Helicopter Rotor Blade Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in achieving automated, reliable, and efficient alignment of helicopter rotor blades for folding, particularly in ensuring a 100% success rate while adhering to stringent constraints of weight, size, environment, reliability, and longevity, with existing methods facing issues such as blocked approximations and altered contact faces due to angular offsets and abrupt motor start-ups.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for bringing projecting parts into coincidence with complementary concave parts involves a coupling attempt phase, followed by angular coincidence through mechanical tension and phase shifting, utilizing axial and radial sliding, and a mechanical guide element to ensure precise alignment without manual intervention, even in high wind conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated coupling is attempted without angular adjustment, then the coupling process is simplified, but the alignment precision deteriorates causing blocked approximations and failed engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing angular adjustment of the upstream member relative to the downstream member before the actual coupling operation. The mechanical guide element pre-aligns the projecting and concave parts, ensuring they are properly oriented prior to engagement, thereby preventing blocked approximations and ensuring successful automated coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical guide element acts as an intermediary between the upstream and downstream members during the coupling process. It facilitates precise angular alignment by guiding the relative movement and positioning, enabling the projecting parts to correctly engage with the concave parts without direct manual intervention.
2Productivity
If force engagement is used to overcome blocked approximation, then coupling is achieved, but the contact face of the parts is altered causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prevents force engagement by performing preliminary angular alignment through the mechanical guide element. This ensures that the projecting and concave parts are correctly oriented before engagement, allowing smooth coupling without excessive force that could alter or damage the contact faces of the components.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual intervention is used for angular adjustment, then alignment precision is improved, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the mechanical guide element to automatically perform the angular adjustment function. The guide element's geometry self-aligns the upstream member relative to the downstream member during the coupling process, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining high angular alignment precision.
4Speed
If abrupt motor start-up is used for rotation, then the response time is reduced, but the alignment precision deteriorates due to vibration and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary angular alignment through the mechanical guide element before the motor-driven rotation begins. This pre-alignment ensures that even when the motor starts abruptly, the components are already in the correct relative position, and the rotation simply maintains this alignment without causing vibration-induced misalignment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves applying a tension on an upstream member (9) along an axis when complementary projecting portions are not coupled with complementary concave portions of the upstream member and a downstream member. The upstream member is constrained in rotation with a mechanical angular guidance element (38) under the effect of the tension. The upstream member is shifted relative to the downstream member by angularly guiding the element against a stationary reference (20) under the effect of the tension in order to set the portions in angular coincidence. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a system for setting an upstream member into coincidence with a downstream member before coupling complementary projecting portions with complementary concave portions of upstream and downstream members (2) a method for driving a rotary drive using an upstream member coupled to a downstream member (3) a device for driving in rotation a rotary drive using an upstream member coupled to a downstream member (4) a rotary wing aircraft e.g. helicopter, for implementing an upstream member setting method.