ANTI-ELECTROLYTIC CORROSION ROLLING BEARING

Abstract

An anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing is provided which includes an inner ring and an outer ring, rolling elements, and a thermal-sprayed ceramic film having electrical insulating properties, and disposed on one or each of the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring and the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring. The thermal-spray material forming the thermal-sprayed ceramic film contains, as the main component of thereof, alumina particles having particle sizes of 5 to 60 μm and an average particle size of 30 to 60 μm. The thermal-sprayed ceramic film is densified by filling the pores between the alumina particles, with a predetermined amount of glassy melts of a metal oxide having a melting point lower than that of the alumina, such as silica, yttria, titania or zirconia, and having an average particle size of 5 to 40 μm.

Claims

1. An anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing comprising: an inner ring and an outer ring; a plurality of rolling elements rotatably disposed between a raceway surface of the inner ring and a raceway surface of the outer ring; and a thermal-sprayed ceramic film having electrical insulating properties, and disposed on one or each of an inner peripheral surface of the inner ring and an outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, wherein a thermal-spray material forming the thermal-sprayed ceramic film comprises, as a main component thereof, alumina particles having particle sizes of 5 to 60 μm and an average particle size of 30 to 60 μm, and wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is densified by filling pores between the alumina particles, with glassy melts of at least one metal oxide, the glassy melts having an average particle size of 5 to 40 μm.

2. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film contains, based on 100% by mass of the thermal-sprayed ceramic film, 1.5 to 5.0% by mass of the glassy melts of the at least one metal oxide.

3. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal oxide has a melting point lower than a melting point of alumina forming the alumina particles.

4. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 3, wherein the at least one metal oxide comprises one or more metal oxides selected from the group consisting of silica, yttria, titania and zirconia.

5. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 4, wherein the one or more metal oxides are silica, the silica being chemically combined with the alumina to densify the thermal-sprayed ceramic film.

6. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 1, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is a film formable by thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 140 to 170 mm, and densified such that a breakdown voltage thereof is 6 kV or more.

7. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 2, wherein the at least one metal oxide has a melting point lower than a melting point of alumina forming the alumina particles.

8. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 7, wherein the at least one metal oxide comprises one or more metal oxides selected from the group consisting of silica, yttria, titania and zirconia.

9. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 7, wherein the one or more metal oxides are silica, the silica being chemically combined with the alumina to densify the thermal-sprayed ceramic film.

10. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 2, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is a film formable by thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 140 to 170 mm, and densified such that a breakdown voltage thereof is 6 kV or more.

11. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 3, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is a film formable by thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 140 to 170 mm, and densified such that a breakdown voltage thereof is 6 kV or more.

12. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 4, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is a film formable by thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 140 to 170 mm, and densified such that a breakdown voltage thereof is 6 kV or more.

13. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 5, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is a film formable by thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 140 to 170 mm, and densified such that a breakdown voltage thereof is 6 kV or more.

14. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 7, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is a film formable by thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 140 to 170 mm, and densified such that a breakdown voltage thereof is 6 kV or more.

15. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 8, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is a film formable by thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 140 to 170 mm, and densified such that a breakdown voltage thereof is 6 kV or more.

16. The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing according to claim 9, wherein the thermal-sprayed ceramic film is a film formable by thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 140 to 170 mm, and densified such that a breakdown voltage thereof is 6 kV or more.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of an anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing embodying the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the amounts of added silica and breakdown voltages in Examples 1 to 6, Comparative Examples 1 to 4, and Reference Examples 1 to 9.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a picture of a thermal-sprayed ceramic film according to Example 1 observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

[0043] FIG. 4 is a picture of a thermal-sprayed ceramic film according to Comparative Example 1 observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

[0044] FIG. 5 is a graph showing breakdown voltages in Examples 4, 7 and 8, and Comparative Examples 1, 5 and 6.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a graph showing breakdown voltages confirmed by changing a thermal-spray distance in Example 1, and Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the thermal-spray distance and breakdown voltage in Example 1, 9, 10 and Comparative Example 7.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between thermal-spray time and film formation amount in Reference Example 1 and Example 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing embodying the present invention includes an inner ring 1 and an outer ring 2; a plurality of rolling elements (balls) 3 rotatably disposed between the raceway surfaces of the inner and outer rings; and thermal-sprayed ceramic films 4 having electrical insulating properties, and disposed, respectively, on the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring 1 and the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 2. Numeral 5 in FIG. 1 indicates a cage 5. One of the thermal-spray ceramic films 4 on the inner ring 1 and the outer ring 2 may be omitted.

