Self-dampening tie-rod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016130002-A1
Application number	US-201414538947-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 12, 2014
Priority date	Nov 12, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tie rod assembly which includes a first rod member and an enclosure which defines an opening and contains a fluid with the first rod member affixed to the enclosure. A second rod member extends through the opening with a seal member positioned between the second rod member and the enclosure. The assembly also includes a head member affixed to the second rod member wherein the head member is positioned within the enclosure and the head member and the second rod member are moveable relative to the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A tie rod assembly, comprising:
a first rod member; an enclosure defines an opening and contains a fluid with the first rod member affixed to the enclosure; a second rod member extends through the opening with a seal member positioned between the second rod member and the enclosure; and a head member affixed to the second rod member, wherein: the head member is positioned within the enclosure; and the head member and the second rod member are moveable relative to the enclosure.

2 . The tie rod assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the head separates the enclosure into a first volume and a second volume, and the head defines at least one opening which extends through the head member providing the first volume to be in fluid communication with the second volume.

3 . The tie rod assembly of claim 2 , further including a plurality of the openings positioned spaced apart from one another.

4 . The tie rod assembly of claim 3 wherein the plurality of the openings are positioned about a longitudinal axis of the second rod member with adjacent openings spaced apart the same distance.

5 . The tie rod assembly of claim 2 , the diameter of the at least one opening is within a range of 0.01 in. to 1 in.

6 . The tie rod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid substantially fills the enclosure.

7 . The tie rod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises one of oil, hydraulic fluid, or silicone fluid or the like.

8 . The tie rod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a range of viscosity of 10 cP to 1000 cP.

9 . The tie rod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure further includes a window member secured to a sidewall of the enclosure permitting visual access to an interior of the enclosure.

10 . The tie rod assembly of claim 9 an indicator is positioned on the window member.

11 . The tie rod assembly of claim 1 wherein the second rod member includes one of indicator marks positioned on a portion of the second rod member and adjacent portions of a surface of the second rod member comprising different colors.

12 . The tie rod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure further comprises:
a first sidewall connected to a first end wall and to a second end wall; and a second sidewall positioned spaced apart from an inner surface of the first sidewall and connects to and extends between the first end wall and the second end wall, comprising: an outer surface of the second sidewall, the inner surface of the first sidewall, the first end wall and the second end wall define an outer chamber within the enclosure; an inner surface of the second sidewall, the first end wall and the second end wall define an inner chamber within the enclosure; a first opening is defined in a first end portion of the second sidewall wherein the first opening is positioned closer to the first end wall than to the second end wall; and a second opening is defined in a second end portion of the second sidewall wherein the second opening is positioned closer to the second end wall than to the first end wall; wherein: the inner chamber is in fluid communication with the outer chamber through the first opening; the inner chamber is in fluid communication with the outer chamber through the second opening; and the head member is positioned within the inner chamber between the first and second openings; and a controller positioned within the outer chamber, comprising: a first hollow body which defines a first opening between the first hollow body and the first end wall at a first end of the first hollow body and defines a second opening between the first hollow body and the second end wall at a second end of the first hollow body, wherein the first hollow body extends along and overlies the outer surface of the second sidewall and has a length which extends between the first opening and the second opening of the second sidewall; a wall member is connected to the first hollow body, positioned between the first end and the second end of the first hollow body and extends in a direction toward the first sidewall of the enclosure; and a second hollow body which defines a first opening at a first end of the second hollow body and a second opening at a second end of the second hollow body, positioned spaced apart from and extends about the first hollow body and is connected to the wall member; and a first spring member positioned within the outer chamber between a first side of the wall member and the first end wall of the enclosure; a second spring member positioned with in the outer chamber between a second side of the wall member and the second end wall of the enclosure, wherein with movement of the head member in one direction fluid within the enclosure flows through the first opening and exerts a force onto the first side of the wall member moving the controller in a direction toward the second opening and compressing the second spring, and with the movement of the head member in a second direction, fluid within the enclosure flows through the second opening and exerts a force on the second side of the wall member moving the controller in a direction toward the first opening and compressing the first spring.

13 . The tie rod assembly of claim 12 , wherein the enclosure is constructed cylindrical in shape.

14 . The tie rod assembly of claim 13 , wherein the second sidewall is constructed cylindrical in shape and is concentric with the enclosure.

15 . The tie rod assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first hollow body of the controller and the second hollow body of the controller are constructed cylindrical in shape.

16 . The tie rod assembly of claim 12 wherein:
the first portion of the second sidewall defines at least two spaced apart first openings; and
the second portion of the second sidewall defines at least two spaced apart second openings.

17 . The tie rod assembly of claim 12 wherein:
the enclosure is constructed of one of plastic and metal; and
the first rod member, second rod member and the head member are constructed of one of metal and plastic.

18 . The tie rod assembly of claim 12 wherein with a force of greater than one g applied to the second rod member in a direction away from the enclosure, the controller moves to a blocking position of the second opening, blocking flow of fluid from the outer chamber through the second opening into the inner chamber

19 . The tie rod assembly of claim 12 wherein with a force of greater than one g applied to the second rod member in a direction toward the enclosure, the controller moves to a blocking position of the first opening, blocking flow of fluid from the outer chamber through the first opening into inner chamber.

20 . The tie rod assembly of claim 12 wherein the wall member defines a plurality of spaced apart openings placing outer chamber positioned on the first side of the wall member into fluid communication with the outer chamber positioned on the second side of the wall member.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Cuddy Nathanial
• Erickson Harold
• Garcia Randy
• Tegge Benjamin

Classifications

• F16F2230/0047

  Measuring, indicating · CPC title

• F16F2238/04

  Damper · CPC title

• F16F2236/12

  loaded in combined stresses · CPC title

• F16F13/007

  the damper being a fluid damper · CPC title

• F16F9/19

  with a single cylinder {and of single-tube type} · CPC title