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US 9,458,877 B2Granted
Multi-directional elastomeric dampened ball joint assembly
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorScott Hendrik Bouwer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing a force. An apparatus comprises a multi-directional joint assembly and a damper associated with the multi-directional joint assembly. The multi-directional joint assembly has a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end move relative to each other. The damper is comprised of a number of elastomeric layers and a number of rigid layers interspersed with each other reducing at least one of a force and a moment.
Claims14
An apparatus comprising:
- a beam having a first end of a multi-directional joint assembly connected thereto, wherein the first end comprises a ball distally connected to the beam by a first elongate member and a first portion of an enclosure of the multi-directional joint assembly, the enclosure comprised of the first portion and a second portion, wherein the ball is held within an interior of the enclosure;
- a rotorcraft having a second end of the multi-directional joint assembly connected thereto, wherein the second end comprises a hemispherical socket distally connected to the rotorcraft by a second elongate member and extending through a hole in the second portion, wherein the ball is pivotally held within the hemispherical socket by a frusto-spherical ring directly connected to the hemispherical socket;
- and
- a damper disposed between the hemispherical socket and the second portion, wherein the damper is comprised of a number of elastomeric layers and a number of rigid layers interspersed with each other.
1 more element
A multi-directional elastomeric dampened ball joint assembly comprising:
- a beam having a first end of a multi-directional joint assembly connected thereto;
- a rotorcraft having a second end of the multi-directional joint assembly connected thereto;
- an enclosure and a multi-directional joint, the enclosure comprised of a first portion and a second portion, wherein the multi-directional joint comprises a first end comprising a ball associated with the first portion and distally connected to the beam by a first elongate member;
- a second end comprising a hemispherical socket associated with the second portion and distally connected to the rotorcraft by a second elongate member and extending through a hole in the second portion, wherein the ball is moveably held in a cavity in the socket;
- a frusto-spherical ring directly connected to the hemispherical socket, wherein the ring pivotally holds the ball within the hemispherical socket;
- and
- a hemispherical elastomeric bearing disposed between the hemispherical socket and the second portion and having alternating rigid layers and elastomeric layers, wherein an outer surface of the hemispherical elastomeric bearing is associated with an inner surface of the enclosure, an inner surface of the hemispherical elastomeric bearing is associated with an outer surface of the socket, and wherein the hemispherical elastomeric bearing absorbs energy and reduces at least one of a force and a moment applied to at least one of the first portion and the second portion.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.