Oscillatory & Full Rotation Bearings
Bearings
Our aerospace bearings are engineered to meet the rigorous demands of the industry, ensuring reliability and performance in critical applications. Utilizing a collaborative-design approach, our engineering team works with you to create and design bearings that are built to your specific applications and needs.
Thomson precision balls are crafted from high-quality materials and provide the optimal balance of performance, durability, and cost. Starting with the finest materials, followed by heat treatment and precision lapping, these balls are fully customized to meet customer specifications.
Our Oscillatory Bearings are designed to be lightweight yet durable, with a wide temperature range and a broad array of materials, configurations, and coatings to optimize bearing life and performance. Enhanced stiffness and improved ball/race conformity ensure extended service life, while the convenience of "on-wing" replacement, simple ball and pin removal, corrosion resistance, and custom engineering solutions cater to the unique demands of the aerospace industry. Available in various types, including Slotted-Entry, Split-Ball, Split-Race, Mounts, Supports, Linkages, Tie Rods, and Roller Bearings, these bearings are built to last.
Our Full Rotation Bearings, crafted from specialty bearing steels, offer increased fatigue life and designs that minimize weight, enhance heat resistance, and reduce overall size. Backed by expert engineering, these bearings feature specialized coatings for superior wear resistance, ensuring long-lasting performance. Available types include Ball Bearings, Cylindrical Roller Bearings, Needle Roller Bearings, and Spherical Roller Bearings. Explore our comprehensive range, supported by our commitment to quality and innovation, to find the ideal solution for your aerospace applications.
Product Solutions
Full Rotation Roller Bearings
Designed to offer minimal wear rates and extended lifespan, thanks to a rolling friction of just 1-2 percent and a precessing feature that prevents fretting damage. With internal self-alignment, these bearings accommodate misalignment during installation and use, reducing overall size. They can be relubricated to ensure longevity and resist corrosion, while their high load capacity minimizes bearing size and weight. Additionally, they handle both radial and axial loads, making them versatile for various applications. Stainless steel options are available for superior corrosion resistance.
Full Rotation Ball Bearings
Our full roatationcball bearings are designed to meet the demanding needs of helicopter gearboxes, with several types available for specific applications. Deep Groove bearings offer versatile, all-purpose support, while Angular Contact bearings are ideal for handling combined radial and axial loads. Duplex bearings provide high rigidity and precise shaft positioning, and Gothic Arch bearings are designed to manage heavy radial loads and misalignment. Each type is engineered to ensure reliable performance and extended lifespan in the challenging conditions of helicopter gearboxes.
Oscillating Roller Bearings
Our oscillating annular rolling bearings are designed to excel in aerospace applications such as flight control systems, including actuators, hinge lines, linkages, and torque tubes, as well as landing gear and door systems. These bearings offer high load-carrying capacity and maintain low friction even under substantial misalignment. We provide several annular bearing styles to suit your specific needs, including single row and double row configurations. Torque tube designs are available in both styles or can be customized with a swageable outer ring. Double row styles come with various retainer options, such as standard, standard precessing, our patented precessing center guide ring, and full-complement precessing bearings.
Rod Ends
Our slotted entry rod ends are tailored for critical aerospace applications such as flight control systems, actuators, linkages, and door systems. They deliver high load-carrying capacity and maintain low friction even under significant misalignment. With a wide array of customizable designs, these rod ends can meet diverse operating conditions and applications. They come in various mounting configurations, shapes, and internal designs, with bore sizes up to 10 inches (254 millimeters). Choose from several bearing styles, including single row and double row options, with double row styles featuring standard or precessing retainers, our patented precessing center guide ring, and full-complement precessing bearings to suit your specific needs.
Spherical Plain Bearings
Our slotted entry bearings are designed for practicality and durability, featuring a unique two-piece design where the inner ring, or ball, has a spherical race to accommodate misalignment. The outer ring or rod end includes an entry window, allowing for simple insertion or removal of the ball. This design enables the balls to be fitted to the outer member post-manufacturing, resulting in a higher-strength outer race compared to formed designs. One of the key advantages is the ease of replacement, as the bearings can be swapped out without disassembling the entire aircraft component.
Precision Balls
Delevan's Precision balls are crafted to deliver exceptional performance and reliability, making them a top choice for various bearing designs and high-precision aerospace components.. Whether you need a standard solution or a custom configuration, Thomson's precision balls are designed to meet the most demanding specifications.