Patent ID: 8172716
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: F02C,F05D,F16H,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A epicyclic gear assembly, comprising: an assembly having a ring gear, sun gear, and at least one star gear enmeshed between the ring gear and sun gear; a carrier disposed adjacent the rotatable sun gear and star gear; and a journal bearing disposed in the at least one star gear and connected to the carrier, the journal bearing having an outer radial surface with an amorphous surface finish of less than about 5 micro inches (127 micro mm) measured on an R wherein the outer radial surface interfaces with an inner surface of the star gear, and wherein the inner radial surface of the star gear is formed by a soft metal and the outer radial surface of the journal bearing formed by a hard metal such that during operation of the epicyclic gear assembly the inner radial surface of the star gear is worn by the outer radial surface of the journal bearing such that the inner radial surface of the star gear conforms to the outer radial surface of the journal bearing.