Assembly Patents (Class 384/208)
  • Patent number: 11788575
    Abstract: The ball socket assembly includes a housing that is made of a monolithic piece which includes a lower wall. A ball portion of a ball stud is disposed in an inner bore of the housing. An exit bearing, which is made of a polymeric material, is disposed in the inner bore and is in slidable contact with at least one hemisphere of the ball portion. The exit bearing has an upper surface which faces towards an open end of the housing. A cover plate is in direct contact with the upper surface of the exit bearing along a surface-to-surface contact area. The surface-to-surface contact area is angled towards the open end from its radially outermost end to its radially innermost end for supporting the exit bearing against radial expansion in response to axial loads being applied on the exit bearing from the ball portion of the ball stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC
    Inventors: Glen C. Parker, Eric M. Kopsie
  • Patent number: 11686343
    Abstract: A spherical bearing includes an inner member that has an exterior surface extending a first width between axial ends thereof and having a first central plane located equidistant between the axial ends. The spherical bearing includes an outer member with a inner surface having a maximum inside diameter at an apex plane and extending a second width between opposing ends thereof and having second central plane located equidistant between the ends thereof. The inner member is disposed in an interior area of the outer member. The first central plane is coplanar with the apex plane and is axially offset from the second central plane. One of the opposing axial ends of the inner member is located entirely in the interior area and axially inward from ends of the outer member when the inner member is angularly misaligned relative to the outer member at non-zero angles up to 7 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc.
    Inventors: James Voisine, Bradley Smith
  • Patent number: 11339824
    Abstract: A ball joint including a ball stud which has a spherical portion, two bearing shells that are arranged on the spherical portion such that there is a small gap between the two bearing shells, and a housing that is made from plastic in one piece and encloses the two bearing shells such that the two bearing shells are urged against the spherical portion by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: THK RHYTHM AUTOMOTOVE GMBH
    Inventors: Lothar Schaumann, Harald Walter
  • Patent number: 10788073
    Abstract: A loader slot bearing includes an annular housing having first and second axial surfaces and an interior area extending therebetween. The interior area has a first inner surface that extends between the first and second axial surfaces. A portion of the inner surface is a first bearing surface that has a spherical contour. A slot extends partially into the first inner surface from the first axial surface. The slot has a first width. The annular housing is manufactured from a precipitation hardened corrosion resistant stainless steel. The loader slot bearing includes a truncated ball that is positioned in the slot and rotated so that the truncated ball is rotatably retained by the first bearing surface. The truncated ball is angularly misalignable relative to the housing and is manufactured from a 440C stainless steel. A dry lubricant is applied to the spherical exterior surface of the truncated ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott McNeil, Ben Anderson, Jackson Sameski-Hayes
  • Patent number: 10711833
    Abstract: A mechanical bearing includes a hard bearing element and a support element affixed to the hard bearing element, with a joining element between the hard bearing element and the support element, the joining element being more flexible than the hard bearing element and the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Manwill, Scott S. Dahlgren, David R. Hall, Jonathan D. Marshall
  • Patent number: 10655733
    Abstract: An impact resistant seal includes an annular body extending between a first end and a second end. The annular body includes a first anchor formed on the first end and a second anchor formed on the second end. The impact resistant seal includes an elastomeric section having an exterior surface which extends between the first anchor and the second anchor. The elastomeric section is expandable and contractible in response to movement of the first anchor relative to the second anchor. The impact resistant seal includes a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the exterior surface and extending circumferentially around the elastomeric section. Adjacent ones of the plurality of protrusions are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined spacing magnitude configured to accommodate the movement of the first anchor relative to the second anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Schaublin SA
    Inventors: Moises Polanco, Chris Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 10119562
    Abstract: An end fitting connector assembly includes an end fitting having a first end, a second end and a through opening that extends in a direction that is transverse to an end fitting axis extending through the first and second ends and in which the through opening is defined by a peripheral wall. An elastically deformable race fitted into the through opening of the end fitting includes an exterior surface that engages the peripheral wall and an interior surface configured to provide snap fitting engagement with a spherical ball mount. At least one feature retaining the race within the end fitting creates an increased disassembly force, which may prevent disassembly without employing a release tool or release feature. The interior and exterior surfaces of the race can include spherical surfaces for conforming to the spherical ball and the peripheral wall of the end fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Timothy J. Boerschig
