US 11,891,168 B2
Bearingless gimbaled rotor hubs and swashplates
Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Keller, TX (US); and Kyle Thomas Cravener, Watauga, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/396,095.
Application 17/396,095 is a division of application No. 16/004,689, filed on Jun. 11, 2018, granted, now 11,097,837.
Prior Publication US 2021/0371094 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B64C 27/41 (2006.01); F16C 11/02 (2006.01); F16C 17/02 (2006.01); F16C 33/20 (2006.01); F16D 3/205 (2006.01); F16D 3/202 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 27/41 (2013.01) [F16C 11/02 (2013.01); F16C 17/02 (2013.01); F16C 33/20 (2013.01); F16D 3/2052 (2013.01); F16D 2003/2026 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gimbal joint comprising:
a first plurality of integral flanged wear sleeves, each integral flanged wear sleeve disposed between one pin of opposing pin portions of an integral trunnion and a corresponding pin receptive bore of an integral coupling, the integral trunnion defining an integral internally splined central driveshaft or mast coupling bore portion configured to mate with a rotor driveshaft or mast end and spline the integral trunnion to a mast or driveshaft of an aircraft for movement along the mast or driveshaft perpendicular to a single plane and adapted to rotate in the single plane and the integral coupling adapted to move along the mast or driveshaft, rotate in the single plane and tilt relative to the single plane about a first axis parallel to the single plane;
a second plurality of integral flanged wear sleeves, each disposed between another pin or pin receptive bore of the integral trunnion and a corresponding pin receptive bore or pin of a pillow or mounting block, the block adapted to rotate in the single plane and tilt relative to the single plane about a second axis parallel to the single plane and perpendicular to the first axis;
each integral flanged wear sleeve comprising:
a right circular hollow cylindrical body portion interiorly sized to be retained on one of the pins and externally sized to be retained in one of the pin receptive bores; and
a flange portion radiating from an outer end of the cylindrical body portion, the flange portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the pin receptive bores and bearing on a face of a respective structure.