ROTOR COAXIAL

grabcad

Co-rotators or coaxial rotors are a pair of helicopter blades mounted one above the other on concentric axes, with the same axis of rotation but in opposite directions (counter-rotation). This configuration is a characteristic of helicopters produced by the Russian Kamov helicopter. The operation involves dual-directional rotary motion and is widely used in helicopters and gyrocopters. A benefit of coaxial design includes increased payload for a given motor power - a tail rotor typically loses some of the power that could be dedicated to lifting and pushing, while with a coaxial rotor design, all motor power is dedicated to lifting and pushing. Reduced noise is another advantage of this configuration - part of the high-pitch noise associated with conventional helicopters arises from airflow interactions between the main and tail rotors, which can be severe in some designs. However, the main disadvantage of coaxial design is increased mechanical complexity of the rotor cube. Linkages and swashplates for two rotor systems have to be mounted on the mast, which is more complex due to the need to drive two rotors in opposite directions. Due to a higher number of parts and increased complexity of movement, the coaxial rotor system is more prone to mechanical failures and potential issues.