# US 8,784,063 B2 · Split blade retention race with inner and outer chamfers

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- Number: US 8,784,063 B2
- Document ID: US8784063B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/102,845
- Filed: 2011-05-06
- Published: 2012-11-08
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-06
- Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
- Applicants: Peter Ventura; Matthew Soule
- Inventors: Peter Ventura; Matthew Soule
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784063B2

## CPC

- B64C 11/04: Blade mountings
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS

## Abstract

A blade shank assembly for an aircraft propeller blade includes a blade shank; a split blade retention race encircling the blade shank, the split blade retention race including two splits, wherein the split blade retention race comprises: inner chamfers located between the blade shank and the split blade retention race at each of the two splits; and outer chamfers located adjacent to a race surface of the split blade retention race at each of the two splits; and a plurality of ball bearings located on the race surface of the split blade retention race.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A blade shank assembly for an aircraft propeller blade, comprising:
a blade shank;
a split blade retention race encircling the blade shank, the split blade retention race including two splits, wherein the split blade retention race comprises:
inner chamfers located between the blade shank and the split blade retention race at each of the two splits; and
outer chamfers located adjacent to a race surface of the split blade retention race at each of the two splits; and
a plurality of ball bearings located on the race surface of the split blade retention race.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The blade shank assembly of claim 1, wherein an inner chamfer comprises a straight surface that is angled back along an interface between a surface of the split blade retention race that is located inside of a split and a surface of the split blade retention race that is adjacent to the blade shank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The blade shank assembly of claim 2, further comprising an inner radius comprising a curved surface that is located between the inner chamfer and the surface of the split blade retention race that is adjacent to the blade shank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The blade shank assembly of claim 1, wherein an outer chamfer comprises a straight surface that is angled back along an interface between a surface of the split blade retention race that is located inside of a split and the race surface of the split blade retention race.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The blade shank assembly of claim 4, further comprising an outer radius comprising a curved surface that is located between the outer chamfer and the race surface of the split blade retention race.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The blade shank assembly of claim 5, wherein a ball bearing of the plurality of ball bearings is fully unloaded when a center load line of the ball bearing is located on one of an outer radius, a outer chamfer, or a split.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The blade shank assembly of claim 1, wherein only one ball bearing of the plurality of ball bearings is unloaded at a time.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The blade shank assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer chamfers are larger than the inner chamfers.

### Claim 9

A split blade retention race for a blade shank assembly for an aircraft propeller blade, comprising:
a race surface, the race surface configured to hold a plurality of ball bearings;
a split surface, the split surface being configured to be located inside of split separating a first section of the split blade retention race from a second section of the split blade retention race;
an inner surface, the inner surface being configured to be located adjacent to a blade shank in the blade shank assembly;
an inner chamfer, wherein the inner chamfer is angled back along an interface between the split surface to the inner surface; and
an outer chamfer, wherein the outer chamfer is angled back along an interface between the split surface and the race surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The split blade retention race of claim 9, wherein the inner chamfer comprises a straight surface, and further comprising an inner radius comprising a curved surface that is located between the inner chamfer and the inner surface of the split blade retention race.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The split blade retention race of claim 9, wherein the outer chamfer comprises a straight surface, and further comprising an outer radius comprising a curved surface that is located between the outer chamfer and the race surface of the split blade retention race.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The split blade retention race of claim 9, wherein the outer chamfers are larger than the inner chamfers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The split blade retention race of claim 9, wherein only one ball bearing of the plurality of ball bearings held on the race surface is unloaded at a time.