Composite gear configuration provides a reliable automatic means for replenishing gear mechanism lubricants that dissipate in the harsh environment of space. The center or hub section of the gear consists of a porous, oil impregnated material, and the outer or toothed section has radially drilled passages to cause the oil to gradually flow to the gear teeth surface

Winiarski, F. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1965	 Brief 65-10366 
NASA TECH BRIEF H 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued by the Technology Utilization Division to summarize specific 
technical innovations derived from the space program. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia, 22151. 
Unique Gear Design Provides Self-Lubrication 
Surface Coating To 
Prevent Escape 
Of Oil 
Porous Hub And 
Web impregnated 
With Oil 
The problem: To provide a reliable automatic 
means for replenishing gear mechanism lubricants that 
can be expected to dissipate in the harsh environment 
of space or through extended operation in an atmos-
pheric environment. 
The solution: A composite gear configuration in 
which the center or hub section consists of a porous, 
oil-impregnated material and the outer or toothed 
section has radially drilled passages to cause the oil to 
gradually flow to the surfaces of the gear teeth. 
How it's done: The hub and web of the gear are 
made of a porous material that is impregnated with 
lubricating oil under extreme pressure so that the 
whole is heavily laden with oil. An outer ring contain-
ing the gear teeth is rigidly fastened to the web and all 
exposed surfaces of the web and hub are sealed with 
an oil-impervious material. A series of small passages 
is drilled radially inward through the gear teeth and 
slots deep enough to achieve a slight penetration of 
the oil-impregnated web. Rotation of the gear gen-
erates centrifugal force that causes oil in the porous 
hub and web assembly to flow through the drilled pas-
sages to the gear tooth surfaces. 
Notes: 
1. Rate of flow of the lubricating oil can be regulated 
by the number and size of the drilled passages. De-
sign can contemplate such things as operating 
speed and gear loading. 
in	
(continued overleaf) 
mw
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19650000363 2020-03-11T17:24:42+00:00Z
2. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
4800 Oak Grove Drive 
Pasadena, California, 91103 
Reference: B65-10366
Patent status: NASA encourages commercial use 
of this innovation. No patent action is contemplated 
by NASA.
Source: Francis J. Winiarski of 
Space Technology Laboratories
under contract to

Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(J PL-SC-079)
Brief 65-10366	 Categories 03, 05


Unique gear design provides self-lubrication

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