# US 11,111,938 B2 · Axial preloading device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,938 B2 - Document ID: US11111938B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/913,558 - Filed: 2018-03-06 - Published: 2019-09-12 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-06 - Assignees: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation - Applicants: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation - Inventors: Paul McCullough - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111938B2 ## CPC - F15B 15/1457: {Piston rods (F15B15/1447 takes precedence)} - F16B 2/14: using wedges - F16B 7/18: using screw-thread elements {(F16B7/025 takes precedence; for turnbuckles F16B7/06)} - F16B 39/284: Locking by means of elastic deformation ({F16B39/2825, F16B39/36,} F16B39/38 take precedence) - F16B 7/182: {for coaxial connections of two rods or tubes} - F16B 31/04: for maintaining {a} tensile load - F16B 37/145: {Sleeve nuts, e.g. combined with bolts} - Y10T 403/7067: Threaded actuator - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the interior channel is circular. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the inner diameter includes a lip such that the shell includes a T shaped cross-section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein a radial size of the lip is based on a predetermined maximum preload stress. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the shell is ring shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more moveable housing members includes a tapered housing surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the tapered housing surface has a linear taper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more moveable housing members are slidably attached to the shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more moveable housing members are pinned to a lip through one or more pin holes defined in the one or more moveable housing members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein a shape of the wedge nuts match the taper of the one or more moveable housing members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the one or more moveable housing members includes two housing members disposed on opposite sides of the wedge assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more wedge nuts are segments of an arc. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein a furthest radial inward motion of the one or more wedge nuts is limited to the diameter of the arc, wherein the furthest radially outward motion of the one or more wedge nuts is limited by the inner surface of the shell. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the first member is a mounting clevis, and the second member is a hydraulic cylinder, and the joint includes a threaded shaft attaching the mounting clevis to the hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 17 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.