Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Robert D Higbie

Sven Roy Lofstrom

Timothy James Conti

Eric Charles Boyle

Frank M Caputo

Bryan Kenneth Baskin

Ryan Lehto

Joseph Pantalone, Iii

Keith M Schenone

Alicia Fernandez

David W Littlejohn

Frank Paul D'Anna

Chris Paul Butler

Ryan Smith

Jose DeAnda

A method of mounting a replacement tip section to an exposed end of a rotor blade includes removing an existing tip section from the rotor blade to create the exposed end of the rotor blade, installing the rotor blade having the exposed end onto a holding fixture, assembling the replacement tip section about the exposed end of the rotor blade, positioning a bonding fixture about the replacement tip section, and curing the replacement tip section to the exposed end of the rotor blade.

Method of removal and replacement of a tip section of a rotor blade

A system for regenerating fastener holes in a replacement tip section of a rotor blade includes a first fixture, a second fixture, and a third fixture positionable adjacent a tip section of the rotor blade. The first fixture is used to verify a position of an opening formed in the spar. The second fixture includes a removable bushing having a drillable opening. The drillable opening is aligned with the at least one opening formed in the spar and defines at least one hole to be formed in the replacement tip section. The third fixture includes a countersink opening. The countersink opening is aligned with the at least one hole to be formed in the replacement tip section and the at least one opening formed in the spar to define a countersink feature to be formed in the at least one hole.

Method and apparatus for locating and forming fastener holes in a replacement tip section of a rotor blade

A foldable rotor blade assembly includes a first section including a connector assembly including a plurality of through holes and a second section including a connector having a plurality of openings. The connector is receivable within a hollow interior of the first section. A plurality of fasteners insertable within the plurality of through holes and the plurality of openings. A fold assembly is operably coupled to both the first section and the second section. The fold assembly defines a blade fold axis about which the second section is rotatable to transform the rotor blade assembly between a normal configuration when the connector is received within the hollow interior of the first section, and a folded configuration when the connector has rotated outside of the hollow interior of the first section.

Rotor blade folding system

A spinner assembly includes a cone-shaped member having a plurality of blade openings. The cone-shaped member is receivable about a shaft at a first location. A bulkhead frame is connected to the cone-shaped member. At least one strut is configured to couple the bulkhead frame to the shaft at a second location. The at least one strut includes at least one arm having a longitudinal rigid member and at least one flexure region that defines an axis about which the at least one arm bends.

Spinner shaft attachment

An attachment assembly for coupling a rotary blade to a hub includes a hollow shear pin, a nut cap, and a tensioning fastener. The hollow shear pin defines an attachment axis. The nut cap abuts the shear pin along the attachment axis. The tensioning fastener is seated within the shear pin, is threadably engaged to the nut cap, and has an axial length that is smaller than an axial length of the shear pin to fix a rotary blade to a rotor assembly within a profile of the rotary blade.

Rotorcraft rotor assemblies

A tool is provided for characterizing a blade geometry. The tool includes a first component attachable to a blade root of a blade and a second component attachable to leading and trailing edges of the blade at a blade tip and at multiple stations defined along a span-wise dimension of the blade. The second component is configured for characterization of a chord length of the blade at the blade tip and at the multiple stations. The first and second components are respectively configured for cooperative optical characterization of a sweep and a twist angle of the blade at the blade tip and at the multiple stations.

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Haslet, TX, United States of America

Robert D Higbie