Abstract: A sensor bearing unit comprising: a bearing comprising first and second rings, each provided with an outer cylindrical surface, an inner cylindrical surface, and lateral surfaces, and an impulse ring provided with a target holder being axially mounted against one of said lateral surfaces, and comprising a fixing portion secured to the first ring and coming into radial contact with said one of cylindrical surfaces and an abutment portion coming into axial contact with said lateral surface. Besides, at least one of the lateral and cylindrical surfaces is provided with a textured area comprising a plurality of ribs, and the abutment portion and/or the fixing portion of the target holder is made of a hard material and comprise a soft coating covering the hard material and inside which the ribs are engaged.

Abstract: Method for detecting at least one critical defect in a ceramic rolling element providing the steps of capturing a plurality of two-dimensional digital radiographic images of the ceramic rolling element; digitally filtering each radiographic image; delineating, on the basis of the filtered image, at least one region liable to comprise the critical defect; constructing stereoscopically a virtual model of the ceramic rolling element having the region; comparing the dimensions of the delineated region with a plurality of predetermined threshold values, and, when the dimensions are greater than the threshold values, generating an alarm signal.

Abstract: A bearing component composed of a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloyed tool steel is produced by a process that includes: (i) performing a first preheating within a temperature range of 600-650° C., (ii) performing a second preheating within a temperature range of 850-900° C., (iii) austenitizing in vacuum at 1000-1180° C. for 20-40 min, (iv) gas quenching at a minimum of 4-5 bar overpressure, and (v) tempering by performing either a double temper at 520-560° C. for 1.5-2.5 hours in each temper, or a triple temper at 520-560° C. for 0.5-1.5 hours in each temper. The steel alloy may be composed (in mass percent) of 1.32-1.45 C, 0.32-0.50 Si, 0.26-0.48 Mn, 4.0-4.85 Cr, 3.35-3.55 Mo, 3.55-3.85 V, 0-0.13 W, 0-0.20 Ni, 0-0.15 Cu, 0-0.8 Co, 0-0.03 P, and 0-0.03 S, the balance being iron and unavoidable impurities. Mo may be replaced with W or vice versa in a replacement ratio Mo:W of 1:2.

Abstract: Method for detecting at least one critical defect in a ceramic rolling element providing the steps of capturing a plurality of two-dimensional digital radiographic images of the rolling element; digitally filtering each radiographic image; delineating, on the basis of the filtered image, at least one region liable to comprise the critical defect; constructing stereoscopically a virtual model of the rolling element having the region; comparing the dimensions of the delineated region with a plurality of predetermined threshold values, and, when the dimensions are greater than the threshold values, generating an alarm signal.

Abstract: A rolling contact bearing, wherein the surface of the raceways of an outer member and/or an inner member are randomly formed with an innumerable number of microconcavelike pits, the surfaces are provided with said pits having a surface roughness value smaller than 0.25 microns and a skewness Rsk value such that ?3.5<Rsk<?1.0.

Abstract: A rolling contact bearing, wherein the surface of the raceways of an outer member and/or an inner member are randomly formed with an innumerable number of microconcavelike pits, the surfaces are provided with said pits having a surface roughness value smaller than 0.25 microns and a skewness Rsk value such that ?3.5<Rsk<?1.0.

Abstract: A bearing comprising a plurality of rolling elements arranged between an inner and outer raceway thereof. A rolling contact interface is between a first rolling contact surface on at least one rolling element and a second rolling contact surface formed by one of the inner and outer raceways. The first rolling contact surface has a first RMS roughness Rq1 and a first roughness pattern ?1, expressed in terms of the Peklenik number ?. The second rolling contact surface has a second RMS roughness Rq2 and a second roughness pattern ?2. To minimize micropitting in the bearing, the rolling contact interface has a surface topography wherein (a) the roughness pattern of the first and second rolling contact surfaces are oriented in the direction of rolling, whereby ?1?3.0 and ?2?10.0; and (b) the first and of the second rolling contact surfaces have substantially equal roughness heights, whereby 0.8?Rq1/Rq2?1.25.

Abstract: A bearing comprising a plurality of rolling elements arranged between an inner and outer raceway thereof. A rolling contact interface is between a first rolling contact surface on at least one rolling element and a second rolling contact surface formed by one of the inner and outer raceways. The first rolling contact surface has a first RMS roughness Rq1 and a first roughness pattern ?1, expressed in terms of the Peklenik number ?. The second rolling contact surface has a second RMS roughness Rq2 and a second roughness pattern ?2. To minimise micropitting in the bearing, the rolling contact interface has a surface topography wherein (a) the roughness pattern of the first and second rolling contact surfaces are oriented in the direction of rolling, whereby ?1?3.0 and ?2?10.0; and (b) the first and of the second rolling contact surfaces have substantially equal roughness heights, whereby 0.8?Rq1/Rq2?1.25.

Abstract: A fluid-film bearing including: (a) a first surface region having a first bearing surface, for attaching to a first machine component; (b) a second surface region having a second bearing surface, for attaching to a second machine component; the surface regions designed and configured such that first surface and the second surface are disposed opposite one another, the surface regions further designed and configured such that the first surface and the second surface move in a relative motion with respect to one another and (c) a fluid disposed between the surfaces, wherein at least one of the surfaces is a micropore-containing surface having a plurality of micropores disposed so as to effect an equivalent clearance convergence between the surfaces, in a direction of the relative motion, such that the relative motion, acting on the fluid, generates a pressure so as to generate a lifting force between the surfaces.