Flange Small Clearance Patents (Class 384/488)
  • Patent number: 11933357
    Abstract: A bearing, including: an inner ring defining a first groove; an outer ring including a radially inner surface, the radially inner surface facing an axis of rotation of the bearing and defining a second groove and a third groove; a cage radially disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring; a plurality of balls retained by the cage, and disposed in the first groove, and in the second groove; and a preloaded resilient washer assembly including a rigid washer and a resilient washer including a radially outermost surface disposed in the third groove. The resilient washer urges the rigid washer away from the outer ring in an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dennis Roffe, Michael Heaton, Guihui Zhong, James Brown, Daniel Wuerdinger
  • Patent number: 11812916
    Abstract: A rotating cleaning element configured to be inserted in a cleaning head compartment of a robotic vacuum, the rotating cleaning element including: a drive end including a drive protrusion configured to engage a drive mechanism of the cleaning head compartment; a bearing end and a shroud configured to surround at least a portion of the bearing end to lessen an amount of hair and similar matter that reaches the bearing; and a central member extending between the bearing end and the drive end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Blouin
  • Patent number: 11745539
    Abstract: A wheel hub assembly for motor vehicles, provided with a first hub, which is stationary, a second hub, which is rotatable, and a bearing unit in turn having a radially outer ring provided with respective radially external raceways, at least one radially inner ring provided with respective radially internal raceways, at least one row of rolling bodies, positioned between the corresponding internal and external raceways, at least one sealing device, positioned on the axially inner side with respect to the at least one row of rolling bodies. A metal deflector configured so as to allow the water to drain and protect the area of the sealing device from the external contaminant is mounted by interference on the rotating hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Nikhil Gulhane
  • Patent number: 11718340
    Abstract: An actuator leadscrew assembly is provided. The assembly includes a leadscrew shaft extending longitudinally. The assembly also includes a first bearing pressed over the leadscrew shaft. The assembly further includes a housing pressed over the leadscrew shaft and in abutment with the first bearing. The assembly yet further includes a second bearing pressed over the leadscrew shaft and in abutment with the housing. The assembly also includes a retaining ring disposed over the leadscrew shaft retaining the second bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher W. Gibbs, James E. Rouleau, Harmony J. Hudnall
  • Patent number: 11629757
    Abstract: The method provides for the manufacturing a sensor bearing unit including a bearing having a first ring and a second ring capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, and an impulse ring provided with a target holder secured to the first ring and with a magnetic target mounted on the target holder. The method further includes securing the target holder to the first ring and magnetizing the magnetic material of the magnetic target after the step of securing the target holder to the first ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Eric Robert, Benedicte Thomas
  • Patent number: 11629756
    Abstract: The method provides for the manufacturing a sensor bearing unit including a bearing having a first ring and a second ring capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, and an impulse ring provided with a target holder secured to the first ring and with a magnetic target mounted on the target holder. The method further includes securing the target holder to the first ring and magnetizing the magnetic material of the magnetic target after the step of securing the target holder to the first ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Eric Robert, Benedicte Thomas
  • Patent number: 11382473
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for assessing a health status of a cleaning head assembly in a mobile cleaning robot. The mobile robot includes motorized cleaning member that rotatably engages a floor surface to extract debris. An exemplary system includes a processor circuit that receives robot data produced by the mobile cleaning robot traversing an environment, determines a robot parameter using a portion of the received robot data corresponding to a floor area having a specific surface condition traversed repeatedly by the mobile cleaning robot, and determines a state of the cleaning head and an estimate of remaining useful life of the cleaning head based on the robot parameter. The determined state of the cleaning head system can be provide to a user via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Burns, Teresa Borcuch
  • Patent number: 11300158
