Elastomeric system for mounting a helicopter rotor

• US 4,522,563 A
• Filed: 07/06/1982
• Issued: 06/11/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Michigan Inc (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Reyes, Peter A., Finney, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Jr., Everette A.
• Application Number:
  US06/395,789
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 416/134 A, 416/138 A, 416/141, 416/102, 416/148 (U.S. only)
• US Class Current: 416/134.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/35 having elastomeric joints
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/43 see-saw type, i.e. two-bladed rotor

Abstract

This invention relates to a system for mounting a helicopter rotor on a flapping axis and, more particularly, to use of an improved unitary trunnion-bearing structure of minimal parts which may be selectively preloaded and which is readily installed.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a teetering helicopter rotor onto a mast including:

a main body having a central portion having a central bore therethrough for receiving the mast;

a pair of opposed conical shafts extending from said main body on a common axis which perpendicularly intersects the axis of said central bore;

elastomeric bearing rings having conical shims therein of the same cone angle as the angle of said conical shaft and being circumferentially disposed around said conical shafts;

outer mounting rings having interior and exterior surfaces, said interior surfce having the same cone angle as the angle of said conical shafts and being circumferentially disposed around said elastomeric bearing rings; and

tail rotor hub structure adapted to receive said exterior surface of said outer mounting rings for rotation with the rotor as it teeters on said common axis.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said hub structure has a transverse bore to receive said outer mounting rings and in which said central portion of said main body is of maximum dimension less than the diameter of said outer mounting rings whereby said main body, elastomeric bearings rings, and outer mounting rings can be inserted into said transverse bore along said common axis.