Specified Means Facilitating Assembly Or Disassembly Patents (Class 384/510)
  • Patent number: 5808388
    Abstract: A first outer race ring 3, a sleeve-like spacer 7, a plurality of first balls 4, a conventional ball bearing unit 5 and a stepped-diameter shaft 1 are assembled into a compound bearing assembly by a bearing maker to enable a user or motor manufacturer to be free from a cumbersome assembling work of the bearing assembly. Consequently, upon receipt of the bearing assembly, the motor manufacturer may immediately mount the bearing assembly in a central hub portion of a rotor of the motor in an insertion manner to complete his product, i.e., high-performance motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 5725448
    Abstract: This idler pulley includes a pulley body 1 made, e.g., by pressing a steel plate, and a ball bearing 2 fitted in the inner diameter of the pulley body 1. The contact position Z on the pulley peripheral surface 1a1 of the pulley body to be contacted by the belt center and the bearing centerline Y of the ball bearing 2 are axially offset by an amount .delta..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Kato, Motoharu Niki, Tsutomu Mizutani, Tadahisa Suzuki, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Masahiro Muranaka, Takahiro Koremoto, Masao Fukuwaka
  • Patent number: 5655846
    Abstract: A bearing assembly, and method of assembling same, including a stepped-diameter shaft, a first outer race ring being disposed around a raceway groove directly formed in the large diameter portion, a second bearing outer race and an inner race ring mounted on the small diameter portion of the shaft, and a sleeve-like spacer provided with a pair of small diameter portions in its opposite axial end portions each fitted into in the respective first and second outer races.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 5271633
    Abstract: A skate housing assembly for high speed in-line roller skates. There is a frame with a top surface attached to a sole of a skate boot and two descending side skirts having multiple linear transverse bores. A pocket located on the inside surface of each descending skirt surrounding a bore receives a flange from a bearing insert mounted within a skate wheel. A shaft axially mounted through the skirt bores and bearing insert aligns the wheel on the skate housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Inventor: William C. Hill, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5234271
    Abstract: A bearing housing for a drive shaft of a front-wheel vehicle comprises a bearing housing composed of a bearing bracket and a bearing cap. The bearing bracket is provided with a first peripheral flange only on one axial side thereof so that the bearing can be inserted in one axial direction until it abuts the flange. The bearing cap has a corresponding second peripheral flange on at least the opposite axial side so that the bearing is completely fixed in both axial directions when the cap is mounted to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: AB Volvo, a Swedish Body Corporate
    Inventor: Stig Lindstrom
  • Patent number: 5223756
    Abstract: A self-aligning motor assembly wherein the bearings between the rotor and stator subassemblies, and their seats, are tapered to remove concentricity differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: GEC-Marconi Electronic Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Peter Bello
  • Patent number: 5199801
    Abstract: A two row angular-contact roller bearing having on undivided bearing ring and one axially divided bearing ring with a respective row of rolling elements rolling over each of the axial sections of the divided ring. The respective comb separator for each of the rows of rolling elements has an annular collar that projects axially toward the annular collar on the other separator. One separator annular collar is radially inclined inwardly and the other separator collar is radially inclined outwardly. The collars are so placed as to interfere, and they are sufficiently flexible as to deform and upon the collars being pushed together for causing the collars to loosely interlock sufficiently to enable one row of rolling elements and their separator to rotate with respect to the other. Elevations defined on the divided race ring sections support the axially inward sides of the rows of rolling elements. A shoulder on the divided race ring section engages the axially outward side of the row of rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer KGaA
    Inventors: Martin Grehn, Norbert Kretzer
  • Patent number: 5150973
    Abstract: A mounting sleeve particularly for the loose annular parts of a multi-row anti-friction bearing wherein the rows of rolling bodies are toward the axial ends of the outer ring. The mounting sleeve is approximately U-shaped with a slit opening of about 90.degree. in it extending along the sleeve. At axially opposite ends of the U-shaped sleeve are formed radially inwardly directed flanges which extend over a smaller circumferential angle than the sleeve, e.g. over an angle of about 180.degree., and are each symmetric around the U-shaped sleeve. Projections on the axial insides of the flanges rest axially either against the row of rolling bodies or against the separators for the row of rolling bodies. A radially outward projection opposite the slit opening in the sleeve aids in installation and removal of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer KgaA
    Inventors: Ernst Masur, Gottfried Ruoff, Werner Planek
  • Patent number: 5106210
    Abstract: A bicycle hub includes a pair of sleeves rotatably supported on an axle, and a dust cap having a cylindrical portion engaged on each of the sleeves. An outer peripheral surface of one sleeve is curved, and an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion of a dust cap is curved and is rotatably engaged with the curved outer peripheral surface of the sleeve so that the axle is rotatable about the dust cap by engagement between the curved outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and the curved inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventor: Yi-Chen Chi
  • Patent number: 5104240
