Innovative Materials/Concepts for Grease Lubricated Bearings

The U.S. Navy is seeking innovative concepts to substantially improve life of grease-packed hanger bearings on the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey aircraft. Hanger bearings are especially maintenance-intensive and short-lived. Extending maintenance intervals and increasing bearing life several-fold are goals to be met. Our approach will provide a novel grease that reduces bearing wear many-fold and has extraordinary resistance to oil breakdown. Our grease will not only achieve these goals, but will provide dramatically lower friction. Frictional heat currently prevents bearings from running at desired optimal speeds. Surfaces Research proposes a novel materials approach to address all of these bearing issues as well as provide the Navy with new cutting-edge technology. We propose our innovative grease to lubricate ceramic (silicon nitride) hybrid bearings. Bell Helicopter Textron Inc will partner to provide detailed specifics on bearing performance and hanger bearings. Bell will evaluate Surfaces Research greases in stainless steel and hybrid bearings in their hanger bearing test rig. Our approach will resolve V-22 hanger bearing issues, and will also find numerous related applications.