Ceramic ball bearings and assembly
US6505974B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C2226/34
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A ceramic ball bearing assembly (20) has raceway components generally held in residual compression by accompanying metal attachments. In a ceramic ball bearing assembly (20), an outer raceway (22) is formed that is held in compression by a circumscribing steel ring. The components may be fitted together with the ceramic raceway subject to thermal contraction while the steel ring is subject to thermal expansion. Upon mating, the ceramic raceway (22) slightly expands while the steel ring slightly contracts to impose residual compression upon the ceramic raceway. The residual compression preserves the ceramic raceway despite thermal or other stresses of operating environment. An inner ceramic raceway (24) is constructed by employing one of several of the herein described methods, and the ceramic ball bearing assembly of the present invention may use balls (26), needles, cylinders, or other rolling elements in order to achieve smooth angular translation between the inner and outer ceramic raceways.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.