Ball and roller bearings and bearing components

Abstract

Improved structures in bearings operable to receive and support shafts or members which are supported for rotation on shafts or pins are disclosed. In one form, just the inner cylindrical surface of a solid bearing made of metal or hard ceramic material is coated with a synthetic diamond material deposited in situ therein as carbon atoms by means of high energy radiation, which also serves to form synthetic diamond structures of layers of such carbon atoms so deposited. In another form, the entire race of a multiple part bearing is coated with synthetic diamond material. In a third form, a rolling member type bearing, such as a ball or roller bearing, is provided containing an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of balls, rollers, or other rolling members supported between the inner and outer race. In certain instances, the rolling members are retained by means of a cage supported therebetween. The rolling members, inner and outer races, and, when employed, the cage, are all coated with hard synthetic diamond material deposited in situ thereon as described. Alternatively, select portions of the components of the bearing may be coated to the exclusion of other portions thereof. In all forms, the synthetic diamond material coating may be overcoated with thin layers of chromium, chromium alloys, or similar materials.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.