IP Library Granted Patent US 7,985,048
Granted Patent B2
US 7,985,048 · App. 11/860,991 · Granted Jul 26, 2011

Folding rotor for an autogyro device

Assignee: The Boeing Company
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,985,048
App. No.
11/860,991
Granted
Jul 26, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a folding rotor blade for an autogyro device comprises a plurality of connected rotor members. When the folding rotor blade is in a compressed state the folding rotor blade has a compressed length, and some of the connected rotor members are disposed in a non-parallel arrangement. When the folding rotor blade is in an extended state the folding rotor blade has an extended length, which is greater than the compressed length, and the connected rotor members are disposed in a parallel arrangement.

Claims (32)

1. A folding rotor blade for an autogyro device comprising:

a plurality of connected rotor members, wherein when the folding rotor blade is in a compressed state the folding rotor blade has a compressed length and some of the connected rotor members are disposed in a non-parallel arrangement, and when the folding rotor blade is in an extended state the folding rotor blade has an extended length which is greater than the compressed length and the connected rotor members are disposed in a parallel arrangement;

wherein at least one of: (1) the folding rotor blade is spring loaded to move the folding rotor blade into the compressed state when an autogyro device is not operating; or (2) the folding rotor blade is adapted to move to the extended state from the compressed state as a result of centrifugal force supplied by an autogryo device.

2. The folding rotor blade of claim 1 wherein the folding rotor blade is for an autogyro device comprising at least one of a helicopter, a vehicle, or an airdrop device.

3. The folding rotor blade of claim 1 wherein the connected rotor members have solid cross-sections.

4. The folding rotor blade of claim 1 wherein the connected rotor members are made of at least one of a composite or a metal.

5. The folding rotor blade of claim 1 wherein the plurality of connected rotor members are connected by hinges comprising pin members.

6. The folding rotor blade of claim 1 wherein when the folding rotor blade is in the compressed state some other of the connected rotor members are disposed in a parallel arrangement.

7. The folding rotor blade of claim 1 wherein the folding rotor blade is spring loaded to move the folding rotor blade into the compressed state when an autogyro device is not operating.

8. The folding rotor blade of claim 1 wherein the folding rotor blade is adapted to move to the extended state from the compressed state as a result of centrifugal force supplied by an autogryo device.

9. A folding rotor blade for an autogyro device comprising:

a plurality of rotor members which are connected by hinges, wherein the folding rotor blade is adapted to move as a result of centrifugal force from a compressed state having a compressed length to an extended state having an extended length greater than the compressed length;

wherein at least one of: (1) the connected rotor members have solid cross-sections; (2) when the folding rotor blade is in the compressed state some of the connected rotor members are disposed in a non-parallel arrangement, and when the folding rotor blade is in the extended state the connected rotor members are disposed in a parallel arrangement; or (3) the folding rotor blade is spring loaded to move the folding rotor blade into the compressed state when an autogyro device is not operating.

10. The folding rotor blade of claim 9 wherein the folding rotor blade is for an autogyro device comprising at least one of a helicopter, a vehicle, or an airdrop device.

11. The folding rotor blade of claim 9 wherein the connected rotor members have the solid cross-sections.

12. The folding rotor blade of claim 9 wherein the connected rotor members are made of at least one of a composite or a metal.

13. The folding rotor blade of claim 9 wherein the hinges comprise pin members.

14. The folding rotor blade of claim 9 wherein when the folding rotor blade is in the compressed state some of the connected rotor members are disposed in the non-parallel arrangement, and when the folding rotor blade is in the extended state the connected rotor members are disposed in the parallel arrangement.

15. The folding rotor blade of claim 9 wherein when the folding rotor blade is in the compressed state some other of the connected rotor members are disposed in a parallel arrangement.

16. The folding rotor blade of claim 9 wherein the folding rotor blade is spring loaded to move the folding rotor blade into the compressed state when an autogyro device is not operating.

17. The folding rotor blade of claim 9 wherein the folding rotor blade is adapted to move to the extended state from the compressed state as a result of centrifugal force supplied by an autogryo device.

18. A method of deploying a folding rotor blade attached to an autogyro device comprising:

providing the folding rotor blade attached to the autogyro device, wherein the folding rotor blade comprises a plurality of connected rotor members;

compressing the folding rotor blade to a compressed length in which some of the connected rotor members are disposed in a non-parallel arrangement; and

extending the folding rotor blade to an extended length, which is greater than the compressed length, in which the connected rotor members are disposed in a parallel arrangement as a result of centrifugal force.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the autogyro device comprises at least one of a helicopter, a vehicle, or an airdrop device.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the connected rotor members have solid cross-sections.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the connected rotor members are made of at least one of a composite or a metal.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the plurality of connected rotor members are connected by hinges comprising pin members.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein when the folding rotor blade is compressed some other of the connected rotor members are disposed in a parallel arrangement.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the folding rotor blade is spring loaded to compress the folding rotor blade when the autogyro device is not operating.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the folding rotor blade extends as a result of centrifugal force supplied by the autogryo device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2007
From: JONES, RICHARD D.
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 019875/0663 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090081043A1 · Mar 26, 2009