Elastomeric rotor blade mount

Claim 2

An elastomeric rotor mounting structure for a helicopter blade which comprises: a. a yoke structure connected to a hub on said rotor and having a plurality of seat regions to receive a corresponding plurality of axially spaced radial-thrust bearings; b. a blade grip connected on the outboard end thereof said blade; c. a pair of frusto-conically shaped elastomeric radial-thrust bearings each mounted in one of said seat regions and each having alternate and adhered frust-conically shaped metal and elastic layers which converge in the direction of said blade; d. seating structures in each seat region for engaging the outer surface of said bearings; and e. structure engaging the inner surface of said bearings coupled to said grip for the transfer of blade bending and centrifugal forces between said blade and said yoke structures by way of said bearings.

Claim 3

The mounting structure of claim 1 wherein the yoke structure connected to the hub on said rotor has a pair of seat regions spaced apart in the direction of the radius of said hub to receive two axially spaced radial-thrust bearings.

Claim 4

An elastomeric rotor mounting structure for a helicopter blade which comprises: a. a yoke structure connected to a hub on said rotor and having a pair of recesses spaced apart in the direction of the radius of said hub to receive two axially spaced radial-thrust bearings; b. a blade grip axially encompassing an outboard portion of said yoke structure and connected on the outboard end thereof to said rotor blade; c. a hollow, frusto-conically shaped elastomeric radial-thrust bearing in each said recess, each bearing comprising alternate and adhered frusto-conically shaped metal and elastic layers which converge in the direction of said blade; d. seating structures secured to the outboard margins of each of said recesses and each comprising a frusto-conically shaped cup for receiving the outer surface of one of said bearings; and e. conically shaped members engaging the inner surface of said bearings and coupled to said grip for the accommodation of blade pitch change motions and the transfer of blade bending and centrifugal forces between said blade and said yoke structure by way of said bearings.

Claim 5

An elastomeric rotor mounting structure for a helicopter blade which comprises: a. a yoke structure connected to a hub on said rotor and having a pair of recesses spaced apart in the direction of the radius of said hub to receive two axially spaced radial-thrust bearings; b. a blade grip axially encompassing an outboard portion of said yoke structure and connected on the outboard end thereof to said rotor blade; c. a hollow, frusto-conically shaped elastomeric radial-thrust bearing in each said recess, each bearing comprising alternate and adhered frusto-conically shaped metal and elastic layers which converge in the direction of said blade; d. seating structures secured to the outboard margins of each of said recesses and each comprising a frusto-conically shaped cup for receiving the outer surface of one of said bearings; and e. conically shaped members engaging the inner surface of said bearings and coupled to said grip for the accommodation of blade pitch change motions and the transfer of blade bending and centrifugal forces between said blade and said yoke structure by way of said bearings.

Claim 6

The mounting structure of claim 3 wherein the yoke structure comprises: a. a yoke connected on an inboard end to said hub and having on the outboard end thereof two outboard extending sets of lobes separated from each other; b. a yoke extension containing two inboard extending single tangs separated from each other and shaped to mesh with the outboard extending lobes of the yoke to define with said lobes a first of said recesses; c. means for connecting the yoke extension to the yoke; and d. said yoke extension having the second of said recesses therein and extending completely through the yoke extension and radially aligned with the first of said recesses.

Claim 7

The mounting structure of claim 3 wherein the blade grip comprises: a. two outboard extending parallel tangs to receive and hold said main rotor blade; b. means for securing said blade to said parallel tangs; c. a grip body, U-shaped in cross section, to encompass the outboard portion of said yoke structure; and d. means for attaching the inner surface of said radial-thrust bearings to the grip body.

Claim 8

The mounting structure of claim 3 wherein the seating Structures for engaging the outer surfaces of said bearings comprise: a. structure defining said recesses in said yoke structure shaped to receive said conically shaped radial-thrust bearings within the outboard ends of said recesses, b. two sets of two parallel lugs extending from and attached to said outer surface of said bearing with one said set of lugs positioned on the opposite side of said bearing to the other said set of lugs, said lugs in each said set separated so as to receive a portion of the yoke extension between them, and c. means for attaching said lugs to the yoke extension.

Claim 9

The mounting structure of claim 3 wherein the structure engaging the inner surface of each of said bearings and coupled to said grip comprises: a. a bearing block extending traversely to the axis of said radial-thrust bearings; b. means for attaching said bearing block to said grip; c. cylindrical structure integral with and extending perpendicularly from said bearing block; and d. a cylindrical extension on said inner surface of said bearing mated with said cylindrical structure.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said cylindrical structure and said cylindrical extension are dimensional to be mated with a force fit.