Abstract:
A bearing with shallow grooves on the surface of the rolling element. In addition, pockets of lubricant are carried in its own internal structure via a network of through-holes crossing at its center which release lubricant to the grooves and surface of the rolling element upon the rotation of the bearing assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to bearings, and in particular to a grooved bearing ball and rolling element providing more effective distribution of lubricant within a bearing assembly. 
     Bearing manufacturers are constantly struggling with ways to properly lubricate the bearing assemblies of their rotating machinery. Many systems have been designed depicting methods for the introduction of lubricants to the bearings and ways of dispersing the lubricants to the contact points within the bearings. However, to the best of applicant&#39;s knowledge, none of systems and methods in the prior art focus on the rolling element (ball or roller) as a carrier of its own lubricant. 
     One of the known problems with current bearing technology is that on occasion oil and/or grease is not evenly distributed across the width of the bearing assembly and contact surfaces. When not in use over an extended period of time, lubricating oil and grease will tend to settle to the lower end of the bearing assembly. Hence, when the shaft starts rotating at high speeds, the upper part of the bearing assembly is starved for lubrication and dry spots form on the contacting surfaces. This will eventually result in premature failure due to heat created by excessive friction and lack of proper lubrication. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a more positive flow of lubricant and movement of the lubricating medium within the bearing assembly, thereby prevent dry spots from developing while the assembly is in operation. This will enable the bearing to extend its life expectancy and performance. 
     The present invention meets this objective by focusing on a rolling element design that enhances the distribution of lubricant. The present invention provides shallow grooves on the external surface of the rolling element. In addition, pockets of lubricant are carried in the rolling element&#39;s own internal structure via a network of through-holes crossing at its center wherefrom lubricant is released upon the rotation of the bearing assembly. 
     The shallow grooves on the external surface of the bearing ball or rolling element, coupled with penetrating holes interconnecting the surface grooves, generate a more positive movement of the lubricant so as to prevent “dry” spots from occurring on the bearing surface and thereby extending the life of the bearing. Effectively, the grooves and interconnecting holes act as lubricant carriers and pocket reservoirs so that the bearing is not starved for lubrication. The design of the present invention creates an instantaneous supply of lubricant since the lubricant is already trapped in the grooves and internal holes of the invention bearing element. As a further benefit, the lubricant flowing through the center of the bearing will have a cooling effect by taking heat away from the rolling element. 
     The grooved surface of the rolling element also prevents the bearing element from “skidding”, another problem faced by current technology. Skidding wears the rolling element surfaces unevenly thereby causing the bearing to fail prematurely. 
    
    
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 3, partly in section. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 4 along the plane of the equator. 
     FIG. 7 is an expanded view of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 8 is a detailed view, partly in section, of the north pole of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a solid, spherical, bearing rolling element in the form of a bearing ball  10  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The bearing ball  10  has a circumferential equator  11 , an external surface  14 , a solid interior  15 , and two poles on the external surface, one designated as the north pole  12  and the other designated as the south pole  13 . This embodiment of the invention has a continuous shallow groove  20  formed about the ball&#39;s equator  11 . The groove  20  has a semicircular cross section. Four additional shallow, north-pole to south-pole, grooves  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  are formed along 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° latitudes of the bearing ball  10 , each groove  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  beginning at the north pole  12  and extending to the south pole  13 . The combination of the 0° groove  21  and 180° groove  23  form a 360° groove beginning and ending at the north pole  12 . The combination of the 90° groove  22  and 270° groove  24  also form a 360° groove beginning and ending at the north pole  12 . Each latitudinal groove  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  also has a semicircular cross section. Each of the latitudinal grooves  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  intersect and join the equator groove  20  at each latitudinal groove midpoint  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 , respectively. 
