Textron Innovations Inc.

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Tricia Hiros

Frank B Stamps

Paul K Oldroyd

Ron Measom

Patrick R Tisdale

Paul Branson Sherrill

Tom Campbell

Richard Erler Rauber

Bryan Kenneth Baskin

Mark Adam Wiinikka

David Popelka

Bryan W Marshall

James Braswell, Jr

Keith Alan Stanney

Thomas C Campbell

Timothy Kent Ledbetter

David Allen Haynie

Stanley G Sadler

Joseph J Zierer

Pat Tisdale

Mark E Wasikowski

Michael J Southerland

Charles L Baskin

Tim Ledbetter

Ronnie Lee Martin

James L Braswell

James Lee Braswell

Richard Barbour

Bob Mullins

Jim Harse

D J Reddy

Jim Braswell

Frank Bradley Stamps

Paul Sherril

A helicopter rotor blade includes a structural composite skin defining a cavity therein; a composite spar disposed within the cavity and adhesively bonded to the skin, a portion of the spar exhibiting a C-shape in cross section; and a foam core disposed within the cavity and adhesively bonded to the skin. The structural composite skin forms an external, closed box structure configured to transmit mechanical loads encountered by the rotor blade.

Rotor blade and method of making same

A method of making a rotor yoke includes preparing a cured composite rotor yoke preform on a single-sided curing tool and machining at least one portion of the cured rotor yoke preform to form a rotor yoke. In one embodiment, preparing the cured composite rotor yoke is accomplished by applying successive layers of uncured polymeric composite material to a single-sided tool in a configuration to produce an uncured rotor yoke preform; disposing a semi-rigid caul to an untooled side of the uncured rotor yoke preform; enclosing the uncured rotor yoke preform and the semi-rigid caul by substantially hermetically sealing a vacuum bag to the tool; substantially evacuating a volume defined by the vacuum bag and the tool of air; and heating the uncured rotor yoke preform, sometimes under pressure, to form the cured composite rotor yoke preform.

Method of making a rotor yoke and rotor yoke thereof

An assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system includes an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween. At least one of the upper and lower yoke surfaces has a layer of cushioning material positioned thereon and secured thereto. An alternate embodiment includes an assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, including, an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween and directly contacting the support plates wherein one of the curved surfaces is a non-circular arc that does not form part of the circumference of a circle. Another alternate embodiment includes a similar assembly having a twist-shank type of yoke for providing rotation of attached blades about their respective pitch axes.

Assembly for providing flexure to blade system

An assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, the assembly including an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween. At least one of the upper and lower yoke surfaces having a layer of cushioning material positioned thereon and secured thereto. The layer of cushioning material extending along and following the general contour of yoke surface, and the layer of cushioning material directly contacting a support plate. Another embodiment is an assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, including, an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween and directly contacting the support plates wherein one of the curved surfaces is a non-circular arc that does not form part of the circumference of a circle.

Growing community of inventors

Haltom City, TX, United States of America

Tricia Hiros