Static rotor blade assembly balancing

1. A static rotor blade assembly balancing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a vertical rod having a top end;

a tip located at the top end on a vertical axis of the rod;

a sleeve having a bore terminating at a socket, in use the rod is disposed in the bore and the tip and the socket form a pivot connection, wherein the sleeve is balanced to settle in a level position with a vertical axis of the sleeve coaxial with the vertical axis of the rod and wherein the sleeve has an outer profile configured to mount a hub of a rotor blade assembly; and

a plate secured to the sleeve inside of the bore by a fastener that extends through the plate and into the sleeve, wherein the socket is formed in the plate and the fastener extends parallel to the vertical axis of the sleeve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip and the socket are constructed of steel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip and the socket are constructed of heat treated steel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip and the socket are constructed of steel and the sleeve is constructed of aluminum.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip has a radius of approximately 0.25 inches.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip has a radius of approximately 0.25 inches and the socket has a radius of approximately 0.75 inches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bore has a diameter of approximately 3.7 inches and the rod has a diameter of approximately 2.0 inches.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip has a curved surface with a radius of approximately 0.25 inches;

the socket has a concave surface with a radius of approximately 0.75 inches;

the bore has a diameter of approximately 3.7 inches; and

the rod has a diameter of approximately 2.0 inches.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a bolt.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the tip has a curved surface and the socket has a concave surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the tip has a radius of approximately 0.25 inches and the socket has a radius of approximately 0.75 inches.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the tip has a curved surface with a radius of approximately 0.25 inches; and

the socket has a concave surface with a radius of approximately 0.75 inches.

13. A method for balancing a rotor blade assembly, the method comprising:

connecting a sleeve to a hub of the rotor blade assembly, the sleeve having a bore terminating at a socket, the socket formed in a plate that is secured to the sleeve inside of the bore by a fastener that extends through the plate and into the sleeve;

mounting the sleeve and the rotor blade assembly on a vertical rod having a tip, wherein the vertical rod is disposed in the bore and the tip and the socket are in pivoting contact at a pivot point;

measuring a balance of the rotor blade assembly; and

balancing the rotor blade assembly if it is not balanced.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pivot point is located at or above a center of gravity of the rotor blade assembly.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the balancing the rotor blade assembly comprises adding a weight to a rotor blade.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pivot point is located at or above a center of gravity of the rotor blade assembly; and

the balancing the rotor blade assembly comprises adding a weight to a rotor blade.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tip and the socket are constructed of steel.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tip and the socket are constructed of steel and the sleeve is constructed of aluminum.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the pivot point is located at or above a center of gravity of the rotor blade assembly; and

the balancing the rotor blade assembly comprises adding a weight to a rotor blade.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fastener is a bolt.