  • Patent number: 9863465
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a slotted entry bearing assembly includes inserting an inner race into a central space of an outer race. The outer race is configured to receive the inner race through at least one slot. Once the inner race is fully inserted into the outer race, it is rotated approximately ninety degrees within the center space, effectively locking the inner race within the outer race. After the inner race is rotated ninety degrees, a molded seal is molded between the inner race and the at least one slot. The molded seal adheres to the at least one slot and is made of a polymeric material. The molding process used to mold the molded seal may be compression molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Rexnord Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel T. Boston, Vivek Chopra, Majid Vigeh
  • Patent number: 9568267
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted weapon station is configurable to adjust the height of a rotational elevation axis thereof. The weapon station is provided with at least one fixed hanging ammunition container that is reloadable under the armored protection of the vehicle and the weapon station shell. The weapon station may have both electrically-powered and manually-powered drive systems for rotating a pedestal about an azimuth axis relative to the vehicle, and for rotating weaponry and operational units about the elevation axis, wherein the electrical and manual drive systems transmit power through the same output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Lung, Frank Mueller, David Rhodes
  • Patent number: 9327570
    Abstract: The ball joint assembly includes a housing and a bearing which has an inner surface that extends between open ends and which presents a bearing surface that surrounds a generally spherically-shaped cavity. A stud is provided which has an outer surface with a generally ball-shaped portion that has at least two curved surfaces and at least two recessed surfaces. The bearing has a passage with a slots that extend from one of the ends to the cavity. The ball-shaped portion of the stud is insertable into the cavity of the bearing by aligning the curved surfaces of the stud with the slots of the passage. The stud is rotatable while the ball-shaped portion of the stud is positioned within the cavity to establish slidable contact between the curved surfaces of the stud and the bearing surface of the bearing to allow pivoting of the stud relative to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Karpman, Thomas Byrnes
  • Patent number: 8967868
    Abstract: A threaded bearing retainer for a spherical bearing may include an annular top surface, an annular bottom surface, and an externally threaded cylindrical outer surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces and meshing with the internal threads of a housing bore. The bearing retainer may further include an annular sealing rib extending downwardly from the bottom surface and engaging the bore shoulder of the housing bore to form a substantially water-tight seal when the bearing retainer is screwed into the housing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Wright
  • Patent number: 8573848
    Abstract: A ball slide bearing (18) includes an inside ring (19) and an outside ring (21), whereby the inside ring (19) is provided with an essentially cylindrical inner surface (19A) and a spherical outer surface (19B), and whereby the outside ring (21) is provided with a cylindrical outer surface (21B) and a cylindrical inner surface (21A). The bearing (18) includes an intermediate ring (20) that is inserted between the outside ring (21) and the inside ring (19), whereby the intermediate ring is provided with a spherical inner surface (20A) that can work with the outer surface of the inside ring (19) to allow the rotation along the three axes of rotation and an outer surface that defines at least one curved sliding surface (20B) in a direction that can work with a corresponding inside sliding surface (21A) of the outside ring (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jean Larrochelle, François Peyruseigt
  • Patent number: 8529133
    Abstract: A pivot bearing includes a spherical bearing body and a single-piece bearing shell. The bearing shell encloses the bearing body at least partially and creates a clearance fit between the bearing body and the bearing shell which clearance fit permits a degree of articulated freedom of the pivot bearing. The single-piece bearing shell includes a radial slot based on a wall thickness of the bearing shell and has at least one contoured bulge. At least one push-in element has a part shape corresponding to the bulge such that the part shape of the push-in element has a defined oversize with respect to the bulge of the slot. The oversize indicates a predetermined clearance fit between the bearing body and the bearing shell that defines a bearing play when the push-in element is mounted in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Oppliger, Michael Landolt
  • Patent number: 8500333
    Abstract: An oil film bearing for rotatably supporting a shaft comprises a spherical housing having a bore in which the shaft is rotatably supported, and an outer spherical surface. A chock contains the spherical housing. The chock is internally configured with an inner spherical surface coacting with the outer spherical surface of the spherical housing to define a raceway configured to accommodate angular rotation of the shaft about a central point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Osgood, Thomas C. Wojtkowski
