Design Solution and Structural Optimisation of Feathering Hinge Assembly of Teetering Rotor Head for Tip-Jet Helicopters

Abstract

If one compares the tip-jet helicopters to the conventional ones, one of the most important disadvantages are the much heavier blades, due to the massive inner channel for operating fluid transport through its structure. This increased blade mass causes a significantly larger centrifugal force that loads the construction of the rotor head, especially the feathering and teetering hinge. The case study of this paper is feathering hinge assembly of teetering rotor head for ultra-light tip-jet unmanned helicopter. The new design solution and structural optimization for such engineering problem is presented in this paper. The described construction solution is developed for a new project of unmanned helicopter Hussar based on the experience and knowledge achieved on the previous helicopters ATRO-X and Hornet.