Hybrid metallic/composite joint with integral bearing
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsBradley William Baird, Jason Bradley Allen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A metallic-composite joint fitting is provided. The fitting may comprise a composite structure, an integral bearing comprising a first frustoconical portion and a second frustoconical portion each having a complimentary shape to the composite structure, a sleeve comprising a third frustoconical portion coupled to a cylindrical bearing surface of the integral bearing, and a metallic end fitting coupled to the third frustoconical portion, wherein the metallic end fitting comprises a bearing portion contacted with the cylindrical bearing surface.
Claims16
A metallic-composite joint fitting, comprising:
- a composite structure for receiving a metallic end structure, the composite structure comprising:
- an integral bearing comprising a first frustoconical portion and a second frustoconical portion each having a complimentary shape to the composite structure;
- and
- a sleeve comprising a bearing surface portion, a third frustoconical portion at a first end of the bearing surface portion, and a flange at a second end of the bearing surface portion opposite to the first end, wherein a first surface of the bearing surface portion is coupled to a cylindrical bearing surface of the integral bearing;
- and
- the metallic end fitting coupled to the third frustoconical portion of the sleeve, wherein the metallic end fitting comprises a bearing portion in contact with a second surface opposite the first surface of the bearing surface portion of the sleeve.
A landing gear system, comprising:
- a shock strut coupled to an axle;
- a wheel coupled to the axle;
- and
- a metallic-composite joint fitting, comprising:
- a composite structure for receiving a metallic end structure, the composite structure comprising:
- an integral bearing comprising a first frustoconical portion and a second frustoconical portion each having a complimentary shape to the composite structure;
- and
- a sleeve comprising a bearing surface portion, a third frustoconical portion at a first end of the bearing surface portion, and a flange at a second end of the bearing surface portion opposite to the first end, wherein a first surface of the bearing surface portion is coupled to a cylindrical bearing surface of the integral bearing;
- and
- the metallic end fitting coupled to the third frustoconical portion of the sleeve, wherein the metallic end fitting comprises a bearing portion in contact with a second surface opposite the first surface of the bearing surface portion of the sleeve.
A method of joining a composite structure and a metallic end fitting, comprising:
- coupling an integral bearing about a sleeve, wherein the sleeve comprises a bearing surface portion, a frustoconical portion at a first end of the bearing surface portion, and a flange at a second end of the bearing surface portion opposite to the first end and wherein a first surface of the bearing surface portion is coupled to a cylindrical bearing surface of the integral bearing;
- wrapping the composite structure about the integral bearing to form a flared end portion of the composite structure;
- inserting a coupling portion of the metallic end fitting into the sleeve;
- and
- engaging a bearing portion of the coupling portion with a second surface opposite the first surface of the bearing surface portion of the sleeve and coupling an externally threaded portion of the coupling portion to an internally threaded portion of the frustoconical portion of the sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.