Multi-directional elastomeric dampened ball joint assembly
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorScott Hendrik Bouwer
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims21
A method for reducing a force, the method comprising:
- receiving at least one of a number of forces and a number of moments applied to at least one of a first end and a second end of a multi-directional joint assembly, wherein the first end and the second end move relative to each other, and wherein the second end is connected to a rotorcraft;
- and deforming a number of elastomeric layers in a damper associated with the multi-directional joint assembly, wherein the damper comprises the number of elastomeric layers and a number of rigid layers interspersed with each other;
- wherein the first end comprises a ball connected to a first elongate member and a first portion of an enclosure of the multi-directional joint assembly, the method further comprising:
- holding the ball within an interior of the enclosure;
- and
- wherein the second end comprises a hemispherical socket connected to a second elongate member and extending through a hole in a second portion, the method further comprising:
- pivotally holding the ball within the hemispherical socket by a frusto-spherical ring directly connected to the hemispherical socket.
A method for attaching a beam to a rotorcraft, the method comprising connecting a first end of a multi-directional joint assembly to the beam;
- connecting a second end of the multi-directional joint assembly to a rotorcraft;
- pivotally connecting the first end to the second end;
- and deforming a damper disposed in the multi-directional joint assembly in response to a number of forces and a number of moments applied to at least one of the first end and the second end, wherein the damper is comprised of a number of elastomeric layers and a number of rigid layers interspersed with each other;
- 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;
- and
- wherein the second end comprises a hemispherical socket distally connected to the rotorcraft by a second elongate member and extending through a hole in a second portion of the enclosure.
A method for maintaining spacing between a plurality of rotorcraft, the method comprising:
- connecting a spacing structure to a first rotorcraft via a first multi-directional joint assembly;
- and
- connecting a first end of the spacing structure to a second rotorcraft via a second multi-directional joint assembly;
- wherein each of the first multi-directional joint assembly and the second multi-directional joint assembly comprises:
- a first end of a multi-directional joint assembly connected to the spacing structure;
- a second end of the multi-directional joint assembly connected to an associated rotorcraft;
- and
- a damper disposed within an associated enclosure of the multi-directional joint assembly and between a hemispherical socket of the second end and a second portion of the associated enclosure, wherein the damper is comprised of a number of elastomeric layers and a number of rigid layers interspersed with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.