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US 2010/0143141 A1Published application
Bi-axial compliant bearing
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsNeal W. Muylaert, Lyndon Claudius Lamborn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of a bi-axial compliant bearing assembly and methods of assembling the bi-axial compliant bearing assembly are disclosed. A bi-axial compliant bearing assembly employs a transition bearing race. The transition bearing race comprises a cylindrical surface. The cylindrical surface is configured to rotatably engage a rotational bearing element and to slidably engage the rotational bearing element along an axis. The transition bearing race also includes a spherically-compliant surface. The spherically-compliant surface is configured to engage a spherically-compliant element and to enable the spherically-compliant element to rotate transversely to the axis.
Claims25
A transition bearing race, comprising:
- a cylindrical surface, wherein the cylindrical surface is configured to rotatably engage a rotational bearing element and to slidably engage the rotational bearing element along an axis;
- and
- a spherically-compliant surface, wherein the spherically-compliant surface includes at least a section of a spherical surface and is configured to engage a spherically-compliant element to enable the spherically-compliant element to rotate transversely to the axis.
A system, comprising:
- a transition bearing race, comprising:
- an outward-facing cylindrical surface disposed about an axis;
- and
- an inward-facing spherically-compliant surface;
- a rotational bearing element including an inward-facing cylindrical surface configured to rotatably and slidably engage the outward-facing cylindrical surface along the axis;
- and
- a spherically-compliant element having an outward-facing spherically-compliant surface configured to rotatably engage the inward-facing spherically-compliant surface to enable the spherically-compliant element to rotate transversely to the axis.
4 more elements
A helicopter rotor hub assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of spindle arms, wherein each of the plurality of spindle arms extends radially from a rotor hub;
- and
- a plurality of bi-axial compliant bearing assemblies, each of the plurality of bi-axial compliant bearing assemblies comprising:
- a transition bearing race including an outward-facing cylindrical surface and an inward-facing spherically-compliant surface;
- a rotational bearing element, wherein the rotational bearing element includes an inward-facing cylindrical surface configured to rotatably and slidably engage the outward-facing cylindrical surface of the transition bearing race and an outer surface configured to engage a helicopter rotor blade;
- and
- a spherically-compliant element, wherein the spherically-compliant element includes an outward-facing spherically-compliant surface configured to rotatably engage the inward-facing spherically-compliant surface and a spindle coupling configured to be coupled to one of the plurality of spindle arms.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a transition bearing race, comprising:
- an outward-facing cylindrical surface disposed about an axis;
- and
- an inward-facing spherically-compliant surface;
- providing a rotational bearing element having an inward-facing cylindrical surface configured to rotatably and slidably engage the outward-facing cylindrical surface;
- providing a spherically-compliant element having an outward-facing spherically-compliant surface configured to rotatably engage the inward-facing spherically-compliant surface;
- disposing the inward-facing spherically-compliant surface adjacent to a second body;
- inserting the spherically-compliant element into the inward-facing spherically-compliant surface;
- coupling the spherically-compliant element to the second body;
- coupling the rotational bearing element to a first body;
- and
- positioning the first body to dispose the rotational bearing element over the outward-facing cylindrical surface of the transition bearing race.
9 more elements
A bi-axial compliant bearing assembly for coupling a helicopter rotor blade to a helicopter rotor hub assembly, comprising:
- a transition bearing race, comprising:
- an outward-facing cylindrical surface disposed about an axis;
- a loading ramp abutting an edge of the outward-facing cylindrical surface, wherein the loading ramp is configured to guide an inward-facing cylindrical surface into place over the outward-facing cylindrical surface;
- and
- an inward-facing spherically-compliant surface, wherein the inward-facing spherically-compliant surface includes a pair of loading slots configured to receive an outward-facing spherically compliant surface when the outward-facing spherically compliant surface is rotated and presented edgewise into the pair of loading slots;
- a rotational bearing element, comprising:
- an outer surface configured to engage a helicopter rotor blade;
- the inward-facing cylindrical surface configured to rotatably engage the outward-facing cylindrical surface about the axis and to slidably engage the outward-facing cylindrical surface along the axis;
- and
- a plurality of individual bearings supported by the inward-facing cylindrical surface, wherein the plurality of individual bearings enable the rotational bearing element to rotatably engage the outward-facing cylindrical surface;
- and
- a spherically-compliant element, comprising:
- the outward-facing spherically-compliant surface configured to rotatably engage the inward-facing spherically-compliant surface to enable the spherically-compliant element to rotate transversely to the axis;
- and
- a plurality of mounting tabs configured to engage a spindle arm of a helicopter rotor hub assembly.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.