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved release bearing assembly that is component of the pull-type clutch cover of a friction clutch mounted in an automobile. The release bearing assembly comprises a bearing body capable of moving axially within a given range, a retainer ring holding a diaphragm spring, a sleeve disposed between the bearing body and the ring, several resilient sheets extending from the flange of the sleeve axially of the sleeve, fingers formed at the front ends of the resilient sheets, and a release groove formed in the outer surface of the sleeve. The resilient sheets are circumferentially spaced from each other. The sleeve can slide on the bearing body between a first position and a second position. In the first position that is close to the retainer ring, the sleeve clamps the ring against the bearing body via the fingers. In the second position, the resilient sheets can play within a release groove formed in the bearing body, so that the ring disengages from the bearing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okamoto, Yukihisa Takashi, Masaru Ebata
  • Patent number: 5067827
    Abstract: Spacer rings of a form-memory alloy, alternatively known as memory metals, are used in the form-locking or fastening of bearings on shafts and in housings. Radial or axial expansion when the critical A.sub.S temperature of the alloy is exceeded results in firm clamping in the direction concerned. The use of alloys with a one-way characteristic allows the bearing, after heating, to remain in operable condition at all operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventor: Arnold Bokel
  • Patent number: 5052829
    Abstract: A hanger assembly comprising a shroud and a releasable bearing. The shroud has a pair of tongues which are adapted to be inserted into complementary slots on the housing of the bearing. Troughs are provided in the tongues and complementary tabs are on the bearing. After insertion of the tongues into the slots, the tabs are bent around the tongues in the troughs, thereby mounting the bearing on the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Metallized Carbon Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Scott, Craig Siebert
  • Patent number: 5014626
    Abstract: In an articulated connection, an improved female connecting member of the type having a ring seat within an annular groove is provided having an access passageway extending from an exterior surface of its front wall to a position at the annular groove which is covered by the ring seat. The access passageway provides for insertion and wedging of a tool between the ring seat and the floor of the annular groove to eject the ring seat from the annular groove during disassembly and maintenance of the articulated connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Amsted Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas R. Schultz
  • Patent number: 4979834
    Abstract: A shaft has rolling member bearings, a compression spring acting to urge the bearings toward the shallow groove in one end of the shaft and a ring fitting round said end, with a portion extending into the groove so that the spring force acts on the ring to assist in retaining the ring in the groove. In order to assist the retention of the ring in the groove, the ring may be provided with a chamfered surface on the outside of the ring at its end which is fitted to the groove. The groove may be axially longer than the ring portion extending into the groove so that the ring can move relative to the shaft. This is advantageous when, for example, tightening a steering wheel onto the shaft against the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Gerald A. Speich
  • Patent number: 4958941
    Abstract: A support unit serving as a support bearing includes an angular ball bearing. An inner race of the bearing is held by a step portion of a shaft to receive a load in a direction of thrust. An outer race of the bearing has a flange protruding from the outer peripheral surface radially at one end portion of the outer race. The outer race is fixed by a housing by making one end face of the housing abut against the flange. The inner race of the bearing is fixed by clamping a nut which engages a threaded portion of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Imanari
  • Patent number: 4940342
    Abstract: A compressor includes a housing having a first casing which encloses a compression mechanism and a second casing releasably attached to one end of the first casing. The second casing supporting a pair of bearings which in turn rotatably support a drive shaft. The first one of the bearings is positioned adjacent the first casing and the second bearing is spaced therefrom toward the driven end of the drive shaft. A sealing mechanism is disposed about the drive shaft and between the bearings for sealing the compressor housing and preventing refrigerant or lubricating oil from leaking therefrom.The second bearing includes a gripping mechanism on the outermost radial surface thereof. The gripping mechanism is preferably an annular groove formed in the outermost radial surface of the bearing. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the casing which supports the bearing from the bearing before pulling the bearing off of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Miyazawa, Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 4925322
    Abstract: A ball bearing having an inner ring, a pair of outer rings, balls interposed therebetween, and a retainer for keeping the balls spaced apart from one another. The outer rings each have a straight portion and an arcuate portion integral with the straight portion. The outer rings have their opposite end faces butting together. The arcuate portion has such a curvature as to conform to the contour of the balls. To the arcuate portion of each outer ring is attached a seal member made of a resilient material and integrally formed over its entire peripheral length with lip portions kept in sealing contact with the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: VIV Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Tadashi Hishida
  • Patent number: 4844628
