The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 2004
Filed:
May. 30, 2002
David N. Schmaling, Southbury, CT (US);
Robert Milne, Litchfield, CT (US);
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Stratford, CT (US);
Abstract
A flexbeam rotor system includes an intermediate tube and a torque tube that envelopes a flexbeam in spaced relation thereto. The torque tube is connected to the flexbeam at its radially outer end and articulately connected to the intermediate tube through a snubber-vibration damper system. The torque tube is connected with an aerodynamic rotor blade member. The snubber vibration damper system includes a snubber bearing and an independent lead/lag bearing. The snubber bearing is located between the flexbeam and the intermediate tube along a pitch change axis. A lead/lag bearing is mounted between the intermediate tube and the torque tube on both the leading and trailing portion of blade assembly. Pitch/lag coupling complications are minimized as lead/lag motion takes place between the torque tube and the intermediate tube. As lead/lag motion is accommodated in the independent lead/lag bearing, the snubber bearing is of a greatly reduced height in relation to conventional design. The overall size of the torque tube is accordingly reduced which advantageously reduces system weight and drag.