Helicopter Rotor Blade Canopy With Repositionable Hub Pocket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing canopies for helicopter rotor blades do not utilize the rotor head pocket to facilitate repositioning and provide effective protection from weather elements.
Innovation Solution
A canopy system with rotor blade pockets and a rotor head pocket that receives the rotor head, allowing rotation of blades for positioning and featuring a flexible sheet between pockets, mounting straps, and adjustable fasteners for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a canopy is mounted to the free ends of rotor blades only, then the canopy provides basic protection from weather elements, but the canopy cannot be easily repositioned or adjusted for optimal coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple mounting locations into a single integrated system. The flexible sheet connects rotor blade pockets at the free ends to a rotor head pocket at the hub, merging the mounting functions into one unified structure that enables both stability and repositioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sheet material allows the canopy to dynamically adapt its shape and position. This dynamic property enables the canopy to be repositioned by rotating rotor blades while maintaining structural integrity and protection coverage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid canopy structure is used, then the canopy provides stable protection, but the canopy cannot adapt to different positions or configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible sheet to form the canopy structure. This flexible material provides both adaptability for repositioning and sufficient stability when tensioned between the rotor blade pockets and rotor head pocket, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy is segmented into multiple attachment points (rotor blade pockets and rotor head pocket) connected by flexible material. This segmentation allows independent positioning at each attachment point while maintaining overall structural stability through the network of connections.
3Reliability
If mounting straps and fasteners are added for secure attachment, then the canopy provides stable mounting, but the installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting straps and fasteners are pre-integrated into the canopy structure during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures reliable mounting capability is built-in, while simplifying field installation as the components are already positioned and configured correctly.
Data Source
AI summary
A canopy apparatus for protecting individuals from weather elements near a helicopter includes a pair of rotor blade pockets which mount to adjacent rotor blades of the helicopter at their free ends. A flexible sheet extends between the rotor blade pockets and toward a rotor head of the helicopter. A rotor head pocket is attached to the flexible sheet and is shaped to receive the rotor head of the helicopter. Additional straps are used to further secure the flexible sheet to the rotor blades. The canopy apparatus mounts to the helicopter such that the rotor blades may be rotated to adjust a position of the canopy apparatus with respect to a body of the helicopter.