Propeller blade retention system with tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies

A propeller blade retention assembly comprising:

• a propeller blade root which defines a blade axis;
• a hub arm which at least partially surrounds said propeller blade root;
• a floating race mounted generally between said hub arm and said propeller blade root, said floating race defines a floating race bearing surface and said propeller blade root defines a propeller blade root bearing surface, said floating race bearing surface and said propeller blade root bearing surface define a cone angle which intersects said blade axis, said floating race bearing surface and said propeller blade root bearing surface receives said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies therebetween;
• a tapered roller bearing set having a multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies mounted between said floating race and said propeller blade root, each of said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies are in contact with an adjacent one of said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies under the pre-load;
• and
• an end cap mounted to said floating race to maintain pre-load in said propeller blade root relative to said hub arm.

A propeller blade retention assembly comprising:

• a propeller blade root which defines a blade axis;
• a hub arm which at least partially surrounds said propeller blade root;
• a floating race mounted generally between said hub arm and said propeller blade root, said floating race defines a floating race bearing surface and said propeller blade root defines a propeller blade root bearing surface, said floating race bearing surface and said propeller blade root bearing surface define a cone angle which intersects said blade axis, said floating race bearing surface and said propeller blade root bearing surface receives said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies therebetween;
• a tapered roller bearing set having a multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies mounted between said floating race and said propeller blade root, each of said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies have at least one tapered roller bearing element, each of said multiple of tapered roller bearing elements have a bearing element main body section, a reduced diameter bearing element section, and a bearing element shaft section therebetween;
• and
• an end cap mounted to said floating race to maintain pre-load in said propeller blade root relative to said hub arm.

A method of assembling a propeller blade retention assembly comprising the steps of:

• (1) locating a propeller blade foot into a hub arm along a blade axis;
• (2) locating a floating race in contact with an outboard retaining ball bearing set within the hub arm;
• (3) locating a tapered roller bearing set between the floating race and the propeller blade root, the tapered roller bearing set having a multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies such that each of said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies are separated from an adjacent one of said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies;
• and
• (4) locating an end cap into facial engagement with the floating race, the end cap contacting the tapered roller bearing set to maintain pre-load of the propeller blade root relative the hub arm such that each of said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies define a clearance between an adjacent one of said multiple of tapered roller bearing cartridge assemblies under the pre-load.