Dual load path pin clevis joint

Abstract

A novel dual load path connector for pivotally joining a movable member to a structural member, is described which comprises a pair of spaced apart lugs attached to a first of the members, each of the lugs including an outwardly projecting boss, a clevis disposed between the lugs and attached to the first member, a pivot pin, received by the lugs and clevis, which may support a self-aligning bearing between the ends of the clevis, and a connecting link assembly including a first connecting link pivotally supported at a first end on the pin and connected at the other end to the second member, and a pair of second connecting links pivotally supported at respective first ends on the bosses and at the second ends to the second member, the first connecting link, pin and clevis providing a first load bearing path between the structural and movable members, and the second connecting links, bosses and lugs providing a second load bearing path. Alternatively, a pair of spaced apart fail safe lugs attached to the first member and a pair of flanged bushings received by the lugs may be utilized to provide a first load bearing path along the first connecting link, pin and lugs and a second load bearing path along the second connecting links, flanged bushings, and lugs. In a further embodiment, two pairs of spaced apart lugs are attached to the first member and a pair of flanged bushings are received by the respective lug pairs to provide a first load bearing path along the first connecting link, pin and one lug pair, and a second load bearing path along the second connecting links, bushings, and the other lug pair; projecting bosses may be provided on one lug pair of fuctionally replace the flanged bushings in the second load bearing path. In each embodiment including a bearing the second link members may be pivotally connected with large tolerances to permit the first link to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pin to impart a degree of self-alignability to the connector.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.