Rotor fairing, a rotor, and an aircraft

Abstract

A fairing for a rotor, the fairing comprising a movable top half-shell, the fairing including a mover device provided with a slideway, the slideway being provided with a stationary portion secured to the head of the rotor, the slideway being provided with a movable portion secured to the top half-shell, the movable portion sliding in elevation along the stationary portion along an axis in elevation, the mover device including a driver device co-operating with the movable portion to move the movable portion in translation relative to the stationary portion from a closed extreme position to an open extreme position, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A fairing for a rotor, the fairing comprising a top half-shell for placing above a rotor head, the top half-shell being provided with a single dome-shaped top body, wherein the top half-shell is movable, the fairing including a mover device for moving the top half-shell in elevation, the mover device including a slideway, the slideway being provided with a stationary portion for securing to the head of the rotor, the slideway being provided with a movable portion secured to the top half-shell, the movable portion sliding in elevation along the stationary portion along an axis in elevation, the mover device including a driver device co-operating with the movable portion to move the movable portion in translation relative to the stationary portion from a closed extreme position to an open extreme position, and vice versa, the top half-shell being in the closed extreme position in flight and in the open extreme position during a maintenance operation, and wherein the driver device comprises a handle attached to the movable portion.

2. A fairing according to claim 1, wherein the fairing includes a signaling device for indicating the position of the top half-shell, the signaling device having at least one sensor for determining whether the top half-shell is in the open extreme position and/or in the closed extreme position, and display means connected to the sensor.

3. A fairing according to claim 1, wherein the driver device includes an actuator attached to the movable portion.

4. A fairing according to claim 1, wherein the handle is a hinged handle having a bottom segment hinged to the movable portion and a top segment hinged to the bottom segment.

5. A fairing according to claim 1, wherein the handle is housed in an internal housing of the top half-shell, the housing being closed in reversible manner by an access hatch.

6. A fairing according to claim 5, wherein the access hatch is provided with a pull-tab, the pull-tab having a free end carrying spring clip means engaged on the handle when the access hatch closes the housing.

7. A fairing according to claim 1, wherein the handle is connected to the movable portion by a support, the support being hinged to the movable portion and being movable in rotation to turn relative to the movable portion about the axis in elevation, the support being connected to at least one locking finger by a cam so that a turning movement of the support causes each locking finger to move in translation, the stationary portion including at least one orifice per locking finger, the movable portion being prevented from moving relative to the stationary portion when at least one locking finger penetrates into one of the orifices.

8. A fairing according to claim 7, wherein the stationary portion includes a top orifice above a bottom orifice for each locking finger, each locking fingers being housed in a top orifice in the open extreme position of the top half-shell, each locking finger being housed in a bottom orifice in the closed extreme position of the top half-shell.

9. A fairing according to claim 1, wherein the fairing includes assistance means for assisting in operating the top half-shell, the assistance means comprising a resilient member exerting a deployment force on the top half-shell tending to position it in the open extreme position.

10. A fairing according to claim 9, wherein the resilient member is interposed between the movable portion and the stationary portion.

11. A fairing according to claim 9, wherein the deployment force is less than the weight of the top half-shell.

12. A fairing according to claim 1, wherein the fairing includes a bottom half-shell facing the top half-shell, a portion of a periphery of the top half-shell referred to as the “top contact periphery” being in sealed contact in a junction plane with a portion of a periphery of the bottom half-shell referred to as the “bottom contact periphery” when in the closed extreme position, the junction plane being perpendicular to the axis in elevation, the top half-shell having a plurality of slots, each facing a slot in the bottom half-shell in order to pass a blade.

13. A fairing according to claim 12, wherein the top half-shell and the bottom half-shell are mutually engaged one in the other in the closed extreme position, the bottom contact periphery co-operating by shape interference with the top contact periphery.

14. A rotor provided with a rotor head, the head of the rotor including firstly a mast rotatably about an axis of rotation and secondly a hub secured to the mast, the hub carrying a plurality of blades, the rotor including a fairing, wherein the fairing is a fairing according to claim 1, the stationary portion being secured by reversible fastener means either to the hub or to the mast.

15. A rotor according to claim 14, wherein the stationary portion extends at least in part inside the mast.

16. A rotor according to claim 14, wherein the fairing extends in elevation along an axis in elevation coinciding with the axis of rotation.

17. A rotor according to claim 14, wherein the fairing has a bottom half-shell, and the bottom half-shell is fastened to the rotor head.

