JP2005337278A - Bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bearing enough good for practical use even in the case of use in a precision device such as a precision electronic device by giving wear resistance and durability to a bearing such as a ball bearing or a needle bearing and also giving conductivity to the bearing to have a function of preventing charging due to electrostatic electricity. <P>SOLUTION: This bearing includes: a plurality of bearing rolling elements 1; a ring-like retainer ring 10 retaining the bearing rolling elements in non-contact state; and a bearing shaft receiver composed of an outer ring 12 having a guide groove 12a provided along the inner periphery and an inner ring 13 having a guide groove 13a provided along the outer periphery to thereby slidably hold the bearing rolling elements held in the respective hole parts 11 of the ring-like retainer ring. Fullerene is deposited on the inner surface side of the outer ring and the outer surface side of the inner ring using a vacuum deposition method, and photo-polymerized to inpart wear resistance and durability to the deposited fullerene thin film. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a bearing having excellent wear resistance, durability and conductivity by applying a surface treatment.

  Fullerene is a hollow molecule composed of a carbon atom group consisting of only carbon atoms. Fullerenes composed of carbon atom groups such as 60, 70, 76, and 82 carbon atoms are fullerene C60 and fullerene C70. , Fullerene C76, fullerene C82, and the like. For example, fullerene C60 is composed of 12 5-membered rings and 12 6-membered rings surrounding each 5-membered ring. It is a hollow molecule of the network that has the same shape as, and has a structure in which carbon is arranged at each vertex (60 pieces) of the network.

  Fullerene is an allotrope of carbon alongside diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon, and has various physicochemical properties that diamond and graphite do not have. For example, it is a chemically and thermally stable molecule that is not easily broken. It is also known that it absorbs light energy and has high electron acceptability, and when fullerene thin films are irradiated with ultraviolet light or visible light, fullerenes are polymerized to form a polymer. Yes.

  In addition, fullerene has been actively studied in many fields as a representative carbon-based nanomaterial, and various thin films using fullerene have been produced as one of them, and we are interested in their functions and physical properties. It is sent. In addition, its potential has been reported in a wide range of applications such as a wide range of applications as antioxidants, pharmaceuticals, medical drugs, and cosmetics.

  As the fullerene thin film production method, a molecular beam epitaxy method, a vacuum deposition method, a Langmuir-Brodgett method, or the like is known.

  By the way, the bearing is an important part that is used to efficiently rotate the rotating part of the machine. There are various bearings ranging from a miniature bearing having an inner diameter of 1 mm to a super-large bearing having an outer diameter exceeding 7 m. There is a bearing of a size and plays a critical role. And its applications are used in many fields such as industrial machinery, transportation, information and communication fields, semiconductors, liquid crystal manufacturing, etc. The performance required for bearings such as long life, light weight, and high speed rotation is becoming more and more diversified. .

Speaking of ball bearings, which are one of the bearings described above, conventionally, bearing balls and bearing bearings (ball bearings composed of an outer ring and an inner ring) have been made of metal such as bearing steel. In order to improve wear resistance and durability, the bearing ball is made of ceramic, or a solid lubricant film with a solid lubricant is applied inside the outer ring of the bearing and outside the inner ring. It is formed on the ball guide groove and the surface of the bearing ball to facilitate sliding. In addition, there are carburized and hardened outer rings and inner rings.
Electronic materials published in January 2003 JP 2002-29852 A

  In conventional ball bearings, the bearing balls used are generally made of metal such as bearing steel, but ceramic bearing balls are also used to provide higher wear resistance. Has been.

  For example, silicon nitride ceramics, alumina ceramics, zirconia ceramics, etc. are used as the ceramics. However, conventional ceramic bearing balls have voids, metallic foreign objects, or minute defects. There are many. However, the performance of the bearing was not seriously affected and not much attention was paid.

