Low-drag rotor blade extension

Abstract

A rotorcraft includes a rotor hub coupled to a mast and a plurality of rotor extensions. Each rotor extension is configured to secure a rotor blade to the rotor hub and includes a first connector configured to attach the rotor extension to a rotor blade, a second connector configured to attach the rotor extension to the rotor hub; a shaft disposed between the first and second connectors, and a damper mount attached to the second connector. The rotorcraft also includes a fairing enclosing the damper and at least a portion of the rotor hub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotor extension for a rotorcraft, the rotor extension comprising:
 a first connector configured to attach the rotor extension to a rotor blade;   a second connector configured to attach the rotor extension to a rotor hub of the rotorcraft;   a shaft disposed between the first and second connectors; and   a damper mount attached to the second connector.   
     
     
         2 . The rotor extension of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is hollow. 
     
     
         3 . The rotor extension of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector is a tongue and the second connector is a clevis. 
     
     
         4 . The rotor extension of  claim 3 , wherein the tongue comprises a mounting hole configured to receive a fastener to secure the rotor blade to the rotor extension. 
     
     
         5 . The rotor extension of  claim 1 , comprising an extension fairing disposed on the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The rotor extension of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are disposed on the shaft at angle relative to one another to introduce an amount of blade twist to the rotor blade. 
     
     
         7 . The rotor extension of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connector are aligned relative to each other so that no blade twist is introduced by the rotor extension. 
     
     
         8 . The rotor extension of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The rotor extension of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector is configured to fit within an opening of an end of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         10 . The rotor extension of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector is configured to attach to an outer portion of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         11 . A rotorcraft comprising a low-drag rotor extension, the rotorcraft comprising:
 a rotor hub coupled to a mast;   a plurality of rotor extensions, each rotor extension configured to secure a rotor blade to the rotor hub, each rotor extension comprising:
 a first connector configured to attach the rotor extension to a rotor blade; 
 a second connector configured to attach the rotor extension to the rotor hub; 
 a shaft disposed between the first and second connectors; and 
 a damper mount attached to the second connector; and 
   a fairing enclosing at least a portion of the rotor hub.   
     
     
         12 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft is hollow. 
     
     
         13 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , wherein the first connector comprises a tongue and the second connector comprises a clevis. 
     
     
         14 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , wherein the first connector comprises a mounting hole configured to receive a fastener to secure the rotor blade to a rotor extension of the plurality of rotor extensions. 
     
     
         15 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , comprising an extension fairing disposed on a portion of the shaft located outside the fairing. 
     
     
         16 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are set at an angle relative to each other to add an amount of blade twist to a rotor extension of the plurality of rotor extensions. 
     
     
         17 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are aligned relative to each other so that no blade twist is introduced by a rotor extension of the plurality of rotor extensions. 
     
     
         18 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         19 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , wherein the first connector is configured to fit within an opening of an end of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         20 . The rotorcraft of  claim 11 , wherein the first connector is configured to attach to an outer portion of the rotor blade.