    Abstract: A cage for an antifriction bearing is an elongate strip of injection molded plastic in the form of individual cage sections. Each section has lateral sides and cross webs which together define a pocket for a respective bearing rolling element. Adjacent cage sections are connected by thin strip connecting webs which are of a length to define an open space between adjacent sections. Respective connecting hooks are defined at the cross webs of each cage section. Following separation of two sections by breaking the connecting webs therebetween, the sections can be later reconnected for defining a complete circular cage by hooking the respective hooks at the cross webs of the neighboring sections to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer (KGaA)
    Inventor: Bernhard Knappe
  • Patent number: 4820060
    Abstract: A high precision, two-row ball bearing wherein the inner races of the two rows are worked into the shaft and there are respective outer rings around the rows of balls. A spacer bushing is axially disposed between the outer rings. The spacer bushing is of a single piece with an axial slot extending along its length. The slot has a width approximately equal to the diameter of the shaft. The center of the diameter of the bore of the spacer bushing is offset from the center point of the diameter of the external periphery of the spacer bushing, whereby the spacer bushing is radially thinnest opposite the axial slot and thickens toward the slot for balancing the mass of the spacer bushing with the material removed from the slot. A housing bushing surrounds the spacer bushing and the outer rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer (KGaA)
    Inventors: Gerhard Braune, Reinhard Hock
  • Patent number: 4808014
    Abstract: A structure of attaching to a metal shaft a ceramics bearing which comprises an inner ring, an outer ring and rolling members and in which at least the inner ring is made of ceramics. The inner ring is made of silicon nitride or sialon molded by the hot press sintering process or the hot isostatic press sintering process. The shaft is press-fitted in the inner ring with an interference of not greater than a specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Ueda, Kouichi Yamauchi, Hiroaki Takebayashi, Kazuo Rokkaku
  • Patent number: 4806028
    Abstract: A self crimping retention sleeve is slipped over the end of a bearing shaft and closely over a pair of race piece keeper rings and deformed radially inwardly into a shaft retention groove by the application of an axial force inwardly on the sleeve, allowing the sleeve to be installed with very limited radial access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard F. Miller, David A. Foster
  • Patent number: 4783182
    Abstract: A roller bearing assembly with two rows of rolling elements includes a first ring formed in one piece to have two raceways and two independent rings each having one raceway, a device for maintaining the relative positions of the rolling elements between the rings and a device for fixing the two independent rings axially to one another. The relative positions of at least some of the rolling elements are maintained by two parts of a retention device which includes, before the bearing is assembled, one or more connecting zones in a relatively weakened condition so that they will break during assembly of the rolling bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: SKF France
    Inventors: Fabrice Caron, Herve Le Quinio
  • Patent number: 4765762
    Abstract: A hardened bearing assembly has an inner and an outer race and a plurality of rolling bearing elements between the inner and outer races. The inner and the outer races each have a respective opposing retaining face dimensioned for an interference fit one about the other so that the bearing assembly may be assembled into an integral bearing assembly by providing an assembly force to one of the races for driving the opposing retaining faces past an interference fit position to a position in which each race rotates freely with respect to the other. The retaining face of one race includes a radially protruding ridge, and the corresponding retaining face of the other race includes a plurality or radially protruding ears, the ridge and the ears each extending to peaks which are pushed past each other for providing the interference fit. The interference fit dimension is larger than the dimensional tolerance for a relatively low-precision manufacturing process, such as metal stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Lundquist Tool & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Alfreds Rozentals
  • Patent number: 4730946
    Abstract: A bearing assembly comprising inner and outer rings provided with cooperating axially outwardly and inwardly facing bearing races in which the ring having axially inwardly facing races is split into two portions which are secured to one another to retain bearing races and which are radially and circumferentially positioned and secured to one another. A method of forming a precision bearing assembly as described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Tribotech
    Inventor: Earl S. Cain
  • Patent number: 4699527
    Abstract: An angular contact ball bearing consisting of an inner race and an outer race, each of which contains at least one ball track in which a ring of balls rolls, at least one ball track of one race being bounded by a high rim on one side and by a low rim on the opposite side, characterized in that the low rim (8,10,24,25,28,29,43,53) on one of the races (1,2,14,17,18,35,46) has an out-of-round contour having a number of higher portions (11,30) and lower portions (12,31), the lower portions (12,31) leading preferably steplessly into the lowest point of the ball track (3,4,15,16,19,20,39,49), the out-of-round contour being such that the enveloping contour of the higher portions (11,30) of the rim (8,10,24,25,28,29,43,53) corresponds to the enveloping contour of the balls (5,21,22,33,44) disposed in the other race (1,2,14,17,18,36,47) when one of the races (1,2,14,17,18,36,47) is subjected to elastic out-of-round deformation by the action of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Schaeffler Walzlager GmbH, Homburg
