Patent ID: 6860450
Filing Date: 2005-03-01
Classification: B64C

Abstract:
1. A blade positioning mechanism for folding a helicopter main rotor blade attached to a main rotor assembly via two blade pins, the mechanism comprising: a rotor assembly connection adapted to temporarily attach to the main rotor assembly with two degrees of freedom relative to the main rotor assembly; a rotor blade clamp adapted to temporarily attach to the rotor blade; a clamp positioner attached to the rotor blade clamp and the rotor assembly connection, the clamp positioner being adapted to pivot with two degrees of freedom relative to the rotor blade clamp and adapted to position the rotor blade clamp a distance from the rotor assembly connection after removal of one of the blade pins, the clamp positioner comprising a threaded stud, a female knuckle, and a handle, the threaded stud having a longitudinal central stud axis, a threaded outer surface, and a journal portion journaled to one of the rotor assembly connection and rotor blade clamp for rotation of the threaded stud relative to said one of the rotor assembly connection and rotor blade clamp about the stud axis, the female knuckle engaging the threaded stud and attached to the other of the rotor assembly connection and rotor blade clamp in a manner such that rotating the threaded stud about the stud axis causes the female knuckle and said other of the rotor assembly connection and rotor blade clamp to move axially along the stud axis, the handle being connected to the threaded stud in a manner such that the female knuckle is between the journal portion and the handle.