Helicopter rotor blade flap actuator government interest

Details Helicopter rotor blade flap actuator government interest Helicopter rotor blade flap actuator government interest

1999-01-19

2000-10-24

Look, Edward K.

Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e., impellers)

With means moving working fluid deflecting working member...

416104, 416108, 416155, B64C 900

Patent

active

061357138

ABSTRACT:
An actively controlled helicopter rotor blade includes a trailing edge flap actuated by a fast-acting actuator. A lightweight, rugged, fast-acting actuator suitable for use as the flap actuator comprises a pair of column actuators composed of a smart material such as piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, shape memory alloy or other material that exhibits a shape change when subjected to an external stimulus. Each of the column actuators is composed of multiple piezoelectric ceramic actuator elements bonded together to form the individual columns. Each of the column actuators engages the base of an actuator tube that, in turn, is urged against the column actuators by a tension member. Differential voltage applied to the columns causes a differential elongation of the column actuators, which causes the actuator tube to pivot about an axis proximal the tips of the column actuators. The movement of the actuator tube is coupled by a linkage to the rotor blade flap. Spherical joints are disposed between the column actuators and the actuator tube to prevent transmission of substantial bending loads to the column actuators and a mid-point support is also provided for each of the column actuators to limit the magnitude of acceleration induced bending loads, which would otherwise lead to tensile failure of the ceramic actuator elements.

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Straub, et al., "Application of Smart Materials to Helicopter Rotor Active Control," presented at SPIE's Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, San Diego, Mar. 3-6, 1997.
Straub, et al., "Application of Smart Materials to Control of a Helicopter Rotor," presented at SPIE'Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, San Diego, Feb. 26-29, 1996.

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