Patent US1752209A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3759631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Compound bearing for connecting a helicopter blade to a helicopter rotor
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1972-07-05
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1992-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A compound bearing for connecting a helicopter blade to a helicopter rotor, such as connecting the blade end-shaft to the rotor connected lead-lag damper so as to accommodate a large degree of blade pitch change motion and part misalignment due to other blade motions, which bearing is maintained within a minimum space envelope. The compound bearing includes a slip-type journal bearing enveloping the blade end-shaft and a spherical, laminated elastomeric bearing enveloping the journal bearing and connected to the rotor connected part, such as the lead-lag damper.
Inventors
- 👤 R Rybicki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:37
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C27/00; B64C27/32; B64C27/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A slip-type journal bearing including: a. a first sleeve member enveloping and connected to said shaft, b. a second sleeve member enveloping said first sleeve member in slip-bearing journal fashion, c. means to position said first and second sleeve members in axial alignment on said shaft, 2. a spherical, laminated elastomeric bearing positioned between said slip-type journal bearing and said damper and including: a. an inner race connected to said second sleeve and having a spherical outer surface centered about a point on the shaft centerline, b. a spherical outer race enveloping the spherical inner race in spaced relationship thereto and connected to the damper member and having a spherical inner surface centered about said point on the shaft centerline, c. a plurality of spherical laminates positioned between said inner and outer races and including alternate layers of elastomeric material and rigid material bonded to one another and with the outer most elastomer laminate bonded to the outer race spherical surface and with the inner most elastomer laminate bonded to the inner race spherical surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A slip-type journal bearing including: a. a first sleeve member enveloping and connected to said shaft, b. a second sleeve member enveloping said first sleeve member in slip-bearing journal fashion, c. means to position said first and second sleeve members in axial alignment on said shaft, 2. a spherical, laminated elastomeric bearing positioned between said slip-type journal bearing and said damper and including: a. an inner race connected to said second sleeve and having a spherical outer surface centered about a point on the shaft centerline, b. a spherical outer race enveloping the spherical inner race in spaced relationship thereto and connected to the damper member and having a spherical inner surface centered about said point on the shaft centerline, c. a plurality of spherical laminates positioned between said inner and outer races and including alternate layers of elastomeric material and rigid material bonded to one another and with the outer most elastomer laminate bonded to the outer race spherical surface and with the inner most elastomer laminate bonded to the inner race spherical surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
An articulated helicopter rotor including a hub mounted for rotation and adapted to support blades extending substantially radially therefrom for motion about lead-lag and pitch change motion axes including: A. a shaft member adapted to be connected to the helicopter blade, B. means to support said shaft from said hub for motion about said lead-lag and pitch change axes, C. a damper member pivotally connected to said hub and to said shaft member at a station opposite the blade end thereof and spaced from said shaft support means, D. means connecting said damper to said shaft so as to accommodate shaft pitch change motion and misalignment caused by motion of the shaft about the blade lead-lag axis comprising:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
An articulated helicopter rotor including a hub mounted for rotation and adapted to support blades extending substantially radially therefrom for motion about lead-lag and pitch change motion axes including: A. a shaft member adapted to be connected to the helicopter blade, B. means to support said shaft from said hub for motion about said lead-lag and pitch change axes, C. a damper member pivotally connected to said hub and to said shaft member at a station opposite the blade end thereof and spaced from said shaft support means, D. means connecting said damper to said shaft so as to accommodate shaft pitch change motion and misalignment caused by motion of the shaft about the blade lead-lag axis comprising:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A rotor according to claim 1 wherein the torsional stiffness of said elastomeric bearing is substantially greater than said slip-type journal bearing so that all pitch change motion of said shaft is accommodated by said slip-type journal bearing and wherein all shaft misalignment brought about by the motion of said shaft about said lead-lag axis is accommodated by said elastomeric bearing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
a spherical, laminated elastomeric bearing positioned between said slip-type journal bearing and said damper and including: a. an inner race connected to said second sleeve and having a spherical outer surface centered about a point on the shaft centerline, b. a spherical outer race enveloping the spherical inner race in spaced relationship thereto and connected to the damper member and having a spherical inner surface centered about said point on the shaft centerline, c. a plurality of spherical laminates positioned between said inner and outer races and including alternate layers of elastomeric material and rigid material bonded to one another and with the outer most elastomer laminate bonded to the outer race spherical surface and with the inner most elastomer laminate bonded to the inner race spherical surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
