Advanced Technology Institute of Commuter-helicopter, Ltd.

Noriaki Katayama

Eiichi Yamakawa

Tetsuya Hori

Asao Kakinuma

Tatsuro Hongu

Eiichi Nakasato

Displacements of output portions of a pair of piezoelectric actuators arranged spanwise in a flap drive apparatus are magnified by a displacement magnification mechanism so that a swing arm is driven in swinging fashion with large amplitude. A flap attached to the trailing edge of a blade by way of a connecting rod connected to a tip of the swing arm is driven in vertical angular displacement fashion. The displacement magnification mechanism possesses an eccentric shaft has a first shaft and second shaft with offset axes. An output portion is coupled to the first shaft , and an output portion is coupled to the second shaft . The swing arm is fixed to the eccentric shaft . Displacement of the output portions of the actuators in opposite phase results in a stable swing of the swing arm

Rotor blade flap drive apparatus

A flap hinge mechanism has a blade-secured portion secured to blade, a flap-secured portion secured to flap, and a coupling portion which couples the blade-secured portion and the flap-secured portion so as to permit angular displacement. The blade-secured portion, coupling portion, and flap-secured portion are formed of fibers which serve as composite material. The fibers of the blade-secured portion and flap-secured portion are impregnated with matrices, and the fibers of the coupling portion are not impregnated with a matrix. Such constitution permits attainment of smooth flap motion in spite of large centrifugal forces, making the achievement of thin, light designs possible.

Flap hinge mechanism, method for manufacturing the same, and flap hinge apparatus

A flap support mechanism for attachment of a flap to a rotor blade so as to permit angular displacement with respect thereto has a tension-torsion member disposed coaxial with a hinge axis of the flap. One end at the blade root side of the tension-torsion member is secured to the rotor blade. The other end at the blade tip side of the tension-torsion member is secured to the flap. The tension-torsion member is placed such that it passes through a narrow cavity formed at the interior of the rotor blade. Such construction permits smooth flap motion in spite of a large centrifugal force.

Growing community of inventors

Kakamigahara, Japan

Noriaki Katayama