Self-dampening tie-rod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9714093-B2
Application number	US-201414538947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2014
Priority date	Nov 12, 2014
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

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 such that the head separates the enclosure into a first volume and a second volume;
the head defines a plurality of unrestricted openings, wherein:
each of the plurality of unrestricted openings extend through the head member between the first volume and the second volume providing unrestricted flow to and from the first volume and the second volume;
the plurality of unrestricted openings are positioned spaced apart about a longitudinal axis of the second rod member; and
adjacent openings of the plurality of unrestricted openings are spaced apart the same distance; 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 enclosure further includes a window member secured to a sidewall of the enclosure permitting visual access to an interior of the enclosure.

3. The tie rod assembly of claim 2 an indicator is positioned on the window member.

4. The tie rod assembly of claim 1 , the diameter of each of the plurality of unrestricted openings is within a range of 0.01 in. to 1 in.

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

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

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

8. 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.

9. The tie rod assembly of claim 1 , further includes a seal positioned between the head member and an interior surface of the enclosure.

10. A tie rod assembly, comprising:
a first rod member;
an enclosure defines and opening and contains a fluid with the first rod 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 and the second rod member are moveable relative to the enclosure, wherein:
the enclosure further comprises an outer chamber comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall;
the outer chamber surrounds an inner chamber; and
the head member is positioned within the inner chamber and the inner chamber is in fluid communication with the outer chamber through a first and second openings defined by the second sidewall; and

a controller positioned within the outer chamber, comprising:
a first hollow body which overlies the second sidewall and has a length that extends between the first and second openings;
a wall member connected to first hollow body and extends in a direction toward the first sidewall; and
a second hollow body positioned spaced apart from the first hollow body and connected to the wall member; wherein:
with movement of the head member in one direction fluid within the inner chamber 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
with movement of the head member in a second direction, fluid within the inner chamber 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.

11. The tie rod assembly of claim 10 , wherein the enclosure is constructed cylindrical in shape.

12. The tie rod assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second sidewall is constructed cylindrical in shape and is concentric with the enclosure.

13. The tie rod assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first opening is positioned closer to a first end wall than a second end wall of the enclosure; and the second opening is positioned closer to the second end wall than the first end wall of the enclosure.

14. The tie rod assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first hollow body of the controller and the second hollow body of the controller are constructed cylindrical in shape.

15. The tie rod assembly of claim 10 , wherein:
a first portion of the second sidewall defines at least two spaced apart first openings; and
a second portion of the second sidewall defines at least two spaced apart second openings.

16. The tie rod assembly of claim 10 , further includes a first spring positioned within the outer chamber positioned on a first side of the wall member and a second spring positioned within the outer chamber positioned on a second side of the wall member.

17. The tie rod assembly of claim 10 , 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 with respect to the first opening; and
with a force of greater than one g applied to the second rod member in a direction toward the enclosure, the controller moves in a blocking position with respect to the second opening.

18. The tie rod assembly of claim 10 , wherein the wall member defines a plurality of spaced apart openings placing outer chamber positioned on a first side of the wall member in fluid communication with the outer chamber positioned on a second side of the wall member.

19. The tie rod assembly of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart openings are equally spaced apart.

20. The tie rod assembly of claim 10 , further includes a seal positioned between the head member and an interior surface of a second sidewall of the inner chamber.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F16F2238/04

  Damper · CPC title

• F16F2230/0047

  Measuring, indicating · CPC title

• F16F2236/12

  loaded in combined stresses · CPC title

• F16F13/007

  the damper being a fluid damper · CPC title

• F16F9/34

  Special valve constructions ({F16F9/44, F16F9/50 take precedence; filtering details F16F9/3285} ; valves in general F16K); Shape or construction of throttling passages · CPC title