Retention systems for rotorcraft pedal assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9475577-B2
Application number	US-201414205886-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 12, 2014
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

One example of a retention system for a rotorcraft pedal assembly includes an insertion member, an axial retention member, and a transverse retention member. The insertion member, which is inserted through a side of a pedal assembly, includes a spring compressible against the side of the pedal assembly in response to the insertion member being inserted through the side. The axial retention member receives and retains the insertion member on an opposing side of the pedal assembly. The transverse retention member is inserted through a passage formed in the axial retention member to secure the axial retention member against the side of the pedal assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rotorcraft pedal retention system comprising:
an insertion member inserted through a side of a pedal assembly of a rotorcraft, the insertion member including a spring compressible against the side of the pedal assembly in response to the insertion member being inserted through the side, wherein an end of the insertion member on the opposing side of the pedal assembly includes an insertion member tab having a non-circular cross-section;
an axial retention member to receive and retain the insertion member on an opposing side of the pedal assembly, wherein the axial retention member defines a passage to receive the insertion member tab and defines a pocket to retain the insertion member tab when the insertion member is rotated on an axis of the insertion member; and
a transverse retention member inserted through a passage formed in the axial retention member.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein an end of the insertion member on the side of the pedal assembly includes a head, wherein the spring is positioned between the head and the side of the pedal assembly.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the head is greater than an outer diameter of the spring.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the head is knurled.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the passage defined by the axial retention member includes a dimension that is greater than a long dimension of the cross-section of the insertion member tab, and wherein the pocket defined by the axial retention member includes a dimension that is less than the long dimension.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transverse retention member is a cotter pin.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the passage formed in the axial retention member to receive the transverse retention member is at an angle to an axial direction of the axial retention member.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of a portion of the spring compressible against the side of the pedal assembly is greater than a size of a passage formed through the pedal assembly to receive the insertion member.

9. A rotorcraft pedal retention system comprising:
an insertion member inserted through a side of a pedal assembly and comprising a spring, the insertion member to compress the spring against the side of the pedal assembly in response to the insertion member being inserted through the side, wherein an end of the insertion member on the opposing side of the pedal assembly includes an insertion member tab; and
an axial retention member to receive the insertion member on an opposing side of the pedal assembly and to oppose a force of the compressed spring away from the side of the pedal assembly, wherein the axial retention member defines a passage to receive the insertion member tab and defines a pocket to retain the insertion member tab when the insertion member is rotated on an axis of the insertion member.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein an end of the insertion member on the side of the pedal assembly includes a head, wherein the spring is positioned between the head and the side of the pedal assembly.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein a diameter of the head is greater than an outer diameter of the spring.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the head is knurled.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a spring positioned between the head and the side of the pedal assembly.

14. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a transverse retention member inserted through a passage formed in the axial retention member.

15. A rotorcraft pedal assembly retention system comprising:
an insertion member inserted through a side of a pedal assembly, an end of the insertion member including a head to compress a spring against the side of the pedal assembly in response to the insertion member being inserted through the side, wherein an opposing end of the insertion member includes an insertion member tab; and
an axial retention member to receive the opposing end of the insertion member on an opposing side of the pedal assembly and to retain the opposing end against the opposing side in response to a partial rotation of the insertion member, wherein the axial retention member defines a passage to receive the insertion member tab and defines a pocket to retain the insertion member tab when the insertion member tab is partially rotated on an axis of the insertion member.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a transverse retention member inserted through a passage formed in the axial retention member.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the transverse retention member comprises a cotter pin.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the head is knurled.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Wills Patricia
• Lafon Brian
• Jenkins Ricky

Classifications

• F16C11/04

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title

• Y10T403/32951

  Transverse pin or stud · CPC title

• F16B21/02

  Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation (with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08) · CPC title

• B64C27/56 Primary

  characterised by the control initiating means, e.g. manually actuated · CPC title

• G05G1/30

  Controlling members actuated by foot · CPC title