Detachable Rotorcraft Blade Rack for Reduced Rotor Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rotorcraft blade storage solutions face challenges in safely and efficiently storing and transporting heavy, fragile main rotor blades, particularly due to the longitudinal tilt of the rotorcraft and the resulting shear and torsion stresses on flight-critical components during folding.
Innovation Solution
A detachable rotor blade storage rack is attached to the rotorcraft, featuring clamps and soft material to protect the blades, allowing them to be stored and transported without undue stress on the rotor system, with the option to minimize the wingspan by removing and rotating blades, and using a detachable system for easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If rotor blades are folded about the rotor assembly during storage, then the rotorcraft footprint is minimized, but shear and torsion stresses are imposed on flight-critical rotor system components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rotor blades from the rotor assembly during storage by detaching them from the rotor hub, thereby eliminating the stresses that would otherwise be imposed on the rotor system components. The blades are stored separately in a blade storage rack that is detached from the aircraft, preserving the integrity of flight-critical rotor components while achieving compact storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system is divided into separate components: the rotorcraft body, the rotor assembly, and the blade storage rack. This segmentation allows the blades to be stored independently without being folded about the rotor assembly, thus avoiding stress on the rotor system while still achieving a minimized footprint through coordinated storage of all components.
2Ease of operation
If blade supports are permanently attached to the fuselage for blade folding, then blade storage is enabled, but the weight and complexity of the rotorcraft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade storage rack is designed to be removable and reconfigurable rather than permanently fixed. The rack can be attached to the fuselage when blade storage is needed and removed when not needed, allowing the system to dynamically adapt between storage mode and flight mode, thereby minimizing unnecessary weight while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuselage attachment points are designed to accommodate multiple functions: they can secure the blade storage rack during storage operations and also serve as structural attachment points during flight. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated mounting structures, reducing overall weight and complexity.
3Strength
If rotor blades are removed and stored separately, then stress on rotor components is reduced, but the storage and transportation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The blade storage rack is designed to be attached to the fuselage, merging the blade storage function with the aircraft structure. This integration allows blades to be removed from the rotor assembly and stored in the rack as a coordinated operation, reducing the complexity of handling and transporting blades separately while still protecting rotor components from stress.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A device is provided. The device includes a first pillar (501). The first pillar (501) includes a bottom portion (507) having an opening (513). The first pillar (501) further includes a top portion (511) coupled to the bottom portion (507) by a middle portion (509). The top portion (511) includes a plurality of shelves (521) stacked along a common axis intersecting the bottom portion (507). Each of the shelves (521) has a respective recess (527). The first pillar (501) further includes a plurality of clamps (523). Each of the shelves (521) has a respective clamp of the clamps. Each respective clamp (523) and respective recess (527) of the shelves (521) forms an airfoil cross-sectional shape. The first pillar (501) further includes a plurality of locks (525). Each of the shelves (521) has a respective lock of the locks. Each of the locks (525) has a first locking portion on respective shelves and a second locking portion on respective clamps of the shelves.