Bearing assembly

Abstract

A bearing assembly, particularly refrigerant lubricated bearing assembly, having at least an inner ring and an outer ring, which are rotatable to each other. At least one bearing ring is made from a nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel having a nitrogen (N) content of more than 0.6 wt.-%. A method for manufacturing such a bearing ring is also provided.

1 . A refrigerant lubricated bearing assembly, comprising:
 at least an inner ring and an outer ring, which are rotatable to each other, wherein at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring is made from a nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel having a nitrogen content of greater than zero point six (0.6 wt. %) weight percent.   
     
     
         2 . The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen content is in the range of zero point four to two (0.4 to 2.0 wt. %) weight percent. 
     
     
         3 . The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a lubricant is encompassed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and wherein the lubricant comprises a refrigerant. 
     
     
         4 . The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly is a rolling hearing, and wherein the inner ring and the outer ring define a rolling chamber in which a set of rolling elements are housed. 
     
     
         5 . The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring is heat treated. 
     
     
         6 . The bearing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring is at least one of quenched, deep-frozen, and tempered. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigerant lubricated bearing assembly, comprising:
 an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring and the outer ring being rotatable relative to each other;   wherein at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring is made from a nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel having a nitrogen content of more than zero point six (0.6 wt. %) weight percent;   wherein the bearing assembly is a roller bearing; and   wherein the inner ring and the outer ring define a rolling chamber therebetween in which a set of rolling elements is housed.   
     
     
         8 . The bearing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the nitrogen content of the nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel is less than two (2.0 wt. %) weight percent. 
     
     
         9 . The baring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen content of the nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel used for the bearing assembly is between zero point six to two (0.6 to 2.0 wt. %) weight percent. 
     
     
         10 . The bearing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the nitrogen content of the nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel is between one point two to one point eight (1.2 to 1.8 wt. %) weight percent. 
     
     
         11 . The bearing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the nitrogen content of the nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel is between one point four to one point six (1.4 to 1.6 wt %) weight percent. 
     
     
         12 . The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the nitrogen content of the nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel is one point fifty-five (1.55 wt %) weight percent. 
     
     
         13 . The bearing assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a lubricant located between the inner and the outer ring, the lubricant being a refrigerant. 
     
     
         14 . The bearing assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a lubricant located between the inner and the outer ring, the lubricant containing a refrigerant. 
     
     
         15 . A system for manufacturing a bearing assembly, comprising: wherein at least one component of the bearing assembly is made from a nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel having a nitrogen content of more than zero point six (0.6 wt. %) weight percent. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a vacuum chamber configured to apply a heat treatment to the at least one component of the bearing assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the vacuum chamber encloses a nitrogen atmosphere having a gas pressure between zero point one and zero point five (0.1 and 0.5 bar) bar. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an induction hardening apparatus configured to apply a heat treatment to the at least one component of the bearing assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the hardening apparatus is configured to apply the heat treatment using an austenitisation temperature of between one thousand forty and eleven hundred (1040° C. to 1100° C.) degrees Celsius for between five to forty five (5 to 45) minutes, wherein the hardening apparatus is configured to convert the nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel from being ferritic to austenite during the heat treatment. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a quenching apparatus configured to convert a matrix of the nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel of the at least one component of the hearing assembly from austenite to martensite during a quenching step.