Abstract: A balance weight assembly for a rotor blade of a rotorcraft. The balance weight assembly includes a balance weight pocket formed by a balance weight tray and a cover. The balance weight tray has an upper surface including a lip region extending outwardly from a projected region with an outboard boss. A balance weight receiving cavity is recessed from the upper surface and contains a plurality of balance weights. The projected region is disposed within an opening in a hollow blade spar such that the outboard boss of the balance weight tray has a contact relationship with an outboard surface of the opening. The cover is coupled to the balance weight tray such that the lip region of the balance weight tray and at least a portion of the cover have a clamping relationship with the blade spar, thereby coupling the balance weight pocket to the blade spar.

Abstract: An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft includes a fuselage carrying a wing, a pylon assembly coupled to the wing such that the pylon assembly is rotatable to selectively operate the tiltrotor aircraft between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode, a vibration isolator assembly connected to the pylon assembly and the wing including a first vibration isolator configured to isolate vibration in a vertical plane a second vibration isolator configured to isolate vibration in a lateral plane.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shared cooling device for cooling one or more systems or components, and a plurality of primary cooling pathways. Each of the primary cooling pathways includes a fan, and each fan is in fluid communication with the shared cooling device.

Abstract: An inboard beam includes a body having an upper flange and a lower flange coupled thereto. The upper flange includes a first upper inboard aperture and an upper outboard aperture formed therein. The lower flange includes a first lower inboard aperture and a lower outboard aperture formed therein. An upper beam fitting is coupled to the upper flange and lower beam fitting is coupled to the lower flange. The upper beam fitting includes a first upper inboard post. The upper beam fitting includes an upper outboard post extending parallel to the inboard post. The lower beam fitting includes a first lower inboard post. The lower beam fitting includes a lower outboard post extending parallel to the lower inboard post.

Abstract: A method of increasing a stability speed of a tiltrotor aircraft includes pivoting a rotor assembly having at least three rotor blades from a first position for operating the tiltrotor aircraft in a helicopter mode to a second position for operating the tiltrotor aircraft in an airplane mode, and increasing a stiffness of the rotor assembly when the rotor assembly is in the second position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is performed by a computer system in an aircraft. The method includes receiving an advance indication of a take-off or landing event to be executed by the aircraft in proximity to a landing area such that the landing area includes an arrangement of a plurality of emitters of electromagnetic radiation. The method further includes, responsive to the receiving, detecting, via a sensor in communication with the computer system, emission states of at least some of the plurality of emitters. In addition, the method includes transforming the detected emission states into an instruction set for the take-off or landing event. The method also includes initiating monitoring of the aircraft relative to the instruction set as the aircraft executes the take-off or landing event in proximity to the landing area.

Abstract: An exemplary aircraft includes a pylon rotatable relative to a wing, a proprotor assembly carried by the pylon, the proprotor assembly have a proprotor blade that is foldable to a stowed position extending substantially parallel to the pylon, and a fluidic clamp positioned with the pylon and configured to grip the proprotor blade when in the stowed position, the fluidic clamp including a first inflatable bladder positioned on a first side of an opening for receiving a portion of a proprotor blade and a pressurized fluid source in fluid connection with the first inflatable bladder.

Abstract: A variable-speed gearbox for a tiltrotor with fixed engine and rotating proprotor includes an input shaft coupled to the respective fixed engine, an output shaft coupled to the respective proprotor; a high-speed clutch integrated into a high-speed gear train, the high-speed gear train having an input coupled to the input shaft and an output coupled to the output shaft; and a low-speed clutch integrated into a low-speed gear train, the low-speed gear train having an input coupled to the input shaft and an output coupled to the output shaft. The high-speed clutch and the low-speed clutch can be freewheeling clutches capable of disconnecting the output and the input of the respective gear train of the high and low-speed gear trains in an overrunning condition when the output rotates faster than the input of the respective gear train. The low-speed clutch can be permanently engaged. In accordance to some embodiments the variable-speed gearboxes may include an accessory drive.

