Ball And Socket Patents (Class 384/206)
  • Patent number: 5722296
    Abstract: A ball joint connects a swinging shaft and a bell-crank provided on a change lever for transmitting a swinging movement of the change lever in a select direction to the bell-crank. The ball joint includes a ball having a pair of flat surfaces for defining a width smaller than the maximum diameter of the ball, a ball hole which is formed at one end of the bell-crank and in which the ball is rotatably fitted, a shaft hole which formed in the ball so as to open through both the flat surface and in which the swinging shaft of the change lever is slidably fitted. A rotation of the ball in the ball hole permits a relative swinging movement between the swinging shaft and the bell-crank. A sliding movement of the swinging shaft in the shaft hole permits an axial displacement of the swinging shaft with respect to the bell-crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Atsumitec
    Inventors: Yukio Nishigai, Shigeo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5710468
    Abstract: An end frame assembly for an electric motor is described. In one embodiment, the assembly includes an endshield, a bearing, an oil wick, and an oil well cover. The oil well cover has at least one endshield engagement tang for aligning with and being secured within an oil well cover engagement opening in the endshield and at least one bearing alignment finger for assisting in maintaining the bearing oriented with respect to a rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph E. Church, Richard W. Shuler
  • Patent number: 5676470
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a housing body in which are disposed a heat exchanger, a fan for circulating air across the heat exchanger, and a motor connected to one end of the fan for rotating the fan about an axis. Integrally formed on an opposite end of the fan is a bearing housing in which a bearing is disposed. The bearing has a center hole aligned with the axis. A bracket affixed to the housing includes a shaft which extends toward the fan and extends through the center hole of the bearing to rotatably support the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 5660482
    Abstract: A sliding contact bearing, especially an aircraft landing gear trunnion beating, comprises two bearing members (1, 3) composed of titanium or titanium alloy with cooperating sliding surfaces (2, 4), a first one of which is chromium plated and the second one of which is coated with nickel and fluorocarbon polymer. Preferably, the nickel coating is applied by an electroless plating process, and the fluorocarbon is infused into pores in the nickel plating. Preferably, the nickel and fluorocarbon coating is 0.025 to 0.041 mm thick, and has a hardness in the range 750-1000 VPN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Dowty Aerospace Gloucester Limited
    Inventors: Richard Andrew Newley, Paul Raymond Smith, Alun Davies-Jones
  • Patent number: 5509748
    Abstract: A ball joint compensates for manufacturing tolerances of the components and functions smoothly under large compressive loads. A rigid and resilient bearing seat has an elastic restoring force that compensates for component tolerances under varying load conditions. A ball joint housing and fitted bearing seat permit incremental increases in the load bearing area within the ball joint as an operating load increases. The increase in load bearing area permits the ball joint to withstand larger loads than in conventional ball joints without permanent deformation of the bearing seat. The ball joint is more durable and operates more smoothly over a wider range of loads than conventional ball joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Somic Ishikawa
    Inventors: Hidetaka Idosako, Takatsugu Masuno
  • Patent number: 5480231
    Abstract: A spherical sliding bearing comprising a hollow inner rotating metallic shaft member having a spherical convex surface on its periphery, an outer load-carrying member having a spherical concave surface generally in conformity with the convex surface, the inner rotating shaft member being supported by the outer load-carrying member so as to freely rotate and oscillate under the sliding-contact relationship between the convex and concave surfaces, and a pressure-bearing seat being interposed between the convex and concave surfaces, which contains a fluorocarbon resin, a modifier dispersed in the fluorocarbon resin and a metallic member which is entirely embedded in the fluorocarbon resin and assures the strength of the pressure-bearing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Sasaki, Kotaro Kashiyama
  • Patent number: 5452833
    Abstract: A magnetic-tape apparatus (1) having a capstan (33) and a pressure-roller device (47) which includes a pressure roller (29) which can be pressed against the capstan (33) and which is rotatably supported on a pressure-roller spindle (50) by a bearing member (51). An outer bearing surface (56) of the bearing member (51) is formed by an outer toric surface having a given meridian radius and an inner bearing surface (55) associated with the pressure roller (29), which inner bearing surface cooperates with the outer bearing surface (56) of the bearing member (51), is formed by an inner toric surface having a given meridian radius, and the outer toric surface (55) associated with the pressure roller (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Heinrich Hutter
  • Patent number: 5447376
