A rolling bearing having an inner raceway and an outer raceway and a plurality of rolling elements arranged therebetween. The rolling bearing is media-lubricated or oil-free lubricated. The lubricant forms an elasto-hydrodynamic lubricant film between the rolling elements and the raceways. At first use of the rolling bearing, at least one surface of the rolling bearing is coated with a protective fluid, preferably an oil-based preservative fluid. Also, a refrigerant compressor having such a rolling bearing.

A hollow structure is formed from ceramic. The hollow structure includes a main body part and a reinforcing part. The main body part has a spherical outer peripheral surface, and inside the main body part, a hollow is formed. The reinforcing part is formed integrally with the main body part on an inner peripheral surface of the main body part and reinforces the main body part.

A Hybrid rolling bearing includes an inner raceway and an outer raceway and a plurality of rolling elements arranged therebetween. The outer raceway and the inner raceway are made from bearing steel, having a first surface RMS roughness R.sub.q1. The rolling elements are made from a ceramic material and have second surface RMS roughnesses R.sub.q2,i. At least one of the rolling elements has an increased surface RMS roughness R.sub.q2,N, which is significantly higher than the RMS roughnesses R.sub.q2,i, of the remaining rolling elements. The hybrid rolling bearing can be installed within a refrigerant compressor.

A roller ball assembly is provided. The assembly includes a primary roller ball supported by a support element that is composed of a superhard material. The assembly includes a cup defining a cavity within which the support element is positioned. A cap is coupled with the cup and positioned to retain the primary roller ball within the cavity. Also, a cup is disclosed for supporting roller balls. Additionally, disclosed are system and apparatus incorporating the assembly, as well as to methods of making and using the same.

A Hybrid ball bearing including an outer raceway, an inner raceway, and a plurality of balls arranged between the inner raceway and the outer raceway. The outer raceway and the inner raceway are made from bearing steel and have a first surface RMS roughness R.sub.q1. At least one ball of the plurality of balls is made from a ceramic material and has a second surface RMS roughness R.sub.q2. In a mint condition, the roughness of the raceways R.sub.q1 is 2 to 5 times higher than the roughness R.sub.q2 of the at least one ball, as well as a refrigerant compressor comprising such a hybrid ball bearing.

A roller ball assembly is provided. The assembly includes a primary roller ball supported by a support element that is composed of a superhard material. The assembly includes a cup defining a cavity within which the support element is positioned. A cap is coupled with the cup and positioned to retain the primary roller ball within the cavity. Also, a cup is disclosed for supporting roller halls. Additionally, disclosed are system and apparatus incorporating the assembly, as well as to methods of making and using the same.

Two hybrid ball bearings and a compressor bearing arrangement with two hybrid ball bearings for a rotatable support of a rotor of the compressor versus a stator of the compressor. The two hybrid ball bearings are arranged face-to-face or back-to-back, are configured with an optimal axial clearance depending on the inner diameter of a ring-shaped inner raceway element one of the hybrid ball bearings respectively a pitch diameter of one of the two hybrid ball bearings for a long bearing life in connection with an optimal compressor operating performance.

A bearing including a backing formed of a steel material, a lining formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the backing and the lining is provided. The diffusion barrier layer is formed of nickel or a nickel alloy and has a thickness ranging from 1 micron to 100 microns. The bearing is typically formed by cladding the lining or plating the steel backing with the diffusion barrier layer, bonding the lining and the backing with the diffusion barrier layer between, heating to a temperature of at least 400 C., and forming the bearing into a shape after or before the heating step.

A sliding member includes: a base material; a solid lubricant layer arranged on a surface of the base material; a defect layer having a material defect, disposed in the solid lubricant layer, and being changeable into an ultra low friction layer by mechanical stress more easily than changing from the solid lubricant layer to the ultra low friction layer; and a ultra low friction layer covering a surface of the defect layer.

A Hybrid ball bearing including an outer raceway, an inner raceway, and a plurality of balls arranged between the inner raceway and the outer raceway. The outer raceway and the inner raceway are made from bearing steel and have a first surface RMS roughness R.sub.q1. At least one ball of the plurality of balls is made from a ceramic material and has a second surface RMS roughness R.sub.q2. In a mint condition, the roughness of the raceways R.sub.q1 is 2 to 5 times higher than the roughness R.sub.q2 of the at least one ball, as well as a refrigerant compressor comprising such a hybrid ball bearing.