  • Patent number: 8337087
    Abstract: A joint assembly includes an inner ring, an intermediate member housing the inner ring about a joint axis and, an outer body retaining the intermediate member. The intermediate member defines two first surfaces formed by cylindrical portions having the same first axis of revolution which intersects the joint axis. The outer body defines two surfaces formed by cylindrical portions having the same second axis of revolution. When the assembly is in an assembled state, the first axis of revolution coincides with the second axis of revolution and the first and second surfaces cooperate to enable the intermediate member to rotate relative to the outer body about the first axis of revolution but prevent the intermediate member from moving parallel to the joint axis or parallel to an axis orthogonal to the joint axis and to the second axis of revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SKF Aerospace
    Inventor: Yvan Blachon
  • Patent number: 7648282
    Abstract: A spherical bearing arrangement comprising: a bearing housing; a plurality of split-ball portions which are together arranged in the housing to produce a composite ball having a spherical bearing surface, the composite ball having a bore passing therethrough, the bore having a central axis; and a bushing secured in the bore of the composite ball. A method of assembling a spherical bearing arrangement is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: David Shore, Philippe Dupuis, Allen Christopher Clarke, Bob Middlemass
  • Publication number: 20090214145
    Abstract: The unitary center support bearing subassembly comprises a bearing over which a plastic bearing housing has been molded while simultaneously molding the plastic bracket insert and joining members which space and fix the distance between the bearing housing and the bracket insert. The joining members are removed or broken prior to molding the overmolded rubber portion, or, if the joining member is flexible, the overmolded rubber portion is molded while maintaining the joining member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Lawrence CISLO, Matthew SENDZIK
  • Patent number: 7568841
    Abstract: A ball/socket link end assembly includes a link opening formed in the link end. A portion of the opening forms a spherical inner surface. A pair of ball entry slots are formed in the link end. The slots are spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of the opening, and extend only part way into the link end from one side thereof. The assembly also includes a removable truncated ball member with a spherical perimeter which matches the spherical inner surface. A clamp member is attachable to the link end. The clamp member is engagable with the ball to prevent removal of the ball from the link end when the ball is aligned with the entry slots. The clamp member is received in a recess formed in the link end adjacent to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Robert Lee Wood, Jr., Michael Dean Kollath
  • Patent number: 7473035
    Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a spherical journal and a hemispherical bearing that is made of a fiber reinforced composite and has a bearing surface for establishing a spherical pair with the spherical journal. The fiber reinforced composite can be constructed by arranging a uni-directional prepreg, woven fiber prepregs and staple-fiber prepregs in a variety of configurations, and thermoplastic resin particles or self-lubrication particles are uniformly provided on the bearing surface. It is possible to alleviate stress concentration generated on the bearing surface by forming a plurality of air channels capable of imparting directivity on an outer surface of the hemispherical bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Dai Gil Lee, Dong Chang Park, Seong Min Lee, Byung Chul Kim, Hak Sung Kim, Sung Su Kim, Jong Woon Kim
  • Patent number: 7182169
    Abstract: A steering system for a small-sized vehicle is capable of coaxially arranging a steering shaft and a power steering apparatus with high accuracy. In the steering system, when the power steering apparatus is connected to the steering shaft, a plurality of bearings support the steering shaft on a vehicle body frame, and where the axis of the steering shaft arranged at a desired position is a reference axis, at least one of the bearings is configured to compensate for an inclination of the steering shaft or further, to compensate for a deviation from the bearing which is centered with respect to the reference axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7001076
    Abstract: A housing for receiving a bearing component is presented, which has a shaft projection, which can be inserted into the recess of the end area of a hollow section and can be pressed together with the end area, wherein the shaft projection is provided with a groove profile, in which the groove profile is prepared by a deformation process or an original shaping process. Notch effect and consequently a weakening of the cross section on the highly stressed shaft projection is avoided by the said processes. The present invention pertains, moreover, to such a groove profile located at a shaft projection of a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Lustig, Matthias Gercke, Franz-Josef Marquardt, Sören Knopp, Ralf Kunze
  • Patent number: 6710487
    Abstract: A high precision torque motor, including a partial rotation drive suitable for use in a galvanometer scanner, where the rotor is supported within the stator and housing assembly on all ceramic ball bearings, including inner and outer races and bearing balls. The ceramic ball bearing assemblies and all structural support elements have substantially equal coefficients of expansion through the use of matched expansion, nickel-iron alloy for the rotor shaft, stator, housing and other structural components which contact, locate, and support the inner and outer bearing races. The non-conductive bearings permit exclusion of any grounding conductor strap as between the rotor shaft and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: GSI Lumonics Corporation
