Patents Assigned to General Aeronautics Corporation, Inc.
  • Rotor hub and blade root fairing apparatus and method
    Patent number: 9079659
    Abstract: A fairing system may be assembled about a rotor of a rotorcraft to present an aerodynamically quasi-static region that rotates in an airstream, as well as certain extensions that sweep through the airstream as the rotor hub passes through the air. A spherical interface between the extensions on the rotor hub fairing and the base or root portion of each blade fairing provides three degrees of freedom permitting lead-lag, flapping, and blade pitch pivoting in the blade, while still maintaining an aerodynamic profile that will minimize drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Aeronautics Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob J. van der Westhuizen, Robert Owen White