Bearings for use in negative-pressure environments

• US 5,028,219 A
• Filed: 08/21/1989
• Issued: 07/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leybold Aktiengesellschaft
• Original Assignee: Leybold Aktiengesellschaft
• Inventors: Schuetz, Guenter, Stueber, Hans-Guenter, Kinzig, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Leonard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Savid, III, John A.
• Application Number:
  US07/396,514
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 417/281, 417/423.4, 417/423.12, 417/423.13, 384/491, 384/492, 384/517, 384/518, 384/907, 384/913, 384/907.1
• US Class Current: 417/423.4
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/042 Turbomolecular vacuum pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/0566 Ceramic bearing designs
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/059 Roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/063 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/45 Turbo-molecular pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/32 Balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6633 Grease properties or compositions, e.g. rheological properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 384/907 Bearing material or solid lubricant

Abstract

A vacuum pump includes a rotor and at least one bearing that is supplied with a lubricant and that is situated, during operation, in a negative-pressure environment. In order to extend the useful life of the bearing, it is proposed that the bearing is formed from a ceramic material.

Claims

1. A vacuum pump of the type including a rotor and at least one bearing supporting said rotor, said vacuum pump comprising the following:

said at least one bearing including a plurality of ceramic rolling members, an inside bearing ring, and an outside bearing ring located in an environment subject to negative pressure during operation of said pump;

means for supplying lubricant to said at least one bearing and establishing a lubricant film between said rolling members and said bearing rings; and

setting means for adjusting setting forces of said at least one bearing, said setting means including a pair of setting sleeves axially reciprocable in a spindle sleeve, and a compression spring biasing said setting sleeves in opposite directions, a pair of end caps closing opposite ends of said spindle sleeve, and annular lubricant reservoirs within said sleeves.

2. A vacuum pump according to claim 1 further wherein said at least one bearing is a spindle bearing, and said rolling members comprise a plurality of balls.

3. A vacuum pump according to claim 2 further wherein said lubricant is a perfluoridated polyether.