A rolling device is provided which employs a lubricating grease composition which considerably diminishes irregular friction fluctuations occurring on rolling/sliding friction surfaces, shows stable low-torque characteristics in a wide temperature range, can retain a sufficient oil film even at high temperatures, has along life, and contains a novel thickener. Also provided is an electric power steering apparatus employing the rolling device.
The rolling device is characterized by employing a lubricating grease composition comprising: a thickener which is a mixed thickener comprising a mixture of (a) one or more diurea compounds which are one or more aliphatic diurea compounds having an average molecular weight of 500-750 in which 10-70% by mole of the linear hydrocarbon groups are unsaturated components, the aliphatic diurea compounds having been produced using as a raw material one or more primary amines having a total amine value in the range of 200-400, (b) at least one fatty acid metal salt, and (c) at least one amide compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic amides and aliphatic bisamides represented by formulae (I) and (II):
R1CONH2 (I)
R
1CONHR
2NHCOR
1 (II)
- (wherein R1 represents a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having 15-17 carbon atoms and R2 represents a methylene group or an ethylene group), the proportions of (a) and of (b) and (c) satisfying the relationship:
a/(b+c)=0.2−10
provided that
(1) the proportion of ingredient (a) is 1-10,
(2) the proportion of ingredient (b) is 0.5-2.5, and
(3) the proportion of ingredient (c) is 0.5-2.5,
the amount of the thickener being 2-30% by weight, based on the whole composition;
(d) a base oil which is a lube base oil having a pour point of −25° C. or lower and comprising a synthetic hydrocarbon oil as the main component; and (e) an additive which is a mixture comprising an organomolybdenum complex, an organozinc compound of a dithiocarbamic acid, and an organozinc compound of dithiophosphoric acid, the amount of the additive being 1-7% by weight, based on the whole composition.