[0049] The thermal-sprayed ceramic films 4 on the anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing of the embodiment is formed by thermal-spraying a thermal-spray material containing, as the main component thereof, alumina particles having an average particle size of 40.0 μm or less. The thermal-sprayed ceramic films 4 are each densified by filling the pores between the above alumina particles, with glassy melts of a metal oxide or oxides having an average particle size of 5 to 40 μm, preferably less than 40 μm.

[0050] The alumina used may be one having particle sizes of 5 to 60 μm and an average particle size of 30 to 60 μm. If alumina is used which has particle sizes or an average particle size exceeding the above numerical ranges, the number and sizes of the pores between the alumina particles will increase to such an extent that it becomes impossible for the glassy metal oxide(s) to reliably fill the pores with no gaps, thereby making it difficult to form a sufficiently dense thermal-sprayed film. For efficient adhesion by thermal spraying, alumina is preferably used which has particle sizes of 5 μm or more and an average particle size of 30 μm or more.

[0051] The metal oxide(s) as the added component(s) has an average particle size of 5 to 40 μm, and a melting point lower than that of the alumina. If the metal oxide(s) has an average particle size of less than 5 μm, since such metal oxide(s) would be dispersed too finely, it is difficult for the metal oxide(s) to congregate to form glassy small lumps that sufficiently fill the pores/gaps around the alumina particles. If the metal oxide(s) has an average particle size of more than 40 μm, it is difficult for the metal oxide(s) to flow into small pores, so that it is difficult to sufficiently densify the thermal-sprayed ceramic film.

[0052] In order to form a ceramic, thermal-sprayed film stably showing a desired breakdown voltage, the metal oxide(s) is preferably selected from the group consisting of silica (SiO.sub.2), yttria (Y.sub.2O.sub.3), titania (TiO.sub.2) and zirconia (ZrO.sub.2).

[0053] A metal oxide (or oxides) that easily vitrifies, such as silica, yttria, titania or zirconia, acts to fill the pores defined by the alumina by vitrifying during film formation.

[0054] By adding a predetermined amount of such metal oxide(s) to the alumina as the main component, it is possible to obtain a thermal-sprayed ceramic film which is dense from its interior to its surface. It is considered that an increase in the number of underlying pores due to insufficient densification would cause variations in breakdown voltage. However, in the present invention, since substantially all the pores disappear by being filled with the metal oxide(s), variations in insulating performance decrease.

[0055] The composition of the thermal-spray material may be, e.g., 95.0 to 98.5% by mass of alumina and 1.5 to 5.0% by mass of a metal oxide or oxides. For example, if the alumina content is 97.0% or more by mass, and the content of the metal oxide(s) such as zirconia is 1.5 to 2.5% by mass, it is possible to improve not only the insulating properties of the film but also the strength and toughness thereof. Another known metal oxide may also be added as necessary.

[0056] By adding more than 1.5% by mass of the metal oxide(s), a desired breakdown voltage is obtained. However, if more than 5.0% by mass of the metal oxide(s) is added, the breakdown voltage tends to decrease. This is presumably because, if the amount of added metal oxide(s) is too large, the glass phase filling the pores becomes too large after thermal spraying, so that microcracks tend to be formed due to, e.g., the difference in thermal expansion between the alumina and the metal oxide, thus lowering the breakdown voltage. The breakdown voltage mentioned in the present specification can be measured according to JIS K 6911.

[0057] As the thermal-spraying method, a known plasma thermal-spraying method such as an atmospheric pressure plasma thermal-spraying method may be used. Another known thermal-spraying method such as a powder flame thermal-spraying method or a high-speed gas flame thermal-spraying method may also be used.

[0058] The device for forming a thermal-sprayed ceramic film includes, as a thermal spraying means, a thermal-spray gun having a discharge port from which the thermal spray material is thermal-sprayed (discharged). For example, a known thermal-spraying robot system may be used. The “thermal-spray distance” used herein refers to the distance between the workpiece and the thermal-spray discharge port.

[0059] The thus-formed thermal-sprayed ceramic film preferably has a large thickness according to the required insulating properties, for example, a thickness of 250 μm or more.

EXAMPLES

Examples 1 to 6, Comparative Examples 1 to 4

[0060] After, as pretreatment, washing and degreasing the inner and outer rings of a deep groove ball bearing made of bearing steel, masking and blasting treatments were performed to the bearing surfaces other than the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring (including both end surfaces thereof), and the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring (including both end surfaces thereof). Then, by performing atmospheric plasma thermal spraying to these treated surfaces, thermal-sprayed films were formed thereon.

