Helicopter rotor and method of repairing same

Abstract

An aerofoil, particularly a helicopter main rotor blade has a leading edge protector comprising a strip of resilient polymer, preferably polyurethane, adhered to the leading edge of the blade.

Embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . An aerofoil for use in an aircraft, the aerofoil having a leading edge and a wear resistant polymeric material extending along at least a portion of the leading edge.  
     
     
         2 . An aerofoil according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric material is an elastomer.  
     
     
         3 . An aerofoil according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         4 . An aerofoil according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerofoil is a rotor blade for a rotating wing aircraft.  
     
     
         5 . An aerofoil according to  claim 4  wherein the rotor blade has an inboard end section for attachment to a rotor drive, an outboard flight section adjacent an outboard tip end of the blade and a flexible blade section between the inboard and outboard sections of the blade, the polymeric material being applied to the leading edge of the flexible blade section.  
     
     
         6 . A method of protecting the leading edge of an aerofoil from erosion, comprising securing to the leading edge a layer of resilient polymer material.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the aerofoil is a rotor blade for a rotary wing aircraft with an inboard mounting end for attachment to a rotor drive, a flight section adjacent an outboard blade tip opposite the mounting end and a flex section between the flight section and the mounting end, the method comprising securing the resilient polymer to the leading edge of the flex section.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the resilient polymer is an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the resilient polymer is polyurethane.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6  comprising applying a bond line thickness control medium to the leading edge and applying the resilient polymer to the thickness control medium.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the bond line thickness control medium is a scrim cloth.