# US 8,783,959 B2 · Bearing cage having lipophobic or oleophobic surface(s)

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- Number: US 8,783,959 B2
- Document ID: US8783959B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/709,186
- Filed: 2012-12-10
- Published: 2013-06-27
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-22
- Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf
- Applicants: Aktiebolaget Skf
- Inventors: Cornelia Haag; Ingo Schulz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783959B2

## CPC

- F16C 33/6681: {Details of distribution or circulation inside the bearing, e.g. grooves on the cage or passages in the rolling elements}
- F16C 33/445: {Coatings}
- F16C 33/565: {Coatings}
- F16C 2202/60: Oil repelling
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

A bearing cage has an annular structure with a plurality of pockets defined therein. At least one first surface area of the annular structure is made from, or is coated with, a first material having lipophobic and/or oleophobic properties. A rolling-element bearing includes this bearing cage, a plurality of roller bodies respectively disposed in the pockets, and a lubricant that forms a contact angle of at least 90° when disposed on the first material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bearing cage comprising:
an annular structure having a plurality of pockets defined therein, wherein at least one first surface area of the annular structure is made from, or is coated with, a first material having lipophobic, oleophobic, or both lipophobic and oleophobic properties,
wherein at least one second surface area of the annular structure is coated with a second material that is less lipophobic, less oleophobic, or both less lipophobic and less oleophobic than the first material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein the first material is disposed on one or more surfaces at least substantially, or entirely, outside the pockets.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The bearing cage according to claim 2, wherein the second material is bounded on two opposite sides by the first material so as to define a channel configured to transport a hydrophobic lubricant.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The bearing cage according to claim 3, wherein the lubricant transport channel is tapered at least in part.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The bearing cage according to claim 4, wherein a first end of the lubricant transport channel leads to a point or location in need of lubrication.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The bearing cage according to claim 5, wherein the point or location in need of lubrication is a contact point configured to contact a roller body or a bearing race.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The bearing cage according to claim 6, wherein a second end of the lubricant transport channel is adjacent to, or in fluid communication with, a location configured to collect lubricant.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The bearing cage according to claim 7, wherein the lubricant transport channel has a width sufficiently narrow to cause lubricant to move through it by capillary action.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The bearing cage according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the lubricant transport channels respectively lead to a plurality of contact points.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The bearing cage according to claim 9, wherein the first material comprises nanofilaments.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The bearing cage according to claim 10, wherein the nanofilaments are silicone nanofilaments made from a silane.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The bearing cage according to claim 11, wherein the silicone nanofilaments are made from a trichorosilane.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The bearing cage according to claim 12, wherein the silicone nanofilaments are made from perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane (PFOTS).

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The bearing cage according to claim 10, wherein the nanofilaments are made from polymethylsilsesquioxane.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The bearing cage according to claim 10, wherein the nanofilaments are made from a fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silesquioxane.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The bearing cage according to claim 9, wherein the first material is super-amphiphobic.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

A rolling-element bearing comprising:
the bearing cage according to claim 10,
a plurality of roller bodies respectively disposed in the pockets, and
a lubricant, wherein the lubricant forms a contact angle of at least 90° when disposed on the first material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The rolling-element bearing according to claim 17, wherein the lubricant forms a contact angle of at least 120° when disposed on the first material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The rolling-element bearing according to claim 18, wherein the lubricant forms a contact angle of at least 150° when disposed on the first material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The bearing cage according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second surface area of the annular structure is coated with an oleophilic material, a lipophilic material, or both an oleophilic material and a lipophilic material.