Conical or spherical, spirally grooved grease bearings have an inclined surface which is machined inboard of the grooved surface. The indentation and inclined surface provide a reservoir for forced out lubricant, and when rotation begins, centrifugal force returns the lubricant to the grooved area

Broussard, P., Jr.

Burch, J. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

June 1970	 Brief 70-10301 
NASA TECH BRIEF H 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical 
Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Technique for Improving Hydrodynamic Gyro Bearings 
Bearing	 Reservoir 
Method for Returning Squeezed-out 
Grease to the Bearing Surfaces 
Conical or spherical, spirally grooved grease bear-
ings have been shown to be superior to ball bearings in 
applications requiring extended lifetime and high 
precision. This information should interest designers 
and manufacturers of equipment requiring long life 
and high reliability in bearing structures. 
Two methods for cutting grooves in the bearings 
are available: etching the surface using epoxy as a 
masking material, or placing the bearing in a lathe 
and cutting the grooves with a tungsten carbide tool.
The bearing is designed for use with a heavy oil or light 
grease lubricant. Because a nonoperating bearing 
tends to have its lubricant forced out by thrust loads, 
an inclined surface is machined inboard of the grooved 
surface. The indentation and inclined surface provide 
a reservoir for the lubricant, and when rotation begins, 
centrifugal force returns the lubricant to the grooved 
area. 
The main advantage of this type of bearing over 
ball bearings is that it is a single unit which maintains 
complete lubrication. The journal and bearing ar-
rangement with the conical, grooved journal is shown 
in the illustration. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference: TSP70-10301 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: J. Burch and P. Broussard, Jr. 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
(M FS-20764) 
Category 06 
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.
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Technique for improving hydrodynamic gyro bearings

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