    Abstract: A self contained, "package", bearing system, has relatively rotating and sliding, precisely formed, truncated spherical, journal and bearing surfaces with a high hardness and with a low surface roughness, that operate on a thin hydrodynamic film of pressurized lubricant, when the bearing system is operated under any combination of axial and radial loads. It optionally contains either a supply of dry lubricant, or normally a capillary supported, self-contained reserve of fluid lubricant, and a system of "internally discharging" throwers, for keeping the fluid lubricant within the system, to promote a long operating life.Lubricant re-circulation channels at the ends of the bearing and the inherently lower rates of flow of lubricant from the ends of truncated spherical bearings facilitates achieving long operating life. Grooves and recesses are optionally included in the bearing surfaces for enhancing the axial load capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventors: Eldon R. Cunningham, deceased, Shirley J. Cunningham, personal representative
  • Patent number: 5433530
    Abstract: A one-piece body portion injection molded of polysulfone or similar polymer has mounting portions for securing the bearing housing to a support surface and a transverse bore having a spherically concave annular bearing seat for tiltably supporting a convex outer ring of a bearing. Diametrically opposed axially extending recesses within the bearing seat facilitate insertion of the outer race ring after molding of the body portion. The bearing housing has significantly improved stiffness and resistance to moisture, creep, thermal deflection, chipping and corrosion, making the bearing housing particularly suited for use in the food processing industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Walter P. Waskiewicz
  • Patent number: 5431500
    Abstract: A bearing comprising a substratum having a configured external surface to which a self-lubricating material is integrally bonded to provide a self-lubricating bearing surface produced by the method of: applying a layer of self-lubricating resin penetrable bearing material onto the configured external surface; providing a hardenable liquid resin to coat and penetrate the bearing material; applying an overlayment of filaments onto the layer of bearing material to exert a bonding pressure on the layer of bearing material sufficient to cause the layer of bearing material to conform and bond to the configured external surface; hardening the resin; and removing at least part of the overlayment of filaments after the resin has hardened to expose at least selected portions of the layer of self-lubricating bearing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Harris, Dennis E. Bozych
  • Patent number: 5409242
    Abstract: A swivel mounting for mounting a rocker arm of a chuck and allowing pivoting movement of the rocker arm includes a cylindrical mounting member disposed in a cavity of the chuck and having an axial bore therethrough defining an interior surface thereof and a cylindrical bearing member disposed within the mounting member having an axial bore therethrough defining an interior surface thereof for supporting a portion of the rocker arm. The bearing member further has an exterior surface which is a mating surface with the interior surface of the mounting member. One of the mating surfaces has an annular channel therein, and the other of the mating surfaces has an annular projection thereon. The projection is positioned and sized to fit inside the channel, and the height of the projection is less than the height of the channel. Also disclosed is a chuck employing such swivel mountings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventor: Ralph J. Gonnocci
  • Patent number: 5407508
    Abstract: A method of producing a replaceable one piece annular outer race having an axial bore, an uninterrupted inner annular concave raceway facing into the bore and an outer surface. The method comprises the steps of applying an overlayment of filaments onto a cylindrical axially split mold assembly to form a one piece outer race substrate. The mold assembly includes first and second separable semi-cylindrical mold halves each having a semi-cylindrical convex outer mold surface, a mounting bore extending axially through the mold assembly, a removal axis normal to the mounting bore axis and a support removably mounted in the mold assembly mounting bore. A coat of hardenable liquid resin is applied to penetrate the filament overlayment substrate, after which the coated substrate is cured to form a hardened one piece outer race on the mold assembly. The cylindrical mold halves are removed from the hardened outer race to yield a single piece annular outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Harris, Dennis E. Bozych
  • Patent number: 5405199
    Abstract: A bearing device for miniature motors comprising a stator formed by fitting an end plate to an open end of a housing formed into a bottomed hollow cylindrical shape. A rotor rotatably supported by bearings is provided on the housing and the end plate. A bearing retaining body is provided formed of a resin material into a basket shape. The bearing retaining body has such a construction that a flange and a bottom member, both formed into a ring shape, are connected by a plurality of axially extending and circumferentially disposed connecting members. A plurality of axially extending support columns are disposed in the circumferential direction on the inner edge surface of the bottom member. The bearing retaining body is fitted to a retaining part provided on the housing and/or the end plate, and a ball bearing is supported via the supporting claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuichi Mabuchi, Yoshiaki Egawa, Makoto Satou