    Abstract: Small cross-section bearing unit having a flanged outer ring, an inner ring coaxial with the outer ring and an axis of rotation, a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring so as to allow the relative rotation thereof about the axis, and a sealing device for preventing the entry of contaminants and, at the same, time, for preventing the leakage of a lubricating grease from the inside of the bearing unit; the sealing device being provided, on each side of the bearing unit, with a shaped sealing screen that is supported rotatably about the axis by the outer ring, and a labyrinth seal extending along a respective complex winding path defined by an associated sealing screen and by the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Fausto Baracca, Andrea A Bertolini, Fabio Falaschi, Pasquale Frezza, Alessio Nebbia Colomba
  • Patent number: 11148527
    Abstract: A bearing assembly can support a rotating shaft on a vehicle structure and can include a rolling element bearing that has an inner race configured to be press fit on the rotating shaft. An outer race can surround the inner race and be configured to be mounted on the vehicle structure. A plurality of rolling elements can be located between the inner race and the outer race. A retaining ring can be configured to be press fit on the rotating shaft and abut the inner race when the rolling element bearing and the retaining ring are press fit on the rotating shaft. The press fit between the retaining ring and the rotating shaft can contribute to the press fit between the inner race and the rotating shaft such that the retaining ring and the rolling element bearing together distribute a load input by the rotating shaft to the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Henry D. Wolf, Dustin L. Hinders, Dustin M. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 10788075
    Abstract: A ball bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a cage that supports balls. At least one portion of each prong of the cage overlaps with an inner ring raceway surface in an axial direction and the entirety of the prongs do not overlap with a shoulder of the inner ring in the axial direction. A pocket of the cage overlaps with virtual conical planes that are parallel to a reference virtual conical plane including an inner ring nominal contact point and an outer ring nominal contact point, and that are part, on the other axial side, of both a virtual conical plane including an edge between the inner ring raceway surface and the shoulder of the inner ring and a virtual conical plane including an edge between the outer ring raceway surface and the outer ring counter-bored portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuya Yamamoto, Yasuhiko Ishii
  • Patent number: 10690004
    Abstract: An assembly for a turbomachine includes a fan rotor drive shaft, a rolling element and a support of an exterior rolling-element bearing ring including an exterior annular element as well as an interior annular element coupled through a decoupling interface in the shape of a truncated sphere and configured to be retained by friction under normal operating conditions of the turbomachine, and to move with respect to one another in the event of a fan blade loss. The rolling-element bearing is designed so that each rolling element has four points of contact with the rings, and so that the interface between the ring and the support has a hollowed space for deformation routed around a central portion of the exterior ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Laurent Leeder, Arnaud Bessy
  • Patent number: 10584742
    Abstract: A rolling bearing includes an outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements, a cage configured to rollably hold the plurality of rolling elements, and a shield. An inner peripheral surface of at least one axial end portion of the outer ring is provided with a large-diameter part, which has a diameter larger than an inner diameter of the outer ring, opens outward in an axial direction, and has an axial width greater than an axial width of the shield. An outer shape surface of the shield is configured by a plurality of circular arcs having a same central angle and equidistantly arranged on a circumference and a plurality of chords connecting adjacent circular arcs each other. The shield is press-fitted and fixed to the large-diameter part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Masaumi Tsukamoto, Hironori Mizuki, Masato Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10253813
    Abstract: An inner ring includes: a pair of shoulder outer peripheral surfaces on first and second axial sides of a raceway surface of the inner ring in contact with balls; seal grooves disposed in first and second axial ends of the inner ring and defining labyrinth clearances with lips; and edges disposed on the first and second axial sides. Each of the edges is configured to cause grease flowing along an associated one of the shoulder outer peripheral surfaces to leave the shoulder outer peripheral surface in the direction of an extension thereof. Each of the lips includes a lip oblique surface functioning as a guide surface to guide the grease that has left the edge not to a radially inner region of the bearing but to a radially outer region of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Ishii, Youzou Taniguchi, Takashi Iwata
  • Patent number: 9835203
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement is disclosed having a bearing and a bearing support. The bearing is coupled to the bearing support at an axial side. The bearing provides first and second bearing rings that define a bearing interior there between. A first groove is formed at the first bearing ring's radial side facing the second bearing ring. A coupling element is arranged at the bearing's axial side facing the bearing support. The coupling element includes a first, preferably nose-shaped, radial protrusion that is in engagement with the first groove, and a second radial protrusion, which at least partially encompasses the bearing support at a side facing away from the bearing, so that the coupling element fastens the bearing to the bearing support. A coupling element for such a bearing arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Jürgen Barthelme, Alexander Dilje, Helmut Hauck, Daniel Ludwig, Stefanie Seufert
