Scissor duct flex joint damper
View Patent ↗A flex joint assembly includes a damper mounted to a first scissors linkage and a second scissors linkage.
1. A flex joint assembly comprising:
a first linkage connected to a first end and an opposing, second end of a first damper;
a second linkage connected to a first end and an opposing, second end of a second damper; and
a third damper mounted to said first linkage and said second linkage, wherein said third damper is a hydraulic damper.
2. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first linkage is pivotally attached to a first ring and a center ring assembly.
3. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein said second linkage is pivotally attached to a second ring and said center ring assembly.
4. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first damper comprises a first bellows between said first ring and said center ring assembly.
5. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein said second damper comprises a second bellows between said second ring and said center ring assembly.
6. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein said first and second bellows each include a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall spaced from said radially inner wall.
7. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein said center ring assembly is positioned between said first ring and said second ring relative to a direction of flow along the flow line.
8. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a torsional bellows between a first center ring and a second center ring of said center ring assembly.
9. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said third damper is a mechanical damper.
10. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said third damper is defined generally parallel to an axis of said flex joint assembly.
11. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said third damper is radially outside a flow line provided by the first and second damper.
12. A flex joint assembly comprising:
a first ring;
a center ring assembly;
a second ring, said center ring assembly positioned between said first ring and said second ring;
a first linkage pivotally attached to said first ring and said center ring assembly;
a second linkage pivotally attached to said second ring and said center ring assembly; and
a damper mounted to said first linkage and said second linkage, wherein said damper is a hydraulic damper.
13. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 12 , wherein said damper is a mechanical damper.
14. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 12 , further comprising a first bellows between said first ring and said center ring assembly.
15. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a second bellows between said second ring and said center ring assembly.
16. The flex joint assembly as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a torsional bellows between a first center ring and a second center ring of said center ring assembly.
17. A method of damping a flex joint comprising:
damping a first linkage and a second linkage using a common damper, the first linkage connecting opposite ends of a first bellows, the second linkage connecting opposite ends of a second bellows, wherein the damping comprises hydraulically damping.