FSAE RBCBearing Engieering Article
FSAE RBCBearing Engieering Article
FSAE RBCBearing Engieering Article
PLAIN BEARINGS
SAE/MS/EN SAE/MS/EN
Specification Description Specification Description
M81934/1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Journals, Plain, Self-lubricating M81820/4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
M81934/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Journals, Flanged, Self-lubricating, Narrow,
Self-lubricating Chamfered, Lined bore
M81935/1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rod End, Male threads, M81936/1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Wide, Self-lubricating BeCu ball grooved outer ring
M81935/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rod End, Female threads, M81936/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Wide, Self-lubricating BeCu ball chamfered outer ring
M81935/4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rod End, Male threads, EN2285. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Journals, Plains,
Narrow, Self-lubricating Self-lubricating
M81935/5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rod End, Female threads, aluminum alloy
Narrow, Self-lubricating EN2286. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Journals, Flanged,
MS14101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearings, Self-lubricating
Self-lubricating, aluminum alloy
Narrow, Grooved EN2287. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Journals, Plain,
MS14102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearings, Self-lubricating
Self-lubricating, corrosion resistant steel
Wide, Chamfered EN2288. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Journals, Flanged,
MS14103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearings, Self-lubricating
Self-lubricating, corrosion resistant steel
Wide, Grooved EN6056. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rod End, Self-lubricating,
MS14104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearings, Threaded shank
Self-lubricating, EN2022. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Narrow, Chamfered Self-lubricated,
MS21230 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing, Light series,
Self-lubricated, Chamfered and grooved
Wide, Grooved EN2023. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
MS21231 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing, Self-lubricated,
Self-Lubricated, Standard series, Chamfered
Wide, Chamfered and grooved outer ring
MS12132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing, EN2335. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Self-Lubricated, Metal-to-metal,
Narrow, Grooved Chamfered and
grooved outer ring
MS21233 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Self-Lubricated, EN2501. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Narrow, Chamfered Self-Lubricated,
High Misalignment
M81820/1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Self-lubricating, Narrow, EN4613. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Grooved, Lined bore Self-lubricating,
Narrow inch sizes
M81820/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Self-lubricating, Wide, EN4614. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing
Chamfered, Lined bore Self-lubricated,
Wide inch sizes
M81820/3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spherical bearing,
Self-lubricating, Wide,
Grooved, Lined bore ©2008 RBC Bearings Incorporated. All rights reserved.
PLAIN BEARINGS
The liner systems for self-lubricating bearings do not require supporting and bondable fibers. The process used to produce
supplemental lubrication. The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers the PTFE fibers results in a fiber, which has 25 times the tensile
in the liner act as the lubricant. When a bearing is operated, the strength of that of the base resin. The weave of the fabric
pressure and movement of the inner ring shears PTFE from the exposes the PTFE fibers on the working surface. The supporting
liner system. As the bearing operates, the PTFE is burnished into fibers are interwoven with the PTFE fibers and are
the metal and also into the liner surfaces, thereby reducing the predominantly exposed on the surface that is bonded. This
coefficient of friction. After the coefficient of friction becomes construction provides a positive locking of the PTFE fibers for
sufficiently low, no further PTFE is sheared from the liner. Through strength and resistance to cold flow. It also provides a high
continued use, some PTFE on the surfaces may exit the bearing. strength bond to the backing material of the bearing.
When this occurs, friction increases and more PTFE is sheared Figure 4 depicts the basic liner system used for Fiberglide®
from the liner and deposited on the ring and liner surfaces. and Fabroid® liners. In this system the entire fabric structure is
Self-lubricating spherical bearings are available in many flooded with resin, which locks the fibers in place. Then the liner
combinations of ring and liner materials. Typically, inner rings (balls) is bonded to the outer ring, or backing material, with an
used in SAE/Military Standards are 440C or PH13-8Mo, and outer adhesive resin. This type of liner system is referred to as a
rings (races) are 17-4PH. High temperature materials are also flooded liner, since the working surface of the fabric is flooded
available. with binding resin. It provides a positive locking of the PTFE
Self-lubricating journal bearings are available with a fibers for strength and resistance to cold flow; a bearing
variety of backing materials. Standard materials for SAE/Military surface, that is almost entirely PTFE; and a high strength
standards include 17-4PH CRES steel and 7075-T6 and surface, that is bonded to the backing material of the bearing.
