Bearing assemblies with electrodynamically matched races
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsWilliam Edward Bialke, Eric Hansell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of electro-dynamically matching a bearing assembly includes electrically separating inner and outer races from rolling elements of the bearing assembly with lubricant and rotating the inner race relative to the outer race. A voltage differential is applied across the inner and the outer races and via isolated rolling elements and the race eroded an electrical discharge event across a gap defined between the one or more of the races and rolling elements. Electro-dynamically matched bearing assemblies and reaction/momentum flywheel arrangements for artificial satellites are also described.
Claims19
A method of electro-dynamically matching a bearing assembly, comprising:
- electrically separating inner and outer races from rolling elements with lubricant;
- rotating the inner race relative to the outer race;
- applying a voltage differential across the inner race and the outer race;
- and
- eroding at least one of the inner race and the outer race with an electrical discharge event across a lubricant disposed between the one inner race or the outer race and a rolling element.
A bearing assembly, comprising:
- an inner race arranged about an axis with a radially outer race surface;
- a plurality of rolling elements circumferentially distributed about the outer race surface of the inner race;
- an outer race with a radially inner race surface extending about the inner race with the rolling elements captive therebetween,
- wherein at least one of the outer race surface and the inner race surface has an electro-dynamically eroded asperity bounding a lubricant EHD layer defined between the race surface and the rolling elements;
- and
- an alternating current (AC) source with a positive and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal is electrically connected to the negative terminal through the inner race and the outer race.
A reaction/momentum wheel arrangement for an artificial satellite, comprising:
- a flywheel;
- and
- a bearing assembly comprising:
- an inner race arranged about an axis with a radially outer race surface;
- a plurality of rolling elements circumferentially distributed about the outer race surface of the inner race;
- and
- an outer race with a radially inner race surface extending about the inner race with the rolling elements captive therebetween,
- wherein at least one of the outer race surface and the inner race surface has an electro-dynamically eroded asperity bounding a lubricant EHD layer defined between the race surface and the rolling elements;
- and
- a lubricant disposed between the rolling elements and the inner and outer races, wherein the rolling elements and inner and outer races include a carbide-containing metallic material,
- wherein a minimum lubricant-film distance between at least one of the inner and outer races and the rolling elements is defined between an electro-dynamically eroded asperity and one of the rolling elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.