Patent ID: 9638253
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: F16C

Claim:
1. A rolling element bearing comprising: an inner ring; an outer ring; a plurality of rolling elements disposed between an outer surface of the inner ring and an inner surface of the outer ring; a bearing shield assembly comprising a first member having an annular surface that faces the plurality of rolling elements, the first member either extending from the inner ring towards the outer ring to define a gap between the first member and the outer ring, or extending from the outer ring towards the inner ring to define a gap between the first member and the inner ring; and a first coating containing at least one of a fluorocarbon and a silicone, the first coating covering at least a portion of the first member adjacent the gap and forming a first low surface energy surface adjacent the gap; wherein the bearing has a configuration of one of: the first and second low surface energy surfaces each have a surface energy of ≦0.028 N/m; the first coating has a thickness of 0.2 to 10.5 μm; the second coating has a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 μm; and wherein the bearing is loaded with MT33 grease to lubricate motion of the rolling elements relative to the outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring, and the first coating and the second coating are each comprised of EGC 2702 having a thickness of 0.2-0.5 μm.