THE TORQUE AND WEAR CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER-LUBRICATED BALL BEARINGS
A research program evaluating the torque and wear characteristics of water-lubricated ball bearings as a function of certain design parameters was conducted. Ball-to-race conformity, contact angle, degree of alignment, and contact stress were the independent variables selected for this study. Size 209 ball bearings with Stellite 19 races, Stellite 3 balls, snd 17-4 PH stainless steel retainers were operated under pure thrust loads in high-purity oxygenated water at 30 rpm for 250,000 cycles. The torque-measuring system of the experimental apparatus was designed to provide linear-amplitude response to transient torques down to a 0.02-sec duration. Continuous torque records were obtained and analyzed for each bearing design and set of operating conditions. Weight-loss and dimensional changes were measured to determine wear. The data were analyzed by several statistical methods to determine the effect of the chosen variables on torque and wear. These analyses uncovered significant effects from ball-to-race conformity and contact stress and a high random variation caused presumably by variables outside the scope of this study which overshadowed any minor effects of the chosen variables. However, a relatively strong correlation of torque and wear with load (normsl ball load) was obtained. Metallographic studies and visual examinations indicated that the bearing materials may have contributed significantly to the scatter in the results because of variations in cast structure and density. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
- DOE Contract Number:
- NOBS-67500, SUBCONTRACT 73-(04-750)
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-000207
- OSTI ID:
- 4358515
- Report Number(s):
- BMI-1216
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Bettis Plant. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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