US 11,691,723 B2
Rotor assembly with static mast and pivoting rotor hub
Thomas C. Parham, Jr., Colleyville, TX (US); Frank Bradley Stamps, Colleyville, TX (US); Jouyoung Jason Choi, Southlake, TX (US); Albert Gerard Brand, North Richland Hills, TX (US); Michael Scott Seifert, Southlake, TX (US); Richard E. Rauber, Colleyville, TX (US); and John E. Brunken, Jr., Colleyville, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on May 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/307,845.
Prior Publication US 2022/0355924 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64C 11/32 (2006.01); B64C 11/00 (2006.01); B64C 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 29/0033 (2013.01) [B64C 11/008 (2013.01); B64C 11/02 (2013.01); B64C 11/32 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gimbaled rotor assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
a static mast;
a spherical bearing comprising an inner component and an outer component pivotable relative to each other about a bearing focus, the inner component fixedly coupled to the static mast;
a rotor hub rotatably coupled to the outer component, allowing for relative rotation of the rotor hub about a rotor axis and for pivoting together with the outer component about the bearing focus; and
a primary hub spring coupling the outer component to the static mast and configured for opposing pivoting of the rotor hub about the bearing focus from a neutral position.