US aerospace bearings come to Europe

Bearings from the RA Rodriguez aerospace range are fitted to almost all military and civil aircraft in the Western world, including many spacecraft. With this high profile it is clear why the Accurate Bushing Company in the USA, the manufacturer of Smith Bearing Products, has chosen this Hertfordshire based company as its European factory representative for its aerospace bearings. Boeing approved and conforming to MS, AS and NAS standards, the Smith airframe track roller bearings fall into yoke types and stud types. They are typically used in wing flap mechanisms. The YAD and YAS single and double row bearings comprise inner and outer rings, needle rollers and end washers; the YAF and YAT series also have thrust seals. Complementing the yoke types is the YAG housing mounted models. RA Rodriguez is also now responsible for the HRS integrated stud type airframe bearings and the CHRS, crowned series. For corrosion protection the outer ring surface of all models is chromium plated and other exposed surfaces are cadmium or zinc-nickel plated. In addition to 5210 standard bearing steel, Smith aircraft bearings can also be specified in 440C stainless steel, a special grade that is extremely strong and naturally, corrosion resistant.