Drive Link for Tiltrotor Rotor System

• US 20150122953A1
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Foskey, Christopher, McIntyre, Joel, Burnett, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,657,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/7.A
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/22 Compound rotorcraft, i.e. aircraft using in flight the features of both aeroplane and rotorcraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/33 having flexing arms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/35 having elastomeric joints
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0033 the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/30 for axial load mainly
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/063 Sliding contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/62 the links or their attachments being elastic
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/3849 Mounting brackets therefor, e.g. stamped steel brackets; Restraining links
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/387 comprising means for modifying the rigidity in particular directions spherical or conical sleeves F16F1/393
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/393 with spherical or conical sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/00 Gearings comprising primarily only links or levers, with or without slides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20006 Resilient connections

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a drive link includes a first bearing housing, a second bearing housing, and a central portion coupled between the first bearing housing and the second bearing housing. The central portion has less torsional stiffness than the first and second bearing housings such that the central portion twists in response to cocking of the first bearing housing relative to the second bearing housing.

Claims

1. A tiltrotor aircraft, comprising:

a body;

a wing member;

a power train coupled to the body and comprising a power source and a drive shaft in mechanical communication with the power source; and

a rotor system coupled to the wing member and in mechanical communication with the drive shaft, at least part of the rotor system being tiltable between a helicopter mode position and an airplane mode position, the rotor system comprising;

a first drive element in mechanical communication with the drive shaft;

a yoke disposed at least partially about the drive shaft;

a second drive element in mechanical communication with the yoke;

a rotor blade coupled to the yoke; and

a drive link coupled between the drive shaft and the yoke, the drive link comprising;

a first bearing housing defining an opening therethrough configured to receive the first drive element;

a first radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the first bearing housing and an outer surface of the first drive element;

a second bearing housing defining an opening therethrough configured to receive the second drive element;

a second radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the second bearing housing and an outer surface of the second drive element; and

a central portion coupled between the first bearing housing and the second bearing housing, the central portion having less torsional stiffness than the first and second bearing housings such that the central portion twists in response to cocking of the first bearing housing relative to the second bearing housing.

2. The tiltrotor aircraft of claim 1, wherein:

the first bearing housing, the opening of the first bearing housing, the second bearing housing, the opening of the second bearing housing, and the central portion are coaxial along a drive link axis; and

the central portion has less torsional stiffness relative to the drive link axis than the first and second bearing housings.

3. The tiltrotor aircraft of claim 2, wherein the central portion has less torsional stiffness relative to the drive link axis than the first and second radial bearings.

4. The tiltrotor of claim 1, the central portion comprising:

a central element in mechanical communication with the first bearing housing;

a central bearing housing in mechanical communication with the second bearing housing, the central bearing housing defining an opening therethrough configured to receive the central element; and

a central radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the central bearing housing and an outer surface of the central element.

5. The tiltrotor of claim 4, the central radial bearing comprising an elastomeric bearing.

6. The tiltrotor of claim 4, the central radial bearing comprising a roller thrust bearing.

7. The tiltrotor of claim 1, the central portion comprising a composite flex beam.

8. A method of transmitting torque from a drive shaft to a rotor yoke, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first bearing housing opening, a first drive element in mechanical communication with the drive shaft;

receiving, at a second bearing housing opening, a second drive element in mechanical communication with the rotor yoke;

providing a central portion coupled between the first and second bearing housings; and

allowing twisting of the central portion in response to cocking of the first bearing housing relative to the second bearing housing.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing:

a first radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the first bearing housing and an outer surface of the first drive element; and

a second radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the second bearing housing and an outer surface of the second drive element.

10. The method of claim 8, the central portion comprising:

a central element in mechanical communication with the first bearing housing;

a central bearing housing in mechanical communication with the second bearing housing, the central bearing housing defining an opening therethrough configured to receive the central element; and

a central radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the central bearing housing and an outer surface of the central element.

11. The method of claim 10, the central radial bearing comprising an elastomeric bearing.

12. The method of claim 10, the central radial bearing comprising a roller thrust bearing.

13. The method of claim 8, the central portion comprising a composite flex beam.

14. A drive link, comprising:

a first bearing housing defining an opening therethrough configured to receive a first drive element;

a first radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the first bearing housing and an outer surface of the first drive element;

a second bearing housing defining an opening therethrough configured to receive a second drive element;

a second radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the second bearing housing and an outer surface of the second drive element; and

a central portion coupled between the first bearing housing and the second bearing housing, the central portion having less torsional stiffness than the first and second bearing housings such that the central portion twists in response to cocking of the first bearing housing relative to the second bearing housing.

15. The drive link of claim 14, wherein:

the first bearing housing, the opening of the first bearing housing, the second bearing housing, the opening of the second bearing housing, and the central portion are coaxial along a drive link axis; and

the central portion has less torsional stiffness relative to the drive link axis than the first and second bearing housings.

16. The drive link of claim 15, wherein the central portion has less torsional stiffness relative to the drive link axis than the first and second radial bearings.

17. The drive link of claim 14, the central portion comprising:

a central element in mechanical communication with the first bearing housing;

a central bearing housing in mechanical communication with the second bearing housing, the central bearing housing defining an opening therethrough configured to receive the central element; and

a central radial bearing disposed between an inner surface of the opening of the central bearing housing and an outer surface of the central element.

18. The drive link of claim 17, the central radial bearing comprising an elastomeric bearing.

19. The drive link of claim 17, the central radial bearing comprising a roller thrust bearing.

20. The drive link of claim 14, the central portion comprising a composite flex beam.