Hydrodynamic bearings and boundary lubricated system with DLC bumps
US6499881B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C2370/12
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for keeping the imperfectly machined surfaces of bearings apart at rest. The system includes a first bearing surface which moves facing a second bearing surface, the first surface having a distribution of discrete diamond-like carbon (DLC) pads deposited upon an adhesion layer. The DLC pads are at a height which is approximately the height of the roughness or imperfections of the surfaces. The pads are distributed over the surface at approximately three pads to forty pads or more per square inch. The pads keep the bearing surfaces from coming in contact. Also disclosed is a hydrodynamic bearing having a thrust plate having hydrodynamic grooves and DLC pads on a thrust surface, and a rotor member having an end facing the thrust plate, and a ball and socket bearing having DLC pads deposited on either the socket surface or ball surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.