Adjustable Pitch Link Rod for Rotor Track and Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rotor assemblies for Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircrafts face complexity and weight issues in cyclic and collective pitch adjustment, making it difficult to simultaneously optimize track and balance for hover and forward flight, with limited adjustment capabilities and delays in effective pitching angle changes.
Innovation Solution
A multi-blade rotor design with an adjustable pitch link rod distance from the rotor blade's pitch axis, allowing for independent adjustment of lift and reducing the delay in pitching angle changes, enabling simultaneous optimization of track and balance for both hover and forward flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cyclic and collective pitch adjustment devices are implemented with active actuation means, then pitch control capability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pitch control function from complex active actuation means and implements it through a passive mechanical linkage system. The pitch link rod connects the swashplate directly to the rotor blade pitch axis, eliminating the need for complex motors, sensors, and control systems while maintaining individual pitch control capability for each blade.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pitch link rod as an intermediary mechanical element that transmits pitch control movements from the swashplate to the rotor blade pitch axis. This simple mechanical mediator replaces complex active actuation systems while enabling effective pitch adjustment through geometric relationships between components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional chordwise balancing methods are used, then balance adjustment is achieved, but additional complexity and cost are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the track adjustment function and balance adjustment function into a single mechanism. By allowing the pitch link rod to be positioned at different distances from the rotor blade pitch axis, the system simultaneously achieves both track correction and balance adjustment without requiring separate chordwise balancing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pitch link rod serves multiple functions: it transmits pitch control movements, adjusts blade track, and balances the rotor assembly. This multi-functional component eliminates the need for separate dedicated balance adjustment mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
3Speed
If pitch link rod is positioned close to pitch axis, then responsiveness is improved, but track adjustment capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the pitch link rod position dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The distance between the pitch link rod and pitch axis can be varied to optimize performance for different operating conditions, combining the benefits of both close positioning (responsiveness) and distant positioning (track adjustment capability).
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-blade rotor of a rotary wing aircraft, the multi-blade rotor comprising at least one rotor blade that defines a pitch axis and that is provided with an associated pitch-control lever that is operatively coupled to a pitch link rod, the pitch link rod defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the associated pitch-control lever comprises an accommodation that is located on the longitudinal axis of the pitch link rod at a predetermined distance from the pitch axis of the at least one rotor blade, the pitch link rod being operatively coupled to the associated pitch-control lever at the accommodation of the associated pitch-control lever, wherein the predetermined distance is adjustable in order to enable adjustment of track and balance of the multi-blade rotor.