18. An aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes a rotor according to claim 14.

Description

(1) The invention and its advantages appear in greater detail from the context of the following description of examples given by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view of an aircraft having a fairing in a first embodiment in the closed extreme position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view of an aircraft fitted with a fairing in the first embodiment in the open extreme position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view of an aircraft fitted with a fairing in a second embodiment in the closed extreme position;

(5) FIG. 4 is a view showing a cam for driving two locking fingers in translation;

(6) FIG. 5 is a view of an aircraft fitted with a fairing in the second embodiment with an open access hatch and locking fingers engaged in a stationary portion of a slideway;

(7) FIG. 6 is a view of an aircraft fitted with a fairing in the second embodiment having an open access hatch and locking fingers disengaged from a stationary portion of a slideway;

(8) FIG. 7 is a view of an aircraft fitted with a fairing in the second embodiment in the open extreme position;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a stationary portion having high housings above low housings;

(10) FIG. 9 shows the peripheries of two half-shells; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a view showing a linkage for driving two locking fingers in translation.

(12) Elements present in more than one of the figures are given the same references in each of them.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) It should be observed that three mutually orthogonal directions are shown in shown in some of the figures.

(14) The first direction X is said to be longitudinal. The term “longitudinal” relates to any direction parallel to the first direction X.

(15) The second direction Y is said to be transverse. The term “transverse” relates to any direction parallel to the second direction Y.

(16) The first direction X and the second direction Y together form a plane referred to for convenience as the “horizontal plane XY”.

(17) Finally, the third direction Z is said to be in elevation. The term “in elevation” relates to any direction parallel to the third direction Z.

(18) FIG. 1 shows an aircraft 1. In particular, the aircraft 1 may be a rotorcraft.

(19) The rotorcraft 1 has a rotor 2 of the invention. In order to avoid pointlessly overcrowding FIG. 1, only the rotor 2 is shown in the figure.

(20) The rotor 2 moves in rotation about an axis of rotation 100.

(21) The rotor 2 is provided with a head 3 carrying a plurality of blades 7. More precisely, the head 3 has a mast 5 carrying a hub 4. Each blade is then hinged to the hub 4, e.g. via a hinge 6.

(22) Furthermore, the rotor 2 has a fairing 10 in a first embodiment of the invention.

(23) Whatever the embodiment, the fairing may include a “bottom” half-shell 20. Such a bottom half-shell 20 may comprise a single “bottom” half-body 21 having diametral sections that are U-shaped.

(24) The bottom half-shell 20 is secured to the head 3 of the rotor by conventional means. For example, the bottom half-shell 20 is fastened to the mast 5 by means of an angle bar 200. Alternatively, or in addition, the bottom half-shell 20 may be secured to the hub 4.

(25) Whatever the variant, the bottom half-shell is stationary relative to the head 3 of the rotor.

(26) Furthermore, the fairing has a “top” half-shell 15.

(27) Such a top half-shell 15 may comprise a single “top” half-body 16 having diametral sections of an upside-down U-shape. Under such circumstances, the top half-body 16 and the bottom half-body 21 present respective concave inside surfaces 301, 302 facing each other.

(28) The top half-body 16 then represents a dome situated above the head 3 of the rotor and the bottom half-body 21.

(29) Furthermore, the top half-shell 15 and the bottom half-shell 20 are each provided with slots. Thus, the top bottom half-shell 15 has one “top” slot 120 per blade, and the bottom half-shell 20 has one “bottom” slot 130 per blade. Each top slot then faces a bottom slot in order to provide a passage in the fairing through which a blade passes.

(30) Unlike the bottom half-shell 20, the top half-shell 15 is movable relative to the head 3 of the rotor.

(31) The top half-shell 15 can move in translation along an axis 101 in elevation. This axis 101 in elevation is an axis of symmetry of the half-shells. In addition, this axis 101 in elevation advantageously coincides with the axis of rotation 100.

(32) Consequently, the top half-shell 15 may be moved on request from a closed extreme position POS1 shown in FIG. 1, to an open extreme position POS2, visible in FIG. 2.

(33) In the closed extreme position POS1, the top half-shell 15 rests on the bottom half-shell 20. The top half-shell 15 and the bottom half-shell 20 then form a closed enclosure. This enclosure is nevertheless open to the outside of the aircraft via the passages formed by the slots 120, 130 and via a passage in the bottom half-shell through which the mast 5 of the rotor passes.

(34) In this closed extreme position POS1, a portion of a periphery of the top half-shell 15, referred to as the “top contact periphery 17” is at the level of a junction plane 103 in sealed contact with a portion of a periphery of the bottom half-shell referred to as the “bottom contact periphery 22”. This junction plane is parallel to the horizontal plane XY, orthogonal to the axis 101 in elevation and orthogonal to the axis of rotation 100.

(35) The top contact periphery 17 corresponds to the portion of this periphery of the top half-shell 15 that does not define a top slot. Likewise, the bottom contact periphery 22 corresponds to the portion of the periphery of the bottom half-shell 20 that does not define a bottom slot.

