Shanks and methods for forming such shanks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356305-A1
Application number	US-201514728820-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 2, 2015
Priority date	Jun 2, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shank ( 110 ) comprises a captive portion ( 116 ) comprising a longitudinal central axis ( 112 ), a captive end ( 118 ), a first set ( 117 ) of first structures ( 120 a ), and a second set ( 119 ) of second structure ( 120 b ). The second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) is closer to the captive end ( 118 ) than the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ). The first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) has a first axial compliance coefficient along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ). The second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) has a second axial compliance coefficient along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ). The first axial compliance coefficient of the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) is greater than the second axial compliance coefficient of the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ).

First claim

1 . A shank ( 110 ) comprising:
a captive portion ( 116 ) comprising a longitudinal central axis ( 112 ), a captive end ( 118 ), a first set ( 117 ) of first structures ( 120 a ), and a second set ( 119 ) of second structure ( 120 b ), wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) extend away from the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) in a direction normal to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 );
the second structures ( 120 b ) extend away from the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) in a direction normal to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 );
the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) and the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) are each half as long along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) as the captive portion ( 116 );
the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) and the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) do not overlap along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 );
the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) is closer to the captive end ( 118 ) than the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a );
the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) has a first axial compliance coefficient along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 );
the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) has a second axial compliance coefficient along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ); and
the first axial compliance coefficient of the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) is greater than the second axial compliance coefficient of the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ).

2 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) and the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) are indirectly connected together.

3 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 2 , wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) are indirectly connected together; and the second structures ( 120 b ) are indirectly connected together.

4 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) and the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) are indirectly diffusion bonded together.

5 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 4 , wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) are indirectly diffusion bonded together; and the second structures ( 120 b ) are indirectly diffusion bonded together.

6 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first structures ( 120 a ) is made of a first material; at least one of the second structures ( 120 b ) is made of a second material; and the first material is identical to the second material.

7 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 6 , wherein:
at least another one of the first structures ( 120 a ) is made of a third material; at least another one of the second structures ( 120 b ) is made of a fourth material; the first material is different from the third material; and the second material is different from the fourth material.

8 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first structures ( 120 a ) is made of a first material; at least one of the second structures ( 120 b ) is made of a second material; and the first material is different from the second material.

9 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 8 , wherein:
at least another one of the first structures ( 120 a ) is made of a third material; at least another one of the second structures ( 120 b ) is made of a fourth material; the first material is identical to the third material; and the second material is identical to the fourth material.

10 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) have a first combined average width measured along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) of the shank ( 110 ); the second structures ( 120 b ) have a second combined average width measured along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) of the shank ( 110 ); and the first combined average width is identical to the second combined average width.

11 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) have a first combined average width measured along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) of the shank ( 110 ); the second structures ( 120 b ) have a second combined average width measured along the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) of the shank ( 110 ); and the first combined average width is different from the second combined average width.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) have a first combined length measured perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) of the shank ( 110 ); the second structures ( 120 b ) have a second combined length measured perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) of the shank ( 110 ); and the first combined length is identical to the second combined length.

14 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) have a first combined length measured perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) of the shank ( 110 ); the second structures ( 120 b ) have a second combined length measured perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) of the shank ( 110 ); and the first combined length is different from the second combined length.

15 . (canceled)

16 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) have a first combined camber angle; the second structures ( 120 b ) have a second combined camber angle; and the first combined camber angle is identical to the second combined camber angle.

17 . The shank ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) have a first combined camber angle; the second structures ( 120 b ) have a second combined camber angle; and the first combined camber angle is different from the second combined camber angle.

18 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . A shank ( 110 ) comprising:
a captive portion ( 116 ) comprising a longitudinal central axis ( 112 ), a captive end ( 118 ), a first set ( 117 ) of first structures ( 120 a ), and a second set ( 119 ) of second structures ( 120 b ), wherein:
the first structures ( 120 a ) extend away from the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) in a direction normal to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 );
the second structures ( 120 b ) extend away from the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) in a direction normal to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ); and
the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) and the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) are indirectly connected together.

21 - 37 . (canceled)

38 . A method of forming a shank ( 110 ), the method comprising:
arranging first structures ( 120 a ) in a first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) and second structures ( 120 b ) in a second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ) such that the first structures ( 120 a ) and the second structures ( 120 b ) extend away from a longitudinal central axis ( 112 ) in a direction normal to the longitudinal central axis ( 112 ); and indirectly bonding the first set ( 117 ) of the first structures ( 120 a ) to the second set ( 119 ) of the second structures ( 120 b ).

39 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising indirectly bonding the first structures ( 120 a ) together and indirectly bonding the second structures ( 120

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Wallace Steven Graham

Classifications

• B29L2031/06

  Rods, e.g. connecting rods {, rails, stakes (shafts B29L2031/75; poles, masts, posts B29L2031/766)} · CPC title

• F16C3/023 Primary

  made of several parts, e.g. by welding · CPC title

• B29C65/54

  between pre-assembled parts · CPC title

• B23P15/34

  milling cutters · CPC title

• B23B2231/026

  Grooves · CPC title