    Inventor: David C. Brown
  • Patent number: 6612744
    Abstract: A lock structure of a spherical bearing restrains an outer race from turning relative to a housing with a simple structure. It is provided with protruding portions formed on a periphery of one side of a bearing hole of the housing. A flange is formed on one side of the outer race. Meanwhile notches (engagement portions) are formed in the flange, which are brought into engagement with the protruding portions. An annular V-shaped groove (staking groove) formed in the other side of the outer race is staked. With such a simplified structure, the spherical bearing can be locked to the housing while being restrained from turning relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gen Sasaki, Makoto Fujino, Kennosuke Kariya
  • Patent number: 6520682
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a hitch link having a removable spherical bushing within a socket is arranged to be symmetrical about a plane dissecting the socket lengthwise of the link. The socket is formed with laterally extending protrusion to increase the socket strength at the location of the greatest tension forces. The socket is configured with an entry slot for the bushing that is normal to the length of the link so that the slot does not interfere with the area of the contact wear surface between the busing and the socket. Once the bushing is installed in the socket, a sleeve is inserted into a bore of the bushing. One end of the sleeve has a raised retaining lip and the opposite end of the sleeve carries a snap ring groove. A snap ring is seated in the groove and retains the sleeve in the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Daniel Benjamin Kletzli, Shane Michael Boden
  • Patent number: 6457868
    Abstract: A shaft bearing system having a housing including a spherical collar for the shaft. The shaft bearing is made up of a cage (19) into which the spherical collar (20) is inserted. The cage is installed in a recess (18) in a housing (16); a sleeve (21) is arranged in the interior of the spherical collar, and an axle stub (22) is inserted into the shaft bearing. The rotational movement preferably takes place between the sleeve (21) and the axle stub (22). The use of the spherical collar in a shaft bearing made up of a cage and a guide bushing has the advantage of greater flexibility in selecting the material or materials from which the housing and the rotatable component installed therein may be formed. The shaft bearing of the invention is particularly useful for accommodating a centrifuge rotor (10) in a centrifuge housing (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Fischer, Peter Frehland
  • Publication number: 20020090154
    Abstract: Self-adjustable, self-lubricating joint or sliding bearing unit incorporating an inner ring having an outer contour, which together with an outer part designed in a complementary manner and having a main axial direction is designed to be able to permit angular deviations between the axis direction of the inner ring and the axis direction of the outer part, and where the outer part is manufactured from a porous, preferably sintered material that is compressed about the inner part, and having an ability of bleeding oil during operation of the joint or bearing unit for lubrication of the contact surfaces facing each other, whereby the inner part is provided with irregularities in the form of grooves and/or chutes, indentations and/or bridges, arranged to eliminate between the contact surfaces and uneven pressure distribution in the oil caused by a laminar oil flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Hans Murray
  • Publication number: 20020037117
    Abstract: A lock structure of a spherical bearing restrains an outer race from turning relative to a housing with a simple structure. It is provided with protruding portions formed on a periphery of one side of a bearing hole of the housing. A flange is formed on one side of the outer race. Meanwhile notches (engagement portions) are formed in the flange, which are brought into engagement with the protruding portions. An annular V-shaped groove (staking groove) formed in the other side of the outer race is staked. With such a simplified structure, the spherical bearing can be locked to the housing while being restrained from turning relative thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gen Sasaki, Makoto Fujino, Kennosuke Kariya
  • Patent number: 6349470
    Abstract: On the periphery surface of the outer race, the stepped portion is formed, and on one side of the race retention hole formed on the housing, a screw portion is provided coaxially with the race retention hole, in which the setscrew is screwed and tightened. Retention of the front surface of the setscrew makes the end face of the stepped portion, pressed against the snap ring retained with the annular groove, formed on the race retention hole. Since the outer race is clamped by the setscrew and the snap ring and the gap between the end face of the outer race and the setscrew, and the snap ring becomes null, the outer race is securely retained in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gen Sasaki, Shinichi Akao, Kennosuke Kariya
  • Patent number: 6350060