a spherical, laminated elastomeric bearing positioned between said slip-type journal bearing and said damper and including: a. an inner race connected to said second sleeve and having a spherical outer surface centered about a point on the shaft centerline, b. a spherical outer race enveloping the spherical inner race in spaced relationship thereto and connected to the damper member and having a spherical inner surface centered about said point on the shaft centerline, c. a plurality of spherical laminates positioned between said inner and outer races and including alternate layers of elastomeric material and rigid material bonded to one another and with the outer most elastomer laminate bonded to the outer race spherical surface and with the inner most elastomer laminate bonded to the inner race spherical surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
a spherical elastomeric bearing enveloping said slip-type journal bearing in series relationship therewith and with the outer race thereof connected to said second member so that said slip-type journal bearing and said spherical elastomeric bearing cooperate to accommodate blade pitch change induced motion and misalign-ment caused by relative pivotal motion between second member and the shaft member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
a spherical elastomeric bearing enveloping said slip-type journal bearing in series relationship therewith and with the outer race thereof connected to said second member so that said slip-type journal bearing and said spherical elastomeric bearing cooperate to accommodate blade pitch change induced motion and misalign-ment caused by relative pivotal motion between second member and the shaft member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
a spherical, laminated elastomeric bearing position between said slip-type journal bearing and said second member and including: a. an inner race connected to said second sleeve and having a spherical outer surface centered about a point on the shaft centerline, b. a spherical outer race enveloping the spherical inner race in spaced relationship thereto and connected to the second member and having a spherical inner surface centered about said point on the shaft centerline, c. a plurality of spherical laminates positioned between said inner and outer races and including alternate layers of elastomer material and rigid material bonded to one another and with the outer most elastomer laminate bonded to the outer race spherical surface and with the inner most elastomer laminate bonded to the inner race spherical surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
a spherical, laminated elastomeric bearing position between said slip-type journal bearing and said second member and including: a. an inner race connected to said second sleeve and having a spherical outer surface centered about a point on the shaft centerline, b. a spherical outer race enveloping the spherical inner race in spaced relationship thereto and connected to the second member and having a spherical inner surface centered about said point on the shaft centerline, c. a plurality of spherical laminates positioned between said inner and outer races and including alternate layers of elastomer material and rigid material bonded to one another and with the outer most elastomer laminate bonded to the outer race spherical surface and with the inner most elastomer laminate bonded to the inner race spherical surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
a spherical outer race enveloping the spherical inner race in spaced rela-tionship thereto and connected to the damper member and having a spherical inner surface centered about said point on the shaft centerline,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
a spherical outer race enveloping the spherical inner race in spaced rela-tionship thereto and connected to the damper member and having a spherical inner surface centered about said point on the shaft centerline,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
bearing means connecting said damper means to said shaft end including: a. a slip-type journal bearing enveloping said shaft end, b. a spherical elastomeric bearing enveloping said slip-type journal bearing in series relationship therewith and with the outer race thereof connected to said damper means so that said slip-type journal bearing and said spherical elasto-meric bearing cooperate to accom-modate blade pitch change motion and misalignment caused between the damper means and the shaft by shaft motion about the intersection of the blade lead-lag and flapping axes and pivotal damper motion caused thereby.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
bearing means connecting said damper means to said shaft end including: a. a slip-type journal bearing enveloping said shaft end, b. a spherical elastomeric bearing enveloping said slip-type journal bearing in series relationship therewith and with the outer race thereof connected to said damper means so that said slip-type journal bearing and said spherical elasto-meric bearing cooperate to accom-modate blade pitch change motion and misalignment caused between the damper means and the shaft by shaft motion about the intersection of the blade lead-lag and flapping axes and pivotal damper motion caused thereby.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
a plurality of spherical laminates positioned between said inner and outer races and including alternate layers of elastomer material and rigid material bonded to one another and with the outer most elastomer laminate bonded to the outer race spherical surface and with the inner most elastomer laminate bonded to the inner race spherical surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