  • Patent number: 9068600
    Abstract: A rolling bearing with rolling bodies includes an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling bodies arranged in a rolling chamber. The rolling bearing includes at least one flange mounted on a first ring and extending to a second ring and fastened onto the first ring and a first annular band at right angles to an axis of rotation of the rings and offset, along the axis, relative to the fastened portion. The flange provides a second annular band and a third annular band arranged respectively radially inside and radially outside the first band and offset axially in the direction of the rolling bodies, using a first setback and a second setback. An edge of the flange, opposite to the portion fastened onto the first ring, is folded back towards the rolling chamber and extends in a direction parallel to a radial surface of the second ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Emmanuel Charles, Bruno Constant
  • Patent number: 9056522
    Abstract: A tapered roller wheel bearing assembly may include: a hub provided with a hub flange for mounting a wheel formed radial outwardly at an end portion thereof and a hub raceway formed at a side portion close to the hub flange; an outer ring enclosing the hub and provided with an outer raceway corresponding to the hub raceway on an interior circumference thereof; and a tapered roller disposed between the hub raceway and the outer raceway and allowing a relative rotation of the hub and the outer ring, wherein a flange base is formed between the hub flange and the hub raceway and a first undercut for grinding the hub raceway is formed at the flange base, and wherein a second undercut for dispersing stress concentrated on the first undercut is further formed at the flange base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: IL JIN GLOBAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Keun Lim, Seungjoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8998500
    Abstract: A bearing seal structure includes: a ridge portion provided on an inner race; a groove portion provided on an outer race; and a grease reservoir that is defined by the ridge portion and the groove portion and contains grease for providing a seal between the inner race and outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Morinobu Kawamura, Tasuku Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8979385
    Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a radial rolling contact bearing, having a first sealing ring and a second sealing ring, wherein the two sealing rings can be rotated relative to each other about a common axis of rotation and together form a labyrinth seal, wherein a sealing gap of the labyrinth seal that extends substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation is covered radially by an axial projection of the second sealing ring, and the sealing gap at the axial projection opens axially into a first catch channel of the first sealing ring. A hub of the radial rolling contact bearing forms the second sealing ring. Therefore, the second sealing ring is integrated into the hub flange, which means that the hub flange performs the function of the second sealing ring and to some extent helps to form the labyrinth seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Haepp, Wilhelm Walter
  • Patent number: 8944406
    Abstract: A throttle device, includes a housing, a gas conduit, a throttle shaft, a throttle body movable by means of the throttle shaft. According to the invention, a bearing is provided for supporting the throttle shaft on the housing, in which for sealing off an interstice in fluid-tight fashion between the throttle shaft and the housing, and in particular outside the bearing, a viscous medium is disposed in the interstice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Brozio
  • Patent number: 8632252
    Abstract: A grease baffle that may be installed and removed independently of an outer race of a bearing assembly, thus reducing or eliminating damage to the grease baffle during maintenance actions, eliminating the potential for damage to the bearing support body for maintenance actions requiring removal of the grease baffle but not removal of the outer race, and reducing maintenance time and maintenance costs. The grease baffle may be retained in the support body by a retaining ring or a resilient sealing member, and may be preloaded against a retaining surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Zeisler
  • Patent number: 8523447
    Abstract: A wheel bearing arrangement that has a wheel hub, which is operatively connected to an outer ring by way of rolling elements and a wheel flange. The wheel flange, together with a protective ring forms a first gasket. The protective ring surrounding the outer ring of the wheel hearing arrangement. This approach is of particular interest for non-driven wheel bearing arrangements in which the side of the wheel bearing facing the vehicle can be protected by a cover used on the vehicle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Peter Niebling, Sebastian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 8500338
