Bushing alignment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906639-B2
Application number	US-201816058061-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2018
Priority date	Aug 8, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A bushing assembly for receiving a fastener includes a first bushing portion and a second bushing portion arranged coaxially with the first bushing portion. The second bushing portion defines at least part of an opening for receiving the fastener. The second bushing portion is rotatable relative to the first bushing portion about an axis of rotation to adjust a position of the opening about a first axis and a second axis independently relative to the first bushing portion and the second bushing portion. The first axis is coplanar with and perpendicular to the second axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bushing assembly for receiving a fastener, the assembly comprising:
a first bushing portion;
a second bushing portion arranged coaxially with the first bushing portion, the second bushing portion defining at least part of an opening for receiving the fastener, wherein the second bushing portion is rotatable relative to the first bushing portion about an axis of rotation between a plurality of configurations to adjust a position of the opening about a first axis and a second axis independently relative to the first bushing portion and the second bushing portion, the first axis being coplanar with and perpendicular to the second axis, wherein in a first configuration of the plurality of configurations, the opening for receiving the fastener is defined between an interior surface of the first bushing portion and an interior surface of the second bushing portion, and in a second configuration of the plurality of configurations, at least a part of the first bushing portion overlaps the second bushing portion, at least one of the first bushing portion or the second bushing portion being crescent shaped.

2. The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the first bushing portion is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the second bushing portion.

3. The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second bushing portion is nestable within the first bushing portion.

4. The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first bushing portion or the second bushing portion has a first thickness at a first end and a second end, and a second thickness at a central portion disposed between the first end and the second end.

5. The bushing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first thickness is a minimum thickness and the second thickness is a maximum thickness greater than the first thickness.

6. The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bushing portion and the second bushing portion are identical.

7. An assembly comprising:
a first component having a first opening;
a second component having a second opening, the second opening being at least partially aligned with the first opening;
a fastener; and
a bushing assembly received within the first opening and the second opening, the bushing assembly comprising:
a first bushing portion;
a second bushing portion arranged coaxially with the first bushing portion, wherein at least one of the first bushing portion or the second bushing portion defines an opening which receives the fastener, the second bushing portion being rotatable about an axis of rotation between a plurality of configurations to adjust a position of the opening about a first axis and a second axis independently relative to the first bushing portion and the second bushing portion to align the fastener with the second opening,

wherein in a first configuration of the plurality of configurations, the opening for receiving the fastener is defined between an interior surface of the first bushing portion and an interior surface of the second bushing portion, and in a second configuration of the plurality of configurations, at least a part of the first bushing portion overlaps the second bushing portion, at least one of the first bushing portion or the second bushing portion being crescent shaped.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the assembly is a rotor blade assembly.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first component is a torque tube and the second component is a pitch bearing assembly.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first bushing portion is nestable within the second bushing portion.

11. A method of adjusting a position of an opening defined by a bushing assembly including a first bushing portion and a second bushing portion, the method comprising:
adjusting a position of the opening defined by at least one of the first bushing portion or the second bushing portion about a first axis and a second axis independently by rotating the second bushing portion relative to the first bushing portion about an axis of rotation, wherein the second bushing portion is rotatable between a plurality of configurations and in a first configuration of the plurality of configurations, the opening for receiving the fastener is defined between an interior surface of the first bushing portion and an interior surface of the second bushing portion, and in a second configuration of the plurality of configurations, at least a part of the first bushing portion overlaps the second bushing portion, at least one of the first bushing portion or the second bushing portion being crescent shaped; and
inserting a fastener into the opening with the adjusted position.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the opening includes aligning the opening with a corresponding first opening formed in an adjacent first component.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the opening includes aligning the opening with a corresponding second opening formed in an adjacent second component.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Dunn Eric
• Caputo Frank M

Classifications

• F16B43/00 Primary

  Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts (circlips F16B21/18; {for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24}) · CPC title

• F16C2226/60

  with threaded parts, e.g. bolt and nut connections · CPC title

• F16C2326/43

  Aeroplanes; Helicopters · CPC title

• B64C27/48 Primary

  Root attachment to rotor head · CPC title

• F16C35/02

  in the case of sliding-contact bearings · CPC title