SBIR-STTR Award

New and future space gimbal applications are targeting operational lifetimes of 10 - 15 years. Current contact bearing technology is limited by adhesive wear, lubricant depletion and Lewis acid effects from reaching these lifetimes for high duty cycle applications such as space gimbal systems. SSG Precision Optronics proposes the development of long life bearing technologies to extend operational lifetimes to several hundreds of million cycles. These technologies include: TiC coated pseudo-hybrid and ceramic hybrid bearings; bearing manufacturing practices; and a novel flex-bearing concept. The proposed technologies mitigate debris generation from adhesive wear and Lewis acid effects. Previous work performed by SSGPO addressed lubricant depletion through the use of a passive lubricant release system. When brought together, these technologies are expected to bring contact bearings to the desired 15 year goals. The Phase 1 effort will prototype and evaluate these contact bearing technologies under simulated conditions. A successful evaluation will provide a basis for the design and development of a prototype space gimbal system in Phase 2 that is well supported by life-time test data. The proposed area of study has important implications for government and commercial applications for space mechanisms as well as for similar ground based gimbal systems.

Keywords:
Long-Life Bearings, Tic Coated Bearings, Ceramic Hybrid Bearings, Flex-Bearing, Space Gimbal Systems

SSG Precision Optronics proposes the development and application of a space-compatible long life contact bearing technology. The bearing development proposed expands on our Phase I work where a number of unconventional bearing materials (SiN balls and TiCN coated bearing races) have been assessed for long life. A significant portion of our Phase II activity is directed toward improving and qualifying our bearing test facility, making long life testing over a broad range of operating temperatures possible. Facility qualification will be followed with life testing of a number of unconventional bearing elements. Raytheon will be working with SSG during our activity, in order to assure that the requirements and configurations used are consistent with the needs of the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) mission (see attached support letter). Once an optimal bearing configuration has been defined a single axis gimbal system (TBD: azimuthal axis only of STSS) will be built up using mock-up components based on the current STSS design/requirements, and the hybrid bearing element. This single axis system will be available to MDA, Air Force, and/or Raytheon for performance and/or life testing in order to facilitate transfer of the long life bearing technology into the STSS program. Our overall objective is to extend the lifetime of the traditional contact-bearing based gimbal to 10 – 15 years.

Keywords:
LONG LIFE BEARINGS, TIC COATINGS, TICN COATINGS, CERAMIC HYBRID BEARINGS, SPACE GIMBAL SYSTEMS, SIN BEARINGS