2024-T851 aluminum alloys.
Rod ends have the bodies manufactured from 17-4PH
or PH13-8Mo CRES steel or cadmium plated 4340 steel. A A
Light weight rod ends and spherical bearings are now
being offered by RBC with titanium components to meet
demanding aerospace application requirements.
Thermoset PTFE Fibers
LINER SYSTEMS Binding Resin
RBC provides five standard liner systems, that are qualified
to SAE and AECMA performance standards. These are shown in Adhesive Resin
A - A Backing Material
Table 1 below:
FIGURE 4: Fiberglide® and Fabroid® liner systems
Bearing Configuration Standard Liner Systems
Uniflon® E Figure 5 depicts the construction of the Uniflon® E and
Spherical Fabroid® IIG2 Fibriloid® liner systems. This system is a flooded type of
composite material with a thermoset resin binding the fibers in
Fibriloid®
position. A thermoset adhesive resin is used to bond the liner to
Uniflon® E the outer ring or to the backing material. The interwoven fibers
Fiberglide® V in this case are mainly to provide structural strength. Additives
Journal
Fabroid® IIG2 to the thermoset resin provide the lubrication. This construction
Fibriloid® provides exceptional strength and wear resistance.
Uniflon® HP
Uniflon® E
Rod end Fabroid® IIG2
Fibriloid®
TABLE 1: Standard RBC liner systems FIGURE 5: Uniflon® E and Fibriloid® liner systems
©2008 RBC Bearings Incorporated. All rights reserved.
There are eight liner systems presented in this catalog (and Special liner materials are also available and are engineered
many others for special application). to provide optimum life in specific applications. For more technical
Uniflon® E liner system. The Uniflon® E liner system data on these special liner systems, consult the appropriate RBC
comprises of a heat stabilized nylon polyamide fabric that is Aerospace Bearings engineering department.
coated with a high temperature resin containing PTFE particles.
The fabric provides high compressive strength while the resin/ PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
PTFE wear coating provides the low coefficient of sliding friction. Radial Static Limit loads shown in this catalog are the ratings
PLAIN BEARINGS
The bond side of the liner is coated with a high temperature resin based on the requirements of SAE and Military specifications,
only. This liner system was developed for airframe control such as SAE AS81820 (formerly MIL-B-81820). They are the
applications and to meet the low wear requirements and high maximum static radial loads that can be applied to the bearings,
bearing pressures of the SAE AS81820 bearing specification which will result in a maximum permanent set of 0.003 in.
(formerly MIL-B-81820). (0.076 mm) after three minutes of loading. It should be noted
Fiberglide® V liner system is a flooded liner system that for -3 and -4 size spherical bearings the static load rating
constructed of PTFE fibers interwoven with polyester fibers. The is limited due to deflection/bending of the mounting pin. The
fabric is flooded with a phenolic thermoset resin. This system is Static Radial Limit loads that can be supported by the RBC liner
ideally suited for demanding helicopter applications, where high systems in aerospace bearings are shown in Table 2 below.
oscillating speeds are encountered along with moderate impact
or reverse loading. This system is highly fatigue resistant and
RADIAL STATIC LIMIT LOAD RATINGS
able to absorb vibration.
Fabroid® IIG2 liner system is a flooded liner system. The Liner System Load, psi Load, MPa
fabric is a satin weave of PTFE fibers interwoven with glass Fiberglide® V 60,000 410
fibers. The fabric is flooded with a modified thermoset resin. This Fabroid IIG2
® 60,000 410
system is the most widely accepted self-lubricating liner system Uniflon® E 80,000 550
in the aerospace industry, and is used on a wide variety of fixed Fibriloid® 80,000 550
wing aircraft applications. This system provides high speed
Uniflon® HP 160,000* 1100
oscillation capability under moderate loads with low wear rates.
