Reduced-weight bearing pins and methods of manufacturing such bearing pins

• Main Author: Hallman, Darren Lee
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.03.2019
• Subjects: AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; BEARINGS; BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; GEARING; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A method of designing and manufacturing a bearing pin having an external bearing pin geometry includes generating a first pin model conforming to the external bearing pin geometry. One or more operational loads to be applied to the bearing pin are then simulated on the first pin model to identifying at least one first internal region of the first pin model in which at least one of stress, strain, and displacement are below a first predetermined limit. The method further includes generating a final pin model based on the first pin model by forming a first void by removing the at least one first internal region from the first pin model. The bearing pin is then manufactured in accordance with the final pin model.