  • Patent number: 5364191
    Abstract: A guiding ring (4) having a spherical inside surface is supported inside an annular rubber cushion (3) which in turn is supported inside a metal case (1). A body (2) having a spherical outer surface cooperates with the inner surface of the ring to permit rotational movement. Bellows (5) attached to axial abutments (6,7) of the case protect the joint from abrasive elements. The case is preferably in two parts which are press fit together, the rubber cushion being fixed inside one of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Walter Gruber
  • Patent number: 5360274
    Abstract: A self-aligning bearing for a 0.5 kW PMDC electric motor has a bearing member having a cylindrical inner surface for receiving a rotatable shaft and an outer surface comprising a first external, part-spherical, surface-of-revolution and a second external surface-of-revolution comprising a first part extending inwardly from the first external, part-spherical, surface-of-revolution and a cylindrical second part extending from the first part. A housing has a convergent end defining an internal surface of revolution which engages the first external, part-spherical, surface-of-revolution and encloses a retainer engaging the first part of the second external surface-of-revolution. The housing also encloses a support ring which holds the retainer in place and has a radially inner part which surrounds the second part of the second external surface-of-revolution with a clearance space. The support ring thereby limits tilting movement of the bearing member about axes perpendicular to the axis of the bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventor: Georg Strobl
  • Patent number: 5358342
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a pivot assembly of the type having an inner, generally spherical bearing and an outer race mounted for movement on the bearing surface and defining a bearing-race sliding contact area. The improvement comprises an enclosed grease chamber above the sliding contact area and in gravity flow communication with such area. The assembly has a lower annular passage which can either be left open to permit grease and dirt to flush from the sliding contact area or such passage may be closed with a dynamic seal. The invention helps exclude dirt from the sliding contact area and helps assure that such area is properly lubricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Claude M. Frisbee, Ronald H. Werner
  • Patent number: 5346315
    Abstract: A ball and socket assembly adapted to engage the post of a rudder installed in the stern of a boat and to maintain it at a proper upright position regardless of the degree to which the post deviates from the vertical and is subjected to hydrodynamic forces which seek to displace the post. The assembly consists of a journal box fixedly mounted on a support and having a spheroidal cavity, and a bearing through which the rudder post extends. The bearing is constituted by a spheroidal section that nests within the cavity of the box and a cylindrical section projecting from the box and pinned to the post whereby the bearing is in alignment with the post and its spheroidal section is caused to rotate within the cavity in accordance with the rotation of the post as the boat is steered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Tides Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Strong, John R. Newton
  • Patent number: 5342128
    Abstract: An annular body (2) having a spherical outside surface is fixed coaxially on an annular rubber cushion (3) which in turn is fixed coaxially on a mounting rod (10). A guiding ring (4) is supported inside a case (1) and has a spherical inside surface which cooperates with the spherical outside surface of the annular body to permit rotational movement. The case has axial abutments (6,7) which limit rotational movement and serve as fixing points for bellows which protect the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Walter Gruber
  • Patent number: 5328273
    Abstract: A spherically sliding bearing unit generally includes an inner member having a first spherical surface, an outer member having a second spherical surface located opposite to and spaced apart from the first spherical surface, and a liner fixedly attached to the second spherical surface of the outer member to thereby provide a sliding interface between the liner and the first spherical surface of the inner member. The liner has a two-layer structure including an inner layer comprised of a resin material having a low coefficient of friction and an outer layer comprised of a metal. Preferably, the metal outer layer has an irregular structure, such as radial projections or grooves, such that a physically strong coupling can be provided between the liner and the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Nonaka, Kohei Yuasa
  • Patent number: 5318373
    Abstract: A ball joint for chassis parts in motor vehicles is described, in which a hinge pin 1 with a spherical part 2 is mounted in a housing 3 by a bearing box 4. The hinge pin is led through an opening 6 out of the housing 3. The housing 3 is sealed by a lid 7, on the opposite side. In this case, the housing is placed in a rigid external bushing 10 with an elastomer sleeve 9 surrounding the housing. Radial surfaces on the housing 3, as well as on the external bushing 10, limit the axial movement of the housing 3 with respect to the external bushing. The radial surfaces of the housing 3 are formed by the two flat sides of a collecting plate 15, which can be firmly connected to the housing 3 first in the assembly of the joint. The collecting plate 15 engages with an axial moving space between arranged radial surfaces of the external bushing 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Lemforder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Buhl, Hans Dubielzig, Klaus Kramer, Reinhard Richter
