Adjustable tie rods and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11242889-B2
Application number	US-201916555416-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2019
Priority date	Aug 29, 2019
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

An adjustable tie rod includes a first end defined by a screw rod, wherein the screw rod includes a threaded portion, and a second end opposite the first end, wherein an overall length of the adjustable tie rod is defined as a distance between the first end and the second end along a longitudinal axis of the adjustable tie rod. A tie rod shaft extends between and couples the first end and the second end, and a gearbox is fixed with respect to the tie rod shaft. An adjustment actuator is operatively coupled to the gearbox such that selective actuation of the adjustment actuator causes translation of the screw rod along the longitudinal axis and with respect to the gearbox when the first end is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis, thereby adjusting the overall length of the adjustable tie rod.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable tie rod, comprising:
a screw rod defining a first end of the adjustable tie rod, wherein the screw rod comprises a threaded portion, wherein an overall length of the adjustable tie rod is defined as a distance between the first end and a second end of the adjustable tie rod, along a longitudinal axis of the adjustable tie rod;
a tie rod shaft extending between and coupling the first end and the second end;
a gearbox fixed with respect to the tie rod shaft, wherein the gearbox comprises a planetary gear rotatably engaged with the threaded portion of the screw rod;
an adjustment actuator operatively coupled to the gearbox such that selective actuation of the adjustment actuator causes translation of the screw rod along the longitudinal axis and with respect to the gearbox when the first end is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis, thereby adjusting the overall length of the adjustable tie rod, wherein the adjustment actuator comprises an adjustable knob configured to rotate a worm gear via selective rotation of the adjustable knob, wherein the worm gear is engaged with the planetary gear of the gearbox such that rotation of the worm gear causes corresponding rotation of the planetary gear about the longitudinal axis, and
a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism, when engaged, is configured to prevent rotation of the worm gear, thereby preventing changes to the overall length of the adjustable tie rod when the locking mechanism is engaged, and wherein the locking mechanism comprises a thumb screw engaged with the worm gear.

2. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , wherein rotation of the planetary gear causes translation of the screw rod along the longitudinal axis and with respect to the gearbox when the first end is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis, thereby adjusting the overall length of the adjustable tie rod.

3. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the threaded portion is positioned within the planetary gear and engaged with an internal threaded region of the planetary gear.

4. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , wherein the worm gear is positioned to engage an external threaded region of the planetary gear.

5. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , wherein the worm gear is coupled to the adjustable knob such that selective rotation of the adjustable knob rotates the worm gear and the planetary gear.

6. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , wherein the gearbox further comprises a first thrust bearing and a second thrust bearing, wherein the first thrust bearing and the second thrust bearing are longitudinally separated from one another by the planetary gear, and wherein the first thrust bearing and the second thrust bearing are configured to allow rotation of the planetary gear about the longitudinal axis and with respect to the tie rod shaft.

7. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first worm gear ball bearing, wherein the first worm gear ball bearing is positioned between the adjustable knob and the worm gear; and
a second worm gear ball bearing, wherein the second worm gear ball bearing is positioned between the worm gear and an end cap of a worm gear housing that houses the worm gear.

8. The adjustable tie rod of according to claim 1 , wherein selective rotation of the adjustable knob in a first direction increases the overall length of the adjustable tie rod, and wherein selective rotation of the adjustable knob in a second direction decreases the overall length of the adjustable tie rod.

9. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable tie rod is adjustable between a minimum overall length configuration and a maximum overall length configuration, wherein, in the minimum overall length configuration, a first proportion of the threaded portion is positioned within the gearbox, wherein, in the maximum overall length configuration, a second proportion of the threaded portion is positioned within the gearbox, and wherein the first proportion is greater than the second proportion.

10. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , wherein the overall length of the adjustable tie rod is configured to be adjusted in-place in a structural assembly.

11. The adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 , wherein the overall length of the adjustable tie rod is configured to be adjusted under load.

12. An aircraft comprising at least one adjustable tie rod according to claim 1 .

13. An adjustable tie rod, comprising:
a screw rod that defines a first end of the adjustable tie rod, wherein the screw rod comprises a threaded portion, wherein an overall length of the adjustable tie rod is defined as a distance between the first end and a second end of the adjustable tie rod, along a longitudinal axis of the adjustable tie rod;
a tie rod shaft extending between and coupling the first end and the second end;
a gearbox fixed with respect to the tie rod shaft, wherein the gearbox comprises a planetary gear rotatably engaged with the threaded portion of the screw rod such that at least a portion of the threaded portion is positioned within the planetary gear and engaged with an internal threaded region of the planetary gear;
an adjustable knob configured to rotate a worm gear and the planetary gear via selective rotation of the adjustable knob, wherein the worm gear is engaged with an external threaded region of the planetary gear of the gearbox such that rotation of the worm gear causes corresponding rotation of the planetary gear about the longitudinal axis, and wherein selective rotation of the adjustable knob thereby causes translation of the screw rod along the longitudinal axis and with respect to the gearbox when the first end is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis, thereby adjusting the overall length of the adjustable tie rod;
a worm gear housing surrounding the worm gear, wherein the adjustable knob is rotatably coupled to the worm gear housing; and
a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism, when engaged, is configured to prevent rotation of the worm gear, thereby preventing changes to the overall length of the adjustable tie rod when the locking mechanism is engaged, and wherein the locking mechanism comprises a thumb screw that extends through the worm gear housing such that the thumb screw is configured to be selectively engaged with the worm gear.

14. A method, comprising:
securing a first end and a second end of an adjustable tie rod such that the first end and the second end are prevented from rotating about a longitudinal axis of the adjustable tie rod, wherein the adjustable tie rod comprises:
a screw rod, wherein the screw rod defines the first end, wherein the screw rod comprises a threaded portion, wherein the second end is opposite the first end, and wherein an overall length of the adjustable tie rod is defined as a distance between the first end and the second end along the longitudinal axis of the adjustable tie rod;
a tie rod shaft extending between and coupling the first end and the second end;
a gearbox fixed with respect to the tie rod shaft, wherein the gearbox comprises a planetary gear rotatably engaged with the threaded portion of the screw rod;
an adjustable knob operatively coupled to the gearbox such that selective rotation of the adjustable knob causes translation of the screw rod along the longitudinal axis and with respect to the gearbox, wherein the adjustable knob is configured to rotate a worm gear when the adjustable knob is rotated, wherein the worm gear is engaged with the p

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Cuddy Nathanial C
• Mori Samuel Alexander
• Hanson Jonah Gary
• Young Allyssa Katherine

Classifications

• F16C2326/43

  Aeroplanes; Helicopters · CPC title

• B64C19/00

  Aircraft control not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F16C7/06 Primary

  Adjustable connecting-rods · CPC title

• F16H2025/209

  using worm gears · CPC title

• F16H25/20 Primary

  Screw mechanisms (with automatic reversal F16H25/12) · CPC title