The Boeing Company

Joshua J Bracken

Martin J Clauss

Blake J Bergeson

Michael G Poulson

Gunnar P Bergeson

Dennis K Kennedy

Jeffrey L Sorensen

A rotor assembly comprises a rotor hub and rotor-blade assemblies. The rotor hub comprises rotor-blade supports. Each rotor-blade assembly is coupled to a respective one of the rotor-blade supports and comprises a flap axle, a hub connector, a rotor blade, and a torsion strap. The flap axle extends through a respective one of the rotor-blade supports and has a central flap-axle axis. The hub connector is pivotable relative to a rotor-blade support about the central flap-axle axis and defines a central hub-connector axis. The rotor blade is coupled to and is pivotable relative to the hub connector, and, together with the hub connector, is pivotable relative to a respective one of the rotor-blade supports about the central flap-axle axis. The torsion strap has a first end, coupled to the rotor blade, and a second end, through which the flap axle passes.

Rotor assemblies for rotorcraft

A hinge assembly such as a lead-lag hinge can include a hinge pin assembly. The hinge pin assembly can include an outer cylinder, a shear pin that extends through the outer cylinder and having a first threaded end and a second threaded end, a first nut threaded on the first threaded end and a second nut threaded on the second end. An opposing force between the first nut and the second nut applies a compressive stress to the outer cylinder that may increase a resistance of the hinge pin assembly to wear and damage. In the case of complete failure of the outer cylinder, the shear pin can maintain structural integrity of the hinge pin assembly and of the hinge assembly.

Damage tolerant and fail-safe (DTFS) high strength preloaded pin assembly

A fracture-resistant double shear joint including a clevis having a first end defining a first bore and a second end defining a second bore, and a reaction load member defining a third bore, wherein the first bore, the second bore, and the third bore are colinear. The fracture-resistant double shear joint can further include a first spacer positioned within the first bore, a second spacer positioned within the second bore, and a shear pin positioned within each of the first bore, the second bore, and the third bore. The shear pin may include an outer cylinder, an inner shear bolt threaded on both ends, and nuts at either end that engage the threads. The nuts may be tightened to place the outer cylinder in compression. The spacers in the first and second bore may include a low friction liner that interfaces with the outer cylinder of the shear pin. The ends of the spacers may be set back from the ends of the first and second bores (that are next to the third bore).

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Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Joshua J Bracken