Clutched centrifugal force bearing
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsKyle Cravener, Andrew Harloff, Andrew Maresh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An elastomeric bearing has a first end interface, a second end interface, an activation element disposed between the first end interface and the second end interface, and a clutch component disposed between the activation element and the second end interface. A method of operating an elastomeric bearing includes providing a first end interface, providing a second end interface, providing an activation component between the first end interface and the second end interface, providing a clutch component between the activation component and the second end interface, and rotating the first end interface relative to the second interface to cause rotation of the clutch component relative to the second end interface.
Claims17
An elastomeric bearing, comprising:
- a first end interface;
- a second end interface;
- an activation element disposed between the first end interface and the second end interface;
- and
- a clutch component disposed between the activation element and the second end interface;
- wherein the clutch component remains in contact with the second end interface to selectively allow rotation of the second end interface relative to the clutch component as a function of centrifugal force applied to the elastomeric bearing.
A method of operating an elastomeric bearing, comprising:
- providing a first end interface;
- providing a second end interface;
- providing an activation component between the first end interface and the second end interface;
- providing a clutch component between the activation component and the second end interface;
- and
- rotating the first end interface relative to the second interface to cause rotation of the clutch component relative to the second end interface;
- wherein the clutch component remains in contact with the second end interface to selectively allow rotation of the second end interface relative to the clutch component as a function of centrifugal force applied to the elastomeric bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.