US Patent 10239605 Chordwise folding and locking of rotor systems

An apparatus for chordwise folding and locking of rotor systems includes a grip assembly and a harness disposed at least partially within and coupled to the grip assembly. A rotor blade is rotatably coupled to the grip assembly and the harness. The rotor blade has a radially extended orientation and a stowed orientation. A linkage assembly has a first end, a second end and a pivot joint therebetween. The first end of the linkage assembly is rotatably coupled to the harness and the second end of the linkage assembly is rotatably coupled to the rotor blade. A first lock assembly selectively secures the rotor blade to the grip assembly and the harness when the rotor blade is in the radially extended orientation. A second lock assembly selectively secures the rotor blade relative to the harness when the rotor blade is in the stowed orientation.