  • Patent number: 5273369
    Abstract: A self-aligning bearing for a fractional-horsepower PMDC electric motor is formed from sheet metal coated with polytetrafluoroethylene to facilitate intermittent, short-term operation. A tubular first part provides a journal-bearing surface. A second part extends radially from a first end of the first part to provide radial support for the first part. A third part extends axially from a radially outer second end of the second part so as to surround the first part and is provided with a part-spherical outer mounting surface for engagement with a bearing support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventor: George Strobl
  • Patent number: 5265965
    Abstract: A spherical bearing subassembly comprising a one-piece integrally formed annular socket member having an axis, axially spaced ends, an axially extending bore, a concave inner raceway facing into the bore and a convex generally spherical outer surface, and a spherical bearing mounted in the concave inner raceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Harris, Dennis E. Bozych
  • Patent number: 5249334
    Abstract: A hinge for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle has two hinge halves (1, 2), one (1) of which has a pivot pin (6) and the other (2) of which has a bearing portion (9) pivotally mounted on the pivot pin (6). The pivot pin (6) has a spherical end portion (11), onto which the bearing portion (9) fits with a complementary shaped cavity, and a narrower neck portion (12). A lock (18) cooperates with the neck portion (12) of the pivot pin (6) and the bearing portion (9) to lock the hinge halves (1, 2) against relative movement in the axial direction of the pivot pin (6). The bearing portion (9) has a bearing sleeve (13) journalled on the pivot pin (6), including the complementary shaped cavity therein. A bearing housing (15) has an inside surface which fits over an outside surface of the bearing sleeve (13), and a fastener (16) detachably fastens the bearing sleeve (13) to the bearing housing (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventors: Arne Horberg, Rolf Svensson
  • Patent number: 5247873
    Abstract: A spherical joint and bearing assembly utilizes a ball and socket arrangement between a connecting rod and a crosshead in a power reciprocating fluid pump. The connecting rod is spherically shaped and is held in a thrust bearing having a matching interior surface. A split retraction ring is held between the rear portion of the sphere and a shoulder in the crosshead. The result is an increased bearing surface and reduction in misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Owens, Joseph Spector
  • Patent number: 5242228
    Abstract: A spherical slide bearing having dust covers fixed by outer sealing collar portions interposed between a housing and a bearing or bearings. The interposed outer sealing collar portions of the dust covers are retained by flange portions of the housing and the bearing such that they are not forced out through narrow gaps therebetween through which bellows of the dust covers pass. Interference by the outer sealing collar portions with the degree of angular movement of a ball stud of the spherical slide bearing and damage to the dust covers is thus prevented. Tapered motion limiting surfaces incorporated into one of a ball stud, an inside bearing surface, and a ball stud and an inside bearing member surface provide an increased range of angular movement while protecting the dust cover from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Somic Ishikawa
    Inventor: Takaji Hattori
  • Patent number: 5230580
    Abstract: The invention concerns a ball joint with a ball (6) arranged in a joint housing (1), with at least one bearing shell arranged between the joint housing (1) and the ball (6) and with at least one thrust collar (14) arranged between the joint housing (1) and the bearing shell, whereby the thrust collar adjoins the outer surface (11) of the bearing shell and braces the same in the axial direction of the inner space (2) of the joint housing. A consistent bracing of the joint after automated mounting is obtained by the fact that the thrust collar (14) is an elastic metal ring with a generally U-shaped cross section and with two ring limbs (17,18) that form one stopping face (15,16) each, and with a ring web (19) connecting the ring limbs (17,18) to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: TRW Ehrenreich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gunther Henkel
  • Patent number: 5219231
    Abstract: A self-aligning bearing having a first bearing member connected to a rotatable shaft and a stationary second bearing member located around the first bearing member. The second bearing member includes at least two annular rings with mating recesses in each which together define a groove. The first bearing member is provided with a continuous flange located for rotation within the groove when in use. The second bearing member has a convexly curved exterior providing a self-aligning surface for engaging a mating concavely curved surface of a bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Plastic Bearing Housing Australiasia PTY Ltd.