*.0015 in. permanent set
Uniflon® HP is an advanced polymer resin system that is
combined with a structural and self-lubricating additive to yield TABLE 2: Static Limit Load Ratings
a high strength, low wear, and low friction bearing material. in pounds per square inch (Megapascals)
Since the material is homogeneous from bearing surface to for RBC liner systems
substrate, it can be machined by the customer to their own
demanding requirements. Uniflon® HP is also specially suited The radial static limit load of a spherical bearing may be
for coating unique part geometries and for other special calculated using the following formula:
applications. (At the time of catalog printing, the Uniflon® HP Radial static limit load = 0.85 x d x H x ML
liner system is pending approval to the AS81934 specification.)
Fibriloid® liner system is constructed of interwoven Where: d = Ball spherical diameter
compound fiber bundles of PTFE and polyamide fibers. The H = Outer ring width
fabric is flooded with a thermoset resin. Fibriloid® is recognized ML = Max. load, psi (MPa)
as the strongest and most fatigue resistant bearing liner system
in the aerospace industry. This proprietary system is covered by The radial static limit load for journal bearings may be
US Patent numbers 3,037,893 and 3,582,166. Characteristics of calculated using the following formula:
this liner system include very low wear rates at high psi loads, Radial Static Limit Load = B x (L- .100 in.) x ML
excellent temperature capability, and fatigue resistance in
pounding or reverse load conditions. Where: B = Inner Diameter
Fabroid® X is a special liner system, that is engineered for L = Length
very high temperature and high frequency vibration ML = Max. Load, psi (MPa)
applications. Gas turbine engines and nacelles are examples of
applications where Fabroid® X excels in performance. For rod ends, the radial static limit load is based on the
Fiberglide® VI is a special liner system that is fine tuned to strength of the rod end body.
support reversing loads with low friction; Because of its low
coefficient of friction, Fiberglide® VI is used in manual control
linkages and in helicopter pitch link applications. The Dyflon®
liner material is machinable and resistant to water/salt
water/grease environments.
©2008 RBC Bearings Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Radial static ultimate load ratings are 1.5 times the radial Pressure (P) times velocity (V) or PV values are shown in
static limit load rating. Table 4 for the RBC liner systems. Many factors can affect PV,
Axial Static Limit loads (spherical bearings) shown in this such as load, speed, surface finish, and material, and much
catalog are the maximum static axial loads that will result in a of the test data is for slow speed, high load aerospace
maximum permanent axial deformation of 0.005 in. (0.127 mm) applications. Therefore, RBC has shown conservative PV
after three minutes of loading. It may be calculated using the values for the liner systems in Table 4. Short PV excursions
following formula: up to 150% of the values shown can usually be applied
PLAIN BEARINGS
Axial static limit load = π x H2 ÷ 4 x ML without a detrimental effect on the bearing.
Surface velocity of self-lubricated bearings is limited to Surface Texture and Hardness of Mating Surfaces —
moderate speeds because the liner systems are not thermally For maximum life on journal bearings, the shaft on which
conductive, and the generated heat must be allowed to the bearing runs should have a minimum hardness of
dissipate. Applications with intermittent high speed are Rockwell C 40 and a maximum surface texture of 8 RMS.
acceptable, if the duty cycle or fluid environments allows Tables 5 and 6 show the average reductions in life for surface
for adequate heat dissipation. texture and material hardness.
Wear rates for the RBC liner systems are shown in Figures 6
PLAIN BEARINGS
.002
.001
loads will increase the bearing temperature above the ambient Uniflon HP
Coefficeints of Friction
temperature. Fluids may lower operating temperature, but they 0.08
PLAIN BEARINGS
0.06
.12
TABLE 8: Operating temperature ranges under 5000 psi
(34.5 MPa) radial load .08
.04
Coefficient of friction for a spherical bearing is: -75 -50 -25 0 +25 +50 +75
TEMPERATURE °F
μ = Torque/ Ball Spherical Radius x Load
FIGURE 9: Coefficient of friction vs. temperature
For a journal bearing, the shaft radius is substituted for the
ball spherical radius in the above formula. The coefficient will
vary depending on the liner system, and it is also affected by
load and temperature. It should be noted that self-lubricating
bearings require a break-in period to start the lubrication
process. Typically the coefficient of friction will decrease by
50% after break-in. Figure 8 shows the effect of load on the
coefficient of friction for the RBC liner systems. Figure 9 shows
the effect of temperature on the coefficient of friction.