    Abstract: A dual load path spherical bearing (10) comprises a bearing race (12) and a bearing ball (14). The bearing race (12) comprises a bearing race first half (16) and a bearing race second half (22) adapted to interface with the bearing race first half to form a bearing ball cage. The bearing ball (14) is rotatably caged in the bearing ball cage. The bearing ball (14) comprises a bearing ball first half (30), and a bearing ball second half (32) adapted to interface with the bearing ball first half. The bearing race (12) further comprises a bearing race first half (16) having a coupling shaft with an internally and externally threaded half shaft, and a bearing race second half (22) adapted to interface with the bearing race first half (16) to form a bearing ball cage and having a coupling shaft with an internally and externally threaded half shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Carl L. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20010043767
    Abstract: There are provided a spherical bearing and a method for manufacturing the same, in which both of a ball bearing section and a ball section made of metal can make light and smooth swinging and rotary motions for a long period of time without biased wear and seize-up of those members even if the solid bodies of them can contact with each other due to a discontinuous oil film under a heavy load. A resin liner that contacts the ball section of the inner member in a sliding relationship is embedded in the ball bearing section, and a resin sliding contact surface provided by the resin liner and the metal sliding surface are adjacent to each other without any gap to form a sliding contact surface at the bearing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Junichi Kuwabara, Kunihisa Takahashi, Tomozumi Murata, Takashi Sakae, Mitsuhiro Teramachi, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Fumiaki Morita
  • Patent number: 6217453
    Abstract: A coupling (20) having a driving member (22) with an inner surface (24), a driven member (26) having an outer surface (28), a flexible member (27) intervening between the surfaces (24, 28) exhibiting an elastic center (EC), and a pivot (32) cooperating between the members (22, 26) wherein an axial location of the pivot substantially coincides with the axial location of the elastic center (EC). In another aspect, a bonded Subassembly (34) is provided which, together with the driving member (22), forms the coupling (20). The subassembly (34) has a driven member (26) with first (40) and second (50) projecting portions extending from a main body portion (38). The first portion (40) has an outer surface (28) and the second portion (50) includes a bearing member. The flexible member (27) is bonded to the outer surface (28) and a third projection (42) extends from the main body portion (38). The axial location of the bearing member is substantially aligned axially with the position of the elastic center (EC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Scott K. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6213674
    Abstract: At the top of an upside-down box as a retainer 20 a recessed portion 24 is provided, with which an outer ring 23 which is coupled spherically with the curved surface of the cubic body 22 is coupled, the holding plate 26 fixes the position of the outer ring 23, the hollow shaft 32 is inserted in the cable insertion hole 29 provided in the cubic body 22, the male screw portion of the tip end of the hollow shaft 32 is screwed in the female screw portion 36 to be unified while clamping the cubic body with the guide member 31 and the hollow shaft 32, the guide member 31 is provided with a horn like widened guiding hole 30, the cable 40 drawn out from the hollow shaft 32 is bent along the inside of the guiding hole 30 of the guide member 31, and the cable 40 is taken out through the outlet 41 provided on the side wall of the retainer 20, thereby the guide member 31, the cubic body 22 and the hollow shaft 32 follow the movement of the cable 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gen Sasaki, Makoto Fujino
  • Patent number: 6209206
    Abstract: A method of making a spherical bearing including the steps of forming an outer bearing member with an inner concave spherical bearing surface, forming a second member with an outer convex spherical bearing surface, cutting the second member along a diametric plane to provide first and second inner bearing segments respectively including first and second outer spherical bearing surface segments, inserting the first inner bearing segment within the outer bearing member so as to fully engage the first outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface, and inserting the second inner bearing segment within the outer bearing member so as to fully engage the second outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Harris, Dennis E. Bozych, Jeffrey R. Scholbe
  • Patent number: 6139189
    Abstract: A bearing sleeve and method for manufacturing the same enable a bearing to be placed in a captive position in the sleeve by inserting the bearing into a slot in the sleeve and then slidably rotating the bearing to the captive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Dial Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Hanneken
  • Patent number: 6068405
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Harris, Dennis E. Bozych, Jeffrey R. Scholbe
  • Patent number: 5947625
    Abstract: A pivot system is disclosed for pivotally connecting a movable component to a fixed component, the pivot system having a swivel device mounted on one of the movable and fixed components, a headed shaft passing through a portion of the other of the movable and fixed components and engaging the swivel device, the headed shaft having a longitudinal axis forming the pivot axis between the components, an anti-rotation device engaging the shaft so as to prevent relative rotation between the shaft and the component to which it is mounted, and an anti-axial movement device engaging the shaft as to prevent relative movement between the shaft and the component to which it is mounted along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This structure enables the shaft to be installed having access to only one end of the pivot shaft, improving over the known systems in which it is necessary to have access to both ends of the pivot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Societe Hispano-Suiza
