Metal-lubricated helical-groove bearing comprising an anti-wetting layer
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorsJan Gerkema, Jozef B. Pelzer
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Abstract
In order to prevent the escape of metal lubricant in a helical-groove bearing, the helical-groove bearing is provided with an anti-wetting layer on the surfaces which adjoin the helically grooved surfaces and which could act as a creepage path for the metal lubricant. An extremely accurate definition of the bearing portions to be wetted by the lubricant is also obtained by means of these layers. Thus, more complex bearings can also be locally provided with a metal lubricant.
Claims15
In a device comprising a helical-groove bearing having bearing surfaces and a liquid metal lubricant, and surface areas adjoining said bearing surfaces, the improvement wherein said surface areas of the bearing, which could form a part of a creepage path for the lubricant, are locally provided with an anti-wetting layer consisting mainly of titanium oxide for repelling the metal lubricant.
In a device including an evacuated housing, a shaft within said housing, bearing means for rotatably supporting said shaft and including a helically grooved bearing surface on said shaft, a bearing seat mounted in said housing, and a liquid metal lubricant between said bearing surface and the bearing seat, said bearing seat and bearing surface being wettable by said lubricant, said shaft having a surface wettable by said lubricant adjoining said bearing surface, the improvement comprising a layer on said adjoining surface of a material that is not wettable by said lubricant, said layer consisting mainly of titanium oxide, whereby said layer inhibits escape of said lubricant from said bearing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.