High-capacity light-weight ball bearing for airborne vibration suppression applications

A bearing for a hub-mounted vibration suppression system comprising:

• an outer ring defining a first outer race and a second outer race, the first outer race defining a first arcuate surface and the second outer race defining second arcuate surface;
• a first inner ring disposed in the outer ring opposite the first outer race, the first inner ring defining a first inner race, the first inner race defining a third arcuate surface;
• a second inner ring disposed in the outer ring opposite the second outer race, the second inner ring defining a second inner race, the second inner race defining a fourth arcuate surface;
• a plurality of first rolling elements disposed in a first cavity defined between the first inner race and the first outer race, each of the plurality of first rolling elements having a first radius of curvature and a first circumference;
• a plurality of first slug separators, wherein one of the plurality of first slug separators is disposed between and separates each adjacent pair of the plurality of first rolling elements;
• a plurality of second rolling elements disposed in a second cavity defined between the second inner race and the second outer race, each of the plurality of second rolling elements having a second radius of curvature and a defining a second circumference;
• a plurality of second slug separators, wherein one of the plurality of second slug separators is disposed between and separates each adjacent pair of the plurality of first rolling elements;
• and
• at least one of:
• a) at least 30 percent of the first circumference of at least one of the plurality of first rolling elements engages the first arcuate surface and at least 30 percent of the first circumference of at least one of the plurality of first rolling elements engages the third arcuate surface;
• and
• b) at least 30 percent of the second circumference of at least one of the plurality of second rolling elements engages the second arcuate surface and at least 30 percent of the second circumference of at least one of the plurality of second rolling elements engages the fourth arcuate surface.

A bearing for a hub-mounted vibration suppression system comprising:

• an outer ring defining a first outer race and a second outer race, the first outer race defining a first radius of curvature and the second outer race defining second radius of curvature;
• a first inner ring disposed in the outer ring opposite the first outer race, the first inner ring defining a first inner race, the first inner race defining a third radius of curvature;
• a second inner ring disposed in the outer ring opposite the second outer race, the second inner ring defining a second inner race, the second inner race defining a fourth radius of curvature;
• a plurality of first rolling elements disposed in a first cavity defined between the first inner race and the first outer race, each of the plurality of first rolling elements having a fifth radius of curvature and a first circumference;
• a plurality of first slug separators, wherein one of the plurality of first slug separators is disposed between and separates each adjacent pair of the plurality of first rolling elements;
• a plurality of second rolling elements disposed in a second cavity defined between the second inner race and the second outer race, each of the plurality of second rolling elements having a sixth radius of curvature and a defining a second circumference;
• a plurality of second slug separators, wherein one of the plurality of second slug separators is disposed between and separates each adjacent pair of the plurality of first rolling elements;
• at least one of:
• the bearing having a first aspect ratio defined by the fifth radius of curvature divided by one of the first radius of curvature and the third radius of curvature;
• the bearing having a second aspect ratio defined by the sixth radius of curvature divided by one of the second radius of curvature and the fourth radius of curvature;
• and
• at least one of:
• the first aspect ratio is at least 0.6;
• and
• the second aspect ratio is at least 0.6.