[0061] The thermal-spray material for use in each of Examples 1 to 6, Comparative Examples 1 to 4 and Reference Examples 1 to 9 was prepared by mixing a moderate amount of gray alumina powder for coloring (particle size: 8 to 38 μm, average particle size: about 32 μm) with high-purity alumina powder (AI.sub.2O.sub.3) (particle size: 8 to 38 μm, average particle size: about 32 μm); and further adding thereto silica (SiO.sub.2) which has an average particle size of 10.0 μm, and of which the amount is shown in Table 1.

[0062] In particular, by performing, using this thermal-spray material, commonly used atmospheric pressure plasma thermal spraying at a thermal-spray distance of 150 mm, thermal-sprayed alumina films (thermal-sprayed ceramic films) having a layer thickness of 560 μm were formed, respectively, on the above treated surfaces of the inner and outer rings, and pore sealing treatment was performed to the films with an epoxy resin-based sealing agent. Then, polishing treatment was performed. The thus-prepared inner and outer rings were assembled into the rolling bearing of each of Examples 1 to 6, Comparative Examples 1 to 4 and Reference Examples 1 to 9.

[0063] Next, the breakdown voltages of the respective examples were measured. FIG. 2 shows the measurement results. The thermal-sprayed films formed on the inner and outer rings of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and they are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. The breakdown voltage of each example was measured as follows: The outer ring formed with the thermal-sprayed film was fixed to a test jig, and, the voltage at which (insulation) breakdown occurs was measured, while increasing the applied voltage from the starting voltage of 2.0 kV at the increment of 0.2 kV.

[0064] The results of measurement of the breakdown voltages in Example 4 and Comparative Example 1 are shown in FIG. 5.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example Comparative Example 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 Added silica 1.5 1.7 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 0 1.0 6.0 7.0 amount (mass %) Reference Example 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Added silica 0 1.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 amount (mass %)

Reference Examples 1 to 9

[0065] In each of Reference Examples 1 to 9, a rolling bearing was prepared, and thermal-spray films were formed on the inner and outer rings of the rolling bearing, respectively, in exactly the same manner as in Examples 1, 3 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 except that, in the Reference Examples, instead of high-purity alumina powder (AI.sub.2O.sub.3, particle size: 8 to 38 μm), alumina powder having particle sizes of 98 μm or less (#320) was used, and the amounts of added silica were as shown in Table 1.

[0066] Then, the breakdown voltages of the thermal-sprayed films were measured. The relationship between the amounts of added silica and the breakdown voltages (kV) is shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2.

[0067] As is apparent from the relationship between the amounts of added silica and the breakdown voltages (kV) shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, when the amount of added silica (SiO.sub.2) exceeded 1.0% by mass (Comparative Example 2), specifically, exceeded 1.5% by mass, the breakdown voltage (when also considering “variations” shown by the I-shaped vertical lines in FIG. 2) increased to a high level, i.e., exceeded 6 kV, and was maintained at the high level up to 5% by mass (Examples 1 to 6). However, when the amount of added silica exceeded 5% by mass, the breakdown voltage tended to fall below 6 kV.

[0068] This shows that, by limiting the amount of added silica as a metal oxide within the range of 1.5% or more by mass and 5% or less by mass, the desired effects of the present invention are obtained.

[0069] Also, as is apparent from the results shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2, if the average particle size of the alumina exceeds 60 μm as in the conventional Reference Examples, though the effect of added silica was obtained to some extent, the average value of the measured breakdown voltages decreased, and, even if the amount of added silica was adjusted, a breakdown voltage exceeding 5 kV was not achieved.

[0070] Also, as is apparent from the SEM pictures shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the thermal-sprayed film of Comparative Example 1, which did not contain silica at all, had numerous pores open to the film surface (FIG. 4), whereas the thermal-sprayed film of Example 1, which contained the predetermined amount of silica, was dense with few openings on the film surface (FIG. 3).

Examples 7 to 10, Comparative Examples 5 to 7

[0071] In each of Example 7 and Comparative Example 5, a rolling bearing was prepared, and thermal-spray films were formed on the rolling bearing, in exactly the same manner as in Example 4 except that, in Example 7, 3% by mass of zirconia (ZrO.sub.2) was added as a metal oxide instead of silica, and that, in Comparative Example 5, a metal oxide was not added at all. Then, the breakdown voltage was measured. The measurement results are shown in FIG. 5.

[0072] In each of Example 8 and Comparative Example 6, a rolling bearing was prepared, and thermal-spray films were formed on the rolling bearing, in exactly the same manner as in Example 4, except that, in Example 8, 3% by mass of yttria (Y.sub.2O.sub.3) was added as a metal oxide instead of silica, and that, in Comparative Example 6, a metal oxide was not added at all. Then, the breakdown voltage was measured. The measurement results are shown in FIG. 5.

