Patents Examined by Alan B Waits
  • Patent number: 11913498
    Abstract: A bearing cage includes an annular body disposeable between inner and outer rings and having first and second axial ends, inner and outer circumferential surfaces, and a plurality of pockets for retaining rolling elements. The cage includes at least one channel extending axially through the annular body and having a first opening at the first axial end and a second opening at the second axial end. The channel(s) are each configured to direct liquid to flow axially through the bearing when the cage rotates about the centerline. Alternatively or additionally, the cage includes at least one elongated projection extending radially inwardly from the inner circumferential surface or radially outwardly from the outer circumferential surface and extending axially between the first axial end and the second axial end. The projection(s) are each configured to direct liquid to flow axially through the bearing when the cage rotates about the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: James M Tully
  • Patent number: 11905996
    Abstract: A bearing provides an outer ring and an inner ring capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, at least one of the inner and outer rings being split into a plurality of successive circumferential ring segments. For each pair of facing ends of adjacent successive ring segments of the split-ring, one of the facing ends includes at least one protrusion made in one part with the associated ring segment and protruding into a recess of complementary shape formed onto the other facing end to align the pair of facing ends in radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Bruno Capoldi, David Ragot, David Bertrand
  • Patent number: 11904466
    Abstract: A bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring provided on the inner side in the radial direction of the outer ring, a rolling body provided between the outer ring and the inner ring, and a holder including a base formed in an annular shape around a center axis of the outer ring and the inner ring and a first wall section and a second wall section provided to project from the base, the holder holding the rolling body. The first wall section includes a first channel provided in the circumferential direction of the base. The second wall section includes a second channel provided in the circumferential direction of the base. The position of the first channel in the first wall section and the position of the second channel in the second wall section are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuya Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11898603
    Abstract: A bearing unit may be provided with at least one row of rolling bodies and at least one cage for retaining the rolling bodies. The at least one rolling cage may include a base rib; a plurality of fingers spaced circumferentially and extending at least from one side of the base rib; and a plurality of partially spherical cavities for holding the rolling bodies, each cavity being defined by the partially spherical concave surfaces of a pair of fingers of the plurality of fingers and of the base rib. The rolling bodies and the cages are in contact with each other via a plurality of protrusions formed on the partially spherical concave surfaces of the fingers and of the base rib. At least one lateral protrusion may be formed along the surface of each finger of the plurality of fingers of the retaining cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventors: Fabio Bogliacino, Alessandro Ferrero, Marco Gemello
  • Patent number: 11892031
    Abstract: A compressor includes a housing, a shaft that is rotated relative to the housing to compress a working fluid, and a foil bearing that supports the shaft. The foil bearing includes a top foil. The foil bearing is a foil gas bearing that is backed up by a ball bearing, or a mesh foil bearing with an actuator to compress a wire mesh dampener. A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor and a working fluid. The compressor includes a shaft that is rotated to compress the working fluid, and a foil bearing for supporting the shaft as it rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Sung Hwa Jeung, Charles Roesler, Donald Lee Hill, Jay H. Johnson, Joseph M. Heger
  • Patent number: 11891906
    Abstract: A bearing housing for a bearing having an outer race, the bearing housing comprising: an annular wall extending about an axis and axially between a first end and a second end, the annular wall including: a plurality of holes spaced circumferentially from one another and spaced axially from the first end, the plurality of holes extending through the annular wall toward the axis; and an interior housing surface extending about the axis and defining interior openings of the plurality of holes, the interior housing surface having a cylindrical portion defining a seat for radial engagement with the outer race, the cylindrical portion extending axially from a first location proximate to the first end to at least a second location between the first location and the interior openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Maciej Piotrowski, Lukasz Pokrzywa
  • Patent number: 11892036
    Abstract: A bearing track cage includes a plurality of retention elements, wherein each retention element includes at least a first axial side and a second axial side, and wherein each adjacent pair of retention elements of the plurality of retention elements defines a rolling element pocket configured to retain a rolling element. A first support is slidably coupled to each of the plurality of retention elements on the first axial side thereof and a second support is slidably coupled to each of the plurality of retention elements on the second axial side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dennis Roffe, Michael Heaton, Guihui Zhong
