nozzle may maintain a substantially constant nozzle pressure ratio near an optimized nozzle pressure ratio as the aircraft transitions from rotary wing flight to fixed wing flight.

Reaction drive rotor/wing variable area nozzle

Composite structural members are provided including a fitting and a tubular shaft. The fitting has a coupling region defining at least one recessed portion bounded by one or more non-recessed portions. The recessed portion may extend circumferentially around the fitting to form a neck. The tubular shaft has a mating region and defines a lumen in which the fitting is disposed. The mating region of the shaft mates with the coupling region of the fitting to create interference between the shaft and fitting. Adhesive may be disposed between the mating region of the fitting and the coupling region of the shaft. The mating region of the shaft may be partially and proximately surrounded by a reinforcing member, and a sleeve may be coupled substantially concentrically to the shaft for discouraging separation of the reinforcing member and the mating region of the shaft. In some cases, adhesive is disposed between the reinforcing member and sleeve.

Composite structural member and method for making the same

A system for quasi-statically correcting tracking of rotor blades of a helicopter rotor during operation includes a trim tab mounted on each rotor blade and deflectable relative to the rotor blade so as to change a tracking path of the rotor blade, and a rotor track and balance analyzer that includes sensors for acquiring rotor tracking and balance information and is operable to process the rotor tracking and balance information so as to predetermine a new tab position to which the trim tab should be deflected for bringing the tracking path of a mistracking rotor blade into alignment with a reference path. The trim tab is deflected by an actuator mounted to the rotor blade, the actuator having an actuating element coupled with the trim tab and formed of a smart material such that the actuating element deforms proportional to a stimulus applied to the actuating element. An electrical locking device is included which is operable when de-energized to lock the trim tab against deflection, and operable when energized to unlock to permit the trim tab to be deflected. A trim actuation control system in communication with the rotor track and balance analyzer and the locking device is arranged to energize the locking device and to supply electrical power to the actuator so as to deflect the trim tab to the new tab position predetermined in the rotor track and balance analyzer, and to then de-energize the locking device and cut off the electrical power to the actuator. Thus, electrical power is supplied to the actuator only while the trim tab is being deflected, and is then discontinued once the tab has reached the desired position and the locking device has been de-energized to lock the tab against further movement.

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Dennis K Kennedy