Honeywell International Inc.

Robert H Feest

William Lee Giesler

James Vincent Guiheen

Charles J Gasdaska

Steven E Sund

An air turbine starter for use in aircraft or other gas turbine engine applications. In a particular embodiment, the air turbine starter has a thrust bearing having an outer ring, an inner ring, a cage and balls. The outer ring has a first shoulder, a second shoulder and a race surface therebetween to receive the balls. The second shoulder is smaller than the first shoulder. The orientation of the cage is such that the pilot of the cage is aligned to the first shoulder of the outer ring. The raceway curvature of the inner ring, the internal clearance, and clearance between the pilot and outer ring are all increased. An improved thrust bearing is also provided.

Air turbine starter with angular contact thrust bearing

An improved stationary roller shaft of a gear assembly for an air turbine starter is provided. The air turbine starter may be used to start a gas turbine engine, such as may be found in aircraft, ships and military vehicles. The stationary roller shaft is formed of a material having a hardness of at least 66 Rockwell C and having a low inclusion content rating, thereby providing improved wear and/or fatigue properties.

Stationary roller shaft formed of a material having a low inclusion content and high hardness

A ceramic ball bearing assembly has raceway components generally held in residual compression by accompanying metal attachments. In a ceramic ball bearing assembly, an outer raceway is formed that is held in compression by a circumscribing steel ring. The components may be fitted together with the ceramic raceway subject to thermal contraction while the steel ring is subject to thermal expansion. Upon mating, the ceramic raceway slightly expands while the steel ring slightly contracts to impose residual compression upon the ceramic raceway. The residual compression preserves the ceramic raceway despite thermal or other stresses of operating environment. An inner ceramic raceway is constructed by employing one of several of the herein described methods, and the ceramic ball bearing assembly of the present invention may use balls, needles, cylinders, or other rolling elements in order to achieve smooth angular translation between the inner and outer ceramic raceways.

Ceramic ball bearings and assembly

A ceramic ball bearing assembly ( ) has raceway components generally held in residual compression by accompanying metal attachments. In a ceramic ball bearing assembly ( ), an outer raceway ( ) is formed that is held in compression by a circumscribing steel ring. The components may be fitted together with the ceramic raceway subject to thermal contraction while the steel ring is subject to thermal expansion. Upon mating, the ceramic raceway ( ) slightly expands while the steel ring slightly contracts to impose residual compression upon the ceramic raceway. The residual compression preserves the ceramic raceway despite thermal or other stresses of operating environment. An inner ceramic raceway ( ) is constructed by employing one of several of the herein described methods, and the ceramic ball bearing assembly of the present invention may use balls ( ), needles, cylinders, or other rolling elements in order to achieve smooth angular translation between the inner and outer ceramic raceways.

Growing community of inventors

Fountain Hills, AZ, United States of America

Robert H Feest