Abstract: A flexible insulating liner strip or member comprises an elongated flexible structure that can be cut to length and positioned between a race of a bearing and a bearing housing to electrically insulate the bearing race from the bearing housing and/or other components. The flexible insulating liner strip may be segmented to provide flexibility, and one or more portions of the flexible insulating liner strip may be curved to accommodate variations in the dimensions of bearing housings and races. The flexible insulating liner strip provides a cost-effective way to electrically insulate bearings.

Abstract: A machine or device for forming tubes or the like includes one or more cables or other elongated flexible members. An expanding forming device is positioned at an end of the cables, and the cables are inserted into a tube that is to be formed. The expanding device expands outwardly, and tension is placed on the cables to pull the cables through the tubes. This causes the tubes to be permanently deformed outwardly to a larger outer diameter.

Abstract: A method for making a robot pivot arm assembly includes forming from a rigid, machinable material a circular disk, and forming a circular aperture through the center of the disk. An outer bearing track is formed integrally in the inside surface which defines the aperture, and the apertured disk is positioned in a machining device with a fixturing portion that engages the outer bearing track. An integral outer race, an arm and a gear segment with teeth are then machined into the disk to form the outer portion of the pivot arm assembly. An inner race with an inner bearing track is positioned inside the integral outer race, and rolling bearing elements are inserted into the first and second bearing tracks.

Abstract: A pitch bearing and related method for wind electric turbines has an annularly-shaped first bearing ring connected with an associated wind turbine blade, and includes a first raceway groove. An annularly-shaped second bearing ring is connected with the rotor portion of the wind turbine, and includes a second raceway groove aligned with the first raceway groove. Rolling elements are positioned in the first and second raceway grooves to rotatably interconnect the two bearing rings. A gear segment is formed on one of the bearing rings, and is configured to engage a pitch drive portion of the wind turbine to pivot the blade axially between different pitch angles. The gear segment has an arcuate measure of less than 200 degrees to facilitate economical manufacture.

Abstract: A dry gas seal has a housing with an annularly-shaped channel disposed concentric with the drive shaft, and an inlet to introduce pressurized buffer gas into the housing interior. An annularly-shaped shutdown piston is slidably received in the housing channel for axial shifting, and includes a circumferential seal between its inside and outside surfaces, and an end seal. A biasing member resiliently urges the shutdown piston toward an open position, such that during compressor operation, the forces generated by the biasing member combined with the pressure of the buffer gas acting on the piston's interior face retain the shutdown piston in the open position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically measuring the diameter of a part. A part to be measured is rotated through a plurality of measurement positions by an angle of rotation. A measuring device measures the radial distance from a surface point at each position of the part to the center thereof for each angle of rotation. The distance is calculated between successive points on the surface as a function of the measured radial distance of successive points along the surface and the angle of rotation between the measured points. A plurality of the distances as taken through a complete rotation of the rotational device is summed together to provide a circumference measurement of the part. A diameter measurement of the part is achieved by dividing the circumference by &pgr;.

Abstract: The gas face seal includes a housing defining an annular cavity, an annular face seal ring fixed to the housing for limited axial movement within the cavity, an opposed annular shoulder and a retainer for fixing the annular shoulder to a shaft for rotation therewith. The shoulder and face seal ring define opposed, radially extending surfaces. One of the surfaces includes a plurality of equally spaced, circumferentially extending inclined recesses. The surface further defines a plurality of radially extending feed slots which open through an outside diameter of the shoulder or face seal ring. In one embodiment, the inclined recesses extend circumferentially in both directions from the radially extending slots and the seal is bidirectional.

Abstract: A process for removing by coalescence condensation water from large quantities of lubricating oil of a steam driven turbine a significant portion of which water is in the form of an oil/water emulsion. The process is capable of reducing the free and emulsified water content of lubricating oil having a viscosity rating of 150 ssu at 100.degree. F. from 5000 ppm to 25 ppm in a single pass through the unit at a flow rate of 100 gallons per minute with most of the water in the oil as received by the equipment being in emulsion.

Abstract: A split sealing ring has a latch structure of overlapping, interengaging surfaces inclined to the ring's axis, which inclined surfaces seat against each other and intersect only the outer circumferential face of the ring and one of the axial faces of the ring at a location spaced radially outwardly from the inner radial face of the ring and the axial opening through the ring at the center of the overlap is entirely surrounded by portions of the outer circumferential face of the ring.

Abstract: A mount for a bearing is provided which includes a securing element that extends around a perimeter of at least one bearing ring and is welded to the support surface. The bearing ring includes an annular recess that receives a radial lip on the securing element. The securing element is at least temporarily secured to the bearing ring until the securing element is welded to the support surface. Thereafter, the configuration of the securing element fixes and secures the bearing on the support surface. Preferably both the annular recess and radial lip have at least one mating tapered surface which locate and provide a positive locking engagement between the securing element and the bearing ring without high manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fuel filter dehydrator apparatus for a fuel system which coalesces and retains residual water within the fuel filter. The device comprises a plurality of fuel filter dehydrator elements and a container for housing the filter elements. The container defines a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet for directing fuel through the filter dehydrator elements. Each of the filter dehydrator elements comprises a rigid, porous tube having a water retaining cellulose fiber sheet and water coalescing fiberglass layer wrapped therearound. The fiberglass coalesces water droplets in the fuel passing through the element and then releases the coalesced water to the cellulose fiber sheet. As the cellulose sheet becomes water saturated, its fluid permeability sharply decreases, automatically shutting off fuel flow therethrough. Residence of water in the fiberglass layer substantially adds to the water retaining capacity of each fuel filter dehydrator element.