Patent ID: 7736063
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. Rolling element bearing apparatus comprising: an inner race having an outward facing raceway surface; an outer race having an inward facing raceway surface; plural electrically nonconductive rolling elements situated between said inner race and outer race, said rolling elements effecting rolling contact with said outward facing raceway surface and said inward facing raceway surface and revolving in a circumferential path around a geometric rotational axis when said inner race and said outer race are characterized by relative rotational motion with respect to said rotational axis; a housing defining a fluid-tight chamber accommodative of said circumferential path; electrorheological fluid partially filling said chamber, wherein each revolving said rolling element contacts some said electrorheological fluid and carries a quantity of said electrorheological fluid; a pair of annular disk-shaped electrodes situated parallel and opposite to each other, each said electrode extending perpendicularly from one of said outward facing raceway surface and said inward facing raceway surface and being separated from the other of said outward facing raceway surface and said inward facing raceway surface, said inner race being electrically nonconductive if said electrodes extend from said outward facing raceway surface, said outer race being electrically nonconductive if said electrodes extend from said inward facing raceway surface, wherein upon electrification of said electrodes an electric field is established between said electrodes so as to retain therebetween some said electrorheological fluid, a lubricative electrorheological fluid coating thereby remaining on at least a portion of said inward facing raceway surface.