Magnetic ball bearing assembly using ferrolubricants
AssigneeFerrofluidics Corporation
InventorsRonald Moskowitz, Wesley C. Howe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A roller assembly utilizes a ferrofluid as a lubricant (ferrolubricant). Integral structural portions of the assembly are made to have magnetic portions which create their own magnetic field gradient causing magnetic field maxima at points immediately surrounding the contact point between a particular roller element and its raceway. This in turn entrains the ferrolubricant around the contact point thus ensuring continued lubrication of contacting surfaces. Further, the entraining action prevents leakage of the ferrolubricant from the assembly.
Claims3
In a coupling mechanism having first and second races and raceways located in the races, an improvement to the lubrication of the mechanism comprising:
- permanently magnetized rolling elements positioned in the raceways for rolling contact therewith, to permit rotation of the races relative to one another;
- the magnetized elements further producing a magnetic field within the mechanism, flux density being maximized at wear surfaces, defined at contact points between the elements and the raceways;
- and
- ferrolubricant material in the mechanism and entrained at the contact points by the magnetic influence of the maximized flux density.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.