Back to results
US 2018/0202590 A1Published application
Gimbaled flexure for spherical flex joints
AssigneeUnison Industries, LLC
InventorsGordon Tajiri, Jason Levi Burdette, Dattu GV Jonnalagadda, Michael Thomas Kenworthy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible joint assembly for a joint between a first duct and a second duct for providing a flow of fluid, such as bleed air in an aviation implementation. The flexible joint includes a bellows supported by a mounting assembly having a first support and a second support, each surrounding a portion of the bellows. A gimbal ring assembly of the joint assemblies can operably couple the first support and the second support.
Claims20
A duct assembly for a turbine engine, comprising:
- a first duct;
- a second duct;
- and
- a flexible joint assembly coupling the first duct to the second duct and comprising:
- a bellows having a first end and a second end and convolutions located there between;
- and
- a gimbaled joint assembly, comprising:
- a first support surrounding the first end of the bellows and a portion of the convolutions and having at least one pin;
- a second support surrounding the second end of the bellows and a portion of the convolutions and having at least one pin;
- and
- a gimbal ring assembly operably coupled to the at least one pin of the first support and the at least one pin of the second support and having a set of revolute joints interconnected via a ring body where a revolute joint comprises a truncated disk operably coupled to the at least one pin of the first support or the second support and where the truncated disk is located within a joint housing and where a set of interfacial pads are located between a portion of the truncated disk and the joint housing.
8 more elements
A joint assembly, comprising:
- a bellows having a first end and a second end and convolutions located there between;
- and
- a gimbaled joint assembly, comprising:
- a first support ring surrounding the first end of the bellows and a portion of the convolutions;
- a second support ring surrounding the second end of the bellows and a portion of the convolutions;
- and
- a gimbal ring assembly operably coupled to the first support and the second support and having a set of at least four revolute joints interconnected via a ring body;
- wherein at least some of the set of at least four revolute joints use virtual centers of rotation to offset rotational bending loads on the bellows and where during use a developed internal pressure thrust load is distributed between the set of at least four revolute joints.
5 more elements
A joint assembly, comprising:
- a bellows having a first end and a second end and convolutions located there between;
- and
- a gimbaled joint assembly, comprising:
- a first support surrounding the first end of the bellows and a portion of the convolutions;
- a second support surrounding the second end of the bellows and a portion of the convolutions;
- and
- a gimbal ring assembly operably coupled to the first support and the second support and having a set of revolute joints interconnected via a ring body;
- wherein the first support and second support are configured to pivot relative to each other and where a revolute joint of the set of revolute joints includes at least two surfaces that are configured to make line contact surfaces during use.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.