  Moreover, the ceramic bearing balls as described above are all insulators and have a property of being easily charged by static electricity generated by friction during rotation. Therefore, precision ceramics such as hard disks for personal computers, fan motors for printers and copiers, and ceramic balls for bearings used as bearing parts to support main shafts such as stepping motors, If dust or the like due to static electricity adheres to the inner or outer ring of a ball or ball bearing, it may cause abnormal noise or vibration, which may lead to a decrease in wear resistance.

  In order to prevent the bearing from being charged by static electricity and to improve the conductivity of the bearing, a method of incorporating a conductive ceramic into the insulating ceramic of the material has been taken. Performance such as wear resistance and durability often falls.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide precision electronic equipment by imparting wear resistance and durability to a bearing such as a ball bearing, a needle bearing, etc., and providing a function to prevent electrification due to static electricity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bearing that can withstand practical use even when used in precision instruments such as the above.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a plurality of bearing rolling elements, a ring-shaped retaining ring having a plurality of hole portions for holding the bearing rolling elements in a non-contact state so as to be slidable, and the ring-shaped retaining ring. A radial ball bearing comprising a bearing bearing body comprising an outer ring provided along the inner circumference and an inner ring provided along the outer circumference for slidably holding the bearing rolling elements held in the respective hole portions of the holding ring. In the type of bearing, wear resistance and durability are imparted by the fullerene thin film formed by vapor deposition and photopolymerization of fullerene on the inner surface side of the outer ring and the outer surface side of the inner ring using a vacuum film formation method. It is the bearing characterized by having.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention includes a plurality of bearing rolling elements, a ring-shaped retaining ring having a plurality of hole portions for holding the bearing rolling elements in a non-contact state so as to be slidable, and the ring-shaped retaining ring. A radial ball bearing comprising a bearing bearing body including an outer ring provided along the inner periphery and a guide ring provided along the outer periphery for slidably holding the bearing rolling elements held in the respective hole portions of the holding ring. In the type bearing, conductivity is imparted to the inner surface of the outer ring and the outer surface of the inner ring by a fullerene thin film formed by vapor deposition and photopolymerization of fullerene using a vacuum film forming method. It is a bearing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of bearing rolling elements, a ring-shaped retaining ring having a plurality of hole portions for holding the bearing rolling elements in a non-contact state so as to be slidable, and the ring-shaped retaining ring. A radial ball bearing comprising a bearing bearing body including an outer ring provided along the inner periphery and a guide ring provided along the outer periphery for slidably holding the bearing rolling elements held in the respective hole portions of the holding ring. In the type of bearing, wear resistance, durability and conductivity are achieved by fullerene thin film formed by vapor deposition and photopolymerization of fullerene on the inner surface side of the outer ring and the outer surface side of the inner ring using a vacuum film formation method. These are bearings characterized by being given.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the bearing according to any one of the first to third aspects, fullerene is vapor-deposited and photopolymerized on the surface of the bearing rolling element using a vacuum film forming method. This is a bearing characterized in that wear resistance and durability are imparted by the fullerene thin film formed by the above method.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the bearing according to any one of the first to third aspects, fullerene is vapor-deposited and photopolymerized on the surface of the bearing rolling element using a vacuum film-forming method. Conductivity is imparted by a fullerene thin film formed by the above method.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the bearing according to any one of the first to third aspects, fullerene is vapor-deposited and photopolymerized on the surface of the bearing rolling element using a vacuum film forming method. A fullerene thin film formed by the above method is provided with wear resistance, durability, and conductivity.

  In the invention according to claim 7 of the present invention, the bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 6 uses a ball bearing or a roller-like or needle-like needle using a true spherical ball as the bearing rolling element. The bearing is a needle bearing.

  The invention according to claim 8 of the present invention is such that the bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is a ball bearing using a true ball as the bearing rolling element, and the bearing of the bearing bearing body. A bearing characterized in that each of the guide grooves provided along the inner circumference of the outer ring and the outer circumference of the inner ring for slidably guiding the rolling element is formed in a cross-sectional arc shape corresponding to the radius of curvature of the true ball. is there.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the bearing according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is a ball bearing using a true ball as the bearing rolling element, and the bearing of the bearing bearing body. Each of the guide grooves provided along the inner periphery of the outer ring and the outer periphery of the inner ring for slidably guiding the rolling elements is formed in a V-shaped cross section, and has a minimum contact surface with the ball bearing. It is a bearing.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the bearing according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the fullerene thin film is formed by a vacuum film formation method such as a molecular beam epitaxy method, a vacuum deposition method, a laser ablation method, or the like. A fullerene C60 is vapor-deposited by the above and photopolymerized to form a thin film.

