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US 11,623,742 B2Granted
Centrifugal force bearing
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsAndrew Ryan Maresh, Christopher Edward Foskey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elastomeric bearing assembly has a housing, a centrifugal force bearing axially captured relative to the housing, and a sliding cap disposed between the housing and the centrifugal force bearing.
Claims18
An elastomeric bearing assembly, comprising:
- a housing;
- a centrifugal force bearing axially captured relative to the housing;
- and
- a sliding cap disposed between the housing and the centrifugal force bearing, the sliding cap comprising at least one sliding surface configured to allow sliding between the sliding cap and at least one of the housing and the centrifugal force bearing;
- wherein at least a portion of the at least one sliding surface is not axially overlapped by the centrifugal force bearing.
2 more elements
A rotorcraft, comprising:
- an elastomeric bearing assembly, comprising:
- a housing;
- a centrifugal force bearing axially captured relative to the housing;
- and
- sliding cap disposed between the housing and the centrifugal force bearing, the sliding cap comprising at least one sliding surface configured to allow sliding between the sliding cap and at least one of the housing and the centrifugal force bearing;
- wherein at least a portion of the at least one sliding surface is not axially overlapped by the centrifugal force bearing.
3 more elements
A method of operating a rotorcraft, comprising:
- capturing a centrifugal force bearing relative to a housing located relatively more inboard than the centrifugal force bearing;
- operating the rotorcraft to rotate the centrifugal force bearing about a mast axis of rotation at a rotational speed below a threshold speed;
- applying a torsional force having a first amplitude to the centrifugal force bearing;
- and
- rotating an inboard portion of the centrifugal force bearing relative to the housing, wherein the rotating comprises sliding at least one of the housing and the centrifugal force bearing relative to a sliding surface of a sliding cap disposed between the housing and the centrifugal force bearing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.