Anti-rotation retaining pin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10378573-B2
Application number	US-201715657423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2017
Priority date	Jul 24, 2017
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

A retaining pin having anti-rotation features is provided. The retaining pin may comprise a pin shaft coupled to a retaining flange. The pin shaft may be inserted into a structural member proximate a shaft and a nut. The retaining flange may comprise an anti-rotation void defined by a first arm and a second arm and configured to engage the shaft. In response to the nut coupling the retaining flange to the shaft, the retaining pin may at least partially reduce movement and rotation of the shaft relative to the retaining pin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retaining pin, comprising:
a retaining flange comprising a flange body having a top surface and a first end opposite a second end and a pin shaft coupled to the first end of the flange body;
an anti-rotation void defining a void through the flange body proximate the second end, wherein the anti-rotation void comprises an opening on an outer edge of the retaining flange;
a first arm defining a first circumferential edge of the anti-rotation void proximate the second end; and
a second arm defining a second circumferential edge of the anti-rotation void proximate the first end, wherein at least one of the first arm or the second arm comprises a finger extending in a first direction away from the top surface of the flange body proximate the opening.

2. The retaining pin of claim 1 , wherein the pin shaft is coupled to the first end of the flange body via welding, brazing, or an adhesive.

3. The retaining pin of claim 1 , wherein the pin shaft is coupled to the first end of the flange body using a press fit installation process.

4. The retaining pin of claim 1 , wherein in response to the finger being on the first arm, the finger comprises a bent portion of the first arm.

5. The retaining pin of claim 1 , wherein in response to the finger being on the second arm, the finger comprises a bent portion of the second arm.

6. The retaining pin of claim 1 , wherein the finger comprises a rectangular, oval, circular, or triangular shape.

7. A structural component, comprising:
a first portion proximate a second portion;
a shaft coupled to the second portion; and
a retaining pin, comprising:
a pin shaft having a first shaft end opposite a second shaft end, wherein the second shaft end is pivotally coupled to the first portion of the structural component;
a retaining flange comprising a flange body having a top surface and a first flange end opposite a second flange end, wherein the first flange end is coupled to the second shaft end of the pin shaft;
an anti-rotation void defining a void through the flange body proximate the second flange end, wherein the anti-rotation void comprises an opening on an outer edge of the retaining flange;
a first arm defining a first circumferential edge of the anti-rotation void proximate the second flange end, wherein the first arm comprises a first finger extending in a first direction away from the top surface of the flange body proximate the opening; and
a second arm defining a second circumferential edge of the anti-rotation void proximate the first flange end, wherein the second arm comprises a second finger extending in the first direction away from the top surface of the flange body proximate the opening.

8. The structural component of claim 7 , wherein the retaining pin is configured to pivot about the pin shaft to cause the retaining flange to contact the shaft.

9. The structural component of claim 8 , wherein in response to the retaining flange contacting the shaft, the anti-rotation void is configured to engage the shaft causing the first arm and the second arm to at least partially contact the shaft.

10. The structural component of claim 9 , further comprising a nut coupled to the shaft, wherein in response to the nut being tightened, the nut contacts the retaining flange to cause the retaining flange to contact the second portion of the structural component.

11. The structural component of claim 10 , wherein the first finger and the second finger are configured to at least partially contact the nut in response to the shaft being displaced.

12. The structural component of claim 7 , wherein the pin shaft is coupled to the retaining flange via welding, brazing, or an adhesive.

13. The structural component of claim 7 , wherein the pin shaft is coupled to the retaining flange using a press fit installation process.

14. The structural component of claim 7 , wherein the first finger comprises a bent portion of the first arm.

15. The structural component of claim 7 , wherein the second finger comprises a bent portion of the second arm.

16. The structural component of claim 7 , wherein the first finger and the second finger comprise a rectangular, oval, circular, or triangular shape.

17. A method of installing a retaining pin, comprising:
inserting a pin shaft of the retaining pin into a pin void of a first portion of a structural component, wherein a second portion of the structural component comprises a shaft;
pivoting the retaining pin about the pin shaft, wherein in response to pivoting the retaining pin, a retaining flange of the retaining pin contacts the shaft; and
tightening a nut onto the shaft, wherein in response to tightening the nut onto the shaft, the nut contacts the retaining pin causing the retaining pin to retain the shaft and at least partially limit rotation of the shaft relative to the pin shaft.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein in response to the retaining pin contacting the shaft, an anti-rotation void defining a void through the retaining flange is configured to engage the shaft.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein in response to the anti-rotation void engaging the shaft, a first arm defining a first circumferential edge of the anti-rotation void and a second arm defining a second circumferential edge of the anti-rotation void contact the shaft to at least partially limit rotation of the shaft relative to the pin shaft.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Chuckta Andrew
• Parekh Matthew D

Classifications

• F01D17/16 Primary

  by means of nozzle vanes · CPC title

• F16B21/12 Primary

  with locking-pins or split-pins thrust into holes · CPC title