Advanced Bearing Designs and Adding Value

Bearings are a critical component for numerous primary and auxiliary systems in aircraft, such as navigation, landing gear, flight controls, generators, hydraulic pumps, and cabin climate control. Choosing a specific bearing is more than finding the best and most inexpensive deal upfront, however. When considering a bearing solution, the total life cost equation should look something like this:

Initial cost + installation costs + energy costs + operation costs + maintenance/repair costs + downtime costs + environmental costs + decommissioning/disposal costs = total costs

Thus, purchasing a more expensive bearing solution can end up saving money down the line if it brings reduced assembly times, improved energy efficiency, and lower maintenance costs. For example, a 10% cost reduction on the initial purchase only matters at the point of initial purchase. A 10% reduction in assembly time/cost, or a 10% reduction in maintenance costs over five years however means far more, as sustained reductions in costs over the lifetime of the equipment are worth far more to the customer in terms of savings.

Aircraft actuation systems are where bearings are most frequently used, and where precision designs can be the most impactful. Superior precision bearings can be designed with different materials for the bearings and races, such as having ceramic balls instead of metal to reduce adhesive wear during non-operational or vibrational duty cycles. Customized bearing designs can focus on one aspect or another, such as maximizing load carrying capacity, withstanding friction and corrosion, optimizing ease of assembly, and more. For example, screw threads on assembly mating surfaces can be incorporated to make assembly easier, or integrating sealing technology to save space, finished raceways to improve bearing lubrication film generation, and anti-rotation features to prevent slippage.

Auxiliary equipment like pneumatic and electric starters, generators, and gearboxes can all benefit from customized bearing designs. Split inner ring configurations can accept reversing thrust and combination loads, and are assembled with one-piece high-strength cages that are often silver-plated for better operation in marginal lubrication conditions. Other common configurations include deep groove bearings, greased for life at the factor in clean room conditions, and placed in ‘T’ cages that are lightweight, strong, and enable high-speed operation.


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