  The bearing of the present invention is a bearing using a fullerene thin film, and, for example, a molecular beam epitaxy method, a vacuum deposition method, a laser ablation method, or the like is used as a vacuum film formation method known as a film formation method for a fullerene thin film. The surface of the bearing rolling element consisting of a spherical ball or a true cylindrical needle, the holding ring for holding the bearing rolling element, or the bearing bearing body consisting of an outer ring and an inner ring for slidably holding the bearing rolling element. A fullerene thin film is vapor-deposited on the bearing structure surface, such as the inner surface of the outer ring and the outer surface of the inner ring, and the fullerene thin film is photopolymerized to form a fullerene thin film. Higher than conventional and improved wear resistance and durability Bearing it is possible to obtain a.

  This makes it possible to increase the reliability and life of the bearing, and also to provide conductivity by forming a fullerene thin film on the bearing, so that electrostatic charging of the bearing can be prevented, Therefore, it is possible to avoid adhesion of dust, dust, etc., and to avoid the adverse effect of the dust and dust on precision electronic equipment, and to improve the performance of the bearing.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a bearing of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 (a) shows a side view of a ball bearing A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a front sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a partial sectional perspective view.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1B and FIG. 4, the ball bearing A is a bearing composed of a round outer ring 12 and a round inner ring 13 fitted inside the outer ring 12. A bearing body, a bearing rolling element 1 composed of a plurality of true spherical balls that are inserted into a ring-shaped gap between the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 13 at a slight predetermined equal interval, and the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 13 A ring-shaped holding ring 10 having a plurality of hole-forming portions 11 for inserting and holding a plurality of bearing rolling elements 1 in a non-contacting manner in a non-contact state therebetween, and an inner ring of the outer ring 12. An annular shield plate 20 that shields an annular gap between the circumference and the outer circumference of the inner ring 13 from the outside.

  In the outer ring 12 of the perfect circle, a rolling element guide groove having an arcuate cross section having a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the true spherical ball guiding the bearing rolling element 1 made of a true spherical ball on the inner peripheral surface thereof. 12a.

  Further, the inner ring 13 of the perfect circle is a rolling element guide having an arcuate cross section having a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the true spherical ball that guides the bearing rolling element 1 made of a true spherical ball on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A groove 13a is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a bearing bearing body composed of the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 13, which is a structure of the ball bearing A, a bearing rolling element 1 composed of a plurality of true spherical balls, and a plurality of bearing rolling elements 1. The fullerene thin film 40 formed using a carbon-based nanomaterial is applied to the surface of each structure 30 of the ring-shaped retaining ring 10 that is slidably inserted and held at predetermined intervals in a non-contact state. Has been.

  For example, at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 12 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 13, the outer surface of the bearing rolling element 1, and the inner surface of the ring-shaped retaining ring 10, or any two or more of them. As shown in FIG. 2, a fullerene C60 thin film is deposited on the surface or all surfaces by a vacuum film forming method (for example, molecular beam epitaxy method, vacuum vapor deposition method, laser ablation method, etc.). The fullerene thin film 40 formed by photopolymerizing the fullerene C60 thin film is applied.

  As a raw material for forming the fullerene thin film, fullerene, which is a carbon-based nanomaterial, is used.

  Fullerene is a hollow molecule composed of a carbon atom group consisting of only carbon atoms, and fullerene C60, a fullerene composed of carbon atoms such as 60, 70, 76, and 82 carbon atoms, respectively. Fullerene C70, fullerene C76, fullerene C82 and the like are present.