PLAIN BEARINGS
Press fitting these bearings into the housing may remove the E1 = modulus of elasticity of bearing material
initial radial clearance causing the bearings to lock up. Thermal E2 = modulus of elasticity of housing material
expansions of materials must also be considered
Housing fit for a self-lubricating spherical bearing is K2 = constant = E1 (1 + d2) – d1
E2
recommended to be from 0.0002 in. tight to 0.0008 in. loose or
0.005mm tight to 0.020mm loose for a metric bearing. For In both of the above cases a massive housing is assumed.
example, a bearing having an outside diameter of 1.0000 in. to
0.9995 in. should be inserted into a housing having an inside Dissimilar materials must be considered when operating
diameter of 0.9998 in. to 1.0003 in. A bearing having an outside at low or high temperatures or when a large bearing is being
diameter of 25.000mm to 24.987mm should be inserted into a used. When the materials for the housing and bearing backing
housing having an inside diameter of 24.995mm to 25.020mm. or the shaft and the inner ring are not the same, loss of fit in
Where tighter than recommended fits are used, the bearing will the housing and contraction of the bearing bore must be
become radialy pre-loaded. This will result in increased bearing considered. Calculations of loss of fit and bearing bore
starting torque. The recommended fit is applicable for bearings contraction are necessary to prevent the bearings from turning
with outside diameters up to 2.500 in. (63.5mm). For larger in the housing and also to prevent a tight fit between the
bearings or for special materials or applications consult the bearing and the shaft.
appropriate RBC Aerospace Bearings sales engineer. To determine how much a housing bore or a bearing
An increase in pre-load torque is beneficial in high frequency diameter changes in size as a result of temperature change,
vibration conditions and in solid particle contaminated use the following formula:
environments. Pre-load torque is not additive to the frictional
torque due to an applied load. ␦= ␣ x ⌬ x ⌬T
The housing fit for journal bearings should be 0.0005 in.
(0.013 mm) tight to 0.0020 in. (0.050 mm) tight for bearings up Where:
to 4.0 in. or (100mm) in diameter. Care must be taken in ␦ = change in diameter
selecting housing and shaft diameters to assure that there is ␣ = coefficient of thermal expansion
not an interference fit between the bearing bore and the shaft. ⌬ = housing or bearing diameter
The following formulas may be used to determine the reduction ⌬T = temperature change
in bore diameter due to a tight housing fit:
Contraction of the bearing may be calculated using the
2⌬ ( ba ) formulas shown above in the housing fits for journal bearings
ya = section.
[( ba ) 2 + 1] + k 2 [( ba ) 2 – 1]
Case 1. Different housing and bearing materials
ya = ⌬ ( ba )
Case 2. Same housing and shaft material
BEARING INSTALLATION
A hammer or other mechanism that induces a shock load on
the bearing should never be used. The corner of the housing
bore should have a radius or chamfer that has a smooth
transition to the housing bore. The bearing should be aligned to
the bore and a constant steady force applied to seat the
bearing. A tool, which pilots on the bearing bore and which
applies load to the outer ring face, is recommended. See
Figures 11 and 12.
FIGURE 12: Journal bearing assembly tool
PLAIN BEARINGS
AS81820
BEARINGS
NARROW -05 TO -07 .025 .010
WIDE -06 TO -10 .040 .020
R
NARROW -08 TO -16 .045 .010
WIDE -12 TO -16 .060 .020 60° REF
1.2 0.13
WIDE -20 TO -25
1.4 0.38
PRESSURE
GROOVE P. D. + .010
PILOT
30 60 ANVIL
.025 R.
ANVIL