Patents by Inventor Clifford B. Smith

Clifford B. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Impact test fixture with simulated centrifugal force
    Patent number: 8578753
    Abstract: A test apparatus for a rotor blade of a rotor includes at least one guide rail located in proximity to the rotor blade and at least one bearing secured to the rotor blade radially outboard of the at least one guide rail. The at least one bearing is in operable communication with a radially outboard surface of the at least one guide rail to be translatable thereon. At least one force applicator is in operable communication with the at least one guide rail and is configured to exert a force radially outwardly on the at least one guide rail. The force is transferred to the rotor blade via the at least one bearing and simulates a centrifugal force on the rotor blade. Further disclosed is a method for securing a rotor blade of a rotor in a test fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Schmaling, Clifford B. Smith, Eric Lucien Nussenblatt
  • IMPACT TEST FIXTURE WITH SIMULATED CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
    Publication number: 20110146375
    Abstract: A test apparatus for a rotor blade of a rotor includes at least one guide rail located in proximity to the rotor blade and at least one bearing secured to the rotor blade radially outboard of the at least one guide rail. The at least one bearing is in operable communication with a radially outboard surface of the at least one guide rail to be translatable thereon. At least one force applicator is in operable communication with the at least one guide rail and is configured to exert a force radially outwardly on the at least one guide rail. The force is transferred to the rotor blade via the at least one bearing and simulates a centrifugal force on the rotor blade. Further disclosed is a method for securing a rotor blade of a rotor in a test fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David N. Schmaling, Clifford B. Smith, Eric Lucien Nussenblatt