    Inventor: Noel F. Sheedy
  • Patent number: 5186546
    Abstract: The rotary shaft of a closed-type electrically driven compressor is rotatably supported by self-aligning bearings. Each bearing has a spherical bearing member, a supporting member and a bushing. The supporting member has a concave spherical inner surface and a cylindrical inner surface. The bushing has a concave spherical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface and is fitted into a space defined by the cylindrical inner surface of the supporting member. The concave spherical inner surface of the supporting member and that of the bushing movably support the spherical bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Abe
  • Patent number: 5170564
    Abstract: A swinging saw has a saw blade performing a working movement with a superimposed swinging movement, a displacement rod supporting the saw blade and performing a swinging movement, a displacement rod support having an opening opening through which the displacement rod is guided. The displacement rod is guided such that relative movement, or play, is provided between the guide and the displacement rod in the swinging plane while play is prevented in a plane transverse to the swinging plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Scintilla AG
    Inventor: Hans Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5099750
    Abstract: The piston mechanism comprises a piston (3), a sliding shoe (6) and a coupling member (18) holding together the piston (3) and sliding shoe (6). The coupling member (18) comprises a shaft part (19) and joint heads (20,21) arranged at the end of the shaft part (19). The heads (20,21) have spherical zone-shaped sliding surfaces (9,11,23,24), which cooperate with corresponding sliding surfaces (9,24) in sliding shoe (6) or in the bottom of the piston (3). Due to the fact that the radius of curvature (R1,R2,R3) of the sliding surfaces of the sliding shoe (6) and the piston (3) have the same centre of curvature (10) and therefore the same fulcrum, damage to the sliding surfaces is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Von Roll Hydraulik AG
    Inventor: Jozsef Rebel
  • Patent number: 5096374
    Abstract: A vane controller for a plurality of vanes disposed in a fluid conduit has vane shafts connected to the vanes and extending radially and spaced circumferentially around the conduit, and a control ring outside the conduit and movable circumferentially and connected to said vane shafts by levers to cause the vane shafts to rotate in unison to adjust the vane position. To reduce friction, the control ring is movable both circumferentially and axially and is preferably spaced from the conduit wall. A spherical bearing on the ring slidably receives a pin carried by each lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Sakai, Hisashi Nishkawa
  • Patent number: 5085520
    Abstract: A nose cone bearing arrangement for securing an axle box to a frame cross-tube of an off-road machine is provided. The axle box has an internal cylindrical bearing cavity therein. A metal double truncated spherical bearing surface is formed on and encompasses a truck frame cross-tube. A toroidal oil impregnated plastic bearing member having an external cylindrical surface is received within and conforms to the axle box internal bearing cavity. The plastic bearing has an internal concave bearing surface that engages the cross-tube spherical bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Terex Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Fujan
  • Patent number: 5073038
    Abstract: A ball and socket bearing having a spherical ball member positioned within a non-metallic, molded bearing material which is in turn molded within a socket formed in a socket member. The socket provides openings on either side of the equator of the ball member having a radius less than the radius of the equator of the ball member so that a metal-to-metal interference prevents lateral separation of the members even in the event of bearing material failure. Further, the bearing material is relatively thin, at least between the ball member and socket adjacent to the lateral opening, so that the bearing material can support high lateral loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Tuthill Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy B. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 5061087
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus for permitting axial rotational and angular movement of a doctor journal of a papermaking machine, includes a housing which defines a cylindrical bore for the reception therein of the doctor journal. An annular bearing ring defines an inner and an outer surface with the outer surface being cylindrical and having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bore such that when the ring is disposed within the bore, axial sliding of the bearing ring within the bore is permitted. A sleeve is disposed within the bearing ring with the sleeve defining an internal channel for supporting the doctor journal. The sleeve also defines an external face which closely conforms to the inner surface of the bearing ring such that angular movement of the sleeve within the bearing ring is permitted while axial movement of the sleeve relative to the bearing ring is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventors: Arnold J. Roerig, John F. Schmaeng, Frank J. Wywialowski
  • Patent number: 4938121
