An improved bearing structure is described which includes a permanently magnetized porous body filled with an interstitial magnetic lubricant for extending the operational life of self-lubricating bearings. The bearing structure is characterized by a permanently magnetized retainer formed of a porous material and filled with an interstitial magnetic lubricant, whereby the pores serve as lubricant reservoirs from which the lubricant continuously is delivered to a film disposed between contiguous bearing surfaces

Whitaker, A. F.

English

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PRINT FIG.
NOTICE
The invention disclosed in this document resulted from
research in aeronautical and space activities performed under
programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The invention is owned by NASA and is, therefore, avaiicc^c
for licensing in accordance with the NASA Patent Licensing
Regulation (14 Code of Federal Regulations 1245.2).
To encourage commercial utilization of NASA-owned inven-
tions, it is NASA policy to grant licenses to commercial
concerns. Although NASA encourages nonexclusive licensinc
to promote competition and achieve the widest possible utili-
zation, NASA will consider the granting of a limited exclusive
license, pursuant to the NASA Patent Licensing Regulations,
when such a license will provide the necessary incentive v.o
the. licensee to achieve early practical application of tht=
invention.
Address inquiries and all applications for licence for
this invention to NASA Patent Counsel, George C. Marshal].
Space Flight Center, Mail Code A&TS-PA", Huntsvilic, .'.Ia^c.:;,Cw,
35812. Approved NASA forms for application for n
or exclusive license are available from the
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750004256 2020-03-23T03:14:57+00:00Z
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NASA Case A>. MFS-23009~*
Marshall Space Flight Center
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT
A SELF-LUBRICATING BEARING
The invention relates to bearing structures
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particularly suited for use in environments requiring self-
lubricating bearings having an extended operational life.
The bearing structure is characterized by a bearing
retainer 16 formed of a permanently magnetized porous material
filled with an interstitial magnetic lubricant, whereby the pores
serve as lubricantreservoirs from which the lubricant
"continuously is delivered to a film 22 disposed between contiguous
bearing surfaces of a ball 20, an internal race 12 and an
external race 14. A further embodiment includes a journal shaft
formed of a similar material for similar reasons.
The invention resides in employing a permanently
magnetized, porous body filled with an interstitial magnetic
lubricant from which the lubricant is delivered to a film
interposed between contiguous bearing surfaces.
Inventor: Ann F. Whitaker •
Employer: NASA - MSFC
Application Serial No._: . 522,55.7..
Date Filed: November 11, 1974
32
NASA CASE
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Wayland H. Riggins
APPLICATION FOR LETTERS PATENT
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
BE IT KNOWN THAT Ann F. Whitaker, a citizen of the
United States of America, residing in Huntsville, County of
Madison, State of Alabama, has invented certain new and useful
improvements in A SELF-LUBRICATING BEARING of which the
following is a specification:
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NASA Case No. MFS-23009
A SELF-LUBRICATING BEARING
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved bearing structure including a permanently
magnetized porous body filled with an interstitial magnetic
lubricant for extending the operational life of self-lubricating
bearings. The bearing structure is characterized by a permanently
magnetized retainer formed of a porous material and filled with
an interstitial magnetic lubricant, whereby the pores serve as
lubricant reservoirs from which the lubricant continuously is
delivered to a film disposed between contiguous bearing surfaces.
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
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The invention described herein was made by an employee
of the United States Government and may be manufactured and used
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by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the
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payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to bearings and more
particularly to an improved, self-lubricating bearing having an
extended operational life.
Bearing systems presently are lubricated by one of
several techniques, including that of packing with selected
greases, employing self-lubricating retainers formed of phenolic
materials, and utilizing dry film lubricants. Unfortunately,
bearings thus lubricated often fail because of a collection of
debris or through a loss or drying of the lubricant.
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It is, therefore, the general purpose of the instant
invention to provide an improved, self-lubricating bearing
having an extended operational life span, and unimpaired overall
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efficiency.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the instant invention to
provide an improved self-lubricating bearing which overcomes the
aforementioned difficulties and disadvantages.
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It is another object to provide a bearing having an
extended operational life span.
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It is another object to provide in a self-lubricating
bearing means for continuously introducing a lubricant between
contiguous surfaces.
It is another object to provide in a s'elf-lubricating
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bearing a permanently magnetized porous body filled with an
interstitial magnetic lubricant.
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It is another object to provide in a self-lubricating
-bearing a permanently magnetized bearing retainer formed of a
porous material and filled with an interstitial magnetic
lubricant.
It is another object to provide in a self-lubricating
bearing, of a type including a curved surface and an annular
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20; bearing a porous body filled with an interstitial lubricant.
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Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along
array of discrete bearings seated on the surface, the improvement