     A generally straight, elongated aperture  25  having a circular cross section is formed along an axis formed by the poles  12 ,  13 , extending through the center  16  of the ball bearing interior  15  from the north pole  12  to the south pole  13 . The latitudinal grooves  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and axial aperture  25  intersect and join at the two poles  12 ,  13 . Another generally straight, elongated aperture  26  having a circular cross section is formed along an axis formed by the intersection of the equator groove  20  and the midpoint  31  of the 0° latitudinal groove  21 , extending through the center  16  of the bearing ball interior  15  to the intersection of the equator groove  20  and the midpoint  33  of the 180° latitudinal groove  23 . Still another generally straight, elongated aperture  27  having a circular cross section is formed along an axis formed by the intersection of the equator groove  20  and the midpoint  32  of the 90° latitudinal groove  22 , extending through the center  16  of the bearing ball interior  15  to the intersection of the equator groove  20  and the midpoint  34  of the 270° latitudinal groove  24 . The latitudinal grooves  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and north-south axial aperture  25  intersect and join at the two poles  12 ,  13 . The apertures  25 ,  26 ,  27  intersect and join at the bearing ball interior center  16 . 
     A bearing assembly containing an invention rolling element  10  would be lubricated in a normal manner. As the rolling element  10  rotates it draws lubrication into its grooves  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and apertures  25 ,  26 ,  27  during operation. The rolling element grooves  20 - 24  and apertures  25 - 27  will thereby entrap lubricant as the rolling element  10  rotates distributing the lubricant evenly and storing some for application to “dry” spots which may form during operation or during a halt in operation. Lubricant will wind up in all of the bearing ball&#39;s grooves  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and apertures  25 ,  26 ,  27  since all interconnect. The lubricating medium will thereby be distributed throughout the bearing ball surface  14 . The axial apertures  25 ,  26 ,  27  act primarily as lubricating reservoirs within the bearing ball interior  15  and may move lubrication out to the grooves  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  through either the poles  12 ,  13  or the equator  11  as needed. The function of the grooves  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  is primarily to distribute the lubrication over the bearing ball surface  14 . The groove  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  semicircular cross sections are rounded at their edges with the surface  14  for a smooth flow of lubricant from groove to surface and back. Notwithstanding the primary functions of the apertures  25 ,  26 ,  27  and grooves  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 , all may also secondarily do the function of the other. The movement of lubricant through grooves  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and apertures  25 ,  26 ,  27  also has a cooling effect whereby the moving lubricant draws and disperses heat from the rolling element, especially from the rolling element interior  15 . 
     Some roller bearings have a cylindrical shape. Referring more particularly to FIG. 9, there is shown a solid, cylindrical bearing rolling element constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The principles of the present invention described above apply equally well to this type of bearing. The cylindrical bearing  40  shown has a first side  41  from which a cylindrical side wall  42  extends horizontally to a second side  43 , opposite and parallel to said first side  41 , said sides defining a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical bearing  40 , said longitudinal axis being generally perpendicular to the bearing sides  41 ,  43 . The cylindrical bearing  40  has an external surface  44  and a solid interior  45 . This embodiment of the invention has eight, equally spaced, parallel, longitudinal, shallow grooves  50  formed in the bearing external surface  44 , each said groove extending from the first side wall  42  to the second side wall  43 , each said longitudinal groove  50  being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bearing  40 . Other embodiments of the invention may have more or less longitudinal grooves. Each groove  50  has a semicircular cross section. 
     A generally straight, elongated aperture  55  having a circular cross section is formed through the cylindrical bearing center along a central, longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bearing  40 . In this embodiment of the invention, three sets  56 ,  57 ,  58  of eight apertures  59  interconnect each longitudinal surface groove  50  with the central, elongated aperture  55 , one set  56  at the first side  41 , one set  57  at an approximate longitudinal midpoint, and one set  58  at the second side  43 . Each aperture  59  in each set has a circular cross section. 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. For example, grooves and apertures may be added or subtracted to or from the embodiment shown.