← Back to Patent Explorer
US4717312A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Variable-pitch bladed rotors

Assignee: Dowty Rotol Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-06-30
•
Granted: 1988-01-05
•
Expires: 2006-06-30
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A variable-pitch bladed rotor including a plurality of blades extending outwardly from a hub in which they are each mounted by a respective ball-screw device. Each device comprises inner and outer races each provided with at least one helical groove, a plurality of balls co-operable with the grooves, and a cylindrical cage disposed between the races which is suitably apertured for accommodation of the balls. The cage supports gearing so associated with the inner and outer races that on pitch-change movement of the respective blade the cage is positively driven, thereby to turn about the blade longitudinal axis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roger W. Seeley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 00:25
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/30; F16C33/306; B; B64; B64C; B64C11/00; B64C11/02; B64C11/04; B64C11/06; F01; F01D; F01D7/00; F16C19/00; F16C19/50; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/43; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 117 words
A variable pitch bladed rotor which comprises a hub having a plurality of ball-screw means mounted thereon and from which a plurality of blades extend; wherein a ball screw means includes an inner race having at least one helical groove formed therein; an outer race having at least one helical groove formed therein; a passage defined between the helical grooves; a rotatably driveable cylindrical cage disposed between the inner and outer races which has longitudinal slots formed therein; a plurality of balls positioned in said passage and within the confines of the slots and movable longitudinally with respect thereto; and drive means forming a part of the cage to drive the cage on a pitch change movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 117 words
A variable pitch bladed rotor which comprises a hub having a plurality of ball-screw means mounted thereon and from which a plurality of blades extend; wherein a ball screw means includes an inner race having at least one helical groove formed therein; an outer race having at least one helical groove formed therein; a passage defined between the helical grooves; a rotatably driveable cylindrical cage disposed between the inner and outer races which has longitudinal slots formed therein; a plurality of balls positioned in said passage and within the confines of the slots and movable longitudinally with respect thereto; and drive means forming a part of the cage to drive the cage on a pitch change movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A rotor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slots are of equal length, radiussed at their ends and equispaced circumferentially of the cage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 85 words
A rotor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a plurality of pinions each mounted for rotation on said cage with its axis of rotation parallel to said longitudinal axis of the blade, these pinions being equispaced circumferentially of the cage and being in meshing engagement with a ring of external gear teeth provided upon the outer surface of said inner race, and in meshing engagement with a ring of internal gear teeth provided upon the inner surface of said outer race.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A rotor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pinions are so mounted on said cage at one end thereof, each upon a respective pin fast with the cage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A rotor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helical grooves of said inner race and said outer race each extend through substantially two turns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A rotor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each blade is of composite construction, a part thereof being of reinforced plastics material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
A rotor as claimed in claim 6, wherein at its root end each blade is of outwardly flared form for retention between two sleeve members, the outer sleeve member forming said inner race.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR798926A Cited
FR821543A Cited
US2307101A Cited
US2423400A Cited
US2425938A Cited
US2460559A Cited
US2514477A Cited
US2533358A Cited
US2518431A Cited
US2566696A Cited
US3794442A Cited
GB2145777A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-01-04 1991-07-06 1992-01-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-01-04 1995-07-06 1996-01-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-01-04 1999-07-06 2000-01-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag