Abstract: Techniques for reporting problems within an organization include presenting choices to a worker through a menu-based interface. The choices may indicate conditions or problems and may be organized in levels such that selection of a first choice in one level determines choices presented in a subsequent level. The choices may include a type of problem and/or a severity of the problem. A report may contain information identified by the worker's selected choices, and a support person indicated as a recipient for the report may be identified based on the selections and a mapping that relates possible choices selected by a worker to support personnel. The support person may provide corrective instructions to the worker to resolve the problem. Aggregation of reports may identify of systemic problems within the organization.

Abstract: Techniques for reporting problems within an organization include presenting choices to a worker through a menu-based interface. The choices may indicate conditions or problems and may be organized in levels such that selection of a first choice in one level determines choices presented in a subsequent level. The choices may include a type of problem and/or a severity of the problem. A report may contain information identified by the worker's selected choices, and a support person indicated as a recipient for the report may be identified based on the selections and a mapping that relates possible choices selected by a worker to support personnel. The support person may provide corrective instructions to the worker to resolve the problem. Aggregation of reports may identify of systemic problems within the organization.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotor blade balancing apparatus may include a tube member defining an inner cavity, a plurality of weights, and a biasing member. The tube member may be for the insertion into a cavity of a rotor blade. Each of the weights may be adapted to be slide-ably inserted into the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade, and slide-ably removed from the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade in order to balance a rotor blade. The biasing member may be for biasing weights, which have been slide-ably inserted into the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade, towards an end of the tube member.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotor blade balancing apparatus may include a tube member defining an inner cavity, a plurality of weights, and a biasing member. The tube member may be for the insertion into a cavity of a rotor blade. Each of the weights may be adapted to be slide-ably inserted into the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade, and slide-ably removed from the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade in order to balance a rotor blade. The biasing member may be for biasing weights, which have been slide-ably inserted into the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade, towards an end of the tube member.

Abstract: A droop stop mechanism for a helicopter rotor blade includes a pair of opposing stops disposed on opposite sides of the blade's flap hinge. An interposer is mounted at the end of an arm on a rotatable shaft for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the hinge. A torsion spring disposed concentrically about the shaft has a first end that is fixed and a second end coupled to the shaft to bias the interposer to a position disposed between the stops, thereby limiting blade droop. A weight is attached to the shaft such that, with rotation of the rotor, centrifugal forces acting on the weight cause the shaft and arm to rotate so as to overcome the bias of the spring and urge the interposer out from between the stops, thereby allowing greater blade droop. The spring and shaft are sealed in a canister for protection from the elements.

Abstract: A self-aligning dynamic hinge sleeve for attachment to a pitch hinge in a position that places the hinge sleeve in contact with a pitch bearing. The hinge sleeve is comprised of an inner race, a middle race and an outer race, wherein the middle race is an elastomeric material, or another soft material, that bonds the inner and outer races together and allows the inner race and outer race to rotate with respect to each other. As the pitch hinge transmits forces and moment to a pitch shaft, the dynamic hinge sleeve aligns with a pitch bearing secured onto the pitch shaft. This results in a self-aligning pitch bearing rotor that significantly reduces the level of peak that loads upon a bearing and thereby permits the use of self-lubricating bearings in a rotor.

Abstract: A self-aligning dynamic hinge sleeve for attachment to a pitch hinge in a position that places the hinge sleeve in contact with a pitch bearing. The hinge sleeve is comprised of an inner race, a middle race and an outer race, wherein the middle race is an elastomeric material, or another soft material, that bonds the inner and outer races together and allows the inner race and outer race to rotate with respect to each other. As the pitch hinge transmits forces and moment to a pitch shaft, the dynamic hinge sleeve aligns with a pitch bearing secured onto the pitch shaft. This results in a self-aligning pitch bearing rotor that significantly reduces the level of peak that loads upon a bearing and thereby permits the use of self-lubricating bearings in a rotor.