(36) With reference to FIG. 9, the top half-shell 15 and the bottom half-shell 20 are optionally mutually engaged one in the other in the closed extreme position POS1. The bottom contact periphery 22 then co-operates by shape interference with the top contact periphery 17. For example this contact may take place via conical profiles.

(37) In addition, sealing means 300 may be used at the interface between the half-shells. Such sealing means may comprise a gasket, for example.

(38) With reference to FIG. 1, the fairing comprises a mover device 30 for moving the top half-shell 15. This mover device has a slideway 40.

(39) The slideway 40 then includes a stationary portion 41 that is secured to the head 3 of the rotor 2. The stationary portion 41 could in a variant be fastened in reversible manner to the hub or to the mast.

(40) For example, the stationary portion 41 includes a “stationary” cylinder 42. This stationary cylinder 42 extends in elevation from a bottom 401 towards an open end 402. This open end 402 is then secured to a shoulder 403. The shoulder 403 is then fastened to the head 3 by reversible fastener means 43, such as screws, for example.

(41) Furthermore, the stationary portion 41 advantageously extends within the mast 5. In particular, the stationary cylinder 42 shown in FIG. 1 extends inside the mast 5 with the shoulder 403 resting on the end of the mast.

(42) The slideway also has a movable portion 44 that is movable in translation relative to the stationary portion 41.

(43) The movable portion 44 is secured to the top half-shell 15, e.g. via a base 46.

(44) Under such circumstances, the movable portion 44 and the stationary portion 41 together form a slideway connection. The movable portion 44 can slide along the stationary portion so as to slide along the axis in elevation. The stationary portion 41 thus represents means for guiding the movable portion 44 in translation.

(45) By way of example, the movable portion 44 comprises a hollow cylinder referred to as the “movable” cylinder 45. This movable cylinder 45 extends in elevation from a bottom 404 to an end 405. This end 405 is then secured to the base 46 that is itself secured to the top half-shell 15. Consequently, movement of the movable portion 44 in translation leads to identical movement of the top half-shell 15 in translation.

(46) In addition, the movable cylinder may be arranged in the stationary cylinder or it may be arranged around the stationary cylinder.

(47) Furthermore, the fairing may include a signaling device 90 having the function of visually indicating the position of the top half-shell 15. This signaling device 90 then comprises at least one sensor 93, 94 for determining whether the top half-shell 15 is in the open extreme position POS2 and/or in the closed extreme position POS1. For example, a first position sensor 93 serves to determine whether the top half-shell 15 is in the open extreme position POS2, and a second position sensor 94 serves to determine whether the top half-shell 15 is in the closed extreme position POS1.

(48) Each sensor is connected to display means 95. The display means may comprise at least one indicator lamp that is lit when the top half-shell 15 is in the open extreme position POS2. For example, a first indicator lamp 91 is lit when the top half-shell 15 is in the closed extreme position POS1, and a second indicator lamp 92 is lit when the top half-shell 15 is in the open extreme position POS2.

(49) In addition, a system may enable aerodynamic forces to be taken up directly from the top cap directly to the mast so that these forces do not pass via the mover device.

(50) Furthermore, the mover device 30 includes a driver device 50 for moving the movable portion 44. Consequently, the mover device 30 comprises a guide formed by the slideway 40 and a driver device 50.

(51) The driver device 50 is then activated:

(52) either in order to move the top half-shell 15 away from the bottom half-shell 20 during a maintenance operation by moving the top half-shell from the closed extreme position POS1 to the open extreme position POS2;

(53) or else to press the top half-shell 15 against the bottom half-shell 20 in flight by moving the top half-shell from the open extreme position POS2 to the closed extreme position POS1.

(54) In the first embodiment of FIG. 1, the driver device 50 has an actuator 51 attached to the movable portion 44. By way of example, the actuator extends between a bottom of the movable portion and a bottom of the stationary portion.

(55) This actuator may be connected to a control device 98. By way of example, the control device has a knob that can be operated manually.

(56) In order to perform a maintenance operation, an operator can then operate the control device 98. The control device 98 then sends to an order to the actuator 51, e.g. in the form of an electrical signal.

(57) With reference to FIG. 2, the actuator 51 lengthens in order to move the top half-shell 15 away from the head of the rotor. The lengthening of the actuator may be stopped automatically by the first position sensor 93, for example. The actuator then holds the top half-shell 15 in the open extreme position POS2. The operator can then inspect the head of the rotor.

(58) The display device also indicates that the top half-shell 15 is in the open position.

(59) In order to close the fairing, the operator can operate the control device 98 once more.

(60) FIGS. 3 to 8 show a second embodiment that is mechanical, at least in part.

(61) With reference to FIG. 3, the driver device 50 includes a handle 60 secured to the movable portion 44.

