Abstract: A spider for use in a compact universal joint, includes a spider body having a hollow cylindrical portion and two opposed tenons projecting radially outward from the hollow cylindrical portion along a common axis. The hollow cylindrical portion is adapted for installation of bearings therein for pivotal support of the cross body on a pin mounted in a first yoke of the universal joint, and the tenons are adapted for mounting within bearings in a second yoke thereof.

Abstract: A shaft depressor is used for seating a shaft against a closed, usually curved, portion between first and second sides of a U-shaped socket in a slap yoke of a steering shaft assembly. It is used together with a clamp bolt which extends through a hole in the first side of the socket and fastens to threads at a second parallel side thereof. The shaft depressor consists of a cylindrical body having an inside diameter sized to fit over the clamp bolt, an outside diameter sized to pass through the hole in the first side of the U-shaped socket, and projecting members for pressing the shaft into the closed portion of the socket. The shaft depressor has a tapered lead at one end for easy insertion through the hole in the first parallel side and a plurality of fins projecting radially outwardly from the surface of the cylindrical bushing. The radially projecting fins may be axially extending ridges, circumferential ridges, cones, or a single helical ridge on the surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A rocker arm, for operating a valve in a machine such as an internal combustion engine, has a stamped body with a push rod socket at a first end, a valve pallet at a second end, and two lateral walls extending between the first and second ends, each of the lateral walls having a bearing support aligned on a common axis. A stiffener strap extends from one bearing support over the lateral walls to the other bearing support, the stiffener strap having a bearing housing at each end for engagement with the bearing supports of the stamped body. The stiffener strap may also include stabilizer features for clamping the lateral walls of the stamped body to resist inward buckling in service.

Abstract: A clamp for securing a torque transmitting coupling between an intermediate shaft and a drive tube in a vehicle steering column consists of a strap wrapped upon itself in a substantially circular form with its ends overlapping, the strap having a radial hole formed through the overlapping ends, and a bolt inserted through the radial hole and threadably engageable with a threaded nut within the circular form of the strap. The bolt preferably has a flared tip for trapping the bolt within the nut and for extending into and through a hole in a wall of the drive tube to engage a recess in the intermediate shaft. It also has an undercut portion above the flared tip for disengaging from threads of the nut when the flared tip is retracted into the wall of the drive tube. Until the shaft is properly positioned in the tube, the threads of the bolt and nut are prevented from engaging to tighten the clamp. The flared tip may have threads to permit easy assembly with the nut and the strap.

Abstract: A method for making a lightweight composite camshaft, includes the steps of providing at least one lightweight cam element having a lobed outer surface and a hub with a cylindrical bore, at least a portion of the hub not being radially occluded by the outer surface; providing at least one lightweight journal element having a cylindrical outer surface and a hub with a cylindrical bore, at least a portion of the hub not being radially occluded by said outer surface; providing a hollow cylindrical tubular shaft member having a diameter sized to form a snug sliding fit in the hubs of the cam element and the journal element; positioning the cam and journal elements on the shaft in required axial and radial orientations; and applying means, on the hub of each element and that portion of the shaft which is in registry with the hub, for establishing a permanent interlock to fix each element in its required axial and radial orientation on the shaft.

Abstract: A roller bearing comprises a cylindrical inner race having axial ends folded over an outside surface thereof. A cylindrical roller cage, having a plurality of axially disposed roller pockets with roller retainer bars at radially outer edges thereof, is slid onto the folded ends of the inner race; and a plurality of cylindrical rollers is snap fitted into the roller pockets between the folded ends of the inner race. The roller cage pilots radially on the folded ends of the inner race, and the roller ends pilot axially against the folded ends of the roller cage.

Abstract: A slap yoke, for connection to a non-cylindrical shaft in a rotary-drive device, has an axially extending non-cylindrical socket for radially receiving the non-cylindrical shaft, the socket having two laterally opposed holes in its walls for transverse installation of a clamp bolt. A threaded clamp bolt having a drive head for bearing against the outer surface of one wall of the non-cylindrical socket extends through the opposed holes and carries a cylindrical jacket fitted over the bolt. The jacket has longitudinally centered features for causing radial expansion of the jacket under an axial compressive load. The yoke has a threaded member at one of the opposed holes for receiving the clamp bolt and for causing a compressive axial load on the cylindrical jacket when the clamp bolt is threaded thereinto.

