General Electric Company

Alexander H Nahm

Kenneth Lee Fisher

Jerry Donald Schell

Michael J Price

John C Clark

Michael Gilbert Johnson

Russell R Carter

Eric N Bamberger

An improved type of rolling element bearing, in which race land regions are protected against wear or scoring, is described. In particular, it is shown that a coating of a hard, wear-resistant material such as titanium nitride, applied to the race land region of a rolling element bearing, is effective in preventing wear or scoring of the race land region.

Rolling element bearing having wear resistant race land regions

A rolling element bearing member designed for use in a preselected bearing operation, such as a gas turbine engine, which develops a predetermined operating hoop tensile stress in the member includes a hardened layer contiguous with a ductile core having a hardness less than 50 Rockwell C. For example, the hardened layer is a carburized layer of high hardness in the range of 58-66 Rockwell C. The hardened layer has improved resistance to crack initiation and propagation as a result of providing the layer with compressive residual stress in an amount greater than the predetermined operating hoop tensile stress, for example in the range of about 10-60 ksi to a depth up to about 0.06 inch. Such a member is made by providing a member of a metal alloy having the capability of developing such a hardened layer, and then processing the member to develop the layer in the amount of compression.

Rolling element bearing member

Growing community of inventors

Madeira, OH, United States of America

Alexander H Nahm