Axial preloading device
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorPaul McCullough
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An axial preloading device can include a shell having an inner surface that defines a radially interior channel, the inner channel defining an axial direction, one or more moveable housing members disposed at least partially within the interior channel and configured to move relative to the shell in the axial direction, and a wedge assembly connected to the shell and disposed in contact with the one or more housing members. The wedge assembly can be configured to be moved radially relative to the shell and the one or more housing members to push the one or more housing members axially. The wedge assembly and the one or more housing members define a shaft opening when installed on the shell.
Claims17
An axial preloading device, comprising:
- a shell having an annular shape and an inner surface that defines a radially interior channel, the interior channel defining an axial direction;
- one or more moveable housing members disposed at least partially within the interior channel and configured to move relative to the shell in the axial direction;
- and
- a wedge assembly connected to the shell and disposed in contact with the one or more housing members, wherein the wedge assembly is configured to be moved radially relative to the shell and the one or more housing members to push the one or more housing members axially, wherein the wedge assembly and the one or more housing members define a shaft opening when installed on the shell.
A joint system, comprising:
- an axial joint between a first member and a second member;
- and
- an axial preloading device disposed on the joint between the first member and the second member, wherein the axial preloading device is configured to provide preloading force to bias the first member away from the second member, the device comprising:
- a shell having an annular shape and an inner surface that defines a radially interior channel, the interior channel defining an axial direction;
- one or more moveable housing members disposed at least partially within the interior channel and configured to move relative to the shell in the axial direction;
- and
- a wedge assembly connected to the shell and disposed in contact with the one or more housing members, wherein the wedge assembly is configured to be moved radially relative to the shell and the one or more housing members to push the one or more housing members axially, wherein the wedge assembly and the one or more housing members define a shaft opening when installed on the shell.
A joint system, comprising:
- an axial joint between a first member and a second member;
- and
- an axial preloading device disposed on the joint between the first member and the second member, wherein the axial preloading device is configured to provide preloading force to bias the first member away from the second member, the device comprising:
- a shell having an annular shape and an inner surface that defines a radially interior channel, the interior channel defining an axial direction;
- one or more moveable housing members disposed at least partially within the interior channel and configured to move relative to the shell in the axial direction;
- and
- a wedge assembly connected to the shell and disposed in contact with the one or more housing members, wherein the wedge assembly is configured to be moved radially relative to the shell and the one or more housing members to push the one or more housing members axially, wherein the wedge assembly and the one or more housing members define a shaft opening when installed on the shell,
- wherein the wedge assembly includes a plurality of wedge nuts configured to be constrained to radial motion, each threaded to a wedge screw disposed through the shell such that actuation of each screw causes linear radial movement of a respective wedge nut, and wherein at least one of a quantity or a size of the plurality of wedge nuts is based on a predetermined maximum preload stress.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.