Abstract: A roller cage for an axial-thrust bearing in a rotating machine has a substantially flat annular body with a first face, a second face, a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, and a plurality of radially-arrayed substantially rectangular roller pockets with axially oriented sidewalls and endwalls. The cage also has features which provide enhanced flow of lubricant, present within the rotating machine, through the radially arrayed roller pockets during operation of the rotating machine. Rollers are retained within the pockets by a single projection on the sidewall of each pocket at the first face and another single projection on the other sidewall at the second face. Cage design in conjunction with inner and outer race design assures direction of lubricant flow to locations with greatest lubrication and cooling requirements.

Abstract: A collapsible shaft, for a steering column of a motor vehicle, having a predetermined collapse load, includes an inner shaft member having a non-circular cross-section and an outer tube member having a non-circular cross-section congruent with that of the inner shaft member and slidably overlaying the inner shaft member. This shaft arrangement provides for yieldably retaining the inner shaft in a fixed axial position in the outer tube until acted upon by a predetermined force. The means for accomplishing this includes an undercut portion, having a length "L" and a depth "D", on one lateral face of the inner shaft, an arcuate spring member, having an arc length "L-.DELTA.L", fitted into the undercut portion and, when the arcuate spring is compressed during insertion of the shaft into the tube, having its ends almost butted against the ends of the undercut portion and interfering with movement of the inner shaft in the outer tube.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a steering column shaft in a steering column housing of a vehicle, includes a smooth bore hollow cylindrical sleeve member overlying a smooth surface steering column shaft. A longitudinal locking slot in an outer surface of the cylindrical sleeve member is engagable with a locking pin member operated by an ignition switch on the steering column housing. Torque transmitted from the steering column shaft to the sleeve member is limited by a bushing member interposed between the steering column shaft and the sleeve member. The sleeve member is supported in the inner race of a steering column bearing mounted in the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing between-stage entanglement of fibrous materials around a rotating impeller drive shaft in a multi-stage vertical turbine pump includes a fluted sleeve on the rotating impeller drive shaft and a notched cutter ring fixed to a stationary inner wall of a lower pump stage for engaging with the fluted sleeve to comminute fibrous materials by shearing action between the notches and the flutes. If necessary, a discharge transition piece may be used to adapt the upper end of an upstream pump stage bowl to the lower end of a downstream bowl.

Abstract: An apparatus for a decoking system, for raising and lowering a cutting tool into a coking drum, has at least one rigid vertical member extending above the coking drum with a toothed rack extending substantially the full height of the member. A rigid frame with provisions for mounting a cutting tool is movably mounted to the rigid vertical member. A motor is mounted to the rigid frame and powers a pinion gear which is drivably engaged on the toothed rack such that rotation of the pinion gear raises or lowers the rigid frame on the vertical member.

Abstract: An oscillating bearing is disclosed for a variable-displacement axial piston hydraulic machine having a swashplate with a convex semi-cylindrical bearing face with provisions for attaching the oscillating bearing, and a housing with a concave semi-cylindrical bearing saddle. The oscillating bearing includes thin outer and inner race members having centered openings and formed in arcs congruent with the concave surface of the bearing saddle of the housing and the convex bearing face of the swashplate, respectively. The outer race member has support means on at least one axial end for supporting a timing member which engages a timing feature of the swashplate and synchronizes motion for all parts of the oscillating bearing, and the inner race member has means for holding the inner race against the convex bearing face of the swashplate.

Abstract: A product lubricated thrust bearing includes an annular bearing disc made from a hard bearing material such as silicon carbide and having a plurality of radial lubrication grooves in at least one of a front and rear face thereof to define a plurality of bearing segments. A polymeric layer is bonded to the rear face of the annular bearing disc, and provision is made for preventing the bearing disc from slipping relative to the bore of the bearing carrier in which the thrust bearing is mounted. The bearing disc may be cracked along the radial lubrication grooves to allow the bearing segments to axially float. A metal disc may also be bonded to the polymeric layer opposite the bearing disc to reinforce the polymeric layer and to facilitate prevention of slippage of the bearing disc.

