Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

United Technologies Corporation

Other

Kevin P Leahy

Corey D Jones

Richard Joseph Simkulak

David A Kovalsky

Wonsub Kim

Frank M Caputo

William C Reinfelder

Daniel Ciesielski

A main rotor blade assembly is provided including a spar which comprises a main section. A main core is positioned adjacent a trailing side of the main section of the spar. A tip assembly includes a main tip core and a tip end pocket core. The tip assembly is positioned adjacent an outboard end of the main core and the spar such that the main tip core is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the main core and the tip end pocket core is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the spar. At least a portion of both the main tip core and the tip end pocket core comprises a high density core. An upper composite skin and a lower composite skin extend over the spar, the main core, the main tip core, and the tip end pocket core. A portion of the upper composite skin and the lower composite skin has a thickness sufficient to be load bearing.

Main rotor blade with composite integral skin and cuff

A method of assembling a rotor blade assembly includes determining a first spanwise moment of a first component of the rotor blade assembly and comparing the first spanwise moment to a target first spanwise moment. The first spanwise moment of the first component is adjusted based on a result of the comparison. A second spanwise moment of a second component of the rotor blade assembly is determined and compared to a target second spanwise moment. The second spanwise moment of the second component is adjusted based on a result of the comparison. The first component is assembled to the second component, resulting in a rotor blade assembly meeting a target spanwise moment of the rotor blade assembly.

Method of assembling and balancing rotor blades

A rotor blade for a rotary-wing aircraft includes a core member having a first end that extends to a second end, and a spar member positioned about the core member. The spar member includes a first end section that extends to a second end section. A tip core assembly is mounted at the second end section of the spar member. The tip core assembly is formed from a honeycombed material. The rotor blade also includes a rotor blade skin mounted about the spar member and the tip core assembly.

Rotor blade for a rotary-wing aircraft

A main rotor blade assembly includes a main spar with an integral cuff. The main spar is directly to a rotor hub assembly through the integral cuff.

Main rotor blade with integral cuff

A main rotor blade assembly includes a tip cap removably mountable to an outboard end section of a forward tip spar section and an aft tip spar section.

Main rotor blade with removable tip cap

A main rotor blade assembly having a blade skin bonded to a main spar and a tip spar.

Main rotor blade with integral tip section

A main rotor blade assembly includes a tip spar which defines a tip spar non-straight form, an upper blade skin which defines an upper blade skin non-straight form adjacent to the tip spar non-straight form and a lower blade skin which defines a lower blade skin non-straight form adjacent to the tip spar non-straight form.

An apparatus for installing a leading-edge sheath onto a helicopter main rotor blade subassembly, including a lower assembly having a leading-edge sheath contour nest configured for supporting the leading-edge sheath, opposed carriage members connected to a base, wherein each of the opposed carriage members supports a plurality of suction cups and is capable of synchronized translational movement relative to the leading-edge sheath contour nest between an engaged position wherein the plurality of suction cups are in abutting engagement with the leading-edge sheath, and a disengaged position where the plurality of suction cups are disengaged from the leading-edge sheath. A vacuum system is connected in fluid communication with the plurality of suction cups and is capable of providing vacuum pressure to the plurality of suction cups, whereby the vacuum pressure generates suction forces between the plurality of suction cups and the leading-edge sheath when the opposed carriage members are in the engaged position. An upper assembly is disposed in combination with the lower assembly, and comprises a plurality of stanchions connected to the base of the lower assembly, and a contour clamp connected to each of the stanchions capable of translational movement relative to the leading-edge sheath contour nest. The contour clamps are configured for supporting the helicopter main rotor blade subassembly and function to facilitate insertion of the helicopter main rotor blade subassembly into the leading-edge sheath.

Apparatus for installing a leading-edge sheath onto a helicopter main

An apparatus for assembling a helicopter main rotor blade subassembly which includes a lower airfoil skin, a core, an upper airfoil skin, and a spar assembly having a tip end and a root end, the apparatus including a lower assembly including a base having a contoured upper airfoil nest, wherein the contoured upper airfoil nest has a root end and a tip end, at least two guide ramps disposed proximal to the contoured upper airfoil nest, wherein at least one of the guide ramps is disposed proximal to the root end and at least one of the guide ramps is disposed proximal to the tip end, and a plurality of leading-edge pusher cams disposed proximal to the contoured upper airfoil nest. An upper assembly configured for mating with the lower assembly is provided, and includes a support structure and a flexible impervious membrane supported by the support structure, wherein the flexible impervious membrane and the contoured upper airfoil nest define a molding cavity therebetween upon mating of the upper assembly to the lower assembly.

