Aircraft Ball Bearing Achieves 4 Million Millimeters Per Minute

Aug. 25, 2015

The new bearing falls in line with the push for greater aircraft-engine efficiency over the next two decades, as environmental and climate-protection legislation imposes stricter engine requirements.

Leah Scully

Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2015 04 Aircraft Bearing In Articile

FAG Aeropace's new ball bearing needs minimal oil-cooling quantities to achieve up to 70% faster speeds than regular aircraft-engine bearings.

A new ball bearing exceeds performance limits for high-speed bearing supports in aircraft-engine main shafts. Developed by FAG Aerospace, a Schaeffler Group member, the bearing reached a record speed of four million millimeters per minute in a simulated flight cycle on a Schaeffler test stand, and 2.4 million millimeters per minute in the initial phase during takeoff.

The new bearing is expected to reduce fuel consumption of passenger aircraft by up to 200,000 tons each year. It falls in line with the push for greater aircraft-engine efficiency over the next two decades, as environmental and climate-protection legislation imposes stricter engine requirements and constraints.

Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2015 04 Pw1000 G Geared Turbofan Pratt Whitney And Mtu Aero Engines 0

The new bearing is expected to be used in the next-generation helicopter and aircraft engines, such as the PW1000G geared turbofan developed by Pratt

The new aircraft-engine bearing integrates oil damping of vibrational loads, and uses “Duplex-hardened” raceways to decrease wear and reduce rolling contact loads. Ceramic balls and direct cooling of the outer ring reduces friction and weight.

The main-shaft bearing was designed in a collaborative project called “Effective Oil System,” conducted by the Aviation Research Program (LuFo) and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Demonstrating high thermal and mechanical efficiency, it uses the same cooling-oil quantities as regular bearings to reach speeds that are almost 70% higher. The bearing can also be adjusted so that it doesn’t exceed a maximum ring temperature.

About the Author

Leah Scully | Associate Content Producer

Leah Scully is a graduate of The College of New Jersey. She has a BS degree in Biomedical Engineering with a mechanical specialization. Leah is responsible for Machine Design’s news items that cover industry trends, research, and applied science and engineering, along with product galleries. Visit her on Facebook, or view her profile on LinkedIn.