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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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Rotors in practice 165<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are some additional complexities involved in blade folding. First, folding <strong>the</strong><br />

blade will put <strong>the</strong> blade centre <strong>of</strong> mass a long way from <strong>the</strong> fea<strong>the</strong>ring axis and <strong>the</strong><br />

resulting couple could damage <strong>the</strong> swashplate and controls. This is prevented by a<br />

mechanism that locks <strong>the</strong> fea<strong>the</strong>ring bearings. Second, motion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lead-lag hinges<br />

can interfere with <strong>the</strong> folding and it is necessary to position <strong>the</strong> lag hinges correctly.<br />

<strong>The</strong> lag dampers are also hydraulic rams.<br />

Hydraulic pressure is supplied to <strong>the</strong> rotor head through a rotating seal. Initially, <strong>the</strong><br />

lag hinges are positioned by applying pressure to <strong>the</strong> dampers. <strong>The</strong> dampers carry limit<br />

valves to allow fluid to flow once <strong>the</strong>y have reached <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir travel. This fluid<br />

flow operates <strong>the</strong> fea<strong>the</strong>ring bearing locks. <strong>The</strong> fea<strong>the</strong>ring bearing lock pins operate<br />

fur<strong>the</strong>r limit valves to allow fluid to flow to <strong>the</strong> folding mechanism proper.<br />

Locking pins in <strong>the</strong> hinges will <strong>the</strong>n be withdrawn by hydraulic power. <strong>The</strong> retraction<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lock pins operates sequence valves which <strong>the</strong>n apply fluid pressure to <strong>the</strong> bladefolding<br />

rams inside <strong>the</strong> rotor head. <strong>The</strong>se drive sector gears in order to turn <strong>the</strong> hinges<br />

through <strong>the</strong> large angles needed. <strong>The</strong> hinge axes are not vertical, so that <strong>the</strong> blades fold<br />

back and down alongside <strong>the</strong> hull.<br />

As <strong>the</strong> folding mechanism is self-sequencing, unfolding <strong>the</strong> blades is achieved simply<br />

by reversing <strong>the</strong> direction <strong>of</strong> hydraulic pressure on <strong>the</strong> rams. <strong>The</strong> folding rams retract<br />

to swing <strong>the</strong> blades out, and limit valves <strong>the</strong>n apply pressure to <strong>the</strong> lock pin rams,<br />

which lock <strong>the</strong> folding hinges. Limit valves on <strong>the</strong> lock pins <strong>the</strong>n allow pressure to <strong>the</strong><br />

fea<strong>the</strong>ring bearing locks in order to release <strong>the</strong> pins. When <strong>the</strong> fea<strong>the</strong>ring lock pins<br />

retract, fur<strong>the</strong>r limit valves allow flow to reposition <strong>the</strong> lag dampers.<br />

For obvious safety reasons, <strong>the</strong> hydraulic interlocks ensure that <strong>the</strong> sequence cannot<br />

complete if any stage fails to operate. As a fur<strong>the</strong>r precaution, <strong>the</strong> positions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

major elements are monitored by switch to operate a cockpit warning if any part is out<br />

<strong>of</strong> sequence.<br />

Blade folding mechanisms are inevitably complex. In certain versions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Osprey,<br />

not only do <strong>the</strong> blades fold parallel to <strong>the</strong> wing, but <strong>the</strong> wing also rotates 90 ◦ to align<br />

with <strong>the</strong> hull. Blade folding is expensive, adds weight and increases maintenance and<br />

will only be used where it is absolutely essential.<br />

Reference<br />

1 Gessow, A. and Myers, G. (1951) Aerodynamics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Helicopter</strong>. Ungar, New York.

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