Apparatus for assembling a helicopter main rotor blade subassembly

A method for fabricating a helicopter blade subassembly includes the steps of providing a blade compaction apparatus having a lower assembly configured for mating with an upper assembly. The lower assembly includes a base having a contoured upper airfoil nest with at least two guide ramps and a plurality of leading-edge pusher cams disposed proximal thereto. The upper assembly includes a support structure supporting a flexible impervious membrane, wherein the flexible impervious membrane and the contoured upper airfoil nest define a molding cavity therebetween upon mating of the upper assembly to the lower assembly. The method further includes disposing the upper airfoil skin and the core in combination with the contoured upper airfoil nest, and then connecting a tip end support insert and a root end support insert in combination with the spar assembly, wherein each of the support inserts include guide members. The spar assembly is located in chordwise alignment in the contoured upper airfoil nest by driving the guide members into conics in the guide ramps and driving the spar assembly into a core conic with the leading-edge pusher cams. The lower airfoil skin is then disposed in combination with the core and the spar to form the helicopter blade subassembly, and then the upper assembly is mated to the lower assembly. The air within the molding cavity is then evacuated such that evacuating the air causes the flexible impervious membrane to apply compaction forces to the helicopter blade subassembly.

Methods for fabricating a helicopter main rotor blade

Apparatus and methods for fabricating a helicopter main rotor blade include a compaction fixture for assembling and compacting blade subassembly components and a sheath spreading/insertion apparatus for spreading and inserting a leading-edge sheath onto the blade subassembly during the compaction process. The compaction fixture includes a lower assembly having a contoured upper airfoil nest mounted in combination with a support structure and an upper assembly having a pressure bag affixed in sealed combination to a contoured backplate affixed in combination to a structural support truss. The contoured upper airfoil nest includes a plurality of tooling pins for locating an upper composite skin in aligned combination on the contoured upper airfoil nest and a plurality of pusher pins for chordwise alignment of a spar assembly in the contoured upper airfoil nest. Spar stanchions affixed to the support structure provide spanwise alignment of the spar assembly in the contoured upper airfoil nest. With the upper and lower assemblies in locked combination, the pressure bag is pressurized to compact the assembled blade subassembly components. The sheath spreading/insertion apparatus includes a movable stanchion, upper and lower elongate carriage members mounted in synchronized movable combination with the stanchion, and a row of suction cups mounted in combination with each carriage member. Pneumatic cylinders are mounted in combination with the stanchion and the respective carriage members.

Apparatus for fabricating a helicopter main rotor blade

A method for fabricating a helicopter main rotor blade includes a compaction fixture for assembling and compacting blade subassembly components and a sheath spreading/insertion apparatus for spreading and inserting a leading-edge sheath onto the blade subassembly during the compaction process. The compaction fixture includes a lower assembly having a contoured upper airfoil nest mounted in combination with a support structure and an upper assembly having a pressure bag affixed in sealed combination to a contoured backplate affixed in combination to a structural support truss. The contoured upper airfoil nest includes a plurality of tooling pins for locating an upper composite skin in aligned combination on the contoured upper airfoil nest and a plurality of pusher pins for chordwise alignment of a spar assembly in the contoured upper airfoil nest. Spar stanchions affixed to the support structure provide spanwise alignment of the spar assembly in the contoured upper airfoil nest. With the upper and lower assemblies in locked combination, the pressure bag is pressurized to compact the assembled blade subassembly components.

The rotor blades of a helicopter are balanced both in the chordal direction and in the spanwise direction in a static balancing assembly. The assembly includes a support surface on which there are four weighing scales. The scales are positioned in close proximity with the four corners of the rotor blade. The scales provide four cooperating pairs of blade spanwise and chordwise balancing reference data. The scales are operably connected to a microprocessor which is preprogrammed with desired balance data for the blades being tested. Deviations from the desired balance data detected by the scales and the microprocessor are corrected by selectively adding or subtracting weight on the blades at appropriate locations of the surfaces thereof.

Method and apparatus for balancing helicopter rotor blades

An apparatus for fabricating a helicopter main rotor blade includes a compaction fixture for assembling and compacting blade subassembly components and a sheath spreading/insertion apparatus for spreading and inserting a leading-edge sheath onto the blade subassembly during the compaction process. The compaction fixture includes a lower assembly having a contoured upper airfoil nest mounted in combination with a support structure and an upper assembly having a pressure bag affixed in sealed combination to a contoured backplate affixed in combination to a structural support truss. With the upper and lower assemblies in locked combination, the pressure bag is pressurized to compact the assembled blade subassembly components. The sheath spreading/insertion apparatus includes a movable stanchion, upper and lower elongate carriage members mounted in synchronized movable combination with the stanchion, and a row of suction cups mounted in combination with each carriage member. Pneumatic cylinders are mounted in combination with the stanchion and the respective carriage members. Pressurization of the pneumatic cylinders causes synchronized movement of the upper and lower carriage members between a disengaged position wherein the leading-edge sheath can be inserted between the upper and lower rows of suction cups, an engaged position wherein the suction cups abuttingly engage respective OML surfaces of the leading-edge sheath and an operating position wherein the leading-edge sheath is spread apart for insertion onto the blade subassembly during compaction thereof.

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Naugatuck, CT, United States of America

Kevin P Leahy