The Boeing Company

Martin J Clauss

Joshua J Bracken

Gunnar P Bergeson

Blake J Bergeson

Michael G Poulson

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).

Compact thrust bearing assemblies, mechanical assemblies including the compact thrust bearing assemblies, and methods of providing limited rotational motion in a compact thrust bearing assembly are disclosed herein. The thrust bearing assemblies include a plurality of rigid load-bearing structures arranged in a layered stack that defines a first end and an opposed second end. The thrust bearing assemblies further include a plurality of rotation-limiting structures configured to restrict relative rotation between adjacent pairs of rigid load-bearing structures. The thrust bearing assemblies also include a first load-receiving surface configured to receive a first thrust load and a second load-receiving surface configured to receive a second thrust load. The methods include methods of providing limited rotational motion in a thrust bearing assembly.

Compact thrust bearing assemblies, mechanical assemblies including compact thrust bearing assemblies, and methods of providing limited rotational motion in a compact thrust bearing assembly

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Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Martin J Clauss