Title: Grip-yoke assembly with a redundant centrifugal load support

Abstract: A grip-yoke assembly for attaching a helicopter blade to the mast of the helicopter rotor having a conventional primary coupling to carry the centrifugal loads and a redundant path operative should the primary coupling fail to insure continued operability of the blade. In one embodiment, the redundant load path has a bearing surface formed on the inboard end of the grip and a corresponding thrust bearing mounted on an inboard yoke fitting for engagement with the bearing surface upon failure of the coupling. In an alternative embodiment, a bearing surface is formed on an outboard grip fitting and a corresponding thrust bearing is supported on the yoke outboard of the grip fitting.

Do you think this is a good invention? Vote now:

Votes so far: For:(0) Against:(0)
Other info:

Inventors: Snyder, David E. (Arlington, TX, US)
Covington, Cecil E. (Hurst, TX, US)

Application Number: 469530
Filing Date: 1974-05-13
Publication_date: 1976-03-09
Assignee: Textron, Inc. (Providence, RI)
Primary Class(es): 416/141 416/135
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3111172	Nov, 1963	Gorndt et al.	416/141.
3280918	Oct, 1966	Drees et al.	416/135.
3292712	Dec, 1966	Schmidt	416/141.
3556673	Jan, 1971	Killian	416/141.
3695779	Oct, 1972	Kastan et al.	416/141.
3700352	Oct, 1972	Gorndt	416/141.
3761199	Sep, 1973	Ferris et al.	415/134.
3790302	Feb, 1974	Pascher	416/134.
3807896	Apr, 1974	Johnson	416/134.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Powell, Jr., Everette A.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Richards, Harris and Medlock