Journal bearing and method of facilitating hydrodynamic oil flow, load capacity and optimization of bearing performance

An epicyclical gearbox, comprising:

• a sun gear;
• a plurality of planet gears positioned about the sun gear and in meshing relationship therewith;
• a plurality of journal bearings, each rotatably supporting one of the plurality of planet gears, each of the plurality of journal bearings configured to include a journal bearing body having a fixed arc shape and subject to deformation under a high pressure event, a journal pin disposed at least partially within the journal bearing body, and at least one lubricating fluid inlet;
• and
• a planet carrier configured in fixed relationship with each of the plurality of journal pins,
• wherein the at least one lubricating fluid inlet of each of the plurality of journal bearings is configured to provide for an input of a lubricating fluid in a loaded arc portion of the journal bearing body, proximate a high pressure point exerted upon the journal bearing body during a high pressure event, thereby permitting a free flow of a lubricating fluid there between the journal pin and the journal bearing body during the high pressure event.

A method of facilitating a hydrodynamic oil flow in a planet gear journal bearing, the method comprising:

• providing a fixed arc journal bearing body;
• disposing a journal pin proximate the fixed arc journal bearing body;
• and
• providing an input lubricating fluid flow within the fixed arc journal bearing body at an lubricating fluid inlet, the lubricating fluid inlet configured to provide for the input of a lubricating fluid in a loaded arc portion of the journal bearing body, proximate a high pressure point exerted upon the journal bearing body during a high pressure event, thereby permitting a free flow of a lubricating fluid there between the journal pin and the journal bearing body during the high pressure event.