US 12,071,974 B2
Eccentric bushing for redundant pinning of removable panels
Eric J. Griffin, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); and Aryan Blourchian, Mission Viejo, CA (US)
Assigned to RAYTHEON COMPANY, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on May 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/322,831.
Prior Publication US 2022/0364585 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. F16B 5/02 (2006.01); E04F 13/08 (2006.01); F16B 12/20 (2006.01); F16C 23/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 5/025 (2013.01) [E04F 13/0833 (2013.01); F16B 5/0216 (2013.01); F16B 12/2009 (2013.01); F16C 23/10 (2013.01); F16B 2200/406 (2018.08)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An eccentric bushing assembly comprising:
an outer eccentric bushing configured to be disposed in an opening of a panel, the opening comprising a central axis, the outer eccentric bushing being operable to float axially, rotate circumferentially, and to move radially with respect to the central axis;
an inner eccentric bushing disposed radially inward from the outer eccentric bushing and interfacing with the outer eccentric bushing, the inner eccentric bushing being operable to rotate relative to the outer eccentric bushing; and
a spherical bushing comprising a through hole operable to receive a connecting pin therein, the spherical bushing interfacing with the inner eccentric bushing and being operable to rotate in at least one degree of freedom that facilitates alignment of an axis of the pin with the through hole,
wherein relative rotation of the outer eccentric bushing and the inner eccentric bushing facilitate the through hole of the spherical bushing to be radially positioned both centered and off-centered with respect to the central axis, and wherein:
the outer eccentric bushing comprises an outer radial tapered surface, the outer radial tapered surface configured to interface with a corresponding tapered inner surface to limit radial movement of the outer eccentric bushing; and
the corresponding tapered inner surface terminates at a seating surface perpendicular to the central axis, and wherein the relative rotation of the outer eccentric bushing and the inner eccentric bushing facilitates the through hole of the spherical bushing to be radially positioned in one of a centered and an off-centered position with respect to the central axis when the outer eccentric bushing and the inner eccentric bushing are seated against the seating surface.