Prestressing shock resistant mechanical components and mechanisms made from hard, superelastic materials
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorChristopher DellaCorte
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus confer full superelastic properties to the active surface of a mechanical component constructed of a superelastic material prior to service. A compressive load is applied to the active surface of the mechanical component followed by removing the compressive load from the active surface whereby substantially all load strain is recoverable after applying and removing of subsequent compressive loads.
Claims9
A method for conferring full superelastic properties to a contacting surface of a mechanical component constructed of a superelastic material prior to service, comprising:
- applying a compressive load to the contacting surface of the mechanical component;
- removing the compressive load from the contacting surface whereby substantially all load strain is recoverable after applying and removing of subsequent compressive loads;
- selecting the mechanical component to be inner and outer ball bearing raceway tracks forming the contacting surface;
- applying the compressive load to the bearing raceway tracks with a plurality of balls;
- and
- selecting the plurality of balls to have a diameter larger than the diameter of balls to be used in service.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.