Patent ID: 8496382
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. A method of improving the wear resistance of bi-directional tapered roller bearings; the roller bearings comprising a tapered inner raceway, a tapered outer raceway facing the tapered inner raceway, a plurality of tapered rollers positioned between the tapered inner raceway and the tapered outer raceway, the tapered rollers having a side surface, a large end face at a large diameter end of the tapered roller and a small end face at a small diameter end of the tapered roller; a first rib at an axial outer edge of the inner raceway; a second rib at an axial inner edge of the inner raceway; a third rib at an axial outer edge of the outer raceway, the first rib, the second rib and the third rib respectively define a first rib face, a second rib face and a third rib face, the first rib face and the third rib face being adjacent the large end of the tapered roller and the second rib face being adjacent the small end of the tapered roller, wherein the method comprises: applying a roller tribological coating comprising WC/a-C:H to both the large end and the small end of the tapered roller, the roller tribological coating having a hardness of at least 9 GPa that is harder than internally-generated metallic debris particles within the bearing; and applying a rib tribological coating to one or more of the first rib face, the second rib face and the third rib face, wherein applying the rib tribological coating comprises: the roller and rib tribological coatings prevent abrasive wear of the roller ends and the respective one or more of the first rib face, the second rib face and the third rib face caused by the metallic debris particles.