A Study of Prevention of Fretting of Ball Bearing Using the Revolution of Rolling Elements

Abstract

In general, rolling bearings are used in continuous one-way rotation. Additionally, they are used in oscillating site such as a swing arm in a hard disk drive. In the swinging movement for several tens of degree in angle, the rolling elements contact the limited range of race surface. Therefore, fretting is easy to occur at the both ends of the contacting range. Then, lubricant agent and addition agent are applied to prevent the occurrence of fretting. However, in the experiment of swinging movement for small ball bearing, the revolution of the rolling elements could be seen and the fretting did not occur in the small ball bearing. Thus, in this research, the authors considered that fretting could be prevented by changing the contacting range caused by the revolution of rolling elements. Then, experimental analysis on observation of revolution of rolling elements and acceleration technique of the revolution was conducted. Accordingly, the following points were clarified. (1) Giving speed variation between to-motion and from-motion in the swinging movement will bring the revolution into existence. (2) The direction of revolution depends on the frictional condition between the rolling elements and the track surface.