Rotor Hub Closeout Plate for Counter-Rotating Aircraft
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotor hubs in counter-rotating rotary wing aircrafts require large openings for access and inspection, compromising structural integrity and weight efficiency, while existing designs fail to balance centrifugal loads effectively.
Innovation Solution
A plate with a central body and arms is integrated into the open rotor hub, providing a central opening for access and mounting points for rotor members, enhancing structural stiffness and allowing visual inspection while reducing material weight through strategically removed areas and ribs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a large opening is machined into the rotor hub for access and inspection, then ease of maintenance and inspection is improved, but structural strength and stiffness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hub is segmented into multiple components: the main hub body, removable end caps, and internal component assemblies. This segmentation allows the hub to be disassembled for access to internal components without requiring large openings in the main hub structure, thereby maintaining structural integrity while enabling maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Internal components such as bearings, seals, and control rod assemblies are nested within the hub structure in a hierarchical manner. This nesting allows components to be accessed by removing external covers rather than creating large openings through the hub, preserving the hub's structural strength while maintaining accessibility for maintenance.
2Ease of repair
If a large opening is machined into the rotor hub for access and inspection, then ease of maintenance and inspection is improved, but weight efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hub is divided into modular segments that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation eliminates the need for large material removals required for traditional openings, maintaining the hub's weight efficiency while allowing access to internal components through controlled disassembly of modular sections.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional rotor hub design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but centrifugal load balancing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hub design incorporates localized reinforcement and balancing features at specific positions where centrifugal loads are most critical. This allows the majority of the hub to maintain a simple conventional design for ease of manufacture, while specific local modifications improve centrifugal load balancing without significantly complicating the overall manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor hub assembly is provided including an open rotor hub having a base plate and a plurality of rotor members mounted about a circumference of the base plate. The rotor members are configured to form a plurality of rotor blade openings between adjacent rotor members, and a central opening between all of the rotor members. A plate includes a central body portion and a plurality of arms. Each of the plurality of arms is configured to mount to one of the plurality of rotor members such that the central body portion is generally positioned within the central opening of the open rotor hub.