Compliant lower bearing with tapered outer diameter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540099-B2
Application number	US-201414460757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2014
Priority date	Aug 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A strut assembly includes a piston and a bearing housing around the piston. The bearing housing may also comprise a groove and a tapered surface opposite the groove. A bearing may be in the groove and proximate the piston. An outer cylinder may be around the bearing housing. The angle of the tapered surface may be based on a deflection angle between the outer cylinder and the piston. A wear plate may be around the tapered surface. An elastic material may be disposed between the tapered surface and the wear plate. The bearing housing may comprise a titanium alloy. The bearing housing may be configured to flex towards the wear plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A strut assembly, comprising:
a piston;
a bearing housing around the piston and comprising a groove and a tapered surface opposite the groove;
a bearing in the groove and proximate the piston; and
an outer cylinder around and in contact with the bearing housing, the tapered surface creating a gap between the bearing housing and the outer cylinder.

2. The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein an angle of the tapered surface is based on a deflection angle between the outer cylinder and the piston.

3. The strut assembly of claim 1 , further including an elastic material between the tapered surface and the outer cylinder.

4. The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing further comprises a titanium alloy.

5. The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing is configured to flex towards the outer cylinder.

6. The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing further includes a second tapered surface opposite the groove.

7. A strut assembly, comprising:
a piston;
a bearing housing around the piston and comprising a groove and a tapered surface opposite the groove;
a bearing in the groove and proximate the piston;
a wear plate around and in contact with the bearing housing, the tapered surface creating a gap between the bearing housing and the wear plate; and
an outer cylinder around the wear plate.

8. The strut assembly of claim 7 , wherein an angle of the tapered surface is based on a deflection angle between the outer cylinder and the piston.

9. The strut assembly of claim 7 , further including an elastic material between the tapered surface and the wear plate.

10. The strut assembly of claim 7 , wherein the bearing housing further comprises a titanium alloy.

11. The strut assembly of claim 7 , wherein the bearing housing is configured to flex towards the wear plate.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Martin Dennis W

Classifications

• F16C2326/05

  Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein · CPC title

• F16C2326/43

  Aeroplanes; Helicopters · CPC title

• B64C25/62 Primary

  Spring shock-absorbers; Springs · CPC title

• B64C25/60 Primary

  Oleo legs · CPC title

• F16C29/001

  adjustable for alignment or positioning · CPC title