US 7,571,876 B2
	Aircraft landing gear assembly shimmy damper
Paul Joseph Bachmeyer, Cary, N.C. (US); Douglas A. Swanson, Cary, N.C. (US); Bryan J. Pittman, Fuquay-Varina, N.C. (US); Scott K. Thompson, Erie, Pa. (US); and Doug A. Hodgson, Fuquay-Varina, N.C. (US)
Assigned to Lord Corporation, Cary, N.C. (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/375,945.
Application 11/375945 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/038851, filed on Jan. 19, 2005.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/537704, filed on Jan. 20, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0278755 A1, Dec. 14, 2006
Int. Cl. B64C 25/00 (2006.01); F16F 1/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 244—100R  [244/102 R; 188/381; 267/134; 267/136; 267/140.11]

20 Claims

1. An aircraft assembly, said assembly comprised of a nonelastomeric outer member having an inner axial center bore with a frictional interface inner surface segment, a nonelastomeric inner member having an outer bonding surface segment, said nonelastomeric inner member rotationally received in said outer member inner axial center bore with said nonelastomeric inner member rotatable within said outer member, and an elastomeric shimmy damper member encompassing said nonelastomeric inner member outer bonding surface segment, said elastomeric shimmy damper member including an elastomer having an inner bonding surface segment and an outer grooved elastomer surface, said elastomeric damper inner bonding surface segment bonded to said nonelastomeric inner member outer bonding surface segment, and a grease, said grease disposed between said elastomeric damper outer grooved elastomer surface and said nonelastomeric outer member frictional interface inner surface segment with said elastomeric surface effect damper outer grooved elastomer surface engaging said nonelastomeric outer member frictional interface inner surface segment and inhibiting an oscillating shimmy rotation of said nonelastomeric inner member, wherein said outer grooved elastomer surface includes at least one grease dam for retaining said grease.