Abstract:
In a rotary wing aircraft tail rotor head assembly having a ball bearing on a spindle at the head of a rotor wing, the ball bearing contains slug ball separators between the balls in the bearing. The separator may be made from PEEK, PTFE, or polyimide. The ball-to-ball separation between two balls of like diameter provided by the separator may about 3.2 to about 64% of the diameter of one of the balls. A separator may have an annular configuration that defines a passage therethrough, the passage having two ends and the interior of the separator being tapered to define a maximum diameter at each end and a minimum diameter therebetween. The taper of the chamfered surface of the slug ball separator may define a conical angle of about 75° to about 120°. A ball bearing as described herein may also be used in a rotary wing aircraft swashplate having a stationary plate, a rotating plate; and a thrust bearing between the stationary plate and the rotating plate.
Abstract:
An actuation system for deploying and retracting a lift assisting device of a wing of an aircraft, is presented. The actuation system includes a track pivotally coupled to the lift assisting device, a shaft rotating in response to flight control signals to deploy or retract the lift assisting device, means for actuating the lift assisting device between a retracted position and a deployed position along an arcuate path, a plurality of track roller bearings and a plurality of side roller bearings. The roller bearings rotatably contact the track to guide the track along the arcuate path. The track roller bearings are comprised of an outer ring, a split inner ring and liners disposed between bearing surfaces of the outer and the inner rings. The split inner ring is configured for accommodating deflection and bending of a mounting pin coupling the track roller bearing in proximity to the track.
Abstract:
A low friction load slot bearing assembly has a ball and an outer race in which the ball is positioned. The outer race includes an inner engagement surface contoured to a shape complementary to an outer surface of the ball, a first slot located in a face of the outer race, a second slot located in the face of the outer race, and a lubricous liner disposed on the inner engagement surface and on surfaces defining the slots. The low friction aspect is imparted to the load slot bearing assembly via the lubricious liner. The ball slidably and rotatably engages the inner engagement surface of the outer race. A load slot bearing system includes a low friction load slot bearing assembly interconnecting two elements. A link apparatus includes a cylindrical member and two low friction load slot bearing assemblies located on or at opposing ends of the cylindrical member.
Abstract:
A hot gas valving system for a ground-based power generation system includes a gas flow conduit having a wall and defining a path for fluid flow and a butterfly valve located in the wall and transversely across the path for fluid flow. The butterfly valve includes a first raceway defined by an inner ring and an outer ring, a second raceway defined by an inner ring and an outer ring, a combination of ball bearings and roller bearings retained in each raceway, an axle rotatably mounted in the inner rings of each raceway and cooperably rotatable therewith, and a baffle mounted longitudinally along the axle and extending from the axle into the path of fluid flow. Upon rotation of the axle, the baffle restricts or permits fluid flow.
Abstract:
A method for treating bearing components includes treating the bearing components in a tumbling-type cutting surface treatment; treating the bearing components in a tumbling-type burnishing treatment; and treating the bearing components in a tumbling-type cleaning and polishing treatment, to provide finished components.
Abstract:
A cam follower assembly has an outer race and an inner race located therein. Rollers are located between the outer and inner races to enable the two races to rotate relative to one another. The surfaces of the inner race are lapped and subsequently treated using a cold plastic deformation process. This process is a dry mechanical process that involves applying a high energy flow of abrasive material in a carrier medium to the metal surfaces of the inner race. The present invention is not limited to treatment of the surfaces of the inner race, however, as the surfaces of the outer race as well as the surfaces of the rollers may be similarly treated.
Abstract:
An A-arm frame 10 for a vehicle has two arms 12, 14 that converge at an apex 16. Each arm has a mounting end opposite the apex for mounting to the housing for an axle of the vehicle. A pivot joint at the apex connects the A-arm frame to the vehicle frame. The pivot joint includes a case-hardened spherical plain bearing 22 that includes an inner ring 26 and an outer ring 28. The inner ring 26 may have a lubrication aperture therethrough, but the outer ring 28 has no lubrication aperture therethrough. The outer ring 28 may have a multi-fracture configuration and, therefore, a greater wrap-around of the inner ring 26 than it otherwise would have.
Abstract:
A circuit for a grinding machine has inputs for a sensor and a WHEEL START switch and an output to a grind wheel. The circuit initiates the wheel upon receiving a particular sensor signal after the WHEEL START switch is actuated. A grinding machine includes the circuit as well as working components including a grind wheel, a feed arm and a feed arm sensor. The circuit is responsive to the feed arm sensor, such that the control circuit does not initiate the grind wheel unless the feed arm is retracted. The grinding machine may be a centerless grinding machine and the circuit may control the regulating wheel and the grind wheel. A grinding machine can be operated by actuating a WHEEL START switch and receiving a sensor signal that indicates a condition on the grinding machine. The signal is compared to a predetermined value, and if the signal is correct, the grind wheel is initiated.
Abstract:
A ball bearing for use in cryogenic applications has an inner ring and an outer ring that define a raceway between them, and there is a set of rolling balls in the raceway with slug ball separators between adjacent rolling balls. The bearing may be used in a pump for cryogenic fluids such as LNG, LOX, LH2, etc.
Abstract:
A spherical plain bearing for a heavy haul truck strut includes an outer ring and an inner ring. The outer ring includes an outer ring core disposed between a concave spherical first bearing surface and an exterior mounting surface. The inner ring includes an inner ring core disposed between a convex spherical second bearing surface and an interior surface. The inner ring is disposed within the outer ring with the first bearing surface engaging the second bearing surface. At least a portion of at least one of the first bearing surface, the second bearing surface, the exterior mounting surface and the interior surface has a hardness greater than that of at least one of the outer ring core and the inner ring core, for providing wear and impact resistance.