Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “BALL BEARING”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9

Parametric study of the lubrication of thrust loaded 120-mm bore ball bearings to 3 million DN

A parametric study was performed with 120-mm bore angular-contact ball bearings under varying thrust loads, bearing and lubricant temperatures, and cooling and lubricant flow rates. Contact angles were nominally 20 and 24 deg with bearing speeds to 3 million DN. Endurance tests were run at 3 million DN and a temperature of 492 K (425 F) with 10 bearings having a nominal 24 deg contact angle at a thrust load of 22241 N (5000 lb). Bearing operating temperature, differences in temperatures between the inner and outer races, and bearing power consumption can be tuned to any desirable operating requirement by varying 4 parameters. These parameters are outer-race cooling, inner-race cooling, lubricant flow to the inner race, and oil inlet temperature. Preliminary endurance tests at 3 million DN and 492 K (425 F) indicate that long term bearing operation can be achieved with a high degree of reliability.

Signer, H.↗

Correlation of asperity contact-time fraction with elastohydrodynamic film thickness in a 20-millimeter-bore ball bearing

Elastohydrodynamic film thicknesses and asperity contact-time fractions were measured for a 20 mm bore ball bearing by using the capacitance and conductance techniques. The bearing was thrust loaded to 90, 445, and 778 N. The corresponding maximum stresses on the inner race were 1.28, 2.09, and 2.45 GPa. The test speed ranged from 400 to 15,000 rpm. The test bearing was mist lubricated with a MIL-L-23699A turbine oil. The temperature was 27 C. The experimental results were correlated to give the percent film (no-contact-time fraction) as a function of measured film thickness. Measurements were made for three test series that represented the test bearing in various conditions of run-in. The measurements show that the percent film changes with bearing run-in time. The experimental results agreed well with theoretical predictions based on surface trace analysis for a new bearing. For the run-in state, they agreed with previously reported experimental results. The results show that asperity contact existed at a film thickness-roughness ratio lambda of 6.0 or less for a new bearing. After run-in, no asperity contact occurred at a lambda of 3.5 or greater.

Coy, J. J.↗

Performance of jet- and inner-ring-lubricated 35 millimeter bore ball bearings operating to 2.5 million DN

Parametric tests were conducted with a 35 millimeter bore, angular contact ball bearing having a single outer land guided cage. Lubrication was achieved by flowing oil through axial grooves and radial holes machined in the inner ring of the bearing. Test conditions were a thrust load of 667 N (150 lb), shaft speeds from 48,000 to 72,000 rpm, and an oil inlet temperature of 394 K (250 F). Data from tests where the distribution of the total oil supplied to the inner ring was 50 percent for bearing lubrication and 50 percent for bearing inner ring cooling were compared with those where the distribution pattern was 25 percent lubrication and 75 percent cooling. Successful operation was experienced with both the 50-50 and 25-75 percent flow distribution patterns to 2.5 million DN. The 50-50 percent flow pattern provided the cooler bearing operation of the two inner ring lubricated bearings. The jet lubricated bearing had lower outer ring and higher inner ring temperatures than the inner ring lubricated bearings. Maximum power loss of 2.8 kW (3.7 hp) was experienced with the 25-75 percent flow distribution, and maximum percent cage slip of 7.0 occurred at 72,300 rpm with the 50-50 percent flow distribution.

Schuller, F., T.↗

Lubrication of 35-millimeter-bore ball bearings of several designs to 2.5 million DN

Parametric tests were conducted with 35mm bore, angular contact ball bearings with either a single or double outer and guided cage. The bearings were either lubricated by oil jets or employed inner ring lubrication. Outer ring cooling was added in selected tests. Lubricant flow to the bearing ranged from 300 to 1900 cc/min. All bearings were successfully run at speeds to 2.5 million DN. Increasing the lubricant flow decreased bearing ring temperatures but increased bearing power lines. The power loss and race temperatures of a jet lubricated with double outer land guided cage were always higher than those of the single land guided design at similar test conditions. The lowest bearing operating temperatures were achieved when inner ring lubrication and outer ring cooling were combined. It is found that cage slip of a double outer land guided cage is approximately twice that of a single outer land guided cage.

Schuller, F. T.↗

First order ball bearing kinematics

Two first order equations are given connecting geometry and internal motions in an angular contact ball bearing. Total speed, kinematic equivalence, basic speed ratio, and modal speed ratio are defined and discussed; charts are given for the speed ratios covering all bearings and all rotational modes. Instances where specific first order assumptions might fail are discussed, and the resulting effects on bearing performance reviewed.

Kingbury, E.↗

Test Apparatus For Oversize Ball-Bearing Models

See-through machine enables direct observation and indirect measurements at moderate speeds. Model of ball bearing, six times larger than real bearing, rotated in test machine. Transparency of walls and simulated lubricant reveal flow patterns and allow visible-light and infrared photographs to be made.

