Rod end cover
AssigneesGoodrich Aerospace Services Private Limited, Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
InventorsJithin Athimannil, Chandru Revanna, Jeremy Kracke, Richard McKay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover for a rod end of an actuator comprises a mounting collar for surrounding and mounting to a portion of the rod end. The collar is deformable such that it may be mounted over a rod eye mounted to the rod end. The cover further comprises a shield extending from the collar and shaped such that when attached to the rod end the shield shields a portion of rod end to prevent fluid or foreign object ingress to the rod end.
Claims14
A cover for a rod end of an actuator, comprising:
- a mounting collar for surrounding and mounting to a portion of the rod end, the collar being deformable such that it may be mounted over a rod eye mounted to the rod end;
- and
- a shield extending from the collar and shaped such that when attached to the rod end the shield shields a portion of rod end to prevent fluid or foreign object ingress,
- wherein the collar includes at least two splits circumferentially spaced from one another, wherein the at least two splits extend down the collar and part of the length of the shield to define a deformable finger therebetween;
- wherein the cover further comprises an alignment portion for preventing axial movement of the cover relative to the rod eye;
- and
- wherein the alignment portion comprises two diametrically opposed arms extending from the collar in an opposite axial direction to the shield.
A rod end assembly comprising:
- a rod end comprising a hollow shaft and a rod eye mounted to an end of the shaft, the shaft end having an opening extending through a wall thereof;
- and
- a cover mounted to the rod end, the cover comprising a mounting collar mounted to a portion of the rod end, the collar being deformable such that it may be mounted to the rod end over the rod eye, wherein the cover further comprises a shield extending from an internal surface of the cover and shielding the opening in the shaft wall to prevent fluid or foreign object ingress to the rod end,
- wherein the collar includes at least two splits circumferentially spaced from one another, wherein the at least two splits extend down the collar and part of the length of the shield to define a deformable finger therebetween.
A method of assembling a rod end and cover, the method comprising;
- providing a rod end comprising a hollow shaft and a rod eye mounted to the end of the shaft, the shaft end having an opening extending through a wall thereof, the rod end being attached to a piston rod;
- providing a cover, the cover including:
- a mounting collar for surrounding and mounting to a portion of the rod end, the collar being deformable such that it may be mounted over a rod eye mounted to the rod end;
- and a shield extending from the collar and shaped such that when attached to the rod end the shield shields a portion of rod end to prevent fluid or foreign object ingress;
- and
- mounting the cover to the rod end without removing the rod end from the piston rod by pushing the cover onto the rod end while deforming the collar of the cover, wherein deforming the collar includes deflecting fingers formed in the collar;
- and
- orienting the fingers such that they deflect over a widest part of the rod eye and then rotating the cover such that the fingers are circumferentially spaced from the opening in the rod end shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.