Ball bearing retention for propeller blade and method of assembly
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorMatthew C. Soule
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A propeller assembly includes a hub and a blade installed in the hub. A bearing arrangement retains the blade in the hub and includes an outer bearing race at the hub including a first outer race radius and a second outer race radius different from the first outer race radius, connected by an outer relief. The bearing arrangement further includes an inner bearing race at the blade including a first inner race radius and a second inner race radius different from the first inner race radius, connected by an inner relief. A plurality of bearing balls are installed between the inner race and outer race thereby retaining the blade at the hub.
Claims16
A propeller assembly comprising:
- a hub;
- a blade installed in the hub;
- and
- a bearing arrangement to retain the blade in the hub, the bearing arrangement including:
- an outer bearing race at the hub including a first outer race radius extending from a first outer race end and a second outer race radius different from the first outer race radius extending from a second outer race end, connected by an outer relief;
- an inner bearing race at the blade including a first inner race radius extending from a first inner race end and a second inner race radius different from the first inner race radius extending from a second inner race end, connected by an inner relief;
- and
- a plurality of bearing balls installed between the inner race and outer race thereby retaining the blade at the hub.
A method of installing a propeller blade to a propeller assembly comprising:
- affixing a blade support tool to a propeller blade;
- inserting the propeller blade into a hub opening of a propeller hub;
- bringing a portion of the blade support tool into contact with the propeller hub, thereby aligning an inner bearing race located at the propeller blade with an outer bearing race located at the propeller hub;
- and
- installing a plurality of bearing balls through a bearing port and between the inner race and outer race thus retaining the propeller blade at the propeller hub;
- wherein affixing the blade support tool to the propeller blade comprises aligning one or more blade bayonets with one or more tool bayonets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.