A laminated elastomeric journal bearing has an outer sleeve having an inner surface, at least a portion of each end of the inner surface being a concave surface of revolution, and an inner sleeve having an outer surface, at least a portion of each end of the outer surface being a convex surface of revolution. Alternating layers of elastomer and metal are located between the sleeves, with adjacent surfaces of the layers and the sleeves being adhered to each other.

A laminated elastomeric journal bearing has an outer sleeve having an inner surface, at least a portion of each end of the inner surface being a concave surface of revolution, and an inner sleeve having an outer surface, at least a portion of each end of the outer surface being a convex surface of revolution. Alternating layers of elastomer and metal are located between the sleeves, with adjacent surfaces of the layers and the sleeves being adhered to each other.

A rotorcraft having pusher propeller generated power during autorotations. The rotorcraft has an engine powered mode and an autorotation mode. The rotorcraft includes an engine and a drivetrain configured to receive torque and rotational energy from the engine in the engine powered mode. A main rotor system is coupled to the drivetrain and is rotatable to generate lift and forward thrust for the rotorcraft in the engine powered mode. A pusher propeller is coupled to the drivetrain and is rotatable to generate forward thrust for the rotorcraft in the engine powered mode. In the autorotation mode, the pusher propeller is aerodynamically driven responsive to airflow therethrough and the drivetrain is configured to receive torque and rotational energy from the pusher propeller, thereby providing power to the main rotor system.

A rotorcraft having pusher propeller generated power during autorotations. The rotorcraft has an engine powered mode and an autorotation mode. The rotorcraft includes an engine and a drivetrain configured to receive torque and rotational energy from the engine in the engine powered mode. A main rotor system is coupled to the drivetrain and is rotatable to generate lift and forward thrust for the rotorcraft in the engine powered mode. A pusher propeller is coupled to the drivetrain and is rotatable to generate forward thrust for the rotorcraft in the engine powered mode. In the autorotation mode, the pusher propeller is aerodynamically driven responsive to airflow therethrough and the drivetrain is configured to receive torque and rotational energy from the pusher propeller, thereby providing power to the main rotor system.

A link rotor head and an unmanned aerial vehicle are disclosed. The link rotor head includes a main shaft, a rotor hub arranged at an upper end of the main shaft, a rotor assembly rotatably arranged on the rotor hub, a swashplate assembly movably arranged around the main shaft, and a link assembly. The swashplate assembly drives the rotor assembly to rotate via the link assembly. The link assembly includes a phase link, a phase rocker and a pitch link. The phase rocker is rotatably arranged on the rotor hub, with one end of the phase rocker movably connected with the swashplate assembly via the phase link and with an other end of the phase rocker movably connected with the rotor assembly via the pitch link.

A link rotor head and an unmanned aerial vehicle are disclosed. The link rotor head includes a main shaft, a rotor hub arranged at an upper end of the main shaft, a rotor assembly rotatably arranged on the rotor hub, a swashplate assembly movably arranged around the main shaft, and a link assembly. The swashplate assembly drives the rotor assembly to rotate via the link assembly. The link assembly includes a phase link, a phase rocker and a pitch link. The phase rocker is rotatably arranged on the rotor hub, with one end of the phase rocker movably connected with the swashplate assembly via the phase link and with an other end of the phase rocker movably connected with the rotor assembly via the pitch link.

A propeller blade for an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is disclosed. The UAV includes a plurality of lift propellers and at least one thrust propeller. Each of the plurality of thrust propellers includes a thrust propeller blade coupled to a hub of the thrust propeller. The thrust propeller blade is configured such that a centrifugal force acting on the thrust propeller blade causes a thrust propeller disk area to increase from a first disk area when the UAV is in a first operational state to a second disk area when the UAV is in a second operational state.

A propeller blade for an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is disclosed. The UAV includes a plurality of lift propellers and at least one thrust propeller. Each of the plurality of thrust propellers includes a thrust propeller blade coupled to a hub of the thrust propeller. The thrust propeller blade is configured such that a centrifugal force acting on the thrust propeller blade causes a thrust propeller disk area to increase from a first disk area when the UAV is in a first operational state to a second disk area when the UAV is in a second operational state.

An elastomeric bearing assembly has a housing, a centrifugal force bearing axially captured relative to the housing, and a sliding cap disposed between the housing and the centrifugal force bearing.

A rotor system comprising a hinge coupled between a rotor blade and a hub, where the hinge comprises a pivot that is angled relative to a rotor axis of rotation to enable pitch of the rotor blade to change when the rotor blade experiences lag.