Three piece failsafe clevis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11933353-B2
Application number	US-202217665283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2022
Priority date	Mar 16, 2021
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A three piece failsafe clevis includes a center portion having a center top surface, a planar first outer surface and a planar second outer surface. The second outer surface is oppositely oriented to the first outer surface. A channel in the center portion is configured to receive a tension and compression member. A left lateral portion is connected adjacent the first outer surface. The left lateral portion has a planar first inner surface received against the first outer surface and a left top surface coplanar with the center top surface. A right lateral portion is connected adjacent the second outer surface. The right lateral portion has a planar second inner surface received against the second outer surface and a right top surface coplanar with the center top surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A three piece failsafe clevis comprising:
a center portion having a center top surface, a planar first outer surface and a planar second outer surface, said second outer surface oppositely oriented to the first outer surface, and a channel configured to receive a tension and compression link;
a left lateral portion connected adjacent the first outer surface and having a planar first inner surface received against the first outer surface and a left top surface coplanar with the center top surface; and
a right lateral portion connected adjacent the second outer surface and having a planar second inner surface received against the second outer surface and a right top surface coplanar with the center top surface,
the coplanar center top surface, left top surface and right top surface providing a single planar top surface of the failsafe clevis, wherein the center top flange has a first plurality of holes configured to receive a first plurality of fasteners, the left top flange has a plurality of holes to receive a second plurality of fasteners and the right top flange has a third plurality of holes to receive a third plurality of fasteners, wherein the first plurality of fasteners, second plurality of fasteners and third plurality have an equal grip length.

2. The three piece failsafe clevis as defined in claim 1 wherein the center portion comprises:
a center top flange having the center top surface; and
a body portion having a left inner flange and a right inner flange perpendicularly depending from the center top flange;
a left inner tang extending rearward from the left inner flange and a right inner tang extending rearward from the right inner flange;
wherein the left inner flange and the left inner tang commonly form the planar first outer surface and the right inner flange and the right inner tang commonly form the planar second outer surface.

3. The three piece failsafe clevis as defined in claim 2 wherein the left lateral portion comprises:
a left top flange having the left top surface;
a left outer flange perpendicularly depending from the left top flange; and
a left outer tang extending rearward from the left outer flange, wherein the left outer flange and the left outer tang commonly form the planar first inner surface.

4. The three piece failsafe clevis as defined in claim 3 wherein the right lateral portion comprises:
a right top flange having the right top surface;
a right outer flange perpendicularly depending from the right top flange; and
a right outer tang extending rearward from the right outer flange, wherein the right outer flange and the right outer tang commonly form the planar second inner surface.

5. The three piece failsafe clevis as defined in claim 4 wherein the center top flange has a first thickness, left top flange has a second thickness and the right top flange has a third thickness, the first, second and third thicknesses being equal.

6. The three piece failsafe clevis as defined in claim 4 wherein
a first array of holes in the left inner flange is in concentric alignment with a first mating array of holes in the left outer flange;
a second array of holes in the right inner flange is in concentric alignment with a second mating array of holes in the right outer flange;
a third array of holes in the left inner tang is in concentric alignment with a third mating array of holes in the left outer tang; and
a fourth array of holes in the right inner tang is in concentric alignment with a fourth mating array of holes in the right outer tang.

7. The three piece failsafe clevis as defined in claim 6 wherein
the first array of holes, first mating array of holes, third array of holes and third mating array of holes receive a first plurality of field fasteners to affix the left lateral portion to the center portion; and,
the second array of holes, second mating array of holes, fourth array of holes and fourth mating array of holes receive a second plurality of field fasteners to affix the right lateral portion to the center portion.

8. The three piece failsafe clevis as defined in claim 7 wherein geometric arrangement of the first mating array of holes, second mating array of holes, third mating array of holes and fourth mating array of holes is configured to surround potential propagating cracks in either the left or right outer flanges or the left or right outer tangs.

9. The three piece failsafe clevis as defined in claim 7 wherein geometric arrangement of the first array of holes, second array of holes, third array of holes and fourth array of holes is configured to surround potential propagating cracks in either the left or right inner flanges, or the left or right inner tangs.

10. A three niece clevis comprising:
a center portion having a center top surface, a planar first outer surface and a planar second outer surface, said second outer surface oppositely oriented to the first outer surface, and a channel configured to receive a tension and compression link, wherein the center portion comprises:
a center top flange having the center top surface; and
a body portion having a left inner flange and a right inner flange perpendicularly depending from the center top flange;
a left inner tang extending rearward from the left inner flange an a right inner tang extending rearward from the right inner flange;
wherein the left inner flange and the left inner tang commonly form the planar first outer surface and the right inner flange and the right inner tang commonly form the planar second outer surface;

a left lateral portion connected adjacent the first outer surface and having a planar first inner surface received against the first outer surface and a left top surface coplanar with the center top surface, wherein the left lateral portion comprises:
a left top flange having the left top surface;
a left outer flange perpendicularly depending from the left top flange; and
a left outer tang extending rearward from the left outer flange, wherein the left outer flange and the left outer tang commonly form the planar first inner surface; and a right lateral portion connected adjacent the second outer surface and having a planar second inner surface, wherein the right lateral portion comprises:
a right top flange having the right top surface;
a right outer flange perpendicularly depending from the right top flange; and a right outer tang extending rearward from the right outer flange, wherein the right outer flange and the right outer tang commonly form the planar second inner surface, and

wherein the center top flange has a first plurality of holes configured to receive a first plurality of fasteners, the left top flange has a plurality of holes to receive a second plurality of fasteners and the right top flange has a third plurality of holes to receive a third plurality of fasteners, wherein the first plurality of fasteners, second plurality of fasteners and third plurality of fasteners have an equal grip length.

11. An aircraft having a wing with a system of operating flaps said system comprising:
a plurality of flaps each having a plurality of flap supports;
at least one actuator supported in at least one of the plurality of flap supports;
at least one carrier beam to support one of said plurality of flaps, said carrier beam rotatably engaged in at least one flap support rib;
a tension and compression link engaged to the flap support rib:
a three piece failsafe clevis connected to a lower surface of the wing and having
a center portion having a center top surface received on the lower surface, a planar first outer surface and a planar second outer surface, said second outer surface oppositely oriented to

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Smeal Andrew
• Tsai Kevin

Classifications

• F16C11/045 Primary

  with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin (crank-pins F16C11/02) · CPC title

• B64C9/02 Primary

  Mounting or supporting thereof · CPC title

• B64C9/16

  at the rear of the wing · CPC title

• F16C2326/43

  Aeroplanes; Helicopters · CPC title

• B64F5/10 Primary

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title