Abstract: Disclosed herein is an elastomeric coupling for transmitting torque between two shafts approximately aligned on a shaft axis, the coupling comprising a composite arcuately extending member including a shoe having a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion and adapted to be connected to one of the shafts, and an elastomeric center element having, in a radial plane extending from and along the shaft axis, an inwardly opening generally U-shaped cross-section defined by two axially spaced radially extending leg portions respectively including an inner part bonded to the first portion of the shoe, and an outer part, and an axially extending bridge portion connected to the outer parts and including a weakened area which is located remotely from the shaft axis and which facilitates tearing of the bridge portion at the area in response to excessive transmission of force as compared to tearing of the bridge portion at other areas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spherical bearing assembly including an outer race member including an inner concave spherical bearing surface, a first inner bearing member extending circumferentially within the outer race member and including an outer spherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material and engaging the inner bearing surface, and a second inner bearing member extending circumferentially within the outer race member and including an outer spherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material and engaging the inner bearing surface.

Abstract: A link chain comprising a first left side link including an end having therein an aperture, a first right side link laterally spaced from the first left link and including an end having therein an aperture in alignment with the aperture of the first left link, a bushing fixed in the apertures in the first left and right side links and including a bore having an axis, and an annular inwardly facing bearing surface, a second left side link located adjacent and axially outwardly of the end of the first left side link and including an end having therein an aperture located in axial alignment with the bore of the bushing, a second right side link laterally spaced from the second left side link, located adjacent and axially outwardly of the end of the first right side link, and including an end having therein an aperture located in axial alignment with the bore of the bushing, and a hinge pin fixed in the apertures of the second left and right side links, extending through the bore of the bushing, and including a c

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a conveyor intended for travel along an intended direction on a given path, having laterally spaced and opposed sides, and comprising a chain pin, a first link module including a first plurality of laterally spaced eyes which respectively have therein aligned first bores receiving the chain pin, and which define a series of spaces, and a second link module including a second plurality of laterally spaced eyes which respectively have therein aligned second bores receiving the chain pin to prevent disconnection of the first and second modules, and which are received in the spaces between the first plurality of eyes so as to engage the first plurality of eyes in such manner as to directly transmit tension in the direction of conveyor movement between the first and second link modules at laterally spaced multiple places between the conveyor sides.

Abstract: A bearing assembly comprising an outer non-rotating sub-assembly including an outer housing including a cylindrical bore, and an outer bearing including an outer cylindrical surface engaging the cylindrical bore of the outer housing, and a bore defined by a spherical inwardly facing bearing surface, and an inner rotating sub-assembly including an inner bearing including an outer surface defined by a spherical outwardly facing bearing surface engaging the inwardly facing bearing surface of the outer bearing, and an internal cylindrical bore adapted to receive a rotating member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a conveyor having an intended direction of travel and comprising a link module extending transversely of the intended direction of conveyor travel and comprising a plurality of ears including a laterally located outer side ear having a bore extending transversely of the direction of intended conveyor travel, and a pair of gripping surfaces extending in spaced parallel relation to each other to define a gripping portion extending along the direction of intended conveyor travel, and a plug fabricated of resilient material and including a cylindrical barrel portion extending in said bore, and spaced surfaces extending parallel to and inwardly of said outer side surface to define a notch resiliently engaging said gripping portion of said outer side ear.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for connecting a driving shaft and a driven shaft, the coupling including a first hub connected to the driving shaft, a second hub connected to the driven shaft, a set of flex elements located between the first hub and the second hub, a plurality of fasteners, and a series of bolt holes and clearance holes in the first and second hubs affording the alternative connection of the first and second hubs, the flex elements and the fasteners in a first arrangement wherein the coupling has a biased torque transmission capacity in a first direction of rotation and in a second arrangement wherein the coupling has a biased torque transmission capacity in a second direction of rotation.

Abstract: An aerospace housing and shaft assembly comprising a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted within the housing, a seal assembly operatively positioned between the housing and the shaft, and low pressure air (e.g., atmospheric air) having a pressure substantially less than 14 psia and being positioned on one side of the seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a first seal ring mounted on the housing, and a second seal ring mounted on the shaft in facing relation to the first seal ring. One of the first seal ring and the second seal ring includes a hydropad. The hydropad is positioned to pump low pressure air from the inner diameter toward the outer diameter. The hydropads can include an inner edge oriented substantially circumferentially, an outer edge oriented substantially circumferentially and spaced radially outward from the inner edge, a leading edge interconnecting the inner edge with the outer edge, and a trailing edge interconnecting the inner edge with the outer edge.

Abstract: A refrigeration compressor seal for inhibiting the loss of refrigerant between a compressor shaft and a compressor housing. The seal includes a face seal comprising a seal nose and a mating ring positioned in opposing relation to the seal nose. The mating ring includes tungsten carbide (e.g., solid tungsten carbide with 6% nickel binder). The seal nose comprises a maximum of about 0.5 weight percent lead (e.g., a low lead tin bronze allow, such as alloy C90300). A lip seal is operatively positioned between the compressor housing and the compressor shaft. The lip seal and the face seal collectively form a seal cavity for retaining fluid adjacent to the face seal. The seal assembly can further include a bypass channel for bypassing fluid around a top portion of the lip seal.

Abstract: A splice for joining the abutting ends of conveyor guide rails of the type having a metallic channel member and a plastic insert housed within the channel member and for engaging the product being conveyed.

Abstract: A control circuit (10) is provided for an electric motor brake (12) having an electromagnetic brake coil (14) energizable to actuate the brake to a released condition permitting rotation of an electric motor (16), and de-energizable to enable actuation of the brake setting the brake to a braking condition stopping rotation of the motor. The control circuit includes a switch (102) having an on state energizing the brake coil, and an off state de-energizing the brake coil.

