Flexbeam rotor attachment to rotor blade
A rotor blade assembly includes a flex-beam member and a torque tube surrounding the flex-beam member and extending partially along a rotor blade assembly length. A rotor blade surrounds the flex beam member and extends from the torque tube to a blade tip. A connecting assembly secures the rotor blade and the torque tube at the flex-beam member. The connecting assembly includes a first connecting member extending at least partially into the rotor blade assembly through the rotor blade from a first rotor blade side and a second connecting member located at a second rotor blade side. A clamping load between the first connecting member and the second connecting member secures the rotor blade and torque tube to the flex-beam member.
1. A rotor blade assembly comprising;
a flex-beam member;
a torque tube surrounding the flex-beam member and extending partially along a rotor blade assembly length;
a rotor blade surrounding the flex beam member extending from the torque tube to a blade tip; and
a connecting assembly to secure the rotor blade and the torque tube at the flex-beam member, the connecting assembly including:
a first connecting member extending at least partially into the rotor blade assembly through the rotor blade from a first rotor blade side; and
a second connecting member disposed at a second rotor blade side;
wherein a clamping load between the first connecting member and the second connecting member secures the rotor blade and torque tube to the flex-beam member.
2. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a threaded connection between the first connecting member and the second connecting member.
3. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first connecting member includes a first shaft extending at least partially into the rotor blade assembly through the rotor blade from the first rotor blade side.
4. The rotor blade assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first connecting first shaft has a first shaft diameter in the range of about 2½ to 3 inches.
5. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamping load is between a first head of the first connecting member and a second head of the second connecting member.
6. The rotor blade assembly of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first head and the second head have a head diameter in the range of about 3½ to 4 inches.
7. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamping load is about 1000 pounds force.
8. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first connecting member and the second connecting member are substantially flush with an outer surface of the rotor blade.
9. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the torque tube and the rotor blade are formed as a unitary component.
10. A rotor assembly for a rotor craft comprising:
a rotor hub; and
a plurality of rotor blades assemblies, each rotor blade assembly including:
a flex-beam member secured to the rotor hub;
a torque tube surrounding the flex-beam member and extending partially along a rotor blade assembly length;
a rotor blade surrounding the flex beam member extending from the torque tube to a blade tip; and
a connecting assembly to secure the rotor blade and the torque tube at the flex-beam member, the connecting assembly including:
a first connecting member extending at least partially into the rotor blade assembly through the rotor blade from a first rotor blade side; and
a second connecting member disposed at a second rotor blade side;
wherein a clamping load between the first connecting member and the second connecting member secures the rotor blade and torque tube to the flex-beam member.
11. The rotor assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a threaded connection between the first connecting member and the second connecting member.
12. The rotor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first connecting member includes a first shaft extending at least partially into the rotor blade assembly through the rotor blade from the first rotor blade side.
13. The rotor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first shaft has a shaft diameter in the range of about 2½ to 3 inches.
14. The rotor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the clamping load is between a first head of the first connecting member and a second head of the second connecting member.
15. The rotor assembly of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first head and the second head have a head diameter in the range of about 3½ to 4 inches.
16. The rotor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the clamping load is about 1000 pounds force.
17. The rotor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first connecting member the second connecting member are substantially flush with an outer surface of the rotor blade.
18. The rotor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the torque tube and the rotor blade are formed as a unitary component.
19. A helicopter comprising:
an airframe;
a drive system; and
a rotor assembly operably connected to the drive system including:
a rotor hub; and
a plurality of rotor blades assemblies, each rotor blade assembly including:
a flex-beam member secured to the rotor hub;
a torque tube surrounding the flex-beam member and extending partially along a rotor blade assembly length;
a rotor blade surrounding the flex beam member extending from the torque tube to a blade tip; and
a connecting assembly to secure the rotor blade and the torque tube at the flex-beam member, the connecting assembly including:
a first connecting member extending at least partially into the rotor blade assembly through the rotor blade from a first rotor blade side; and
a second connecting member disposed at a second rotor blade side;
wherein a clamping load between the first connecting member and the second connecting member secures the rotor blade and torque tube to the flex-beam member.
20. The helicopter of claim 19 , further comprising a threaded connection between the first connecting member and the second connecting member.
21. The helicopter of claim 19 , wherein the first connecting member includes a first shaft extending at least partially into the rotor blade assembly through the rotor blade from the first rotor blade side.
22. The helicopter of claim 21 , wherein the first shaft has a shaft diameter in the range of about 2½ to 3 inches.
23. The helicopter of claim 19 , wherein the clamping load is between a first head of the first connecting member and a second head of the second connecting member.
24. The helicopter of claim 23 , wherein at least one of the first head and the second head have a head diameter in the range of about 3½ to 4 inches.
25. The helicopter of claim 19 , wherein the clamping load is about 1000 pounds force.
26. The helicopter of claim 19 , wherein the first connecting member and the second connecting member are substantially flush with an outer surface of the rotor blade.