    Abstract: A steering knuckle, which is provided for receiving an outer ring of a wheel bearing, and a wheel bearing arrangement with such a steering knuckle. The sealing arrangements of the wheel bearing has a pre-seal, which is designed as a labyrinth seal to provide sealing for an appropriate gap geometry. To this end, the steering knuckle has a collecting channel, which captures liquids and dirt particles and discharges them at the periphery. The hearing seal can be changed by this measure, so that savings are possible with a minimum of sealing action of the conventional sealing arrangement and with greatly reduced friction torque. Overall, the sealing action, which is now achieved by the bearing seal and the pre-seal together, is increased or remains at least at the same level while manufacturing costs are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Walter, Erwin Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20130051719
    Abstract: A double-row angular contact ball bearing is provided with inner and outer rings, balls in two rows, a cage for holding the balls, and non-contact sealing devices made of a substantially disc-like member. Radial outer end portions of a metallic sealing device are respectively fit and swaged into grooves arranged at both axial end portions of the outer ring's inner circumferential surface. The ratio Ts/Tr is equal to or lower than 0.07, where Ts is the sealing device thickness and Tr is the outer ring thickness at the bottom portion of the groove. In addition, the ball diameter is equal to or greater than 75% of a half a bearing width to equal to or greater than 83% thereof. Furthermore, an axial width Tc of the radial outer end portion having a substantially U-shape is equal to or smaller than 2.7 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Tanabe, Toshiaki Seto, Daisuke Abe
  • Patent number: 8142080
    Abstract: A radially outer portion of the seal member is fitted in each of a pair of seal grooves formed in the radially outer surface of an outer ring at both ends thereof. A seal lip formed at the radially inner portion of each seal member is brought into elastic contact with an inner seal surface of each of annular grooves formed in the radially outer surface of an inner ring at both ends thereof. The contact portion of the seal surface that is in elastic contact with the seal lip has a circumferential flatness of 5 to 20 ?m. With this arrangement, it is possible to improve sealability at the contact portions, thereby preventing entry of e.g. muddy water into the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8123410
    Abstract: In a rolling bearing provided with an outer ring connected to a mounting opening of a knuckle, an inner ring connected to a wheel through a hub, a rolling element intervening between the outer ring and the inner ring and a sealing device for sealing the space between the inner and outer rings from the outside, the rolling bearing is provided with a sealing member for limiting the foreign substance invading the rolling bearing side from a clearance existing between a drive shaft provided rotatably with the inner ring and the knuckle, the sealing member including a ring-shaped cover including a cylinder press-fit in the outer ring and a ring-shaped upstanding wall extended radially inwardly from the cylinder and an outer lip provided at an inner diameter end of the ring-shaped upstanding wall, the outer lip serving to show the sealing function in cooperation with the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Masuda
  • Patent number: 8061901
    Abstract: A bearing is disclosed comprising an inner ring concentrically disposed with an outer ring with rotational elements therebetween adapted for allowing rotational movement of the inner ring relative to the outer ring. A flinger may be secured to the inner ring having an extension member formed from a resilient material. The extension member may extend radially outward from the flinger along an axial side of the bearing and engages a portion of a side face of the outer ring during operation of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Baldor Electric Company
    Inventor: Christopher E. Hosmer
  • Publication number: 20110182539
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is disclosed including an inner race and an outer race that is radially spaced from the inner race for receiving roller elements therebetween. A collar is adjacent to and fixed relative to the inner race. A sealing member is fixed relative to the outer race. The sealing member slidably and sealingly engages the collar axially and radially to maintain a seal between the sealing member and the collar during a misalignment of the inner race relative to the outer race and a predetermined degree of misalignment of the inner race relative to the outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Nicholas Michael Kolar
  • Patent number: 7963701
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing roller skew, which involve ascertaining first and second thrust load properties applied to a roller while a rotary body rotates in opposing rotational directions, and adjusting an orientation of at least one bearing assembly for the roller until an amplitude difference between the first and second thrust load properties is below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Phillips Kiln Services, Ltd.
