# US 6,293,702 B1 · Rolling bearing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,293,702 B1 - Document ID: US6293702B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/494,422 - Filed: 2000-01-31 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 1999-01-29 - Assignees: Nsk Ltd. - Inventors: Hiromitsu Muraki; Hiroshi Tani; Takashi Seshimo; Toru Takamizawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293702B1 ## CPC - F16C 19/54: Systems consisting of a plurality of bearings with rolling friction (spindle bearings F16C35/08) - F16C 25/06: Ball or roller bearings - F16C 33/6603: {with grease as lubricant} - F16C 33/6648: {in a porous or resinous body, e.g. a cage impregnated with the liquid} - F16C 11/04: Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) - F16C 2370/12: Hard disk drives or the like - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A rolling bearing according to the present invention comprises an inner race 29, an outer race 31 and a plurality of balls 37 disposed therebetween. The inner race 29 has a raceway surface on its outer peripheral surface. The outer race 31 includes a raceway surface on its inner peripheral surface. The balls 37 are rotatably interposed between the raceway surfaces of the inner and outer races. A lubricant is enclosed in a space 41 formed between the raceways of the outer and inner races by an amount of 0.3% to 3% of the capacity of the space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rolling bearing comprising: an inner race with a raceway surface on its outer peripheral surface; an outer race with a raceway surface on its inner peripheral surface; a plurality of rolling elements rotatably interposed between the raceway surfaces of said inner and outer races; a retainer disposed between said inner and outer races for rotatably holding said rolling elements; and a lubricant enclosed in a space formed between said raceway surfaces of said outer and inner races by an amount of 0.3% to 3% of the capacity of said space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein said lubricant is enclosed in said space is one of a lubricating oil and grease. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rolling bearing according to claim 2, wherein said lubricant is selected from the group consisting of urea-containing grease, fluorine-containing grease, ester-containing oil and fluorine-containing oil. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The rolling bearing according to claim 2, further comprising: a pair of seal members disposed at both ends of a space defined between said inner race and said outer race in an axial direction of the bearing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rolling bearing according to claim 4, wherein each of said seal members is attached to one of said inner and outer races. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein said lubricant is enclosed in said space while said lubricant is made in the form of a coating or a thin film which is formed at least on said raceway surfaces and on the surfaces of said rolling elements by vacuum drying a diluted lubricating oil. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The rolling bearing according to claim 6, wherein both ends of a space defined between said inner race and said outer race in an axial direction of the bearing is opened. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein said rolling bearing is used for a swing arm provided in a magnetic disk apparatus. ### Claim 9 A rolling bearing comprising: an inner race with a raceway surface on its outer peripheral surface; an outer race with a raceway surface on its inner peripheral surface; a plurality of rolling elements rotatably interposed between the raceway surfaces of said inner and outer races; a retainer disposed between said inner and outer races for rotatably holding said rolling elements; and a coating or a thin film which is formed at least on said raceway surfaces and on the surfaces of said rolling elements by vacuum drying a diluted lubricating oil. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The rolling bearing according to claim 9, wherein said diluted lubricating oil is an amount of 0.3% to 3% of the capacity of a space between said raceways of said outer and inner races. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The rolling bearing according to claim 9, wherein both ends of a space defined between said inner race and said outer race in an axial direction of the bearing is opened. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The rolling bearing according to claim 9, wherein said rolling bearing is used for a swing arm provided in a magnetic disk apparatus. ### Claim 13 A rolling bearing comprising: an inner race with a raceway surface on its outer peripheral surface; an outer race with a raceway surface on its inner peripheral surface; a plurality of rolling elements rotatably interposed between the raceway surfaces of said inner and outer races; a retainer disposed between said inner and outer races for rotatably holding said rolling elements; and a first film member which is formed at least on said raceway surfaces by vacuum drying a diluted lubricating oil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The rolling bearing according to claim 13, wherein said retainer has a plurality of pockets within which said plurality of rolling elements are rotatably held respectively, and said rolling bearing further comprises a second film member which is formed by vacuum drying a diluted lubricating oil at least on sliding surface of each of said pockets where said pockets are brought in sliding contact with said rolling elements respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The rolling bearing according to claim 14, wherein each of said rolling elements is a ball made of ceramics. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The rolling bearing according to claim 14, wherein both ends of a space defined between said inner race and said outer race in an axial direction of the bearing is opened. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The rolling bearing according to claim 14, wherein said rolling bearing is used for a swing arm provided in a magnetic disk apparatus.