Composite Rotor Blade Weight Carrier With Non-Toxic Balance Mass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary aircraft rotor blades require heavy weights for efficient performance, but lead, a common material, is toxic and subject to environmental regulations, necessitating a non-toxic alternative.
Innovation Solution
A rotor-blade weight-carrier system using composite weight carriers and non-toxic metal weights, such as tungsten, which are machined or molded to fit within the rotor blade, providing adjustable mass distribution and bonding for inertial balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lead is used as weight material in rotor blades, then efficient inertial balance is achieved, but environmental harm increases due to toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from lead to alternative non-toxic materials such as tungsten, depleted uranium, or steel alloys. This substitution maintains the high density required for inertial balance while eliminating the toxicity issue, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite weight carrier systems that can incorporate multiple materials with different densities and properties. This allows optimization of inertial characteristics while using environmentally acceptable materials, resolving the contradiction by achieving the required mass distribution without toxic substances.
2Reliability
If heavy weights are added to rotor blades, then inertial balance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the weight carrier directly into the rotor blade structure, merging the weight addition function with the blade's structural components. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device while maintaining the necessary inertial balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight carrier system is designed to serve multiple functions: providing inertial balance, enabling adjustable mass distribution, and potentially facilitating future modifications. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and decreases overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor-blade weight-carrier system includes a weight carrier positioned within a rotor blade and a plurality of weights positioned within the weight carrier.