comprising a bearing retainer including a permanently magnetized
body formed of a porous material and filled with an interstitial
magnetic lubricant.
These and other objects and advantages are achieved
through the use of an interstitial magnetic lubricant, such as
oil or low viscosity grease, confined within reservoirs defined by
the pores of a permanently magnetized porous body, as will
hereinafter, become more readily apparent by reference to the
following description and claims in light of the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the
instant invention comprising a self-lubricating bearing which
I19;! includes a permanently magnetized bearing retainer formed from|
20! a porous material and filled with an interstitial magnetic
lubricant.
22
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bearing retainer
shown in Fig. 1.
line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a fragmented partially sectioned view of a
further embodiment comprising a journal bearing having a
permanently magnetized journal formed of a porous material and
filled with an interstitial magnetic lubricant.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now with more particularity to the drawings
wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding
parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. 1 a
bearing structure, generally designated 10, which embodies the
principles of the instant invention.
The structure 10, as shown in Fig. 1, includes an
annular inner race 12, an annular outer race 14 concentrically
related to the inner race and a bearing retainer 16, also of an
annular configuration interposed between the 'races. The retainer
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16, in practice, includes a plurality of bearing receiving open-
ings, designated 18, within which there is seated a plurality of
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balls 20.
The bearing retainer 16, as shown, is fabricated from a
suitable, ferromagnetic material, such as a porous steel, which
becomes permanently magnetized when subjected to; a magnetic field
beyond its saturation level. The fabrication techniques employed
in fabricating the retainer 16, such as casting, sintering, and
machining and the like, are techniques which are well understood
by those familiar with the fabrication of bearings and similar
structures. It is to be understood that the fabricated retainer
16 is permanently magnetized by being subjected to a magnetic
field ,of a suitable density and thereafter included within the
bearing structure 10 during its assembly.
Once the bearing structure 10 has been assembled, the
pores are filled with a magnetic lubricant. Such lubricant
includes those magnetic fluids which comprise a carrier fluid
31ji such as water, hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, and magnetic
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particles such as ferrite, chromium dioxides, and magnetite.
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Since magnetic lubricants are well known, a more detailed
description thereof is omitted in the interest of brevity.
It should, of course, be readily apparent that once
the magnetic lubricant is introduced into the pores of the
bearing retainer 16, the pores act as a myriad of reservoirs
and the lubricant becomes an interstitial magnetic lubricant
which is introduced between the contiguous surfaces of the balls
20 and the inner and outer races 12 and 14. Thus, a film of
friction-reducing lubricants, designated 22, continuously is
provided.
FURTHER EMBODIMENT
Turning now to Fig. 4, there is illustrated a self-
.lubricating bearing structure 30, which comprised a further
embodiment of the instant invention. ;
As shown, the bearing structure 30 includes a journal
shaft 32 and an annular journal bearing 34 concentrically
related to the shaft 32. The journal shaft 32 is fabricated
from a material having characteristics similar to the
characteristics of the material utilized in the fabr-ication of
the bearing retainer 16. It will, of course, be appreciated
that the load-bearing characteristics of the journal shaft -32
may be reduced due to the porous nature of the material from
which the shaft is fabricated.
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In any event, it is to be understood that a magnetic
lubricant, similar to the fluid hereinbefore described in
connection with the description of the bearing structure 10,
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is introduced into the pores of the shaft 32. This lubricant
serves to develop a film, designated 36, between 'the contiguous
surfaces of the journal bearing 34 and the journal shaft.
OPERATION
It is believed that in view of the foregoing
description, the operation of the device will readily be
understood and it will be briefly reviewed at this point.
When employing the bearing structure, designated 10,
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the interstitial magnetic lubricant is retained in the
reservoirs defined by the pores within the bearing retainer 16
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by the magnetic flux emanating from the retainer! Due to the
effects of surface tension, the reservoirs serve to deliver,
continuously, lubricant to the film of lubricant 22 disposed
between the contiguous surfaces of the balls 20 and the inner
and outer races, designated 12 and 14, respectively, for thus
reducing friction. ,
When employing the journal bearing structure,
designated 30, the interstitial magnetic lubricant is retained
in reservoirs defined by the pores provided within the journal
shaft 32,, by the field of flux emanating from the shaft. However,
this lubricant serves to deliver lubricant to the film 36 dis-
posed between the adjacent surfaces of the journal bearing 34 and
the shaft for thus reducing friction.
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In view of the foregoing, it should readily be
apparent that the self-lubricating bearing structures, which
embody the principles of the instant invention, provide a
practical solution to the perplexing problem of extending the
operational life span of bearing structures.
Although the invention has been herein shown and
described in what are conceived to be the most practical and1,1
preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be
made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not
to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.
This is the end of the patent
specification. There are no
claims attached. .•
7.


A self-lubricating bearing

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