The Boeing Company

Neal M Muylaert

Robert Loftus

The invention provides a weight-reducing bearing assembly for rotary aircraft. An opposed tapered conical elastomeric flap bearing assembly for rotary aircraft includes an outer housing having an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface is configured to mechanically connect the bearing assembly to the attachment sections of the hub center body. The inner surface is configured to receive a pair of opposed taper conical bearing elements. An inboard bearing element and an outboard bearing element are located within the outer housing. The bearing elements are arranged in an opposed manner. An axial pre-load can be applied to the opposed bearing assembly wherein the resulting force couple bearing pre-load path is maintained entirely within the bearing assembly. Consequently, the weight of the main rotor hub is reduced increasing the efficiency of rotary flight.

Opposing conical preloaded elastomeric bearing assembly

A method is provided for producing an elastomeric conical flap bearing assembly for rotary aircraft including an inboard bearing element and outboard bearing element disposed within an outer housing. The outer housing has an outer surface configured with a plurality of radially extending flange elements. The outer housing has an inner surface configured to receive tapered conical bearing elements. A tapered conical elastomeric inboard bearing element is inserted into its outer housing and is bonded to the inner surface. A tapered conical elastomeric outboard bearing element is inserted into the outer housing, wherein the conical tapers of the respective bearing elements are directed in opposing directions. The bearing elements are press-fit together and the outer surface of the outboard bearing is bonded to the inner surface of the outer housing forming a bearing assembly. Simultaneously, an axial pre-load is applied to the bearing assembly. A plurality of bearing coupler lugs are attached to the bearing assembly.

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Apache Junction, AZ, United States of America

Neal M Muylaert