United States Patent (19) 11, 3,945,628

Halwes . (45) Mar. 23, 1976

(54) NODAL BEAM NERTIAL FLEXURE 3,842,945 Of 1974 Potter.................................. 88f B
75) Inventor: Dennis R. Halwes, Arlington, Tex. Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert
73) Assignee: Textron Inc., Providence, R.I. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richards, Harris &
Medlock
22 Filed: June 3, 1974
21 Appl. No.: 475,824 57 ABSTRACT
Related U.S. Application Data A helicopter having a lift unit including a multiblade
62 Division of Ser. No. 428.235, Dec. 26, 1973, Pat. No. helicopter main rotor system and a nodalized module
3,858,831. including a beam driven in response to blade devel
oped vertical forces has a fuselage unit connected to
52 U.S. Ct................... 267/152; 267/141; 1881 B the beam only at vibration nodal points along the
(51) int. Cl.’............................................. F16F 3/10 beam. The coupling between the lift unit and the fuse
(58) Field of Search.................... 267/152, 141, 40; lage comprises two rigid arms which form the beam
18871 B; 244/17, 27 and which extend toward one another from the nodal
points. A multilayered flexible beam section intercon
56) References Cited nects the arms to accommodate beam bending in the
UNITED STATES PATENTS flexible section. A rigid member is attached to each of
3,330,59 7/1967 Thorn ................................. 267/141
the arms at drive points intermediate the nodal points
3,460,628 8/1969 Tankersley.......................... 267/14 in supporting relation from the lift unit.
3,730,509 5/1973 Jorn .................................... 267f 152 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
U.S. Patent March 23, 1976 Sheet 1 of 3 3,945,628
U.S. Patent March 23, 1976 Sheet 2 of , 3,945,628
U.S. Patent March 23, 1976 Sheet 3 of 3 3,945,628
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1. 2
links 14 and 15 to pin couplings 16 and 17 on a nodaliz
NODAL BEAM NERTIAL FLEXURE ing beam 18. Beam 18 is connected by pins to fuselage
This is a division of application Ser. No. 428,235, fixtures 20 and 21. Beam 18 is made up of three major
filed 12-26-73 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,831. components. Two rigid arms 18a and 18b extend from
This invention relates to vibration isolation in heli 5 fixtures 20 and 21. An intermediate element 18c is
copters, and more particularly to structure which pro somewhat more resilient and is rigidly secured in ele
vides isolation while providing operation in a focused ments 18a and 18b.
rotor mode. As the structure of FIG. 1 vibrates in response to
Vibration in helicopters is particularly severe in two forces represented by arrow 22, those forces are ap
blade units. The vertical vibratory input through the 10 plied through pylon 10 to transmission 11 and thence
pylon to the fuselage is produced by variations in the through links 14 and 15 to the compound beam 18.
force on the rotating blades of the lift unit. Because of Beam 18 is caused to vibrate with the center section
the intensity of the vibration, efforts have been made to undergoing cyclic beam bending. Properly constructed,
attenuate or eliminate the undesired motion in the beam 18 will vibrate in such a manner that the points at
fuselage. 15 which the beam is coupled to fixtures 20 and 21 will be
Copending application Ser. No. 331,614 filed Feb. at vibrational nodes so that the motion represented by
12, 1973 discloses a system wherein a lift unit is cou arrow 22 will not be imposed on the fuselage on which
pled to a load carrying fuselage only at vibration nodal the fixtures 20 and 21 are mounted.
points on the lift unit. The transmission of vibratory The present invention is particularly directed to the
energy into the fuselage thus hung from the lift unit at 20 provision of a suitable beam structure and linkages
nodal points is minimized or reduced drastically. The associated with such beam structure that focused rotor
improvement in performance and comfort has been operation is achieved and such that the torque may be
dramatic. applied from the rotor mounting to the fuselage.
The present invention is directed to an improvement 25 FIG. 2
over the system described and claimed in said applica
tion. An objective is to provide for focused rotor opera Referring now to FIG. 2, pylon 10 and transmission
tion while minimizing the weight and space require 11 are shown in dotted configuration. The coupling
ments. Application Ser. No. 331,614 discloses the con between transmission 11 and fuselage is by way of a
ditions under which vibration nodes may be located pair of compound beams. The first beam 30 comprises
outside the segment of fuselage spanned by driving 30 rigid end members 31 and 32 interconnected by a more
linkages. When so arranged, the space requirements for flexible center beam 33. Center beam 33 is nested in
the system are reduced. cup-like ends 34 and 35 of beams 31 and 32. The ex
In accordance with the present invention, an im tremity of beam 31 opposite beam 33 is connected by
proved system is provided for a helicopter which in pin 36 to a mounting fixture 37 which is secured to the
cludes a multiblade main rotor system with a nodalized 35 fuselage. The end of beam 32 opposite beam 33 is
module including a beam driven in response to blade connected by way of pin 38 to a fixture 39 which is
developed vertical forces. A fuselage is connected to secured to or forms a part of the fuselage. Rigid support
the beam only at vibrational nodal points. The beam link 40 extends from pin 41 in beam 31 to a pin 42 that
includes two rigid arms extending toward one another is secured to the transmission 11. A link 43 similarly is
from the nodal points. A multilayered flexible beam 40 coupled between pin 44 on beam 32 and is secured by
section interconnects the arms to accommodate beam a pin 45 to transmission 11.
