The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 11, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1996
David H Hunter, Cheshire, CT (US);
Francis E Byrnes, White Plains, NY (US);
Douglas E Tritsch, Beavercreek, OH (US);
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Stratford, CT (US);
Abstract
An axisymmetric elastomeric bearing assembly (30) for an articulated rotor hub assembly (10), which axisymmetric elastomeric bearing assembly (30) is disposed in combination with a rotor assembly yoke (24) and hub retention member (12) of the rotor hub assembly (10) and is operative for accommodating the multi-directional displacement of a rotor blade assembly (14) thereof. The axisymmetric elastomeric bearing assembly (30) includes a central bearing element (32) having a spherical bearing surface (32s) defining a bearing focal point (30f) and spherical elastomeric elements (34) bonded to the spherical bearing surface (32s) on opposing sides of the bearing focal point (30f). Each of the spherical elastomeric elements (34) have a plurality of alternating layers of elastomer and nonresilient shims (36, 38) which have a center of curvature which is coincident with the bearing focal point (30f) and disposed at increasing radii therefrom. Bearing endplates (40) are bonded to the spherical elastomeric elements (34) and are mounted in combination with the yoke (24) and hub retention member (12). In operation, the central bearing element (32) is rotationally self-positioning to effect load and motion sharing between the spherical elastomeric elements (34).