How does a helicopter rotor system work?

Fully articulated rotor systems are found on helicopters with more than two main rotor blades. As the rotor spins, each blade responds to inputs from the control system to enable aircraft control. The center of lift on the whole rotor system moves in response to these inputs to effect pitch, roll, and upward motion.

Does a rigid rotor system flap?

Rigid rotors want to behave similarly to fully articulated rotors, but do not provide flapping or lead-lag hinges. The blade roots are rigidly attached to the rotor hub. Instead, the blades accommodate these motions by bending.

What is the difference between a semirigid rotor system and rigid rotor system?

A semi-rigid rotor system is usually composed of two blades which are rigidly mounted to the main rotor hub. In a rigid rotor system, the blades, hub, and mast are rigid with respect to each other. There are no vertical or horizontal hinges so the blades cannot flap or drag, but they can be feathered.

How does a helicopter fly without a tail rotor?

NOTAR (“no tail rotor”) is a helicopter system which avoids the use of a tail rotor. The system uses a fan inside the tail boom to build a high volume of low-pressure air, which exits through two slots and creates a boundary layer flow of air along the tailboom utilizing the Coandă effect.

What is a semi rigid rotor system?

Semi-rigid Rotor System. A semi-rigid rotor system is usually composed of two blades which are rigidly mounted to the main rotor hub. The main rotor hub is free to tilt with respect to the main rotor shaft on what is known as a teetering hinge. This allows the blades to flap together as a unit.

What is semi-rigid rotor?

A semi-rigid main rotor is always a 2 bladed rotor system. It gets its name from the fact that it does not have a lead-lag hinge, the way a fully articulated rotor system does. Therefore the rotor is not rigid, but not fully articulated either, so we call it semi-rigid.

What is feathering in helicopter?

Feathering. The action that changes the pitch angle of the rotor blades by rotating them around their feathering (spanwise) axis. Feathering axis. The axis about which the pitch angle of a rotor blade is varied. Sometimes referred to as the spanwise axis.

How does a helicopter swash plate work?

The rotating swashplate is mounted on the stationary swashplate by means of a bearing, and is allowed to rotate with the main rotor mast. A swashplate mechanism controls the cyclic and collective pitch of the rotor blades. The cyclic pitch of the rotor blades is used to change a helicopter’s roll and pitch.

How do helicopter rotors work?

In the rigid system, the blades are integrated with the rotor assembly and there are no hinges. The helicopter’s drive shaft delivers critical engine power to the main rotor assembly. The assembly also turns a secondary gear set that drives a horizontal shaft, thereby turning the tail rotor.

How does a fully articulated helicopter work?

The basis of his design permitted successful helicopter development. In a fully articulated rotor system, each rotor blade is attached to the rotor hub through a series of hinges that let the blade move independently of the others. These rotor systems usually have three or more blades.

What does a single engine do in a helicopter?

A single engine powers both the main rotor blade and the tail rotor. One of Sikorsky’s key innovations was to produce a helicopter that needed only one main rotor blade, with a tail rotor to balance it, for reasons discussed below.

How do helicopters fly?

Helicopters are mysterious machines to many, but they have become daily participants in the aviation business segment. To understand how they fly, one has to understand the various major assemblies that make a helicopter what it is and how the parts create and control lift. The main rotor system produces the helicopter’s primary lifting capability.