(62) The handle 60 that is shown is a hinged handle. This handle then has a bottom segment 61 that is hinged to the movable portion 44 and a top segment 62 that is hinged to the bottom segment 61.

(63) The handle 60 is received in an internal housing 18 of the top half-shell 15. This housing 18 is defined by the base 46.

(64) Furthermore, the housing is closed in reversible manner by an access hatch 85. The access hatch 85 is hinged to the top half-shell in order to be capable of performing a pivoting movement. Thus, the access hatch can be operated in order to open or close the housing 18.

(65) Furthermore, the access hatch 85 is provided with a pull-tab 86. The pull-tab 86 extends longitudinally from the access hatch to a free end 87 of the pull-tab 86 carrying spring clip means 88.

(66) When the access hatch is closed, the pull-tab is located in the housing, and the spring clip means 88 is engaged on the handle 60. The handle thus tends to hold the access hatch shut.

(67) Furthermore, the handle 60 is connected to the movable portion 44 by a support 65. The bottom section 61 is thus hinged to the support 65.

(68) In addition, the support 65 is hinged to the movable portion 44 by a hinge. This hinge then allows the handle to turn relative to the movable portion 44 about the axis 101 in elevation.

(69) For example, the support 65 has a top portion 65′ resting on the movable portion 44. In addition, the support has a stud 65″ passing through a top wall of the movable portion 44. Ball bearing means may then optionally be interposed between the top wall and the stud 65″ of the support.

(70) Furthermore, the support 65 is connected to at least one locking finger 70 by a cam 71. For example, the movable portion has two locking fingers that are substantially diametrically opposite.

(71) The cam 71 may for example be received in the movable portion 44. In contrast, each locking finger 70 extends parallel to the junction plane, e.g. passing through a vertical wall of the movable portion.

(72) With reference to FIG. 4, the cam 71 may comprise a toothed cylinder 72 secured to the stud 65″ and a rack secured to each locking finger 70. Consequently, a turning movement in rotation ROT of the support 65 causes each locking finger 70 to move in translation in a horizontal plane.

(73) In the variant of FIG. 10, the stud 65″ is connected to each locking finger 70 by a linkage. The stud 65″ is thus secured to a rod 500 that is connected to each locking finger 70 by a respective link 501.

(74) With reference to FIG. 3, the stationary portion 41 then includes at least one orifice 75 per locking finger 70. For example, the stationary cylinder includes one orifice per locking finger.

(75) As shown in FIG. 8, the stationary portion 41 may have a top orifice 77 above a bottom orifice 76 for each locking finger 70.

(76) Under such circumstances, when the locking fingers are arranged in a locking orifice, the movable portion is prevented from moving in translation relative to the stationary portion of the slideway. Consequently, the locking fingers can lock the stationary portion in reversible manner relative to the movable portion either in the closed extreme position, or in the open extreme position, or in the closed extreme position and the open extreme position.

(77) With reference to FIG. 3, the fairing 10 may include assistance means 80 to assist in operating the top half-shell 15. The assistance means 80 comprise a resilient member 81 exerting a deployment force 82 on the top half-shell 15 tending to put it in the open extreme position POS2. This deployment force 82 may for example be less than the weight 83 of the top half-shell 15.

(78) This resilient member 81 may for example be interposed between the movable portion 44 and the stationary portion 41.

(79) FIG. 3 shows an aircraft fitted with a fairing in the second embodiment in the closed extreme position.

(80) The resilient member 81 is retracted. Furthermore, the access hatch is closed and the pull-tab 86 is engaged on the handle.

(81) In order to perform a maintenance operation, and with reference to FIG. 5, the operator opens the access hatch. The pull-tab then exerts a force F1 on the handle 60 in order to deploy it. The spring clip means then releases the handle.

(82) The top half-shell 15 remains in the closed extreme position.

(83) With reference to FIG. 6, the operator operates the handle 60 so as to cause it to turn by moving in rotation in a first direction ROT1.

(84) The locking fingers 70 are then retracted into the movable portion, escaping from the orifices in the stationary portion 41.

(85) With reference to FIG. 7, the operator then pulls the handle along arrow F2 in order to move the movable portion 44. The operator then moves the top half-shell 15 in translation into the open extreme position POS2. This movement in translation is facilitated by the assistance means 80.

(86) Optionally, and in the variant of FIG. 8, the operator then turns the handle in a second direction in order to reinsert the locking fingers in orifices in the stationary portion. The top half-shell 15 is then locked in the open extreme position.

(87) Naturally, the present invention may be subjected to numerous variations as to its implementation. Although several embodiments are described, it will readily be understood that it is not conceivable to identify exhaustively all possible embodiments. It is naturally possible to envisage replacing any of the means described by equivalent means without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.