Drive tube and swashplate trunnion assembly with cylindrical bearings
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsKen Shundo, Bryan Baskin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a drive tube and swashplate trunnion assembly. The drive tube and swashplate trunnion assembly includes a drive tube having a plurality of grooves formed on an outer surface of the drive tube; a swashplate trunnion having a plurality of grooves formed on an inner surface of the swashplate trunnion, wherein individual grooves of the plurality of grooves on the swashplate trunnion mate with individual grooves of the plurality of grooves on the drive tube to form a plurality of channels; and a plurality of cylindrical bearings, wherein each of said cylindrical bearings is disposed within an individual channel of the plurality of channels.
Claims14
A drive tube and swashplate trunnion assembly, comprising:
- a drive tube including a plurality of grooves formed on an outer surface of the drive tube;
- a swashplate trunnion including a plurality of grooves formed on an inner surface of the swashplate trunnion, wherein individual grooves of the plurality of grooves on the swashplate trunnion mate with individual grooves of the plurality of grooves on the drive tube to form a plurality of channels, and wherein the swashplate trunnion has a first surface and an opposing second surface;
- a plurality of cylindrical bearings, wherein:
- each of said cylindrical bearings is disposed within an individual channel of the plurality of channels;
- each of said cylindrical bearings has a first end and an opposing second end;
- and
- each of said cylindrical bearings is positioned within an individual channel of the plurality of channels with the first end facing the first surface of the swashplate trunnion;
- a base on the first surface of the swashplate trunnion enclosing at least a portion of the first end of each cylindrical bearing of the plurality of cylindrical bearings;
- and
- a plurality of orifices on the base, wherein each orifice exposes at least a portion of the first end of a respective cylindrical bearing of the plurality of cylindrical bearings.
A method for assembling a drive tube and swashplate trunnion assembly, comprising:
- installing a drive tube including a plurality of grooves formed on an outer surface of the drive tube;
- installing a swashplate trunnion including a plurality of grooves formed on an inner surface of the swashplate trunnion, wherein individual grooves of the plurality of grooves on the swashplate trunnion are mated with individual grooves of the plurality of grooves on the drive tube to form a plurality of channels, wherein the swashplate trunnion has a first surface and an opposing second surface, and wherein the swashplate trunnion includes a base on the first surface;
- and
- installing a plurality of cylindrical bearings having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein:
- each of the cylindrical bearings is positioned within an individual channel of the plurality of channels with the first end facing the first surface of the swashplate trunnion;
- at least a portion of the first end of each cylindrical bearing of the plurality of cylindrical bearings is enclosed by the base on the first surface of the swashplate trunnion;
- the base includes a plurality of orifices;
- and
- each orifice of the plurality of orifices exposes at least a portion of the first end of a respective cylindrical bearing of the plurality of cylindrical bearings.
An aircraft rotor assembly, comprising:
- a drive tube including a plurality of grooves formed on an outer surface of the drive tube;
- a swashplate trunnion including a plurality of grooves formed on an inner surface of the swashplate trunnion, wherein individual grooves of the plurality of grooves on the swashplate trunnion mate with individual grooves of the plurality of grooves on the drive tube to form a plurality of channels, and wherein the swashplate trunnion has a first surface and an opposing second surface;
- a plurality of cylindrical bearings, wherein:
- each of said cylindrical bearings is disposed within an individual channel of the plurality of channels;
- each cylindrical bearing of the plurality of cylindrical bearings has a first end and an opposing second end;
- and
- each cylindrical bearing of the plurality of cylindrical bearings is positioned within an individual channel of the plurality of channels with the first end facing the first surface of the swashplate trunnion;
- a base on the first surface of the swashplate trunnion enclosing at least a portion of the first end of each cylindrical bearing of the plurality of cylindrical bearings;
- and
- a plurality of orifices on the base, wherein each orifice exposes at least a portion of the first end of a respective cylindrical bearing of the plurality of cylindrical bearings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.