    Abstract: The space within the interior cavity (7) of the piston (1) limited by the partially spherical head (5) of the connecting rod (6) is filled with a viscous, pasty or plastically ductile fluid (13), practically incompressible at the operating temperatures and pressures of the piston (1), the diameter (D) of the cylindrical support (8) which limits laterally the cavity (7) being very slightly greater than the diameter (d) of the partially spherical head (5) of the connecting rod (6) so that the clearance during operation between said support (8) and said head (5) is sufficiently minor to prevent any leakage of said fluid (13) from said space at the operating temperatures and pressures of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Inventor: Jean F. Melchior
  • Patent number: 4848934
    Abstract: A combination of a sliding-contact race (12) and bearing (10) in which a generally ring-shaped race member (12) and a generally ring-shaped bearing member (10) are fitted for relative sliding-rotation, the bearing member being within the race member. One of the members is comprised substantially of copper and the other of the members is comprised substantially of titanium. The members (10, 12) have lubricated contact surfaces (16, 18) for sliding-rotation, the member being comprised substantially of titanium having its lubricated contact surface being coated with chromium oxide (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Blakely, Rodney R. Boyer, Lawrence B. Dalzell
  • Patent number: 4846590
    Abstract: A spherical bearing comprises an outer ring and an inner ring located inside the outer ring to be slidable, the outer ring is prepared by casting molten metal around a resin-made sheet to be coated on the inner ring. A liner disposed between the inner and outer ring comprises a liner body and a metallic mesh member embedded in the liner body, and the molten metal is filled in meshes in the mesh member so as to partially bite the inner peripheral portion of the outer ring to achieve the firm engagement of the liner with the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 4780001
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing assembly for use in a display assembly having a plurality of louvers which rotate in synchronism with each other and, in doing, displays different advertising messages. The bearing assembly includes a housing having an axis and a shaft extending axially through the housing. A pair of axially spaced bearings rotatably mount the shaft to the housing. A pair of collars are secured to the shaft so that the bearings are contained in between the collars while a Belleville washer is sandwiched between one collar and one bearing and exerts a compressive force on the bearings and a tension force on the shaft in order to compensate for bearing wear and manufacturing tolerances. A novel construction for mounting the louvers in their frame is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Werner Tool and Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Willy Werner
  • Patent number: 4771144
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for using a self-aligning bearing having a ball movably seated in a socket mounted in a wall of an explosion-proof enclosure and slidably receiving a shaft for transferring motion from the outside to the electrical equipment inside of the enclosure. The abutting surfaces between the ball and socket of the bearing and the ball and the shaft have minimum flame path lengths to meet minimum safety requirements for extinguishing electrical arcing passing along such abutting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Simmons-Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Wynand M. Goyarts
  • Patent number: 4767901
    Abstract: An outlet connection device transfers motion from outside to inside an explosion proof enclosure and includes a process for using a self-aligning bearing retained in a wall of the enclosure. The self-aligning bearing has flame paths selected to meet minimum safety requirements and contains a shaft for transferring either rotary, axial or joy-stick motion into the enclosure. In a rotary transfer arrangement an electric rotary switch is connected through a blade engaging the shaft passing through the self-aligning bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Simmons-Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Wynand M. Goyarts
  • Patent number: 4765674
    Abstract: A pivot axle bearing for a sun visor, the one end of which bearing is connected to the ceiling of a vehicle and the other end of which is connected to the sun visor. At least one end of the pivot axles of the sun visor is formed by at least one universal joint coupling, the component parts of which are resiliently connected together and which, when the sun visor is subjected to a force directed in the plane of the visor and exceeding a given magnitude, are forced out of engagement with one another. This ensures that a passenger will not be seriously injured by contact with the visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Autopart Sweden AB
    Inventor: E. Gunnar Svensson
  • Patent number: 4755104
    Abstract: A linkage (36) is provided for manipulating an internal component (32) of a turbofan gas turbine engine (10) in response to an externally mounted actuator (50). The linkage includes a radial torque shaft (38) supported between two spherical bearings (40, 42). The shaft (38) is slidable within the radially outer bearing (42) for accommodating relative radial movement in addition to relative axial and circumferential movement between the inner compressor case (26) and the outer fan duct (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joaquin H. Castro, Robert S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4747810
    Abstract: A drive system preferably a belt drive in which a belt is trained about a pair of sheaves rotating on a pair of parallel axes and tensioned by an idler means intermediate the sheaves, the idler means being mounted on a carrier by means of self-aligning bearing means to enable the idler means to conform to irregularities in the belt during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Laurel A. Shepley, Rodney G. Koertner