[0073] As is apparent from the results shown in FIG. 5, by adding any of the above-described predetermined metal oxides, i.e., silica, zirconia and yttria by 3% by mass, high insulation properties were achieved, that is, the breakdown voltage exceeded 6 kV.

[0074] In the above Examples, in spite of the fact that the films contained a trace amount of titania due to the addition of gray alumina, a high level of breakdown voltage was maintained. This shows that the inclusion of a metal oxide other than the above predetermined metal oxides will not ruin the effects of the present invention.

[0075] The following Table 2 shows the kind, average particle size and amount of the metal oxide added to the thermal-spray material in each of Examples 1, 9 and 10 and Comparative Example 7.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Example Number Example Comparative Example Item 1 9 10 7 Kind of metal oxide SiO.sub.2 Y.sub.2O.sub.3 ZrO.sub.2 SiO.sub.2 Average particle size of 10 10 10 100 metal oxide (μm) Amount of added metal 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 oxide (mass %)

Evaluation on Relationship Between Thermal-Spray Distance and Breakdown Voltage

Evaluation 1

[0076] Rolling bearings were prepared of which the thermal-sprayed ceramic films were formed under the same conditions as in each of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, except that thermal spraying was performed at different thermal-spray distances of 140 mm, 150 mm and 160 mm, respectively, and the breakdown voltages of the films were measured. The measurement results are shown in FIG. 6.

[0077] As is apparent from the results shown in FIG. 6, in Comparative Example 1, in which SiO.sub.2 was not added, and Comparative Example 2, in which 1.0% by mass of SiO.sub.2 is added, the breakdown voltage decreased with an increase in the thermal-spray distance, whereas, in Example 1, in which 1.5% by mass of SiO.sub.2 was added, the breakdown voltage did not decrease with an increase in the thermal-spray distance, and was maintained at a high level, i.e., at a level higher than 6 kV.

[0078] This shows that, for the thermal-sprayed ceramic film formed of the thermal-spray material used in Example 1, even if the thermal-spray distance is changed to 140 mm or more, “variations” in breakdown voltage are small, and stable insulating properties are obtained.

Evaluation 2

[0079] In the rolling bearing of each of Examples 1, 9 and 10 and Comparative Example 7, thermal-sprayed ceramic films were formed by thermal spraying under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the thermal-spray material containing the predetermined metal oxide shown in Table 2 was thermal-sprayed while changing the thermal-spray distance within the range of 120 to 180 mm with an increment of 10 mm. Then, the breakdown voltages of the thermal-sprayed ceramic films on the bearing surfaces were measured. The measurement results are shown in FIG. 7. The breakdown voltages at the thermal-spray distance ranges of less than 140 mm and more than 170 mm are shown by thin portions of the respective lines in FIG. 7.

[0080] As is apparent from the results shown in FIG. 7, in each of Examples 1, 9 and 10, in which the predetermined amount (1.5% by mass) of metal oxide consisting of silica, yttria, or zirconia and having an average particle size of 10 μm was added, the breakdown voltages within the thermal-spray distance range of 140 to 170 mm were more than 6 kV, whereas, in Comparative Example 7, in which the silica had an average particle size of 100 μm, breakdown voltages were less than 6 kV.

Evaluation on Relationship Between Thermal-Spray Time and Film Formation Amount

[0081] For Example 1 and a conventional example (Reference Example 1), the relationship between the thermal-spray time including (if necessary) cooling time and the film formation amount was investigated when the thermal-spray distance was set at 160 mm in the thermal spraying step of Example 1, and set at 130 mm in the thermal spraying step of a conventional example (Reference Example 1). The results are shown in FIG. 8.

[0082] As is apparent from the results of FIG. 8, in the conventional example (Reference Example 1), though the thermal-spray distance was decreased to 130 mm to form a dense thermal-sprayed film, four separate heat dissipating times were necessary to prevent the substrate from being tempered due to heating during thermal spraying. As a result, it took about 700 seconds to form a film of 570 μm.

[0083] On the other hand, in Example 1 in which the thermal-spray distance was set at an appropriate value (160 mm), the substrate was not heated to such an extent as to be tempered and thus not a lot of time was needed to cool the substrate. As a result, the film forming time decreased to about ⅕ of the time needed in the conventional film forming step.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0084] The anti-electrolytic corrosion rolling bearing of the present invention can be versatilely used for supporting rotary shafts through which an electric current could flow, for example, used in air conditioners, trains, power generators such as wind power generators, electric motors for machine tools, and guides for linear motors.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0085] 1: Inner ring [0086] 2: Outer ring [0087] 3: Rolling element [0088] 4: Thermal-sprayed film [0089] 5: Cage