Elastomeric bearing with modified cylindrical core
AssigneeSKF USA Inc.
InventorThomas G. Mueller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An elastomeric bearing having inner and outer races and a core. The core has a plurality of resilient laminae and a plurality of non-resilient laminae interleaved with one another. Each of the lamina has an axially inner cylindrical portion of a given diameter, an axially outer cylindrical portion of a greater diameter than the given diameter and, lying between the inner and outer laminae, an angled portion joining the axially inner and outer laminae to each other. The laminae are continuous and of one piece. In this way, the elastomeric bearing has comparatively small resistance to torsional movement, but great resistance to both radial and axial movement.
Claims16
An elastomeric bearing comprising, in combination, an outer cylindrical race, an inner race coaxial with said outer race, and a movement axis parallel to said inner and outer races, said elastomeric bearing further including a core portion disposed between said outer and inner races, said core portion having a plurality of resilient laminae and a plurality of non-resilient laminae, said resilient and non-resilient laminae being interleaved with one another, each of said lamina having an axially inner cylindrical portion of a given diameter, an axially outer cylindrical portion of a greater diameter than said given diameter and, lying between said axially inner and said axially outer laminae, an angled portion joining said given diameter laminae to said greater diameter laminae, each of said laminae having a continuous cross section around the entire said given diameter and said greater diameter and of one piece, whereby said elastomeric bearing has comparatively small resistance to torsional movement and great resistance to both radial and axial movement.
In a rotary wing aircraft having a plurality of blades, each blade being mounted on one leg of a rotatable yoke, each of said yoke legs having a pair of spaced apart, opposed cylindrical bearing retainers forming a portion of an outside leg of said yoke, each of said blades being secured for at least flap movement about a flap axis defined by said bearing retainers, said aircraft including at least one elastomeric bearing, including an outer race and an inner race, said outer race of said bearing being affixed to one of said bearing retainers, and said inner race being secured to a shaft defining said flap axis, said elastomeric bearing further including a core portion between said inner and outer races, said core portion comprising a plurality of resilient laminae and a plurality of non-resilient laminae, said resilient and non-resilient laminae being interleaved with one another, each of said laminae having an axially inner cylindrical portion of a given diameter, an axially outer cylindrical portion of a greater diameter than said given diameter and, lying between said inner and outer laminae, angled portions joining said given diameter laminae to said greater diameter laminae, each of said laminae being continuous cross section around the entire said given diameter and said greater diameter and of one piece, whereby said elastomeric bearings have comparatively small resistance to flap movement of said blade and great resistance to both radial and axial movement of said blade.
A vehicle suspension system including a vehicle frame, at least one outer race of an elastomeric bearing fixedly secured to said frame, an inner race of said bearing affixed to a swing arm mounting an axle, and a core portion of said elastomeric bearing comprising a plurality of resilient laminae and a plurality of non-resilient laminae, said laminae being interleaved with one another, each of said laminae having an axially inner cylindrical portion of a given diameter, an axially outer cylindrical portion of a greater diameter than said given diameter and, lying between said inner and outer laminae, an angled portion joining said given diameter laminae to said greater diameter laminae, each of said laminae being continuous cross section around the entire said given diameter and said greater diameter and of one piece, whereby said elastomeric bearing has comparatively small resistance to rotary movement of said swing arm and great resistance to both radial and axial movement of said swing arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.