Elastomeric bearing having carbon-fiber reinforced laminae

Abstract

An elastomeric bearing includes a first race having an axis of rotation, a second race coaxially arranged relative to the first race and spaced from the first race by a gap and a bearing body in the gap connecting the first race to the second race. The bearing body is formed from a first plurality of elastomeric laminae coaxial with the first race and a second plurality of carbon fiber laminae coaxial with the first race, and the elastomeric laminae and the carbon fiber laminae alternate in a direction from the first race to the second race. The carbon fiber laminae may each include multiple sheets of carbon fibers embedded in a thermoplastic such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.