A shaft assembly includes a composite tube and an impact shield. The composite tube has a longitudinal centerline axis and the impact shield may be disposed around the composite tube and may extend along a length of the composite tube. A gap may be defined between the composite tube and the impact shield. Generally, shaft assembly is configured to inhibit impact damage to the composite tube and/or facilitate visual detection of damage from impacts. The shaft assembly may further include a shock absorbing sleeve disposed in the gap between the composite tube and the impact shield.

Disclosed are bearing assemblies including a compliant layer within a mounting socket for reducing wear of the bearing.

A joint assembly between a first component and a second component comprises a ball portion configured to be connected to the first component. A socket is configured to be connected to the second component or ground and comprises a socket base, a socket cover, and a spherical joint cavity within the assembled socket base and socket cover to receive the ball portion to form a spherical joint. At least one biasing member is in the joint assembly. A clamp clamps the socket base to the socket cover such that the at least one biasing member biases the socket base and the socket cover toward one another.

A bearing bush includes at least one sealing element and one bearing element. The sealing element is provided with at least one sealing lip. The bearing element is substantially tubular. The bearing element includes a plurality of protrusions extending in the axial direction on the outer circumference. The inner diameter of the bearing element is larger in the sections corresponding to the protrusions than in the remaining sections.

A pitch bearing assembly for a rotor blade and a hub assembly of a rotary wing aircraft includes a single inner race. An inboard outer race surrounds an inboard portion of the inner race and includes a first inboard blade connector and a second inboard blade connector that are configured to connect to the rotor blade. An inboard bearing is disposed between the inboard portion of the single inner race and the inboard outer race and includes an elastomer. An outboard outer race surrounds an outboard portion of the single inner race and includes a first outboard blade connector and a second outboard blade connector that are configured to connect to the rotor blade. An outboard bearing is disposed between the outboard portion of the inner race and the outboard outer race and includes an elastomer.

This disclosure relates to a method for improving air release in a lubricating oil. The method involves formulating a composition having at least one lubricating oil base stock as a major component, and one or more lubricating oil additives, as a minor component. The one or more lubricating oil additives include at least one polyalkylene glycol. The at least one polyalkylene glycol is soluble in the at least one lubricating oil base stock. The weight ratio of the at least one polyalkylene glycol to the at least one lubricating oil base stock is from about 1:99 to about 7:93. During operation of a lubricating system containing the lubricating oil, release of entrained air in the lubricating oil is improved, as determined by ASTM D-3427-15, as compared to release of entrained air achieved using a lubricating oil containing other than the at least one polyalkylene glycol. This disclosure also relates to lubricating oils having at least one oil soluble polyalkylene glycol (OSP).

This disclosure relates to a method for controlling lubrication of a rotary shaft seal. The method involves providing an apparatus having a bulk lubricating oil reservoir, a rotary shaft that passes through the bulk lubricating oil reservoir, and a rotary shaft seal. The rotary shaft seal has a sealing edge in proximity with the rotary shaft creating a contact zone. The contact zone has a film of lubricating oil. The method also involves increasing the rate of heat flow along the rotary shaft to reduce temperature of the film of lubricating oil in the contact zone. Increasing the rate of heat flow along the rotary shaft is accomplished by using rotary shaft materials of construction having sufficient high thermal conductivity, rotary shaft coatings having sufficient high thermal conductivities, or increasing the surface area of the rotary shaft. This disclosure also relates to a method for controlling heat transfer in a contact zone, and a method for improving performance of an apparatus.

A slewing bearing includes first and second rings and rolling elements therebetween. The first ring has a shoulder, and a cap is fixed to the first ring that, with the shoulder, defines a radially outwardly facing circumferential groove. A sealing contact member is fixed to a surface of the second ring. A first seal is mounted in the groove, and a sealing member is mounted on the cap. The first seal and the sealing member each include a sealing lip in sliding frictional contact with the sealing contact member.

A slewing bearing including a first ring, a second ring, the first and second rings being in relative rotation around a rotation axis, at least one row of rolling elements arranged between the rings, and at least two seals having each an annular heel mounted on a cylindrical frontal surface of first ring, and an oblique sealing lip in sliding frictional contact with part of the second ring. The slewing bearing further includes a guiding ring axially arranged between the two seals. The guiding ring provides a flange that prevents the reversion of one sealing lip, and an annular axial collar that radially blocks the annular heel of the other seal in a radial outwards direction.

A slewing bearing providing a first ring, a second ring, the first and second rings being in relative rotation around a rotation axis, and at least one row of rolling elements arranged between the rings. The slewing bearing is further provided with a sealing device including at least one seal having an annular heel fixed to the first ring, and a sealing lip in sliding frictional contact with the second ring, and a deflector mounted to a lateral surface of second ring and having a deflecting part that at least partially radially surrounds the sealing lip.