Bearing systems
AssigneeSystems Integration and Research, Inc.
InventorsGray D. Hobby, Bernard A. Riggs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Bearings are made having at least one surface made of an amorphous alloy having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.5 and having a tensile strength of 1.0 GPa or greater. In the case of a bearing shaft, the shaft can be smaller than a comparable steel shaft. Articles can be fabricated by heating the amorphous metal to a temperature above its plastic flow temperature and below its crystallization temperature so that it is flowable. The heated material is molded or formed into a desired shape and then the molded article is cooled to its metastable, amorphous state. A preferred configuration for the bearing shaft is in a parabola of revolution form so it acts as a thrust bearing.
Claims28
A bearing having at least one surface made of an amorphous alloy having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.5, having a crystallization temperature lower than 497.degree. C. and having a tensile strength of 1.0 GPa or greater.
In a structure having two surfaces in moving frictional contact, the improvement comprising providing at least one of the surfaces with an amorphous alloy having a coefficient of friction of less than about 0.5 and having a high tensile strength of about 1.0 GPa or greater.
A method of making an article of an amorphous alloy having a coefficient of friction of less than about 0.5 and having a high tensile strength of about 1.0 GPa or greater comprising:
- (a) heating an amorphous metal to a temperature above its plastic flow temperature and below its crystallization temperature so that it is flowable;
- (b) molding or forming the heated flowable material into a desired shape;
- and
- (c) cooling the molded amorphous metal article to its metastable state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.