Task 1 : Describe the advantages special features and characteristic of the following type : RIGID Blade : Blade in the

the rigid rotor system is bent to absorb the flapping and lead/lag forces because it does not have vertical and horizontal hinge. So that, rigid rotor system can only be feathered, cannot flap or drag. Fully articulated Semi rigid Rigid

SEMI RIGID Teetering hinge : Mounted on the main rotor shaft. Allowing the main rotor hub to tilt freely and allow the blades to flap together as a unit. Pillow block trunnion arrangement: form a pivot or seesaw action (flapping axis) to equalize the lift forces of the advancing and the retreating blades. Blade: also need to be bended to absorb lead-lag forces because it does not have drag hinge.

FULLY ARTICULATED

Flapping hinge : as a compensation for dissymmetry of lift Drag hinge and damper : compensation for the acceleration and deceleration caused by Coriolis Effect.

Task 2 : Describe the physical feature of the various main rotor head design and be able to state which of features accommodate the flapping and the lead and lag action of the main rotor blade. Helicopter has three type of main rotor head design: 1. Rigid 2. Semi rigid 3. Fully-articulated

RIGID In the rigid rotor system, the blade, hub and mast are rigid with respect to each other and it does not have vertical and horizontal hinge

which mean that the blade cannot flap or drag (lead and lag). It only has feathering hinge which allow the blade to feather. SEMI RIGID Usually it composed of two blades which are rigidly mounted to the main rotor hub. The main rotor hub is free to tilt with respect to the main rotor shaft on what is known as teetering hinge. This allows the blades to flap together as a unit, but they cannot do the leading and lagging action because they do not have vertical drag hinge. Lead-lag forces are absorbed through blade bending.

Helicopter Type : Bell 47

Physical features: 1. Yoke: made of steel and used to support the grips. 2. Grip : The grip assembly is to retain the blade and support the drag brace 3. Drag Brace : used to prevent fore and aft movement or lead-lag movement 4. Counterweight assembly: to ease movement of the feathering axis of the main rotor blades. 5. Pitch Horn : to accomplish the blade movement 6. Pillow Block: bolted on the top of the yoke assemble to support the gimbal ring through a set of bearing. 7. Gimbal : support the trunnion 8. Trunnion : allow the rotor to be driven from the mast and forms a pivot for the rotor system to tilt during flight. The feature which is accommodate the flapping action : By using a gimbal or a pillow block trunnion arrangement at the top of the rotor to give a seesaw action or flapping axis for the main rotor blades.

FULLY-ARTICULATED The fully articulated rotor head has provisions for independent flapping of the rotor blades by using a hinge mechanism for each blade. There must also be a means of allowing the blades to lead and lag freely for equalization of lift of the advancing and retreating blades.

Physical features:
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-Flapping Hinge : allows the blade to move up and down, this movement called flapping. -Lead-lag or Drag Hinge : allow the blade to move back and forth, this movement called lead-lag, dragging, or hunting. -Damper : used to prevent excess back and forth movement around the drag hinge. -Pitch Change Axis : to change the pitch angle of blade.

Physical features which is accommodate the flapping and the leading and lagging action : 1. Flapping Hinge 2. Dragging Hinge 3. Damper
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References : 1. Schafer, J. (1980) Helicopter Maintenance Jeppesen Sanderson Training Products, Chapter V: Main Rotor System, page 91-158. 2. FAA. (2000), Rotorcraft Flying Handbook , Main Rotor System, page 5-4.