United Technologies Corporation

John H Engelmann, Jr

Kevin A White

A pitch actuation system restraint (PASR) device that provides, inter alia, protection for the pitch actuation system of a helicopter having a main rotor assembly configured for main rotor blade folding operations. The PASR device includes permanent adapter brackets that are permanently mounted in combination with the rotor hub arms of the main rotor assembly. The PASR device further includes a temporary adapter bracket and quick release pins for each main rotor blade to be folded. Prior to implementing blade folding operations, a temporary adapter bracket is temporarily secured in combination with the pitch control horn of each main rotor blade to be folded and the permanent adapter bracket of the adjacent rotor hub arm by means of the quick release pins. Each temporary adapter bracket and permanent adapter bracket as temporarily secured in combination functions as a rigid structural interconnection between the corresponding pitch control horn and the main rotor hub assembly that effectively locks the pitch control horn in position during blade folding operations such that displacements induced in the main rotor blade during blade folding operations cannot be coupled into the pitch actuation system.

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Cheshire, CT, United States of America

John H Engelmann, Jr