| CPC F16D 3/385 (2013.01) [F16L 27/0857 (2013.01); F16L 27/11 (2013.01); F02C 7/00 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
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1. A joint assembly for joining a first component to a second component, the joint assembly comprising:
a first liner configured to be coupled to the first component;
a second liner configured to be coupled to the second component;
a bellows fixedly coupled to each of the first liner and the second liner so that the first liner and second liner are interior to the bellows;
a first clevis fixedly coupled to the first liner and at least partially enclosing the first liner and the bellows, the first clevis comprising a plurality of first extensions and a plurality of first clevis apertures corresponding to the plurality of first extensions, wherein each first extension defines a corresponding first clevis aperture from the plurality of first clevis apertures therethrough;
a second clevis fixedly coupled to the second liner and at least partially enclosing the second liner and the bellows, the second clevis comprising a plurality of second extensions angularly spaced apart from each of the plurality of first extensions of the first clevis and a plurality of second clevis apertures corresponding to the plurality of second extensions, wherein each second extension defines a corresponding second clevis aperture from the plurality of second clevis apertures therethrough;
a ring at least partially surrounding the first clevis and the second clevis and comprising a plurality of ring apertures extending therethrough, wherein the plurality of ring apertures comprises a set of first ring apertures corresponding to the plurality of first clevis apertures and a set of second ring apertures corresponding to the plurality of second clevis apertures, wherein each first ring aperture is aligned with a corresponding first clevis aperture from the plurality of first clevis apertures of the first clevis, and each second ring aperture is aligned with a corresponding second clevis aperture from the plurality of second clevis apertures of the second clevis;
a plurality of pins corresponding to the plurality of ring apertures of the ring and configured to rotatably couple the ring to each of the first clevis and the second clevis, each pin comprising:
a head portion received at least partially in a corresponding ring aperture from the plurality of ring apertures, wherein the head portion is coupled to the ring by a corresponding weld; and
a shaft portion extending from the head portion and received at least partially within the corresponding ring aperture;
a plurality of first bearing inserts fixedly coupled to the first clevis, wherein each first bearing insert is at least partially received within a corresponding first clevis aperture from the plurality of first clevis apertures; and
a plurality of second bearing inserts fixedly coupled to the second clevis, wherein each second bearing insert is at least partially received within a corresponding second clevis aperture from the plurality of second clevis apertures, wherein
the shaft portion of each pin is coupled to the ring by a corresponding interference fit away from the corresponding weld,
the shaft portion of each pin is further at least partially received in the corresponding first bearing insert or the corresponding second bearing insert that is received in the corresponding first clevis aperture or the corresponding second clevis aperture aligned with the corresponding ring aperture, and
the shaft portion of each pin is coupled to the corresponding first bearing insert or the corresponding second bearing insert by a corresponding clearance fit, such that the shaft portion is rotatable relative to the corresponding first bearing insert or the corresponding second bearing insert.
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