a plurality of spherical laminates positioned between said inner and outer races and including alternate layers of elastomer material and rigid material bonded to one another and with the outer most elastomer laminate bonded to the outer race spherical surface and with the inner most elastomer laminate bonded to the inner race spherical surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A rotor according to claim 1 wherein said damper is a hydraulic piston-cylinder damper and wherein said elasto-meric bearing outer race is connected to the piston rod thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A rotor according to claim 3 wherein said shaft support means includes a spherical bearing so as to permit universal movement between said shaft and the hub about a selected point constituting the intersection of said lead-lag and pitch change axes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A rotor according to claim 1 wherein the blade is also supported from the hub for motion about a flapping axis, and wherein said lead-lag, flapping and pitch change axes are coincident.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rotor according to claim 1 wherein said first and second sleeve members of said slip-type journal bearing are cylindrical in shape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
A helicopter rotor having: A. a blade end-shaft adapted to be connected to a helicopter rotor hub, B. means to support said shaft from said hub for motion about the intersection of the blade lead-lag and pitch change axes, C. means to support the end of the shaft oppo-site the blade end including:
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A helicopter rotor having: A. a blade end-shaft adapted to be connected to a helicopter rotor hub, B. means to support said shaft from said hub for motion about the intersection of the blade lead-lag and pitch change axes, C. means to support the end of the shaft oppo-site the blade end including:
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
A rotor according to claim 7 wherein the torsional stiffness of said spherical elastomeric bearing is great with respect to the torsional stiffness of said slip-type journal bearing so that said journal bearing accommodates all pitch change motion and wherein said elastomeric bearing accommodates all misalignment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A rotor according to claim 8 wherein said shaft support means permits blade pitch change motion through an angle of about 60*, permits lead-lag motion through an angle of about 20* and permits flapping motion through an angle of about 30*.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
A rotor according to claim 9 wherein said slip-type journal bearing includes: A. a first sleeve member journaled on to and connected to said shaft, B. a second sleeve member journaled on to said first sleeve member for rotation with respect thereto with minimal friction, C. means to retain said sleeve members on said shaft in axial alignment wherein said spherical elastomeric bearing includes: A. a spherical, laminated elastomeric bearing positioned between said slip-tYpe journal bearing and said damper and including:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
103 words
An articulated helicopter rotor including a hub mounted for rotation and adapted to support blades extending substantially radially therefrom for motion about lead-lag and pitch change motion axes including: A. a blade connected shaft member mounted for rotary motion in response to blade pitch change motion, and for pivotal motion about a blade articulating axis, B. a second member pivotally connected to the hub and to said shaft member, C. means connecting said second member to said shaft member so as to accommodate shaft pitch change induced motion and misalignment caused by relative motion of the shaft member and said second member comprising:
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
103 words
An articulated helicopter rotor including a hub mounted for rotation and adapted to support blades extending substantially radially therefrom for motion about lead-lag and pitch change motion axes including: A. a blade connected shaft member mounted for rotary motion in response to blade pitch change motion, and for pivotal motion about a blade articulating axis, B. a second member pivotally connected to the hub and to said shaft member, C. means connecting said second member to said shaft member so as to accommodate shaft pitch change induced motion and misalignment caused by relative motion of the shaft member and said second member comprising:
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
A rotor according to claim 11 wherein the torsional stiffness of said elastomeric bearing is substantially greater than said slip-type journal bearing so that all pitch change motion of said shaft is accommodated by said slip-type journal bearing and so that all shaft misalignment brought about by the motion of said shaft about said lead-lag axis is accommodated by said elastomeric bearing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
73 words
A helicopter rotor having a blade adapted to be connected to a helicopter rotor hub including: A. a blade connected shaft member mounted for rotary motion in response to blade pitch change motion, and for pivotal motion about a blade articulating axis, B. a second member means pivotally connected to the hub and adapted to be connected to said shaft member, C. bearing means connecting said second member to said shaft member including:
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
A helicopter rotor having a blade adapted to be connected to a helicopter rotor hub including: A. a blade connected shaft member mounted for rotary motion in response to blade pitch change motion, and for pivotal motion about a blade articulating axis, B. a second member means pivotally connected to the hub and adapted to be connected to said shaft member, C. bearing means connecting said second member to said shaft member including:
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
A rotor according to claim 13 wherein the torsional stiffness of said spherical elastomeric bearing is great with respect to the torsional stiffness of said slip-type journal bearing so that said journal bearing accommodates all pitch change induced motion and wherein said elastomeric bearing accommodates all misalignment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |