Patent · US Expired

Bearing assembly with polycrystalline superlattice coating

US5593234A · kind A · utility

84Cited by
5References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 16, 1995
Grant dateJan 14, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 16, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/30
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An improved bearing assembly includes a superhard polycrystalline superlattice coating disposed on one or more surfaces. The coating is formed in layers from materials selected from the group consisting of ceramics, metals, alloys, nitrides, borides, carbides and oxides of transition metals, other metals and alloys, carbon, and combinations thereof. The bearing assembly includes a first race having a first load supporting surface and a second race disposed in a spaced relation with said first race, wherein the second race has a second load supporting surface. The bearing assembly further includes a rolling element assembly disposed in communication with the first race and the second race and sized for rolling movement between the first load supporting surface of the first race and the second load supporting surface of the second race. Preferred selections for the coating material are composite coatings including two or more layers of a titanium nitride/niobium nitride period or a titanium nitride/carbon nitride period in a multiple-period arrangement. The bearing assembly having this coating is operable for enhanced durability.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.