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US 4,227,858 AGranted
Flexible spherical joint
AssigneeSociete Europeenne de Propulsion
InventorPaul J. Donguy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible spherical bearing, comprising two end pieces connected by a stack of interconnected alternate layers of a flexible material, such as elastomer, and of a strong material, such as metallic material and at least one cavity filled with an incompressible fluid and extending between the two end pieces without the interposition of elastomer. Such a bearing is used for connecting a helicopter rotor blade to the rotor hub of this helicopter.
Claims7
A spherical bearing for connecting a helicopter rotor hub to a rotor blade comprising:
- a first and a second end piece connected respectively to the opposite ends of a stack, said first and second end pieces each having respective first and second spherical surfaces which are concentrically arranged,
- said stack including a plurality of interconnected first and second spherical layers, said first and second layers being arranged to alternate in said stack, said first layers being formed of resilient material, said second layers being formed of metallic material, said first and second layers having a common axis of symmetry and the opposite ends of said stack contacting said first and second spherical surfaces, and
- at least one completely closed cavity formed centrally in said stack and extending between said end pieces and being free of said resilient material, said cavity being filled with an incompressible fluid to increase the resistance of said joint to compressive stresses, and said axis of symmetry being common to said cavity and to said stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.