    Inventor: Walter M. Gebhart
  • Patent number: 7819588
    Abstract: A bearing device for a drive wheel having a knuckle member surrounding a part of a cup part through a clearance. An annular first seal member is disposed between the knuckle member and an outer ring member. An opening part is formed between the peripheral edge part of the knuckle member and the large diameter end part of a joint boot. A recessed part formed in the first seal member is installed to be opened toward the joint boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Nagayama, Aya Suzuki, Masanori Kosugi, Yoshihiro Tokuda
  • Patent number: 7811004
    Abstract: A seal (2) for a bearing (6) that rotatably supports a shaft (14) extending through a housing opening (8) of a housing element (10) that limits, at least partially, a lubricant-receiving chamber (4), includes a sealing ring (26) retainable between the housing element (10) and the shaft (14) and forming together with a limiting element (28) an annular gap (30), and having aeration recesses (34) which connect the annular gap (30) with the grease-containing chamber (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Dorner, Markus Hartmann, Herbert Rehm
  • Publication number: 20100046874
    Abstract: A bearing is disclosed comprising an inner ring concentrically disposed with an outer ring with rotational elements therebetween adapted for allowing rotational movement of the inner ring relative to the outer ring. A flinger may be secured to the inner ring having an extension member formed from a resilient material. The extension member may extend radially outward from the flinger along an axial side of the bearing and engages a portion of a side face of the outer ring during operation of the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: RELIANCE ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher E. Hosmer
  • Patent number: 7588372
    Abstract: The invention provides a wheel design that incorporates both a shield and seal on both sides of the guide wheel to eliminate direct liquid pressure on the seal. By retaining the lubrication, bearing life is extended, dramatically reducing machine downtime. In the presently preferred embodiment, the combination of a guide wheel with two rubber spring return (RSR) seals in-bound of two shields, increases guide wheel life through the following: The shields prevent the direct force of a high pressure wash-down from reaching the seal directly. There is a non-direct path between the shield and the outer raceway of the guide wheel to allow any trapped liquid to seep back out of the guide wheel. Also, as the guide wheel rotates, any liquid between the shield and seal is spun-out by centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Fournier
  • Patent number: 7566293
    Abstract: A device for recirculating oil from the end face of the barrel and the peripheral surface of the roll neck of rolling mill rolls. A sealing race arranged between the bearing elements and the end face of the barrel is mounted on the roll neck. A first conical ring body has a conical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface that is seated on the outer surface of the sealing race and is sealed from the race, whereby inclination of the conical outer surface towards the end face runs towards the roll axis. A second conical ring body is rigidly mounted in the bearing housing and has a conical inner surface, which conical inner surface is arranged some distance opposite the conical surface of the first conical ring body, such that the two conical surfaces form a hydraulic pump gap that conveys oil away from the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Winfried Leisten, Wolfgang Denker
  • Patent number: 7380797
    Abstract: To provide a wheel support bearing assembly in which the frictional resistance can be effectively reduced while effects of minimizing leakage of the filled lubricant and ingress of dust and muddy water from outside of the bearing assembly are secured, the wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member 1, an inner member 2 positioned inside the outer member 1 with an annular working space defined between it and the outer member 1, and rows of rolling elements 3 accommodated within the annular working space and rollingly received in part within outer raceways 4 in the outer member 1 and in part within inner raceways 5 in the inner member 2. Opposite open ends of the annular working space are sealed by respective sealing members 7 and 8 which are secured to one of the outer and inner members 1 and 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Sadaji Katogi, Kazunari Yamamoto, Hiedeo Shinagawa
  • Patent number: 7341379
    Abstract: To supply a pivot assembly for hard disk drive use that can reliably fix a seal member and solve the problem of out gas, thus reducing the expense and time incidental to the pre-load of a ball bearing. Ball bearings have been joined to both ends of a shaft, and on the outer circumference of these ball bearings, the spacer part is joined to a sleeve disposed between both ball bearings, and a seal member that covers the outer end of the ball bearing has been fixed to the outer circumference of the shaft by laser welding. Because the seal member is fixed by laser welding, the seal member can be reliably fixed and the problem of out gas from the seal member can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshisada Koyama
  • Patent number: 7172342
    Abstract: A sealing member such as a shield plate or a seal that is attached to one of raceway rings of a rolling bearing and seals an annular space formed with the other raceway member includes a metal ring. The metal ring has a zinc plated layer on a surface thereof, and on a surface of the zinc plated layer an inorganic coating such as a lithium silicate coating is formed. When a coating amount of the inorganic coating is set or a way of forming the inorganic coating is controlled, the corrosion resistance and the workability same as or more than that in the case where the chromate layer is formed can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Oda, Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7083385