    Inventor: Guy Bernard Vauchel
  • Patent number: 5924799
    Abstract: A segmented pilot ball is assembled within a spherical bearing for procesg a self lubricating liner. The two-part pilot ball includes a major annularly shaped hollow segment with a smaller cutout portion. A minor segment has the shape of the cutout portion so that when the major and minor segments are assembled, the minor segment complements the major segment to define the spherical outer shape of the pilot ball. An inner plug is shaped to fit within the assembled major and minor segments to provide a compressive force and interior support to the pilot ball within the outer race of the bearing. The bearing is formed by applying uncured liner material to the inner surface of the outer race either before or while rotating the outer race, to evenly distribute the liner and to increase the rate of drying. The outer race is then rotated while heating, in order to reduce liner flow and to form a uniform coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward Troiano, Mark Fleszar, Craig Stanton
  • Patent number: 5845401
    Abstract: A rugged spindle for a disk certifier that test the disks of a hard disk drive. The spindle contains a first bearing and a second bearing that are coupled together by a shaft. The first bearing is coupled to a chuck that captures a disk. The second bearing is coupled to the spindle shaft of an electric motor which rotates the disk. The bearings each contain an outer graphite sheath that is separated from a hardened housing by an air bearing. The connecting shaft is bonded to the first and second bearings by an adhesive that is injected through longitudinal passages of the shaft. The bonding adhesive flows along the interface of the connecting shaft and bearings until the adhesive fills an indicator slot of the shaft. Air bearings are created during the bonding process of the second bearing to insure an accurate relationship between the two bearings and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Phase Metrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Rhoton, Roger D. Peters
  • Patent number: 5829887
    Abstract: A ball and socket assembly adapted to receive the rotatable shaft of a rudder installed in a boat. The assembly is composed of a journal box having a spheroidal cavity in which is socketed a ball-like bearing having an axial bore to accommodate the rudder shaft, the bearing being free to rotate within the cavity and thereby align itself with the rudder shaft as it deviates from the vertical as a result of forces imposed on the rudder. The ball-like bearing is formed by a cylindrical tube of UHMW polyethylene which is heated to an annealing temperature and thereby expanded to accept a fiber-reinforced resin sleeve which when the UHMW tube cools is compressed thereby. The resultant sleeve-lined tube is then machined to assume the ball-like shape of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Strong, John R. Newton
  • Patent number: 5823687
    Abstract: In a rolling bearing with aligning ring (A) in which rollers (3) serving as rolling elements are interposed between an inner ring (1) and an outer ring (2) having on its outer periphery a spherical portion (21) and in which an aligning ring (4) is fitted on a spherical portion (21) of the outer ring (2), the aligning ring (4) is composed of two members separable along a plane perpendicular to an axis of the aligning ring (4) at the center portion in the axial direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5791786
    Abstract: An aerostatic bearing is provided for the thrust bearing arrangement of the shaft of an open-end spinning rotor. This aerostatic bearing comprises a bearing plate, which forms a bearing gap with the end of the shaft. An axial thrust, directed against the bearing, is exerted on the shaft. The bearing plate is provided with bore holes for releasing air into the bearing gap. An adjustable ball cup is arranged at the bearing plate for adjusting the bearing gap. This ball cup preferably takes the form of a sliding body which has a spherically shaped surface and is held in a corresponding spherically shaped bearing support. After the open-end spinning rotor has been adjustable cup adjusts automatically so that the surfaces which form the bearing gap are disposed parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignees: Fritz Stahlecker, Hans Stahlecker
    Inventor: Fritz Stahlecker
  • Patent number: 5775815
    Abstract: A ball and socket swivel bearing is disclosed. The bearing comprises a rod end having a shank portion and a metallic socket portion. The socket portion has a continuous toroidal inner periphery and has outer walls defining circular side openings. A metallic swivel ball is mounted within the socket portion and is surrounded with a plastic bearing material. A key slot is provided in the shank portion and communicates with the space between the ball and the socket to act as a sprue for the introduction of plastic bearing material and to provide resistance to breakaway torque applied to the bearing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Tuthill Corporation
    Inventor: Muneer Abusamra
  • Patent number: 5772337