Abstract: An integral axial-field motor pump, includes a housing assembly having a working fluid inlet, a working fluid discharge, and a stationary shaft mounted therein. A motor stator is mounted in the housing assembly radially surrounding the stationary shaft and having a seal to prevent exposure to the working fluid; and a motor rotor is axially spaced from the stator and fixed to an impeller having a hub and journaled, by a bearing fixed in the hub, on the stationary shaft within the housing assembly. The rotor also has a seal to prevent exposure to the working fluid. The stationary shaft has an axial passageway formed within it; and there is a provision for conducting working fluid from the working fluid discharge, along sealed surfaces of the rotor and the stator, through the axial passageway within the stationary shaft, to the working fluid inlet to extract heat from the rotor and the stator and to cool the bearing.

Abstract: An open bowl for a vertical turbine pump, includes a bowl body having an inner wall and an outer wall, both walls being of substantially constant optimum thickness, surrounding a vertical axis and connected by diffuser vanes which define hydraulically optimized diffuser passages through the bowl body extending from a bottom end to a top end, the diffuser vanes being radially hollow and providing open paths through the inner and outer walls to a cavity surrounded by the inner wall; a flange at the top end of the outer wall for attachment of a discharge conduit for the pumped fluid; provision on the bottom end of the outer wall for attaching to a flange of a suction bell; further provision on an inner surface at the top of the inner wall for providing sealing engagement with an upper end of a separable substantially cylindrical bearing housing; and provision at the bottom end of the inner wall for attaching to a flange of the bearing housing.

Abstract: A roller thrust bearing having an increased efficiency and a reduced operating noise level includes a plurality of cylindrical roller elements radially oriented within a circular bearing cage which has inner and outer cage diameters and upper and lower cage surfaces. The roller elements protrude above and below the upper and lower cage surfaces, respectively, and upper and lower circular races having inner and outer diameters, are in rolling contact with the portions of the roller elements protruding above and below the upper and lower cage surfaces. The upper and lower races have features for reducing roller skidding against the races and for reducing operating noise of the thrust bearing. Another race feature allows the load carrying capacity of the bearing to vary to be proportional to the imposed load.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing an encapsulated magnet carrier by forming a wax pattern of the magnet carrier with an annular conducting ring annular chamber section, placing the conducting ring over the wax pattern in the annular chamber section, and forming an investment casting shell mold around the wax pattern and conducting ring. The magnet carrier is then cast with the conductor ring in place by pouring molten casting material into the mold, solidifying the casting material, and then separating the cast magnet carrier with the cast in place conductor ring from the surrounding mold.

Abstract: A diaphragm system is provided for isolating a motor stator from pumped fluid in a seal-less integral-motor pump, the pump having a non-rotating shaft fixed to a motor housing containing the motor stator, the shaft extending into a pump casing within which an impeller is integrated with a motor rotor. The diaphragm system includes a non-metallic diaphragm having a periphery, which conforms to and is clamped between mating surfaces of the housing and the pump casing, and a central circular hole, which surrounds the shaft and is clamped thereby against the housing. Clamping pressure on the diaphragm is limited, and static and dynamic bearing forces are passed directly from the shaft to the housing to minimize creep distortion of the diaphragm which could cause early failure of the pump.

Abstract: A bearing housing in a bowl of a vertical turbine pump for a lower bearing of a rotatable pump shaft on which an impeller is mounted includes a separable hollow substantially cylindrical housing body with upper and lower ends, having a radial flange at its lower end adapted for sealing attachment to a bottom face of the bowl such that it is capable of installation in and removal from the bottom face of the bowl, the housing body also having an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the shaft to provide a clearance therebetween. A bearing is fixed within the lower end of the housing body for journaling the shaft therein, and provision is made for sealing between the upper end of the housing body and an internal axial bore in the bowl. A seal is also provided between the lower end of the housing body and the shaft for excluding pumped fluid from the clearance.