  • Patent number: 4718779
    Abstract: A compound bearing consisting of an outer and an inner member movable relative to each other and between which are disposed load carrying annular members. The load carrying annular members comprise a pair of deformable plastic rings held between the outer and inner members under compression, and a metallic ring insert disposed between and separating the two deformable rings. The outer member is formed of two cup-shaped tubular members press-fitted over the metallic ring insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: O & S Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: William H. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 4718780
    Abstract: A compound bearing having a shell defining a cylindrical bore in which is installed the bearing inner member, a bearing ring of ultra high molecular weight polymer being disposed within the shell cylindrical bore between the bore surface and the peripheral surface of the inner member. The polymer bearing ring is extruded in strips cut to length and wrapped around the inner member with abutting ends prior to inserting the ring within the shell bore. In structures wherein the inner member is a spherical member or ball, the strip is extruded with a cylindrical groove on at least one surface such as to form a concave spherical surface when wrapped around the spherical peripheral surface of the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: O & S Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: William H. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 4711590
    Abstract: A self-aligning bearing and end shield mount for an electric motor or the like. The bearing mount has a spacer with a hub through which the rotor shaft extends and fingers that seat within an annular locating groove of the rotor shaft for securing the spacer to the shaft. The spacer also has a thrust surface. A spring has a hub portion through which the rotor shaft extends and a ring surrounding the hub with resilient arms therebetween. The spring also has a bearing seat and a thrust plate seat. A self-aligning bearing is seated in a bearing socket in the end shield of the motor housing and in the bearing seat of the spring. A thrust plate is seated within the thrust plate seat of the spring with the thrust surface of the spacer running against a surface portion of the thrust plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Fasco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan L. Lakin
  • Patent number: 4699017
    Abstract: The unit comprises an armature (1) provided with a rotary output shaft (2) and a speed reducer (3) provided with a shaft (6) supporting a worm (5) engaged with a worm wheel (4) for driving the accessory, and an articulated coupling (20) between the two shafts (2, 6) which are disposed in end-to-end relation. The coupling (20) between the two shafts comprises a male member (8) disposed in female parts (9, 11) which are conjugate with the male member (8) and formed in confronting end portions (2a, 6a) of the two shafts (2, 6), and a single bushing (12) in which the end portions (2a, 6a) are inserted and which ensures the support and the axial alignment of the two shafts (2, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Compagnie Industrielle de Mecanismes en abrege C.I.M.
    Inventor: Pierru Periou
  • Patent number: 4687347
    Abstract: An axial joint arrangement with integrated seal is provided with three successively arranged bearing rings, the upper and lower bearing rings having spherical guiding surfaces which oppose corresponding spherical surfaces of the middle bearing ring. The upper and lower bearing rings are connected and the middle bearing ring slides therebetween. The guiding surface of the lower bearing ring serves to center and guide the middle bearing ring and the guiding surface of the upper bearing ring serves to transmit operating loads to the middle bearing ring. A first sealing disk is attached to the middle bearing ring. One face of the first sealing disk abuts a first sealing surface and the other face abuts an intermediate disk. The intermediate disk is sealingly connected by a bellows to a second sealing disk, which is in turn connected to a second sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Kottwitz, Norbert Loser
  • Patent number: 4634299
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for an axle (4) which is anchored at two points situated at the ends of the axle (4), preferably in mounting cheeks (1, 2) or the like provided with through-bores (5, 6) for the axle (4). Anchoring is accomplished by nuts (7, 8) which can be screwed on outside the fixing points. On a central cylindrical part (9) the axle is designed to have a bearing (10) mounted on it which is fixed by spacer elements (11, 12) disposed on the axle (4) and bridging the distance between the respective fixing points and the bearing (10).According to the invention one (11) of the spacer elements (11, 12) is disposed fixed relative to the cylindrical part (9) of the axle (4). The arrangement comprises two expanding sleeves (13, 14) which can be inserted in the through-bores (5, 6) and have inwardly-facing and/or outwardly-facing conical shaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Schaktfirma Broderna Svensson AB.
    Inventor: Everth Svensson
  • Patent number: 4613250
    Abstract: A kit for use in refurbishing a worn joint in a member, such as a tie or drag link, is provided. The kit contains a bushing, a spring, a housing and a plug for use with the old stud to provide a reliable, rotational, flexible and tight joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Inventor: Johnnie Laucus