Combination spherical and laminated bearing assembly
AssigneeAktiebolaget Skf
InventorAnthony Carl Bohm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bearing assembly for coupling first and second members includes a housing coupled with, or integrally formed with the first member, a laminated bearing section and a spherical bearing section, each section disposed within a housing bore. The laminated bearing section is configured such that at least a portion of the laminated bearing section flexes when torque on the first and second members is less than a predetermined value. The spherical bearing section is configured such that a spherical bearing inner member slidably displaces within a spherical bearing outer member when torque on the first and second members is at least the predetermined value.
Claims11
A bearing assembly for coupling first and second members, at least one of the first and second members being movable relative to the other one of the first and second members, the bearing assembly comprising:
- a housing one of coupled with the first member and integrally formed with the first member, the housing having a central bore;
- a laminated bearing section and a spherical bearing section each disposed within the housing bore, one of the laminated bearing section and the spherical bearing section being disposed within the other one of the laminated bearing section and the spherical bearing section and configured to connect with the second member;
- the laminated bearing section including a generally cylindrical body formed of a plurality of alternating, generally tubular, substantially flexible laminae and generally tubular, substantially rigid laminae nested coaxially about a central axis, the laminated bearing section being configured such that at least a portion of the laminated bearing section flexes when torque on at least one of the first and second members has a value less than a predetermined value;
- and
- the spherical bearing section including a generally annular outer race having a concave inner circumferential surface, the inner surface being partially spherical and defining a bore, and a partially spherical inner member disposed within the outer race bore and having a convex, partially spherical outer surface disposed against the inner surface of the outer race portion, the spherical bearing section being configured such that the spherical bearing inner member slidably displaces within the spherical bearing outer member when torque on the at least one of the first and second members has a value of at least the predetermined value.
A bearing assembly for coupling first and second members, at least one of the first and second members being movable relative to the other one of the first and second members, the bearing assembly comprising:
- a housing one of coupled with the first member and integrally formed with the first member, the housing having a central bore;
- a laminated bearing section disposed within the housing bore and including a generally cylindrical body formed of a plurality of alternating, generally tubular elastomeric laminae and generally tubular metallic laminae nested coaxially about a central axis and including a central bore;
- and
- a spherical bearing section disposed within the central bore of the laminated bearing section body and including a generally annular outer race having a concave inner circumferential surface, the inner surface being partially spherical and defining a bore, and a partially spherical inner member disposed within the outer race bore and having a convex, partially spherical outer surface disposed against the inner surface of the outer race portion, the inner member being coupled with the second member;
- wherein the laminated bearing section is configured such that at least a portion of the laminated bearing section flexes when torque on at least one of the first and second members has a value less than a predetermined value and the spherical bearing section is configured such that the spherical bearing inner member slidably displaces within the spherical bearing outer member when torque on the at least one of the first and second members has a value of at least the predetermined value.
A mechanical assembly for a rotary wing aircraft, the assembly comprising:
- a rod having an end with a bore;
- a pin configured to connect the rod with the aircraft;
- and
- a bearing assembly disposed within the rod bore, configured to movably couple the rod and the pin and including:
- a housing one of coupled with the rod and integrally formed with the rod, the housing having a central bore;
- a laminated bearing section and a spherical bearing section each disposed within the housing bore, one of the laminated bearing section and the spherical bearing section being disposed within the other one of the laminated bearing section and the spherical bearing section and configured to connect with the pin;
- the laminated bearing section including a generally cylindrical body formed of a plurality of alternating, generally tubular, substantially flexible laminae and generally tubular, substantially rigid laminae nested coaxially about a central axis, the laminated bearing section being configured such that at least a portion of the laminated bearing section flexes when torque on at least one of the rod and pin has a value less than a predetermined value;
- and
- the spherical bearing section including a generally annular outer race having a concave inner circumferential surface, the inner surface being partially spherical and defining a bore, and a partially spherical inner member disposed within the outer race bore and having a convex, partially spherical outer surface disposed against the inner surface of the outer race portion, the spherical bearing section being configured such that the spherical bearing inner member slidably displaces within the spherical bearing outer member when torque on the at least one of the rod and pin has a value of at least the predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.