Preventing Stress Corrosion Cracking of Bearings

Author:  Robert F. Sutton and Kathleen E. Kirkham
Source:  US Patent 4,687,556
Doc ID:  1987222
Year of Publication:  1987
Abstract:  
A method of inhibiting stress corrosion cracking of a bearing of the type installed on a shaft with an interference fit. The surface of the inner ring is shot peened at least at and near the junctures of the endwalls with cylindrical inner surface. The shot peening is performed with sufficient intensity to produce residual compressive stress which offsets at least a portion of the tensile stress resulting from the installation interference fit. The shot peened surface is then coated with a thin metallic material. Finally, the inner bearing ring is baked to remove hydrogen resulting from the coating.