  • Patent number: 11885373
    Abstract: A roller bearing assembly including an tapered inner cup defining an inner raceway, an tapered outer cup defining an outer raceway, the outer raceway having a convex profile, the convex profile being defined by an intersection of the outer raceway and a central plane in which a longitudinal center axis of the roller bearing assembly lies, and a plurality of straight rollers disposed between the tapered inner cup and the tapered outer cup so that each straight roller is in rolling contact with the inner raceway and the outer raceway, each straight roller having a first end face, a second end face and a cylindrical body extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: JTEKT Bearings North America LLC
    Inventor: Scott Abrahamson
  • Patent number: 11885377
    Abstract: An electrically conductive assembly for preventing current flow through the raceways of a bearing includes a mounting ring disposeable within a retention groove of an outer member or a bearing outer ring and is formed of an electrically conductive elastic material. The mounting ring has two circumferential ends spaced apart and is deflectable inwardly such that the two circumferential ends displace generally toward each other to reduce the outside diameter of the ring for installation into the retention groove. An arcuate conductor has an outer radial end attached to the mounting ring, an inner radial end engageable with the shaft or the bearing inner ring and two circumferential ends spaced apart to define an arcuate gap when the conductor is installed about a shaft or a bearing inner ring. An electrically conductive path extends between the shaft and the outer member through the arcuate conductor and the mounting ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Gene A Kovacs, John Castellano, Mathieu Hubert
  • Patent number: 11877899
    Abstract: The rolling bearing includes: an outer ring having an outer ring raceway surface on an inner peripheral surface; an inner ring having an inner ring raceway surface on an outer peripheral surface; rolling elements rotatably arranged between the outer ring raceway surface and the inner ring raceway surface; and a seal member that is fixed to a seal attachment groove formed in an axially end portion of the outer ring by a snap ring and seals an axially end portion of a bearing internal space between the outer ring and the inner ring, in which an outer diameter of the seal member is larger than an outer diameter of the snap ring in the seal attachment groove, and in which a radially outer end portion of the seal member is sandwiched between an inner peripheral surface of the seal attachment groove and an outer peripheral surface of the snap ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Oyama, Hironori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11873862
    Abstract: A planar high-density ball bearing comprises a cage and balls; the cage is provided with multiple groups of ball holes for arranging the balls; the ball holes in each group are distributed in the circumferential direction of the cage in an ellipse; the centers of the ellipses in each of which a group of ball holes is distributed coincide with each other, the major axes of the ellipses lie in a common line. The ball holes in adjacent groups are arranged to be staggered in relative to each other in the circumferential direction of the cage, and the balls in the same group of the ball holes are distributed in an ellipse. A method for manufacturing the planar high-density ball bearing, nutation reducer are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 11867235
    Abstract: A plummer block includes a bearing and a bearing housing that accommodates and supports the bearing. The bearing housing includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion that is separate from the upper housing portion. The upper housing portion has a first surface facing downward. The lower housing portion has a second surface facing upward. The first surface has: a contact region in contact with the second surface; and a first protruding region protruding from the contact region at least outward in a radial direction of the bearing when viewed in the up-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Daigo Kimura
  • Patent number: 11867231
    Abstract: A deep groove ball bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, a cage, and steel balls. The cage is provided between the outer ring and the inner ring. Pockets are formed in the cage, and the steel balls are placed in the pockets. The cage is split into an upper cage body and a lower cage body. Pocket grooves are formed alternately in each of the upper cage body and the lower cage body. A connecting portion is provided between adjacent pocket grooves in the upper cage body. A positioning portion is provided between adjacent pocket grooves in the lower cage body. An insertion piece and an insertion groove are provided between the connecting portion and the positioning portion. The insertion piece and the insertion groove are configured to be fixed with each other to form a fixed connection between the upper cage body and the lower cage body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: C&U COMPANY LIMITED.
