Abstract: A rotary air bearing (A) as shown in the Figure has a journal (2) provided with a pair of outwardly presented tapered surfaces located opposite the tapered surfaces on the journal, and a low friction liner (6) bonded to the tapered surfaces on the hub and having tapered surfaces which are separated from the tapered surfaces of the journal by small air gaps (g).

Abstract: A bearing, which may be used to mount a swing arm on the frame of a computer disk drive, has an outer race provided with two raceways of arcuate cross section. Each raceway has a row of raceway balls located along it. The raceway balls of each row, in turn, surround and bear against a separate pivot ball. The two pivot balls are greater in diameter than the circles described by the innermost areas of the rows of raceway balls, so that the pivot balls when urged together bear against the raceway balls of the two rows and urge them against their raceways. The force which urges the two pivot balls together may derive from spring-loaded arm engaged with one of the balls.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic bearing assembly has an outer element having an axis. Disposed about the axis, the outer element has first and second inverted generally conical surfaces, each surface disposed at an acute angle to the axis. These surfaces define a volume. Fixedly disposed within the volume is an inner element rotatable relative to the outer element. The inner element has first and second conical inner elements. The first conical inner element has a first surface opposed to and spaced from said first generally conical surface of the outer element, the opposed first surfaces lying generally parallel to each other. The second conical inner element has a second surface opposed to and spaced from the second generally conical surface of the outer element, the opposed second surfaces lying generally parallel to each other.

Abstract: A method of forming a ball bearing assembly capable of withstanding, in a non-operating mode, an axial load exceeding a predetermined axial load at which bearing damage would otherwise occur includes the following steps: assembling a bearing assembly with at least one set of annular bearing races and, disposed therebetween, a multiplicity of balls, each race having a face surface aligned transversely to the axis of rotation of the bearing assembly, (b) mounting the bearing with the first race fixed axially, (c) applying an axially directed load against the second race of a predetermined magnitude selected to be greater than the intended operating preload and less than a bearing damaging load, (d) grinding the face surfaces of the bearing races flush, (e) releasing the force, and (f) in operating condition, providing a stop ring having a flat stop face surface opposed to the face surfaces of the bearing races, the face surface of the first bearing race disposed in engagement with the stop face surface and the

Abstract: The invention is directed to a miniature ball bearing tester which detects vibrations therefrom when such a bearing is rotated by a rotor. The device includes a base upon which are supported reeds. The reeds support an upper housing tooling which includes a bearing support for mounting a bearing thereon for rotation. A rotor is attachable to a bearing mounted on the upper tooling. The rotor is then driven to rotate the bearing and upon a defect being detected, the reeds are as a result forced to move in a direction radial with respect to the axial direction of the bearing. An accelerometer picks up the movement and the signal therefrom is then band pass filtered, integrated to obtain a velocity measurement and output by, for example, a speaker to detect any frequencies resulting from a flaw in the miniature bearing.