Flexured Standpipes for Aircraft Propulsion Assemblies
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorEric Stephen Olson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A propulsion assembly includes a rotor assembly, a mast coupled to the rotor assembly and a bull gear coupled to the mast. The bull gear is subject to radial and axial loads. The propulsion assembly includes a flexured standpipe extending through the bull gear and a ball bearing including inner and outer races interposed between the bull gear and the flexured standpipe. The ball bearing is configured to absorb axial loads from the bull gear. The bull gear is rotatably coupled to the flexured standpipe via the ball bearing. The flexured standpipe flexes in response to radial loads from the bull gear.
Claims20
A propulsion assembly comprising:
- a rotor assembly;
- a mast coupled to the rotor assembly;
- a bull gear coupled to the mast, the bull gear subject to radial and axial loads;
- a flexured standpipe extending through the bull gear;
- and
- a ball bearing including inner and outer races interposed between the bull gear and the flexured standpipe, the ball bearing configured to absorb axial loads from the bull gear;
- wherein, the bull gear is rotatably coupled to the flexured standpipe via the ball bearing;
- and
- wherein, the flexured standpipe flexes in response to radial loads from the bull gear.
A rotorcraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- and
- a propulsion assembly coupled to the fuselage, the propulsion assembly comprising:
- a rotor assembly;
- a mast coupled to the rotor assembly;
- a bull gear coupled to the mast, the bull gear subject to radial and axial loads;
- a flexured standpipe extending through the bull gear;
- and
- a ball bearing including inner and outer races interposed between the bull gear and the flexured standpipe, the ball bearing configured to absorb axial loads from the bull gear;
- wherein the bull gear is rotatably coupled to the flexured standpipe via the ball bearing;
- and
- wherein the flexured standpipe flexes in response to radial loads from the bull gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.