    Inventors: Xuefeng Bai, Jialiang Xu, Lizhao Liu
  • Patent number: 11865863
    Abstract: A sensorized hub bearing unit having at least one strain sensor for detecting, in real time, forces and moments applied to an outer ring of the hub bearing unit, in which a radially outer ring of the hub bearing unit is formed by a coupling of a first annular element and a second annular element arranged coaxially, the second annular element radially fitted and integrally inside the first annular element and at least one strain sensor arranged in line with an interface between the first annular element and the second annular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Mathieu Hubert, Alessandro Garrone
  • Patent number: 11852192
    Abstract: A motion guide apparatus which can prevent the motion guide apparatus from rattling when being used in an environment Where an excessive moment works thereon. A crowning is formed at an end of a loaded rolling element rolling surface of a movable member, and a chamfer is formed at an end of the crowning. Let a total length of the crowning and the chamfer in a length direction of the loaded rolling element rolling surface be L. Let the diameter of a ball be Da. L/Da>4 is set. A maximum depth D of the chamfer is set to equal to or greater than the elastic deformation amount of a rolling element rolling surface of a track member, the loaded rolling element rolling surface of the movable member, and the rolling element under a radial load equal to or greater than 60% of the basic dynamic load rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Nakano, Takama Igarashi, Hajime Fukushima, Go Tamura
  • Patent number: 11846317
    Abstract: In a tapered roller bearing, the surface roughness of at least a rolling surface and a large diameter-side end surface of a tapered roller is 0.02 to 0.17 ?m in protruding mountain portion height Rpk, 0.12 to 0.21 ?m in core portion level difference Rk, and 0.07 to 0.43 ?m in protruding valley portion height Rvk and the average recessed portion area in the fine irregularities on the surface of the tapered roller is 5 ?m2 or less. As a result, oil film formability can be improved under dilute lubrication and a decline in lubricating oil viscosity and surface damage at a rolling contact part and an increase in friction at a sliding contact part can be suppressed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Chishima, Hiroaki Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Ohshima
  • Patent number: 11841052
    Abstract: A support assembly for movable, rotating or sliding shafts, having a bearing unit having an inner ring, an outer ring, and a row of rolling bodies interposed between the inner and outer rings, a casing, a cover for fluid sealing an opening of an internal seat of the casing, a rear sealing device on a side opposite the cover having a metal screen and a vulcanized rubber liner equipped with an axially outer first sealing lip and with an axially inner second sealing lip, an axially inner sealing device, having a first shield provided with a vulcanized rubber liner having a plurality of sealing lips, the outer ring having a step extending axially inward and provided with a second shield having a vulcanized rubber liner with a plurality of sealing lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Fausto Baracca, Andrea A. Bertolini, Pasquale Frezza
  • Patent number: 11835088
    Abstract: A rotating machine including a thrust bearing configured to receive an axial thrust exerted by a rotor. The thrust bearing may be configured to transfer the axial thrust from the rotor to a housing or other structural component of the rotating machine using a plurality of ball bearings. The rotating machine includes a magnetic apparatus configured to cause the rotating machine to exert an axial force on the thrust bearing in the direction of the axial thrust of the rotor, such that the magnetic apparatus loads the ball bearings in the direction of the axial thrust. The magnetic apparatus may be configured to generate a magnetic field causing a first magnetic component of the magnetic apparatus to repel or attract a second magnetic component of the apparatus. The first magnetic component may be configured to rotate relative to the second magnetic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Unton, Sean Andrew Morgan
  • Patent number: 11835084
    Abstract: A half thrust bearing for a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is formed of a back metal layer and a bearing alloy layer to have a slide surface and two thrust reliefs. Each thrust relieve includes a first region, where the back metal layer is exposed, on a circumferential end surface side, and a second region and a third region, where the bearing alloy layer is exposed while the slide surface includes a fourth region. A circumferential end region consists of the first and second regions. The bearing alloy layer includes a uniform thickness portion, and a decreased thickness portion adjacent to an inner-diameter-side end surface in a cross-section of the second region and includes a uniform thickness portion and an increased thickness portion adjacent to the inner-diameter-side surface in cross-sections of the third and fourth regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DAIDO METAL COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 11835093
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is disclosed, comprising: an outer race and a plurality of rolling elements associated with the outer race. An inner race adapted to receive a shaft therein is rotatably disposed within the outer race such that the plurality of rolling elements are disposed between the inner and outer races. A cylindrical extension forming a plurality of tabs symmetrically arranged around the entire periphery of the extension is adapted to engage the shaft. A clamp collar that is installable around the cylindrical extension is defined by a circular wall with at least one threaded opening extending through the circular wall. The threaded member extends through one of the threaded openings to make contact with and apply a biasing force on one of the plurality of tabs towards the shaft when the shaft is disposed in the inner race to secure the inner race on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Dodge Industrial, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kuckhoff, James G. Saxon