Abstract: A bearing assembly adapted to be mounted on a shaft, the assembly including a sleeve having a frustoconical outer surface and a bore adapted to be placed on the shaft; and an inner ring defining a second bore, the second bore having a first portion which is engageable with the outer surface of the sleeve and the second bore having a second portion adjacent the first portion and extending at an angle radially outwardly from the first portion.

Abstract: A guide rail support assembly for use with a conveyor having a transport chain or belt for transporting articles from one location to another. The guide rail support comprises the combination of guide rail holding assembly for holding a guide rail adjacent the transporter of a conveyor, a support assembly for supporting the guide rail holding assembly, and cam lever mounted on the support and having a first position for securing the holding assembly against movement relative to the support and a second position for releasing the holding assembly for movement relative to the support whereby movement of the cam lever between its first and second positions permits rapid repositioning of the guide rail relative to the transport chain of a conveyor without the use of tools.

Abstract: A conveyor including: a guide track including a wear strip, the wear strip including a guide surface; a conveyor chain supported for movement relative to the guide track and including a plurality of interconnected links, a plurality of the links each including a thrust surface which rides against the guide surface when the conveyor chain is moved; and a lubrication insert mounted in one of the wear strip and the plurality of links, the lubrication insert including a porous material having an outer portion proximate one of the guide surface and the thrust surface, the lubrication insert including a fluid lubricant impregnating the porous material, such that when the conveyor chain is moved the fluid lubricant is released from the porous material and forms a lubricating film between the guide surface and the thrust surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bearing assembly comprising an outer stationary assembly including a housing including an axial bore with an inwardly facing spherical surface, and an outer bearing member including an outwardly facing spherical surface received by the inwardly facing spherical surface of the housing, and a bore including an inwardly facing cylindrical bearing surface, and an inner rotating assembly including a rotating shaft, and a bearing sleeve fixed to the shaft for common rotation and including an axial bore receiving the shaft, and an outwardly facing composite fabric bearing having an outwardly facing cylindrical self-lubricating bearing surface received in the inwardly facing bearing surface of the outer bearing member.

Abstract: In a brake for an electric motor, stepped helical coiled separator springs (302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312) urge separation of pressure plates (36, 36a) and friction discs (26, 26a) in the released position of the brake, to reduce brake drag. Each separator spring is an integrally continuously coiled spring (312) having an open coil section (314) extending axially from an abutment surface (336) of the pressure plate (36a). Each separator spring has a closed coil section (318) meeting the open coil section (314) at a step transition (338) in diameter at the pressure plate abutment surface (336) and extending through an aperture (330) in the pressure plate (36a) in the opposite axial direction and press-fit therein.

Abstract: A refrigeration compressor including a compressor housing, a compressor shaft rotatably positioned within the housing, a refrigerant positioned within the housing, a face seal operatively positioned between the housing and the shaft, and a lip seal operatively positioned between the housing and the shaft. The lip seal and the primary seal collectively form a seal cavity for retaining fluid adjacent to the primary seal. An inlet port is positioned adjacent to the seal cavity, and a bearing rotatably supports the shaft within the housing. The lip seal is operatively positioned between the inlet port and the bearing. A bypass channel allows fluid (e.g., oil and refrigerant) to bypass a top portion of the lip seal, thereby permitting lubrication of the bearing. The face seal includes a seal nose and a bellows operatively associated with the seal nose. The seal nose preferably includes a maximum of about 0.5 weight percent lead. For example, the seal nose can include a tin bronze alloy, such as alloy C90300.

Abstract: A brake (30) includes a magnetically permeable body (38) having a pole face (40), an armature (42) axially movable toward and away from the pole face, an energization coil (44) energizable to magnetically attract the armature toward the pole face, biasing members (50) biasing the armature away from the pole face, a pressure plate (64) mounted to the body and axially spaced from the pole face, a friction disc (66) between the armature and the pressure plate and keyable to an axially extending rotary shaft (36), such that upon deenergization of the coil, the biasing members bias the armature to a braking position pushing the friction disc against the pressure plate to stop rotation of the disc and shaft, the armature in the braking position defining an air gap (80) between the pole face and the armature, and such that upon energization of the coil, the armature is pulled through the gap toward the pole face to a released position releasing the disc and permitting rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides a bearing including an inner bearing surface that is formed by a layer of self-lubricating material and that contains axially extending and circumferentially spaced apart lubrication grooves. The inner bearing surface and the grooves therein are formed by conforming the self-lubricating material to the outer surface of a mandrel that has elongated members supported thereon so that the elongated members form the lubrication grooves. An overlayment is then applied on the layer of self-lubricating material, the overlayment including a plurality of filaments wound around the layer of self-lubricating material, and a hardenable liquid to bond the layer of self-lubricating material to the overlayment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a conveyor comprising a first conveyor element including an end comprising a first series of eyes spaced from each other to define therebetween a series of spaces, having therein respective openings axially aligned with each other, and including an end eye, a second conveyor element including an end comprising a second series of eyes which are spaced from each other to define therebetween a series of spaces receiving the eyes of the first conveyor element, which extend into the spaces between the eyes of the first conveyor element, and which have therein respective openings axially aligned with respect to each other and axially aligned with respect to the openings of the eyes of the first conveyor element, a cylindrical hinge pin extending in the openings of the eyes of the first and second conveyor elements and including an end located adjacent the end eye of the first conveyor element, a plug fixed in the opening of the end eye of the first conveyor element and including an end in axial