Wagner, William R.↗

Experimental ball bearing dynamics study

A photographic method was employed to record the kinematic performance of rolling elements in turbo machinery ball bearings. The 110 mm split inner ring test bearings had nominal contact angles of 26 deg and 34 deg. High speed films were taken at inner ring speeds of 4,000, 8,000 and 12,000 rpm and at thrust loads of 4,448 N and 22,240 N (1,000 and 5,000 lbs). The films were measured and this data reduced to obtain separator speed, ball speed and ball spin axis orientation.

Signer, H. R.↗

An evaluation of various ball bearing lubricants operating in various environments /A status report/

Testing of both fluid and solid lubricants in small ball bearings is reported for a period of up to one year in various environments. The testing equipment, procedures and detailed results of five different lubricants, operating in a vacuum at ambient temperature, are described. Specially made motors were shimmed to maintain a 2.27 kg thrust load on both bearings, having a speed of 3600 rpm allowing 216,000 revolutions on each bearing per hour until failure. The commercial perfluoropolyether (PFPE-1) grease, having the best results, was recommended for long term bearing operation under hard vacuum conditions. It had an average life of over 8760 hrs. The ester based grease was recommended for moderate life requirements in vacuum conditions, while the silicone based grease and the fluorosilicone based grease were not recommended for vacuum operation due to extensive metal damage in the bearings.

Demorest, k. E.↗

High-Performance Ball Bearing

High-performance bearing features strong, lightweight, self-lubricating cage with self-lubricating liners in ball apertures. Designed to operate at high speed (tens of thousands of revolutions per minute) in cryogenic environment like liquid-oxygen or liquid-hydrogen turbopump. Includes inner race, outer race, and cage keeping bearing balls equally spaced.

Bursey, Roger W., Jr.↗

Lubrication of 35-millimeter-bore ball bearings of several designs at speeds to 2.5 million DN

Parametric tests were conducted with 35mm bore, angular contact ball bearings with either a single or double-outer-land-guided cage. The bearings were either lubricated by oil jets or employed inner ring lubrication. Outer ring cooling was added in selected tests. Test conditions were a radial load of 222 N (50 lb) and/or a thrust load of 667 N (150 lb), shaft speeds to 72,000 rpm, and an oil inlet temperature of 394 K (250 F). Lubricant flow to the bearing ranged rom 300 to 1900 cc/min (0.08 to 0.50 gal/min). All bearings were successfully run at speeds to 2.5 million DN. Increasing the lubricant flow decreased bearing ring temperatures but increased bearing power loss. The power loss and race temperatures of a jet lubricated bearing with double-outer-land-guided cage were always higher than those of the single-land-guided-design at similar test conditions. The lowest bearing operating temperatures were achieved when inner ring lubrication and outer ring cooling were combined. Cage slip of a double-outer-land-guided cage was approximately twice that of a single-outer-land-guided cage.

Signer, H. R.↗

Effect of two inner-ring oil-flow distribution schemes on the operating characteristics of a 35 millimeter bore ball bearing to 2.5 million DN

Parametric tests were conducted with a 35-mm-bore, split-inner-ring ball bearing with a double-inner-land-guided cage. Provisions were made for through-the-inner-ring lubrication. Test condictions were either a thrust load of 667 N (150 lb) or a combined load of 667 N (150 lb) thrust and 222 N (50 lb) radial, shaft speeds from 32000 to 72000 rpm, and an oil-inlet temperature of 394 K (250 deg F). Outer ring cooling was used in some tests. Tests were run with either 50 or 75 percent of the total oil flow distributed to the inner-ring raceway. Successful operation was experienced with both 50% and 75% flow patterns to 2.5 million DN. Cooling the outer ring had little effect on inner-ring temperature; however, the outer-ring temperature decreased as much as 7% at 2.5 million DN. Maximum recorded power loss was 3.1 kW (4.2 hp), and maximum cage slip was 8.7 percent. Both occurred at a shaft speed of 72000 rpm, a lubricant flow rate of 1900 cu/min (0.50 gal/min), a combined load, and no outer-ring cooling.

Schuller, F. T.↗

First-order ball-bearing kinematics

Two first-order equations are given connecting geometry and internal motions in an angular-contact ball bearing. Total speed, kinematic equivalence, basic speed ratio, and modal speed ratio are defined and discussed; charts are given for the speed ratios covering all bearings and all rotational modes. Instances where specific first-order assumptions might fail are discussed, and the resulting effects on bearing performance reviewed.

Kingsbury, E.↗

A comparison of the performance of solid and liquid lubricants in oscillating spacecraft ball bearings

The European Space Tribology Laboratory (ESTL) has been engaged in a program to compare the performance of oscillating ball bearings when lubricated by a number of space lubricants, both liquid and solid. The results have shown that mean torque levels are increased by up to a factor of five above the normal running torque, and that often torque peaks of even greater magnitudes are present at the ends of travel. It is believed that these effects are caused by a build-up of compacted debris in the contact zone, thus reducing the ball/race conformity ratio.

Gill, S.↗