Bearings Used in the Aerospace Industry from Global Bearings

Bearings are essential components in aircraft and spacecraft, and their performance directly impacts safety, reliability, and efficiency.

Here's how the aerospace industry and bearings are interconnected:

We can find bearings in aircraft engines, including turbofan engines and turboprop engines. They act as a support for rotating components such as the fan blades, the compressor, and the turbine. High-precision, durable bearings are vital to ensure the smooth operation of these critical components. Companies like Rolls Royce are renowned for their manufacturing capabilities of aircraft engines and turbines, often supplying their own bearings for their systems rather than outsourcing to other trusted partners.

At the other end of an aircraft, in the landing gear, there are systems that rely on bearings for smooth and steady operation during take-off, landing, and taxiing. Bearings in landing gear components like wheel assemblies and shock absorbers must handle heavy loads, provide stability, and operate under extreme conditions.

Maybe you can think of some specific types of bearings that could be used under these conditions?

Companies like Collins Aerospace, who manufacture landing gear for Commercial Airliners and Military purposes, will use various types of bearings depending on the requirements of the aircraft. Some examples of these bearings include:

- Spherical Bearings: Spherical bearings provide flexibility in accommodating misalignment and oscillation in landing gear components. They are often used in various landing gear joints to ensure smooth movement and load distribution.
- Tapered Roller Bearings: Tapered roller bearings are known for their ability to handle both radial and axial loads, making them suitable for various landing gear applications where heavy loads are involved.
- Cylindrical Roller Bearings: Cylindrical roller bearings are used in landing gear applications that require high radial load capacity and precision.

They are often found in gear assemblies and certain pivot points.

Aircraft Interior Components may also require the use of bearings.

Found in various locations within an aircraft, such as seat mechanisms, galley equipment, and lavatory fixtures, bearings contribute to passenger comfort and the functionality of the aircraft's interior.

Now let’s go all the way up, to space! Satellites and Spacecrafts are no stranger to bearings, and require equally if not higher standards of precision and strength to withstand the rigors of the environments up where the environment as we know it, begins to fade.

Regular maintenance and replacement of bearings are essential in aerospace to ensure the ongoing safety and reliability of aircraft and spacecraft. Bearings must meet strict industry standards for quality and durability.

Aerospace engineers continually seek to reduce the weight of aircraft components to enhance fuel efficiency. Lightweight, high-performance bearings can contribute to these efforts. This industry places high demands on bearing manufacturers to produce components that are highly reliable, durable, and capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions. As a result, the aerospace sector is a significant driver of innovation and technology advancements in bearing design and production. The aerospace industry's strict safety and performance standards have a direct impact on the bearing industry, leading to the development of high-precision, specialized bearings that benefit a wide range of applications beyond aerospace.