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US 4,232,563 AGranted
Laminated elastomeric end bearings for articulating links
AssigneeBarry Wright Corporation
InventorsRobert R. Peterson, Daniel S. Ventura, Richard S. Gureghian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
End bearing assemblies are provided for articulating links, especially for articulating control links associated with helicopter rotor mechanisms. The end bearing assemblies comprise at least two elastomeric bearing sections connected by a load-transmitting member and arranged to react to loadings and accommodate motions along and about at least one of three mutually orthogonal axes.
Claims52
A rod end bearing assembly for coupling a connecting rod to a mechanical element comprising:
- a first laminated elastomeric bearing unit comprising alternating elastomer and non-elastomer layers of cylindrical shape;
- a second laminated elastomeric bearing unit comprising alternating elastomer and non-elastomer layers of non-cylindrical shape;
- and
- a load transmitting member extending between and connected to said first and second elastomeric bearing units;
- said first bearing unit being adapted to accommodate motion about the first of three predetermined axes and to react loading along the second or third of said three axes, said second bearing unit being adapted to react loading along said second axis and to accommodate motion about said second axis, and said load transmitting member having a longitudinal axis extending radially of the elastomer and non-elastomer layer of said first bearing unit and at an angle to the elastomer and non-elastomer layers of said second bearing unit.
2 more elements
A rod end bearing assembly for coupling a connecting rod to a mechanical element comprising:
- a first laminated elastomeric bearing unit;
- a second laminated elastomeric bearing unit;
- and
- a load transmitting member extending between and connected to said first and second elastomeric bearing units;
- said first bearing unit being adapted to accommodate motion about the first of three predetermined axes and to react loading along at least one of the second and third of said three axes, said second bearing unit being adapted to react loading along said first axis and to accommodate motion about at least one of the other two of said three axes, and said load transmitting member comprising first and second separately formed elements attached to one another after formation thereof, said first element being an inner portion of said first bearing unit and said second element being an inner portion of said second bearing unit.
2 more elements
A rod end bearing assembly for coupling a connecting rod to a mechanical element comprising:
- a first laminated elastomeric bearing unit;
- a second laminated elastomeric bearing unit;
- and
- a load transmitting member extending between and connected to said first and second elastomeric bearing units;
- at least one of said bearing units being adapted to accommodate motion about the first and second of three predetermined axes and to react loading along the third of said three axes.
2 more elements
A rod end bearing assembly for coupling a connecting load to a mechanical element comprising:
- first and second laminated elastomeric bearing units and a load transmitting member extending between and connected to said first and second elastomeric bearing units, at least one of said bearing units being adapted to react loading along the first and second of three predetermined axes and to accommodate motion about the third of said three axes, and the other of said bearing units being adapted to accommodate motion about one of said first and second axes.
In a helicopter system the combination of:
- a swash plate assembly;
- a rod for transmitting motion between a selected mechanism and said swash plate assembly;
- and
- a laminated elastomeric rod end bearing assembly connecting said rod to said swash plate assembly;
- said rod end bearing assembly comprising a first laminated elastomeric bearing unit connected to said rod, a second elastomeric bearing unit connected to said swash plate assembly, and a load-transmitting member extending between and having first and second ends connected to said first and second elastomeric bearing units;
- said first bearing unit comprising a first tubular section attached to said first end of said load transmitting member, a second tubular section surrounded by said first tubular section and attached to said rod, at least one tubular non-elastomer layer disposed between said first and second tubular sections, and elastomer layers intercalated between and bonded to said at least one non-elastomer layer and said first and second tubular sections;
- and
- said second bearing unit comprising a tubular housing surrounding and spaced from said second end of said load transmitting member, and a laminate comprising at least one non-elastomer shim and at least two elastomer layers bonded together in alternate layers, said laminate being disposed between and secured to said housing and said second end of said load transmitting member.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.