Self-lubricated bearings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10161441-B2
Application number	US-201615340236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2016
Priority date	Nov 1, 2016
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

An aircraft includes an airframe and a rotary component rotatably connected to the airframe by way of a plain bearing. The rotary component is part of a rotorcraft control system. The plain bearing includes an inner member rotatably engaged in at least two axes of rotation to an outer member. The inner member has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) substantially less than that of the outer member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A plain bearing comprising:
an outer member;
an inner member rotatably engaged in at least two axes of rotation to the outer member, the inner member having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the outer member having a second coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the first coefficient of thermal expansion being substantially less than the second coefficient of thermal expansion; and
a coating formed about an exterior surface of the inner member.

2. The plain bearing as recited in claim 1 , wherein the coating includes at least one of a hard chrome or a ceramic material.

3. The plain bearing as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inner member includes a steel alloy.

4. The plain bearing as recited in claim 3 , wherein the steel alloy includes an Invar alloy.

5. The plain bearing as recited in claim 1 , wherein the CTE of the inner member is less than or equal to 3 in/(in° F.) (or 1.67 cm/(cm° K)).

6. The plain bearing as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inner member and the outer member form a self-lubricating bearing.

7. The plain bearing as recited in claim 1 , wherein the outer member includes a lining in contact with the inner member.

8. The plain bearing as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lining includes at least one of a PTFE, fabric, or a composite.

9. An aircraft comprising:
an airframe;
a rotary component rotatably connected to the airframe by way of a plain bearing, wherein the plain bearing includes:
an outer member;
an inner member rotatably engaged in at least two axes of rotation to an outer member, the inner member having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the outer member having a second coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the first coefficient of thermal expansion being substantially less than the second coefficient of thermal expansion; and
a coating formed about an exterior surface of the inner.

10. The aircraft as recited in claim 9 , wherein the rotary component is part of a rotorcraft control system.

11. The aircraft as recited in claim 9 wherein the inner member is coated with a coating that includes at least one of a hard chrome or a ceramic material.

12. The aircraft as recited in claim 9 , wherein the inner member includes a steel alloy.

13. The aircraft as recited in claim 12 , wherein the steel alloy includes an Invar alloy.

14. The aircraft as recited in claim 9 , wherein the CTE of the inner member is less than or equal to 3 in/(in° F.) (or 1.67 cm/(cm° K)).

15. The aircraft as recited in claim 9 , wherein the inner member and the outer member form a self-lubricating bearing.

16. The aircraft as recited in claim 9 , wherein the outer member includes a lining in contact with the inner member.

17. The aircraft as recited in claim 9 , wherein the lining includes at least one of a PTFE, fabric, or a composite.

18. A bearing comprising:
an outer member;
an inner member rotatably engaged in at least one axis of rotation to an outer member, the inner member having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the outer member having a second coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the first coefficient of thermal expansion being substantially less than the second coefficient of thermal expansion; and
a coating formed about an exterior of the inner member.

Assignees

• Sikorsky Aircraft Corp

Inventors

• Baskin Bryan K

Classifications

• F16C11/0614

  the female part of the joint being open on two sides · CPC title

• F16C11/068 Primary

  Special features relating to lubrication · CPC title

• F16C2326/43

  Aeroplanes; Helicopters · CPC title

• F16C33/24

  with different areas of the sliding surface consisting of different materials · CPC title

• F16C33/121

  Use of special materials · CPC title