High-speed precision ball bearing testing machines

Investigation has been carried out for several years on the performance of precision ball bearings of small diameter, as employed, for example, in instrument gyroscopes, and, machines have been developed for the measurement of frictional torque and vibrations in bearings of 5 to 15 mm bore, running at speeds as high as 60,000 rpm. Machines have now been built for torque measurement. A machine consists of a high-speed driving unit, arrangements for applying variable radial and axial loads, and a sensitive recording torque meter. Because of the high speeds involved,, and the need for great sensitivity, air bearings, specially developed for the purpose, are used throughout. These bearings have proved entirely satisfactory and have given some thousands of hours service without attention¹.

Drive to the main spindle, whereon the test bearing is mounted, is provided by a high-frequency motor, which is mounted above, and supplied by a variable-speed motor-alternator set housed in the machine base. An endless belt made from pure silk, impregnated with linseed oil dressing, is used to transmit the drive from the crowned motor pulley to the main spindle. The inner race of the ball bearing under test is held in position on the end of the high-speed spindle by means of a nut, and the outer race is clamped axially in a housing which floats freely in a secondary air bearing and serves as a virtually frictionless support.

Radial loads can be applied by dead weights acting through the air film of the secondary bearing. Axial loads are applied pneumatically, so that no rotational constraint is imposed on the test bearing, and provision is made for lubricating the bearing with oil mist while tests are being carried out. Friction in the bearing is detected and measured with the aid of a torque arm fixed to the housing carrying the outer race.

A photocell is arranged at one end of the arm to detect any movement due to frictional torque, and the resulting electrical signal is amplified and fed back to a moving coil wound on a copper former fixed to the torque arm, the coil being arranged to move in the field of a permanent magnet.

1. have given some thousands of hours service without attention - работают несколько тысяч часов без обслуживания

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27