    Abstract: A bearing set for a ball and socket joint comprises an inner and outer bearing with a head of a ball stud engaging a spherical inner seat face of each of the bearings. An axial compression pre-load results when the bearing set and ball stud are inserted into a socket and the socket is closed. To prevent the over compression of the bearings and undesirable plastic deformation, a plurality of wedge shaped slots extend about each bearing between an outer axial surface and an outer peripheral surface. The slots provide material "flow" which eliminate unwanted plastic deformation by placing pre-load force and the natural material elasticity into a desired equilibrium. The tailored "cushioning" effect remains while still providing adequate compression pre-loading and dynamic stability to the ball stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Garth B. Maughan, Terry D. Peppers
  • Patent number: 5718517
    Abstract: A steel mill roll has its ends supported in self-aligning bearings that do not require a liquid or grease lubricant, and which are capable or operating at roll shaft temperatures up to 1500.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 5692840
    Abstract: A rugged spindle for a disk certifier that test the disks of a hard disk drive. The spindle contains a first bearing and a second bearing that are coupled together by a shaft. The first bearing is coupled to a chuck that captures a disk. The second bearing is coupled to the spindle shaft of an electric motor which rotates the disk. The bearings each contain an outer graphite sheath that is separated from a hardened housing by an air bearing. The connecting shaft is bonded to the first and second bearings by an adhesive that is injected through longitudinal passages of the shaft. The bonding adhesive flows along the interface of the connecting shaft and bearings until the adhesive fills an indicator slot of the shaft. Air bearings are created during the bonding process of the second bearing to insure an accurate relationship between the two bearings and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Phase Metrics
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Rhoton, Roger D. Peters
  • Patent number: 5680792
    Abstract: A drive bearing for a windscreen wiper system wherein two actuator rods for actuating two wiper arms are driven by a motor crank. The two bearings are concentrically nested one within the other thereby allowing the driving forces of the two rods to extend in one plane. Other features include the association of the individual bearing elements to the actuator elements, and the design of the bearing faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Harro Buhl, Bruno Egner-Walter, Peter Fein, Robert Klinar
  • Patent number: 5676468
    Abstract: A bearing includes a first race in operational contact with a shaft, a second race in operational contact with the first race, and a third race in operational contact with the second race. The first, second and third races cooperate to define an aperture therethrough to the shaft. A connector is disposed through the aperture to functionally interlink the first race, the second race and the shaft to insure that the first race and the second race rotate substantially with the shaft. In operation, the first and second races define a first bearing surface that accommodates angular displacements of the shaft, and the second and third races define a second bearing surface that accommodates axial and rotational movements of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: John P. Webb
  • Patent number: 5564853
    Abstract: A bearing set for a ball socket joint comprises an outer bearing and an inner bearing with a head of a ball stud engaging a spherical inner seat face of each of the bearings. A compression pre-load is applied when the inner bearing is inserted into a cavity of the outer bearing, a cylindrical outer wedge surface of the inner bearing having a greater diameter than a corresponding diameter of an inner skirt defining the cavity of the outer bearing. The bearing set is subjected to additional compression pre-load when the bearing set and ball stud are inserted into a socket and the socket is closed. The two-piece bearing set promotes easy Joint assembly, results in a joint that is extremely tight with no axial or radial play, but allows necessary ball stud rotation and oscillation, and compensates for wear by a self-adjusting feature whereby some of the compression pre-load is released as wear takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Garth B. Maughan
  • Patent number: 5549393
    Abstract: A steel mill roll has its ends supported in self-aligning bearings that do not require a liquid or grease lubricant, and which are capable or operating at roll shaft temperatures up to 1500.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: RE35855
    Abstract: A structured product family of dynamoelectric machines for use in a plurality of applications has a frame with a closed end, and a set of permanent magnets is adhesively secured within the frame. An armature disposed in the frame for interaction with the permanent magnets includes a shaft, a core having a set of winding receiving slots therein, and a commutator. During manufacturing and assembly, stress on the motor shaft and commutator is minimized. A brush plate is associated with the frame for locating a set of brushes relative to the commutator, and an end shield is secured to the frame opposite its closed end. At least one freely aligning bearing assembly disposed in the end shield for freely aligning the shaft and including a bearing and a retainer having predetermined conditions preset with the retainer being adhesively secured to the end shield. A bracket is adhesively secured to the frame for connecting the dynamoelectric machine in anyone of the applications; and a novel brush assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harald E. Blaettner, Richard F. Uhen, Robert E. Ellis, Eldon R. Cunningham, Michael J. Usher, Joseph E. Miller