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US 9,840,325 B2Granted
Dual series pitch link bearing
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsDrew Sutton, Frank B. Stamps
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a bearing is situated between a pitch link and a swashplate or a hub. The bearing comprises an outer housing having a first opening therethrough, an intermediate housing adjacent the housing inside the first opening and having a second opening therethrough, and an inner housing adjacent the intermediate housing inside the second opening and having a third opening therethrough. The inner housing comprising a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining the third opening. A first member is adjacent the first inner surface inside the third opening having a fourth opening therethrough. A second member is adjacent the second inner surface inside the third opening having a fifth opening therethrough coaxial with the fourth opening.
Claims20
A rotorcraft, comprising:
- a body;
- a power train coupled to the body and comprising a power source and a drive shaft coupled to the power source;
- a hub coupled to the drive shaft;
- a rotor blade coupled to the hub;
- a swashplate positioned about the drive shaft;
- a pitch link coupled between the swashplate and the hub corresponding to the rotor blade;
- a bearing coupled between either the pitch link and the swashplate or the pitch link and the hub, the bearing comprising:
- an outer housing having a first opening therethrough;
- an intermediate housing adjacent the outer housing inside the first opening and having a second opening therethrough;
- an inner housing adjacent the intermediate housing inside the second opening and having a third opening therethrough, the inner housing comprising a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining the third opening, the second inner surface oriented at a reflex angle relative to the first inner surface such that an interior diameter of the third opening is smaller than an exterior diameter of the third opening;
- a first bearing surface in contact with the intermediate housing and the inner housing and separating the intermediate housing from the inner housing;
- a first member adjacent the first inner surface inside the third opening having a fourth opening therethrough;
- a second bearing surface in contact with the first inner surface and the first member and separating the first inner surface from the first member;
- a second member adjacent the second inner surface inside the third opening having a fifth opening therethrough coaxial with the fourth opening;
- and
- a third bearing surface in contact with the second inner surface and the second member and separating the second inner surface from the second member.
13 more elements
A method for manufacturing a bearing, comprising:
- providing an outer housing having a first opening therethrough;
- inserting an intermediate housing adjacent the outer housing inside the first opening, the intermediate housing having a second opening therethrough;
- inserting an inner housing adjacent the intermediate housing inside the second opening, the inner housing having a third opening therethrough, the inner housing comprising a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining the third opening, the second inner surface oriented at a reflex angle relative to the first inner surface such that an interior diameter of the third opening is smaller than an exterior diameter of the third opening, wherein a first bearing surface is in contact with the intermediate housing and the inner housing and separates the intermediate housing from the inner housing;
- inserting a first member adjacent the first inner surface inside the third opening, the first member having a fourth opening therethrough, wherein a second bearing surface is in contact with the first inner surface and the first member and separates the first inner surface from the first member;
- and
- inserting a second member adjacent the second inner surface inside the third opening, the second member having a fifth opening therethrough coaxial with the fourth opening, wherein a third bearing surface is in contact with the second inner surface and the second member and separates the second inner surface from the second member.
3 more elements
A bearing, comprising:
- an outer housing having a first opening therethrough;
- an intermediate housing adjacent the outer housing inside the first opening and having a second opening therethrough;
- an inner housing adjacent the intermediate housing inside the second opening and having a third opening therethrough, the inner housing comprising a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining the third opening, the second inner surface oriented at a reflex angle relative to the first inner surface such that an interior diameter of the third opening is smaller than an exterior diameter of the third opening;
- a first bearing surface in contact with the intermediate housing and the inner housing and separating the intermediate housing from the inner housing;
- a first member adjacent the first inner surface inside the third opening having a fourth opening therethrough;
- a second bearing surface in contact with the first inner surface and the first member and separating the first inner surface from the first member;
- a second member adjacent the second inner surface inside the third opening having a fifth opening therethrough coaxial with the fourth opening;
- and
- a third bearing surface in contact with the second inner surface and the second member and separating the second inner surface from the second member.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.