What is a Bearing Insulator & How Does It Help Prevent Current Damage?
A bearing insulator is an insulator type part manufactured with the outer diameter insulated or the inner diameter insulated and is designed to mitigate the circulating rotor currents that can harm or cause damage to any bearings surrounding the device.
A good practice to prevent current damage so as to not overburden the bearing insulator is either to use hybrid ceramic bearings or to insulate the non-drive end shaft bearing journal with a ceramic (aluminum oxide AL2O3).
Having good insulated bearings can help you prevent any scenarios where you might encounter bearings to fail prematurely as a result of stray
fastener electrical currents. Damage to your bearings can happen when the electrical currents use the rolling contact as a conducting path.
In order to ensure you have a good bearing insulator to prevent this, you must have the Insulation properties remain stable throughout any type of environmental conditions. This especially includes conditions in which bearings are stored, managed and operated in humid climates.
In regards to bearings, they are at a resistive state when in a mixed lubrication climate with increased resistance. In this climate, low electrical currents in the range of a few amperes have the potential to be dangerous. The bearing is at a standstill In the conductive state and shows a low ohmic resistance. Welding current and other high amperage currents can damage the surface in part because of the decent metal-to-metal electrical contact.
The resistive state is present if the bearing is in a mixed lubrication regime with increased ohmic resistance. In this type of surrounding, any low degree of electrical currents in the range of just a few amperes can run the risk of being potentially dangerous. In contrast when a bearing is in the capacitive state, it is in a fully lubricated environment and behaves like an
electric capacitor with a specific breakdown voltage. Electrical discharge machining or EDM happens when the electric field strength in the lubricated surface of the contact zone is high enough.
If you are in need of acquiring a quality
bearing insulator to prevent any electrical current damage to your bearings, contact our team now and we can get your needed parts ASAP. As a FAA certified company with a No China Sourcing policy, we are leading the pack as a top independent aviation distributor. In our efforts to ensure every bearing insulator we send is 100% airworthy, every item that we source is rigorously tested for quality assurance before it is sent out to our customers.
At ASAP Sourcing Solutions, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find bearing insulators,
bearings, and other unique parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asapsourcingsolutions.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.
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mark watkins
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Posted on April 9, 2020
aerospace news