Abstract: An example of a guard for a power tool includes a body that defines an interior space configured to receive the power tool. The body is configured to cover at least a moving portion of the power tool. The body includes an aperture formed through a bottom face of the body and a fastener configured to pass through the aperture and secure the guard to the power tool.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a double Hooke's joint gimbal in a rotor system. An upper Hooke's joint has four arms extending radially outward to define first and second axes, and a lower Hooke's joint has four arms extending radially outward to define third and fourth axes. A pair of connectors couple the upper Hooke's joint and the lower Hooke's joint. A first set of bearings are positioned between arms on the upper and lower Hooke's joints and the connectors. The first set of bearings comprise an elastomer, such as elastomeric journal bearings. The upper Hooke's joint is coupled to a yoke and rotor blades by a driver assembly that allows rotor blade flapping. The lower Hooke's joint is coupled to and driven by a mast. A spherical bearing allows the upper Hooke's joint to move laterally along the mast.

Abstract: A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly shifts the bypass assembly between engaged and disengaged positions. An engagement status sensor is configured to determine the engagement status of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.

Abstract: A wing assembly for an aircraft includes a torque box sleeve having an open end and a plurality of integral sides including leading, aft, top and bottom sides that jointlessly form a continuous surface having a generally airfoil shape. The wing assembly includes an internal support subassembly having a plurality of ribs coupled to a central spar. The internal support subassembly is formed into a single component outside the torque box sleeve and inserted into the open end of the torque box sleeve as the single component. The internal support subassembly is coupled to an interior of the torque box sleeve.

Abstract: A rotorcraft has a fuselage, an engine disposed substantially laterally centrally relative to the fuselage, and an air intake system (AIS). The AIS has a first duct configured to provide streamline air flow, a second duct configured to provide streamline air flow, and a combining section configured to receive streamline air flow from each of the first duct and the second duct. The combining section is further configured to output streamline air flow.

Abstract: An aircraft, including a fixed nacelle disposed on a wing of the aircraft, the fixed nacelle including a nacelle opening; a proprotor pylon disposed on the wing and rotatable relative to the fixed nacelle between a substantially horizontal position and a non-horizontal position, wherein rotation of the proprotor pylon to a non-horizontal position exposes the nacelle opening; and a movable cover disposed on at least one of the wing and fixed nacelle, said movable cover including a plurality of cover members that are movable between a closed position where at least a portion of the cover members collectively form a protective cover in front of the nacelle opening when the proprotor pylon is positioned in the non-horizontal position and a stowed position where at least a portion of the plurality of cover members are stowed. In other aspects, there is provide a method of covering a nacelle opening.

Abstract: A removable oil filter system includes an oil filter mount, an oil filter element removably connected to the oil filter mount, an impending-bypass indicator connected to the oil filter mount and in fluid communication with an oil in the oil filter system, and a full-bypass indicator in fluid communication with the oil filter mount. The impending-bypass indicator is capable of reporting an impending-bypass condition of the oil filter system. The full-bypass indicator is capable of reporting a full-bypass condition of the oil filter system.

Abstract: There is provided a rotorcraft, including a body, including a front portion and a tail portion; a main rotor system coupled to the front portion of the body, the main rotor system operable to provide a lifting force on the body; and an anti-torque system coupled to the tail portion of the body, the anti-torque system including a primary tail rotor system and a secondary tail rotor system; wherein the primary tail rotor system and the secondary tail rotor system are operable to provide a first anti-torque force and a second anti-torque force. In other aspects, there are methods of providing anti-torque force in a rotorcraft.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite member, includes: applying pressure and heat with a compaction tool to a portion of an uncured composite member to decrease a thickness of the portion, the heat applied with the compaction tool being at a temperature less than a curing temperature of the uncured composite member; and curing the uncured composite member after applying pressure and heat.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for manufacturing composite assemblies comprising laying up composite plies on molds for two or more uncured components, joining the molds for the two or more uncured components to form a tubular body, and curing the joined components simultaneously to create a single composite assembly. The single composite assembly may form a spar for an aerodynamic component. The method may further comprise forming at least one axial edge having a sloped shape on the uncured components and mating the sloped axial edges together when joining the uncured components. The molds for the two or more uncured components may comprise female tools or both female tools and male tools. The two or more cured composite assemblies may comprise one or more of carbon and fiberglass composite materials.

Abstract: A compliant tail structure for a rotorcraft having rotating components and a fuselage. The tail structure includes a tail assembly having first and second oppositely disposed tail members. A tail joint connects the tail assembly to an aft portion of the fuselage. The tail joint includes at least four tail mounts configured to establish a nodding axis for the tail assembly. At least two of the tail mounts are resilient tail mounts that are configured to establish a nodding degree of freedom for the tail assembly relative to the fuselage about the nodding axis, thereby detuning dynamic fuselage responses from excitation frequencies generated by the rotating components.