    Inventor: Bernhard Hutzel
  • Patent number: 4655420
    Abstract: A missile fin control actuator includes a housing having a hollow cavity within which is mounted a single bearing. On the inner race of the bearing, a lower cap attaches the base of a fin mounting shaft or integral fin for rotation with the inner race. The outer race of the bearing is retained in a fixed position in the housing by an upper cap. A crankarm attached to the lower cap may be actuated to rotate the lower cap and the inner race and mounting shaft (or integral fin) therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Carl M. Spiroff
  • Patent number: 4647230
    Abstract: A spring ring is arranged in an annular gap of a pair of outer bearing rings in an arrangement for fastening a rolling bearing in the bore of a housing. A groove is provided in the housing for receiving the spring ring. A holding ring is mounted on the outer surface of the bearing outer ring, the holding ring having a collar aligned to hold the spring ring within the annular gap during the disassembled condition of the bearing. The holding ring has an axial surface adapted to engage the end of the housing during assembly, to enable the holding ring to be forced axially along the outer surface of the bearing outer ring. The holding ring futher has an end away from the spring ring adapted to form a seal with the bearing inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Friedrich, Heinz Kiener, K. A. Lucking, Josef Stork
  • Patent number: 4643595
    Abstract: An outer metallic ball-bearing ring has a ball-locating raceway on its inner bore. At least one sharply defined part pyramidal notch in a land of the bore of the ring projects inwardly from one side face of the ring terminating adjacent the raceway. A full complement of balls can be assembled in the raceway by splitting the ring as is known and the notch ensures the ring fractures along a defined axial plane when exposed to controlled force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: RHP Group PLC
    Inventor: Brian K. Weavers
  • Patent number: 4611351
    Abstract: This specification discloses a bearing mounting device in which while the hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic mechanism for applying a preload to a bearing is being adjusted in a state in which the fixing sleeve of a fixing mechanism for fixing the bearing to a shaft has been expanded by hydraulic pressure, a predetermined preload is applied to the bearing through a spacer provided between the fixing mechanism and the hydraulic mechanism and through the fixing mechansim. The hydraulic pressure in the fixing mechanism is released with the predetermined preload being applied and the fixing sleeve is fixed to the shaft, whereby the bearing is fixed in its appropriately preloaded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4606658
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a two-row angular-contact ball bearing with axially spaced apart inner races defined on a shaft and outer rings with outer races disposed around the inner races. The outer rings are held apart by a bushing, and a spring inside the bushing presses one outer ring away from the other. At each outer ring is a respective cage for the bearing balls and the cage has a T-shaped cross section with the leg of the T being the prongs between adjacent balls and the cross bar of the T resting on one radial side on a collar defined on the shaft and at the other radial side which is radially outwardly of the collar, on the end of the respective outer ring, and with the cage resting there, the balls are in the inner race. The cage includes elements surrounding the balls and defining pockets and at least some of the sections of the pockets are resilient to expand as the balls are moved over the shaft toward the race and to return to shape after the balls have entered the inner race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer (KGaA)
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Gunter Markfelder
  • Patent number: 4606655
    Abstract: In a bearing structure in a housing and around a shaft and comprising a pair of bearings, there is a pair of axially spaced inner races on the shaft, and a respective outer ring in the housing defining the outer race of each bearing. A stepped diameter bushing in the housing has a larger and a smaller diameter section. The outer ring for the first of the bearings is supported within the larger diameter section of the stepped bushing. The outer surface of the larger diameter bushing section fits in the housing for the bearing structure. The second of the bearings is contacted by the end of the smaller diameter section of the bushing. The assembled bearing and shaft unit is in the housing with the larger diameter portion of the stepped bushing bearing against the interior of the housing. An intermediate bushing may be provided around the outer ring of the second bearing at the smaller diameter section of the stepped bushing and the intermediate bushing fitting in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer (KGaA)
    Inventor: Heinrich Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4508397
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns an anti-friction bearing with a specially formed ulder on its bushing. The bearing includes a shaft with two axially spaced raceways formed in it. Two outer races are associated with the respective raceways. A plurality of ball bearing elements are supported within the raceways. There are cages for guiding the balls in the races. The bushing is positioned between the two outer races. When the shaft is held vertically and the ball bearing elements are to be loaded in the top raceway, the shaft is tilted eccentrically of the outer race at the top to provide an enlarged crescent-shaped space between the inner raceway and the outer race to receive the balls. But, the balls fall down from that space. The bushing has a shoulder on one end which extends beneath the top outer race and near to the balls at that race. The shoulder is generally crescent-shaped and extends about 180.degree. around the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Dieter Treutlein