Rotor for a gyroplane

Claim 1

A rotor, specially for a gyroplane, comprising a hub, at least one blade and one flexible elongate connecting member, interconnecting said blade and said hub, said connecting member comprising fibres having high mechanical strength and relative elasticity and disposed in an elongate, substantially radial bundle, each fibre being agglomerated by a resin and secured to other fibres by a vulcanized elastomer at least in the mid part of said bundle, at least one rigid tubular sleeve, extending in a spaced and surrounding relationship to said connecting member and having an outer end connected to the root part of said blade, and an inner end with a lateral lug articulated to a blade control lever, and one annular elastomer member inserted in the substantially annular space between the inner end of said sleeve and the inner end of said connecting member, said annular elastomer member having at least one recess adapted to reduce its rigidity in the axial direction of the rotor, a plain bearing between the inner end of said rigid tubular sleeve and said elastomer member, whereby said tubular sleeve is pivotable around its longitudinal axis and slidable along the same axis, said plain bearing including an outer metal ring, secured in the inner end of said tubular sleeve and an inner ring of self-lubrificating material, secured to the periphery of said annular elastomer member.