Rotary-wing aircraft torque coupling with pad bearings

US8029371B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Textron Innovations Inc. · US

Inventors

• Frank B. Stamps · Colleyville, US
• Richard E. Rauber · Arlington, US
• David A. Popelka · Colleyville, US
• Pat Tisdale · Roanoke, US
• Tom Campbell · Lakewood, US
• James L. Braswell, Jr. · Colleyville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 17, 2006
• Grant date: Oct 4, 2011
• Expiry date: Jul 1, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64C27/35
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A torque coupling for a rotor head of a rotary-wing aircraft is configured for rotation with a mast and for causing rotation of an attached yoke. The coupling has trunnions that rotate with the mast and extend generally radially. Pad-bearing assemblies each have a central member coupled to one of the trunnions with a laminated spherical bearing and have laminated pad bearings affixed to opposing sides of the central member. The laminated bearings have alternating rigid and elastomeric layers. A bearing mount is affixed to each pad bearing and is connected to a yoke for rotating the yoke with the mast. The pad-bearing assemblies allow for relative motion between each central member and the associated trunnion and between each central member and the bearing mounts through elastic shear deformation, and this allows for gimballing of the attached yoke relative to the mast.