    Abstract: An axial flow fan motor having an impeller molded integrally with a shaft from a synthetic resin. The shaft is easily assembled with a bearing arrangement by being brought into tight contact with the inner ring of the bearing arrangement and is reliably fixed thereto in the elastic region of the shaft. A through hole is formed in the shaft along its central axis. After the shaft is fit into the inner ring of the bearing arrangement, a metal pin is pressed into the axial through hole. Because the pin is pressed in, the shaft is elastically expanded and brought into tight contact with the inner ring and fixed thereto in the elastic region of the shaft. Furthermore, the distal end portion of the shaft elastically outwardly expands and is pressed against the end surface of the inner ring, thereby preventing the bearing arrangement from coming off the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Omi
  • Patent number: 7063342
    Abstract: An improved apparatus is provided for use in a vehicular suspension arm. A through-hole is formed in one end of the suspension arm, and a bearing fits centrally in the through-hole. A pair of cylindrical spacer members are inserted into the opposed ends of the through-hole. Annular sealing members are interposed between the cylindrical spacer members and the through-hole. One end of the suspension arm is installed to the frame by means of a bolt inserted through the bearing and the cylindrical spacer members. At one end of each cylindrical spacer member, there is integrally molded a flange portion, having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the through-hole. Using the described apparatus, it is possible to substantially prevent water splash, earth and sand from directly contacting the sealing member, in order to reduce the possibility of contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Bunzo Seki
  • Patent number: 6976790
    Abstract: A seal structure for an inner-shaft bearing of a front-wheel drive vehicle includes an inner-shaft interconnecting a differential gear to a drive shaft for achieving balance between a left wheel drive shaft and a right wheel drive shaft. An inner-shaft bearing is assembled to the inner shaft and sealed with an inner seal member. A bracket is connected to the vehicle body and fixed to the circumference of the inner-shaft bearing for supporting the inner-shaft. A first dust cover is inserted to the inner-shaft for enclosing one end of the bracket, and a second dust cover is inserted to the drive shaft for enclosing the other end of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyeng Min Min
  • Patent number: 6953284
    Abstract: A dustproof structure for a sleeve bearing includes an axial tube, a sleeve bearing, a dustproof cushion and a motor rotor. The motor rotor has a shaft seat and a shaft mounted thereto. The axial tube accommodates the sleeve bearing which bears an axial hole through which the shaft of the motor rotor is freely extended. The dustproof cushion is mounted in the axial tube and attached to an end surface of the sleeve bearing to prevent from entering foreign dust. An axial thickness of the dustproof cushion is used to compensate a clearance formed between the sleeve bearing and the shaft seat, and a diameter of the dustproof cushion is smaller than an outer diameter of the shaft seat to prevent from precipitation of dust on the sleeve bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Kuan Chen
  • Patent number: 6896412
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly comprising: a cage, rolling elements placed inside the cage, a shaft passing through said cage and supported by the rolling elements, the cage having sealing parts extending on either side of the rolling elements, the two spaces formed between said sealing parts and the shaft, at least one communication path between the two spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Moteurs Leroy-Somer
    Inventor: Jean Begue
  • Patent number: 6893022
    Abstract: An arrangement for sealing an opening of a rotor housing in which a vacuum prevails, through which opening a shaft of a spinning rotor, supported outside of the rotor housing, projects. The arrangement has free floating sealing element arranged towards the opening and forming at least two sealing gaps with the spinning rotor. A first sealing gap is located between the sealing element and the shaft, a second sealing gap is located between the sealing element and a collar of the spinning rotor which borders the shaft. The sealing element can form an additional third sealing element with the back wall of the spinning rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter
    Inventor: Gerd Stahlecker
  • Patent number: 6802468
    Abstract: Nut that screws together with pinion gear, and bearing that is arranged on the inner circumferential side of the nut, are provided on the front of a spinning-reel rotor. Pressing member is mounted on the front faces of the nut and bearing, such that it abuts on outer race of bearing. Pressing member is installed so as to be rotatable with respect to spool shaft, which is a rod element. Pressing member is water-repellency treated over all its surfaces, including the face that forms a clearance with spool shaft. The present invention prevents invasion of water droplets into rotatory-component clearances in a water-sealing component assembly composed of a relatively rotatable plurality of components, while sustaining rotational efficiency of the rotatory components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koji Takikura
  • Patent number: 6786645