bending. A rigid member then attaches to each of the In a similar manner, a second beam 50 comprises
arms at drive points intermediate the nodal points in rigid elements 51 and 52 with a soft beam 53 coupling
supporting relation from the lift unit. 45
the end thereof together and is coupled to fixtures 57
Preferably the rigid members couple the lift unit to and 59. Rigid links 60 and 63 serve to couple beams 51
the fuselage in a focused rotor geometrical relation and 52, respectively, to transmission 11.
ship. Links 40 and 43 are canted with the upper ends ex
For a more complete understanding of the present tending towards each other so that the intersection of
invention and for further objects and advantages the centers thereof is along a line 70. Similarly, the
thereof, reference may now be had to the following 50 center line of links 60 and 63 intersect at line 70. Line
description taken in conjunction with accompanying 70 passes through the center of percussion of the pylon
drawings in which: 10, thereby minimizing pitching motions that otherwise
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a focused rotor would be induced into the fuselage if line 70 were dis
nodalized lift module-fuselage relationship; placed from the center of percussion of the pylon.
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present 55 The members 40 and 60 are canted one with respect
invention; to the other such that the center lines thereof intersect
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of a beam of below the assembly at a line 71. Similarly, arms 43 and
FIG. 2; 63 intersect on line 71. Line 70 extends athwart ship.
FIG. 4 is a modification of one of the beams of FIG.
60
Line 71 extends longitudinally of the aircraft. Line 71
2; and passes through the center of gravity of the aircraft.
FIG. 5 illustrates application of the present invention Thus, the nodalizing beams 30 and 50 permit a nodal
to a single beam nodalized unit. ized mount of the pylon 10 and transmission 11 while
FIG.
maintaining the advantages involved in a focused rotor
system.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a helicopter pylon 10 ex 65 In this embodiment of the invention, a pair of torque
tends upward from a drive transmission unit 11. A links 80 and 81 are connected by suitable pins to lower
multiblade helicopter rotor is indicated by blade seg portions of the transmission 11 and extend generally in
ments 12 and 13. The transmission 11 is coupled by a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pylon 10. Link
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80 is connected to a toggle member 82 which in turn is of beam 102, 104, 105 which permits reduction in the
connected by link 83 to an elastomeric mount 84 which distance between nodal points 100 and 101. The ex
is secured to the fuselage. In a similar manner, link 81 tremity of beam 103 opposite beam 102 is connected
is connected to a toggle member 85 which in turn is by pin 100 to a mounting fixture 107 which is secured
coupled by link 86 to an elastomeric fuselage member 5 to the fuselage. The end of beam 102 opposite beam
87. Toggle members 82 and 85 are then interconnected 103 is connected by way of pin 101 to a fixture 108
by link 88. Torques in the horizontal plane developed which is secured to or forms part of the fuselage. The
in pylon 10 may, by linkages 80–88, be transmitted to rigid support link 109 extends from pin 110 in beam
the fuselage without modifying the nodalized operation 1) 102. A link 11 1 is similarly attached to beam 103 by
involved in the beams 30 and 50. The vertical move pin 112.
ment represented by arrow 22 present in the transmis FIG. 5
sion 11 are imposed on beams 30 and 50 by linkages
40, 43, 60 and 63. Because the intermediate beams 33 FIG. 5 illustrates application of the present invention
and 53 bend, the points, such as point 36, are at vibra 5 to a single beam nodalized unit. Pylon 10 and transmis
tion nodes and thus little if any of the motion repre sion 11 are shown in dotted configuration. The cou
sented by arrow 22 is transmitted to the fuselage. pling between transmission 11 and the fuselage is by
FIG 3
way of a single compound beam 120. The beam com
prises rigid end members 121 and 122 interconnected
Structure for the beam 33 in a preferred embodiment by a more flexible center beam 123. Center beam 123
of the invention is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3. In this is nested in cup-like ends 121a and 122a of beams 121
embodiment, the cup 35 at the end of beam 32 serves and 122. The extremity of beam 121 opposite beam
to nest one end of the beam 33. The cup 35 is provided 122 is connected by suitable pins to links 125 and 126
with a rectangular metal liner 90. The beam 33 is com which are secured to the fuselage. Similarly, the ex
prised of ten metal layers, such as layer 91. Bonded tremity of beam 122 opposite beam 121 is connected
between each adjacent surface of the layers 91 is a 25 by suitable pins to links 127 and 128 which are secured
layer of an elastomeric material 92. Thus, the beam 33 to the fuselage. Rigid support link 129 is connected by
is a bonded elastomeric beam with the layers 92 inter a suitable pin to beam 121 and extends to a pin 130 that
spersed between each of the adjacent metallic layers is secured to transmission 1 1. A link 131 is similarly
91. This permits the beam to bend without frictional attached to beam 121 by a suitable pin and extends to
displacement of one metal surface on another. In the 30 pin 132 which is secured to transmission 1 1. In a similar
bent configuration, the end 93 is stepped to reflect the manner, rigid links 133 and 134 serve to couple beam
shear forces to the rubber layers 92. 122 to transmission 1 1.