For example, fullerene C60 is composed of twelve five-membered rings and twelve six-membered rings that surround each of the five-membered rings. It has a structure in which carbon is arranged at each vertex (60) of the network.

  The above fullerene is an allotrope of carbon alongside diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon, and has various physicochemical properties not found in diamond and graphite, and is a molecule that is chemically and thermally stable and not easily broken. However, it exhibits properties such as easy absorption of light energy and high electron acceptability. When a fullerene thin film is irradiated with ultraviolet light or visible light, fullerenes are polymerized to form a polymer.

  As a fullerene thin film production method for forming a fullerene thin film in the present invention, a molecular beam epitaxy method, a vacuum vapor deposition method, a Langmuir-Brodgett method, or the like can be employed.

  For example, the film formation of the fullerene thin film of the present invention involves vapor deposition using a powdered fullerene C60, which is a carbon-based nanomaterial, as a raw material, and a photopolymerization treatment, and the material purity is at least 99.99. A material of 0% or more is used, preferably 99.9% or more.

  As another embodiment of the bearing of the present invention, cross sections of rolling element guide grooves 12a and 13a for guiding the bearing rolling element 1 of a true spherical ball formed on the inner peripheral surface side surface of the outer ring 12 of the ball bearing A. As a shape, in addition to the circular arc shape corresponding to the radius of curvature of the true spherical ball as shown in FIG. 1B, it may be formed in a V-shaped cross section as shown in the front sectional view of FIG. By forming it in a V shape, the contact area between the bearing rolling element 1 and the guide grooves 12a and 13a by each spherical ball is minimized, and the contact rotation between the bearing rolling element 1 and the guide grooves 12a and 13a, respectively. And wear of the bearing structure can be reduced.

  As described above, the V-shaped ball guide grooves 12a and 13a provided on the inner surface of the outer ring 12 and the outer surface of the inner ring 13 respectively provide the bearing rolling element 1 made of a spherical ball as the outer ring 12 and the inner ring. 13 serves as a groove for fixing the position in the thrust direction (rotation axis direction of the rotating body supported by the bearing) to a fixed position along the circumference of the bearing 13, and the bearing rolling element 1 is connected to the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 13. The contact area can be reduced as much as possible.

  As described above, since the fullerene thin film 40 is deposited on the surface where the bearing components are actually in contact with each other (the true contact surface), the true contact portion is minimized, and the fullerene thin film is obtained by photopolymerization. As a result, the wear resistance and durability can be improved.

  The surface treatment with the fullerene thin film in the bearing of the present invention is not limited to the ball bearing as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1B and FIG. 4, for example, as shown in the partial sectional perspective view of FIG. , A roller bearing using a roller (roll-shaped) rolling element 1 as a bearing rolling element 1, a needle bearing using a needle rolling element 1 of a small diameter roller (needle-shaped), or rotating as shown in FIG. A circular outer ring 12 and an inner ring 13 that are adjacent to each other in the direction of the axial center O (thrust direction) are provided, and rolling element guide grooves 12a and 13a are provided on the adjacent opposing surfaces of the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 13, respectively. It is possible to improve wear resistance and durability by performing on the surface of various bearings such as a thrust bearing in which the bearing rolling element 1 and the rolling element holding wheel 10 are slidably held therebetween. Kill.

In the bearing of the present invention, the outer ring 12, the inner ring 13, the bearing rolling element 1, and the bearing rolling element 1 are slidably fitted in a non-contact state between the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 13 and held at predetermined intervals. The material of the bare link structure such as the ring-shaped retaining ring 10 and the shield plate 20 can be a metal material or / and a plastic material or / and a ceramic material.

  The bearing of the present invention is a bearing that has excellent wear resistance and durability and has conductivity, and is used in many fields, particularly in precision electronic devices that require high precision, such as personal computer hard disks and printers. Ideal as a bearing to support a rotating body such as a fan motor.