    Abstract: A mounting for the road wheel of an automotive vehicle includes a spindle, a hub located around the spindle and inboard and outboard tapered roller bearings located between the hub and spindle where they are mounted in opposition. The cones (inner races) of the two bearings are separated by a spacer which at its ends is attached to the cones. The spacer holds the cones together within the hub so that the bearings and hub can be installed on and removed from the spindle as a unit. The spacer also establishes the setting for the bearings. In addition, the mounting has a seal located in the inboard end of the hub. The seal has lips which establish dynamic fluid barriers along the cone of the inboard bearing and along an adjacent sealing surface on the spindle without contacting the cone or spindle. The raceways and rollers for the two bearings have highly crowned profiles and the hub and the seal within contain an optimum amount of grease for lubricating the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Joki, James W. Skelly, Richard Borowski, Steven B. Boyd, Thomas J. Rybkoski
  • Patent number: 6755572
    Abstract: A rolling bearing of the present invention constructs a current passing structure by fixing a current passing plate 12 fixed to an outer peripheral portion of an inner ring 1a and a current passing sealing plate 10 having a U-shaped sectional shape, whose opening portion is directed inwardly, to the inside of an outer ring 2a so as to surround a current passing plate 12 on a side surface of this U-shaped sectional shape and then sealing a conductive grease 11 into the inside of this U-shaped sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihide Kinbara
  • Patent number: 6739757
    Abstract: A bearing unit comprising a bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality of rolling elements arranged so as to be freely rotatable between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a sealing device arranged on axially opposite sides of the bearing, wherein the sealing device has a fixed ring spacer, a rotating ring spacer, and a non-contact seal section attached to the rotating ring spacer and extending towards the fixed ring spacer to be maintained in a non-contact condition with respect to the fixed ring spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Kai, Yasushi Morita
  • Patent number: 6715765
    Abstract: A sealing structure of a ball bearing is disclosed wherein a seal or a shield is provided on at least one side of the ball bearing, the ball bearing allowing rotation of either an outer ring or an inner ring. A large number of blades extend radially along an outer surface of the seal or shield provided on one side of the ball bearing. An annular plate may be mounted on a shaft with the inner ring fitted thereon at a position relatively close to the blade projections. Plural through holes may be formed circumferentially on or near an inner peripheral edge of the annular plate. Thus, a simple structure effectively prevents fluid from flowing or leaking through the ball bearing and also prevents leakage of grease from the ball bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin-ichi Machida
  • Patent number: 6709161
    Abstract: An angular contact ball bearing includes an outer ring having an outer ring race formed on an inner surface thereof, an inner ring having an inner ring race provided on the outer surface thereof, a plurality of rolling elements provided between the outer ring and the inner ring, an annular cage for retaining the rolling elements, and seals provided on openings between the respective ends of the inner and outer rings. The cage is made of a synthetic resin material and is supported through the guide of the rolling elements. The cage includes a plurality of cylindrical pockets arranged peripherally for retaining the rolling elements and a reduced diameter portion formed at ends of the pocket for regulating the radial movement of the cage while being in contact with the rolling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yakura, Takaaki Anzai, Yasushi Morita, Naoki Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 6698935
    Abstract: An anti-friction bearing, especially for supporting a shaft (2) of a gear case (3), is provided for a portable handheld work apparatus. The anti-friction bearing has an inner race (4) and an outer race (6) surrounding the inner race (4) at a radial distance (5). Roller elements (7) are arranged between the outer race (6) and the inner race (4). A cover disc (8) is provided at the anti-friction bearing (1) in order to prevent a passage of lubricant (27) through the anti-friction bearing (1). The cover disc (8) extends radially from the inner race (4) to an inner edge (9) of the outer race (6). The inner edge (9) faces axially toward the roller elements (7). A narrow radial gap (10) is provided between the cover disc (8) and the inner edge (9). The axial elevation (33) of a radial outer edge (28) of the cover disc (8) is equal to or less than the axial elevation (34) of the inner edge (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventor: Joachim Kottke
  • Patent number: RE40666
    Abstract: A mounting for the road wheel of an automotive vehicle includes a spindle, a hub located around the spindle and inboard and outboard tapered roller bearings located between the hub and spindle where they are mounted in opposition. The cones (inner races) of the two bearings are separated by a spacer which at its ends is attached to the cones. The spacer holds the cones together within the hub so that the bearings and hub can be installed on and removed from the spindle as a unit. The spacer also establishes the setting for the bearings. In addition, the mounting has a seal located in the inboard end of the hub. The seal has lips which establish dynamic fluid barriers along the cone of the inboard bearing and along an adjacent sealing surface on the spindle without contacting the cone or spindle. The raceways and rollers for the two bearings have highly crowned profiles and the hub and the seal within contain an optimum amount of grease for lubricating the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Joki, James W. Skelly, Richard Borowski, Steven V. Boyd, Thomas J. Rybkoski