How Do Bearings Improve Efficiency in Aircraft Engines and Gearboxes

Aircraft are among the most mechanically complex machines in operation today, with every component of a model needing to work in unison to ensure safe and efficient flight. Bearings are one such element that are a staple of design, often being overlooked despite their direct role in upholding the performance of aircraft assemblies like engines and gearboxes. These small but powerful components play a central role in reducing friction, distributing loads, and enabling the smooth operation of moving parts, making it necessary for any operator, maintenance personnel, or industry professional to have a basic understanding of them.

This blog will explore what bearings are in more detail, primarily focusing on the common types used in aircraft engines and gearboxes. This will ensure that you have the ability to uphold efficiency across these systems, so be sure to read on if you would like to learn more.

The Basics of Aviation Bearings

At their most basic, bearings are common machine elements that are able to constrain relative motion while reducing friction between moving parts. In aviation operations, their purpose extends far beyond friction reduction, such hardware being tasked with enduring a range of extreme operating conditions like:

High rotational force from jet engine operation
Heavy axial and radial loads from gear systems
Thermal stresses caused by fluctuating engine temperatures
Stringent reliability demands due to safety-critical aviation standards

Through the use of advanced materials, modern engineering practices, and specialized designs, many bearings used today ensure engines and gearboxes can operate at peak performance while minimizing energy loss and wear.

Types of Bearings Found in Engines and Gearboxes

Ball Bearings

Ball bearings are one of the most widely used hardware options in aviation, their popularity being a result of their ability to support both radial and axial loads while maintaining smooth rotational motion. These bearings often feature hardened steel or ceramic balls that roll within a raceway, reducing surface contact and friction.

In engines, ball bearings are regularly employed in compressor and turbine shafts where high rotational speeds demand low friction and high durability. Meanwhile, in gearboxes, they provide support for rotating gears under moderate loads. In both instances, ball bearings help minimize energy consumption and improve the overall fuel efficiency of the aircraft.

Roller Bearings

Roller bearings differ from ball bearings in the fact that they utilize cylindrical rollers instead of balls, which increases contact surface area. These bearings are available in several subtypes, including cylindrical, tapered, and spherical roller variations, each offering unique radial and thrust load handling capabilities.

Oftentimes, one will find tapered rolling bearings in gearboxes, as they can handle both load types with ease. On the other hand, high-load engine locations regularly benefit from the implementation of cylindrical rollers. By accommodating heavier loads without deformation, roller bearings enhance the durability of gear trains and engine assemblies, ensuring smooth power transmission with reduced energy losses.

Needle Bearings

Needle bearings are a subtype of roller bearing that use long, thin rollers to handle loads, their compact construction minimizing installation space. This makes them useful in aircraft gearboxes, where they offer high radial load support and effective performance without adding much weight to the assembly. This directly results in increased fuel efficiency.

Thrust Bearings

Thrust bearings are designed to handle axial loads, employing flat rolling elements or specialized ball and roller configurations to do so. In engines, these bearings are useful for stabilizing turbine and compressor shafts against high axial forces generated during operation. By absorbing axial stresses, thrust bearings protect engine components from misalignment and premature wear, ensuring stable operation and extending service life.

Where You Can Secure Top-Quality Bearings for Aircraft

From ball bearings in high-speed shafts to needle bearings in compact gearboxes, each type serves a unique role in improving efficiency within aircraft. Their ability to reduce friction, handle complex loads, and extend the lifespan of critical components makes them indispensable in aviation engineering, so it is important that operators and industry professionals secure their required items from the most reputable distributors. Luckily for you, Hardware and Fasteners is the best option for such needs with over 6 billion items available for purchase.

As an ASAP Semiconductor purchasing platform, those who shop on our website are treated to highly competitive pricing, quality assurance, and timely delivery. With this in mind, feel free to get in contact with us at your convenience!