(A) is a side view of the ball bearing in the bearing of this invention, (b) is the front sectional drawing. The sectional side view which shows the state which formed the fullerene thin film in the bearing structure surface in the bearing of this invention. The side view explaining the other Example of the ball bearing in the bearing of this invention, (b) is the front sectional drawing. The partial cross section perspective view of the ball bearing in the bearing of this invention. The partial cross section perspective view of the roll bearing in the bearing of this invention. The partial cross section perspective view of the thrust bearing in the bearing of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A ... Bearing O ... Rotating shaft center 1 ... Bearing rolling element
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Outer ring 12a ... Ball guide groove of outer ring 13 ... Inner ring 13a ... Ball guide groove 20 of inner ring ... Bearing shield plate 30 ... Bearing structure 40 ... Fullerene thin film

Claims (10)

  A plurality of bearing rolling elements, a ring-shaped retaining ring having a plurality of hole-forming portions that hold the bearing rolling elements in a non-contact state so as to be slidable, and the ring-shaped retaining rings held in the hole-forming portions. In a radial ball bearing type bearing comprising a bearing bearing body formed of an outer ring provided along the inner circumference and an inner ring provided along the outer circumference for slidably holding the bearing rolling elements, the inner surface of the outer ring and the inner ring A bearing characterized in that wear resistance and durability are imparted to a fullerene thin film formed by vapor-depositing and photopolymerizing fullerene using a vacuum film forming method on the outer surface side thereof.   A plurality of bearing rolling elements, a ring-shaped retaining ring having a plurality of hole-forming portions that hold the bearing rolling elements in a non-contact state so as to be slidable, and the ring-shaped retaining rings held in the hole-forming portions. In a radial ball bearing type bearing comprising a bearing bearing body formed of an outer ring provided along the inner circumference and an inner ring provided along the outer circumference for slidably holding the bearing rolling elements, the inner surface of the outer ring and the inner ring The bearing is characterized in that conductivity is imparted to the outer surface side of the fullerene thin film formed by vapor deposition and photopolymerization of fullerene using a vacuum film formation method.   A plurality of bearing rolling elements, a ring-shaped retaining ring having a plurality of hole-forming portions that hold the bearing rolling elements in a non-contact state so as to be slidable, and the ring-shaped retaining rings held in the hole-forming portions. In a radial ball bearing type bearing comprising a bearing bearing body formed of an outer ring provided along the inner circumference and an inner ring provided along the outer circumference for slidably holding the bearing rolling elements, the inner surface of the outer ring and the inner ring The fullerene thin film formed by vapor deposition and photopolymerization of fullerene using a vacuum film formation method is provided with wear resistance, durability, and conductivity on the outer surface side of bearing.   The bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fullerene thin film formed by vapor-depositing and photopolymerizing fullerene on the surface of the bearing rolling element using a vacuum film-forming method is used. And a bearing having durability.   The bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein conductivity is imparted by a fullerene thin film formed by vapor-depositing and photopolymerizing fullerene on the surface of the bearing rolling element using a vacuum film-forming method. Bearing characterized by being.   The bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fullerene thin film formed by vapor-depositing and photopolymerizing fullerene on the surface of the bearing rolling element using a vacuum film-forming method is used. Bearing with durability and conductivity.   The bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bearing rolling element is a ball bearing using a true ball or a needle bearing using a roller or needle needle.   The bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bearing rolling element is a ball bearing using a spherical ball, and an inner periphery of an outer ring that slidably guides the bearing rolling element of the bearing bearing body. Each of the guide grooves provided along the outer periphery of the inner ring is formed in a circular arc cross section corresponding to the radius of curvature of the true spherical ball. The bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bearing rolling element is a ball bearing using a spherical ball, and an inner periphery of an outer ring that slidably guides the bearing rolling element of the bearing bearing body. Each of the guide grooves provided along the outer periphery of the inner ring is formed in a V-shaped cross section, and the contact surface with the ball bearing is the smallest.   10. The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the fullerene thin film is formed by depositing and photopolymerizing fullerene C60 by a vacuum film formation method such as a molecular beam epitaxy method, a vacuum evaporation method, or a laser ablation method. A bearing characterized by being formed into a thin film.

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