The lower metal layer 91 is bonded to the upper In this embodiment of the invention, a single torque
surface of a pillow block 94 of elastomeric material. link 135 is connected by suitable pin to the lower por
35 tion of the transmission 1 1. Link 135 is connected to
The lower surface of pillow block 94 is bonded to the
inner surface of sup 90. The upper metal plate 95 of elastomeric mounts 136 and 137 which in turn are
beam 33 is bonded to the lower surface of an upper secured to beam 122. The extremity of beam 121 oppo
similar pillow block 96. The upper surface of block 96 site beam 122 is connected by suitable pins to rigid
is of material such as sold under the trademark TEF links 138 and 139 which are in turn secured to the
LON and is not bonded to cup 90. By this means, the 40 fuselage. The extremity of beam 122 opposite beam
end 93 of beam 33 is securely attached to the bottom of 121 is connected by a suitable pin to rigid link 140
cup 90 but is permitted substantial relative motion in which is secured to the fuselage. Torques in the hori
response to bending forces at the top of cup 90. zontal plane developed in pylon 10 may, by linkages
In one embodiment of the invention, the beam mem 138 - 140, be transmitted to the fuselage without modi
bers 31 and 32 were 6.8 inches long. The beam 33 was 45 fying the nodalized operation involved in beam 120.
5 inches long. The beam 33 was made of bars 91, 95 Thus, in accordance with the invention, a helicopter,
each 0.1 inch in thickness, 2.0 inches in width and 10 having a lift unit including a multiblade helicopter main
inches long (seven bars). rotor system and a nodalized module including a beam
The rubber layer sandwiched between the metal driven in response to blade developed vertical forces,
strips 90, 95 was of rubber and was in the unstressed 50 has a fuselage unit connected to the beam only as vibra
condition of 0.03 inch thickness. The compound beam tion nodal points along the beam. The coupling be
comprising the elements 30, 32 and 33 were then tween the lift unit and the fuselage comprises two rigid
driven at pins 41 and 44 by links 40 and 43 at points arms which form the beam and which extend toward
which were 34 inches apart. The spacing between pins one another from the nodal points. A multilayered
38 and 36 of FIG. 2 was then 38.5 inches. The angle of 55 flexible beam section interconnects the arms to accom
FIG. 2 was 130°. The angle b, FIG. 2, was <30. modate beam bending in the flexible section. A rigid
FIG. 4
member is attached to each of the arms at drive points
intermediate the nodal points in supporting relation
FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the invention in from the lift unit,
which the beam was provided with loading to change 60 In a preferred form, the beam has an elastomeric
the natural frequency thereof to further minimize the multi lamina middle section imbedding a plurality of
spacing between nodal points 100 and 101. The beam parallel longitudinally extending spring plates for con
is comprised of the rigid end members 102 and 103 trol of the spring constant of the beam.
interconnected by a more flexible center beam 104. Having described the invention in connection with
The cutaway portion of beam 103 shows the nesting of 65 certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be under
center beam 104 in the cup-like end 105 of beam 103. stood that further modifications may now suggest
An arm 106 is rigidly attached to beam 103 near cup themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended
105. A load applied by arm 106 changes the frequency to cover such modifiations as fall within the scope of
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6
the appended claims. 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein each
I claim: of said two rigid arms is subtended by a cup for housing
1. A structure for carrying a load from a super posi an end portion of said flexible beam section.
4. The combination set forth in claim 3, wherein one
tioned vibratory support comprising: outer member of said plurality of spring plates in
a. at least one nodalized beam supporting said load bonded to elastomeric pillow blocks movably seated
from nodal points on said beam and comprising within each said cup, and a second outer member of
two rigid arms extending toward one another from said plurality of spring plates is bonded to elastomeric
said nodal points with a multilayered flexible beam pillow blocks which in turn are bonded to an inner lip
section interconnecting the confronting ends of 10 of each said cup.
5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein a
said arms, and load is rigidly attached to one of said two rigid arms to
b. two members extending from said support, each of change the natural frequency of said beam and permit
said members being connected, respectively, to a reduction of distance between nodal points of said
one of said arms at a drive point, said drive points 15
beam.
being located intermediate said nodal points on 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said members
said beam. are rigid links coupled between said support and said
alS.
2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said links are
flexible beam section comprises a plurality of elasto coupled to said support and said arms by pins whereby
meric layers interposed between and bonded to a plu- 20 relative rotation is permitted between said links, said
rality of adjacent metal spring plates for control of the support and said arms.
k is xk xk k
spring constant of said beam.

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