Plural Axially Spaced Balls With Integral Race Patents (Class 384/512)
  • Publication number: 20100054646
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double-row wheel bearing unit for a vehicle, comprising an axle journal fixed to the vehicle, and a wheel hub bearing a wheel flange rotatably mounted on said axle journal by means of two rows of rolling bodies spaced axially apart. In order to adapt the loading capacity of the rows of rolling bodies to the respective load conditions, the two rows of rolling bodies have different rolling circle diameters respectively adapted to the highest expected load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Darius Dlugai, Dirk Holweger, Peter Niebling
  • Publication number: 20100014795
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly including an outer member having an inner periphery formed with a plurality of raceway surfaces; an inner member having an outer periphery formed with raceway surfaces cooperable and aligned with the raceways in the outer member; rows of balls interposed between the raceway surfaces in the outer member and the raceway surfaces in the inner member, respectively; and a wheel fitting flange provided in the outer periphery of one of the outer and inner members. In the wheel support bearing assembly, the diameter of the pitch circle depicted by the balls of a row on an outboard side is greater than the pitch circle of the balls of the row on an inboard side, and the ratio of the diameter of the balls relative to the pitch circle diameter of the row of the balls on the inboard side is within the range of 0.14 to 0.25.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoshi Hattori, Kazuo Komori
  • Publication number: 20090263064
    Abstract: The angular ball bearing assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft with gears has two sets of ball bearing members where the ball bearing member located adjacent the gears has an inner raceway formed integrally with the shaft. By forming the inner raceway directly on the shaft a reduction in friction is achieved compared to conventional tapered roller bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Ben BAER, Valentin DRAGAN
  • Patent number: 7597482
    Abstract: A skew contact double row ball bearing and a bearing device for supporting a pinion shaft. The skew contact double row ball bearing enabling the simultaneous contact of a ball row in each row on raceways at a specified contact angle when installed even if a clearance amount is reduced by the fitting of the bearing by preventing the ball bearing from being substantially affected by a change in the assembled width of each row by the fitting of the bearing. The axially double row ball rows are interposed between the raceways of inner and outer rings and at pitch circle diameters different from each other and at contact angles different from each other so that the radial clearance of the ball row with the smaller contact angle is set larger than the radial clearance of the ball row with the larger contact angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Toshirou Fukuda, Hiroyuki Ooshima
  • Patent number: 7594759
    Abstract: To provide a oblique contact double ball bearing and a pre-load adding method for the ball bearing capable of easily adding the pre-load by performing adjustment for adding the pre-load in a wide adjustment range. In this oblique contact double ball bearing, clearances between balls and raceways and on one row are made different from clearances between balls and raceways on the other row so as to apply a thrust load to inner and outer rings, and add the pre-load to the inner and outer rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kawaguchi, Kiyoshi Ogino
  • Publication number: 20090220180
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member formed, on its inner circumference, with double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes a wheel hub integrally formed with a wheel mounting flange at its one end. The wheel hub outer circumference surface has double row inner raceway surfaces arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double row balls are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. A pitch circle diameter of the double row ball group of the outer-side is larger than a pitch circle diameter of the double row ball group of the inner-side. At least the outer member and the wheel hub are formed of medium/high carbon steel including carbon of 0.40˜0.80% by weight. The inner and outer raceway surfaces are formed, respectively, with predetermined hardened layers with a surface hardness of 58˜64 HRC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Kouji Kametaka
  • Publication number: 20090180726
    Abstract: A wheel hub joint unit is provided that includes, but is not limited to a constant velocity rotary joint and a wheel bearing. The constant velocity rotary joint has a joint outer part. The wheel bearing supports a wheel hub with a double-row bearing, and the double-row bearing is disposed on the joint outer part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jurgen SIEBENEICK, Richard STARCK
  • Publication number: 20090154857
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member (2), an inner member (1) and double row ball groups. A pitch circle diameter (PCDo) of the outer side ball group is larger than a pitch circle diameter (PCDi) of the inner side ball group. Ribs (17) are formed on a surface of the inner side of the wheel mounting flange (6). Each rib (17) is formed by an outline including straight portions (17a), radially extending outwardly from the base of the wheel mounting flange (6), and a rounded tip portion (17b), having a predetermined radius of curvature (r) centered on the axial center (O) of hub bolt (6a). The rounded tip substantially corresponds to a distance between the axial center (O) and the outermost periphery of the wheel mounting flange (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 7547147
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit (1) is embodied in a four-rowed angular contact ball bearing form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Fag Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Heinrich Hofmann, Darius Dlugai, Jens Heim, David Ilgert
  • Publication number: 20090131235
    Abstract: A ball bearing for spindle turning device for use in the spindle turning device of a machine tool, and a spindle turning device for a machine tool using the same, which is compatible with machine tools whose recent trend is for more composite configurations while maintaining and achieving higher accuracy (higher rotational accuracy), greater stiffness and reductions in torque and heat generation is to be provided. In a ball bearing for spindle turning device for use in the spindle turning device of a machine tool, the sectional size ratio (B/H) between the axially cut sectional width B and the radially cut sectional height H is set to be (B/H)<0.63 where it is a single row ball bearing or the sectional size ratio (B2/H2) between the axially cut sectional width B2 and the radially cut sectional height H2 (B2/H2)<1.2 where it is a double row ball bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Katsuno, Mitsuho Aoki
  • Publication number: 20090116778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rolling bearing having a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring and a plurality of rolling bodies which are arranged between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring. The rolling bodies are arranged in at least four rows, at least two rows have a first reference diameter, at least two further rows have a second reference diameter which is different from the first reference diameter, and those rows which have in each case the same reference diameter are arranged symmetrically with respect to a predefined plane which is aligned perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Christian Mock, Peter Niebling, Ralf Heiss
  • Publication number: 20090067768
    Abstract: There are provided an inner ring having a first raceway at an outer periphery thereof, an outer ring having a second raceway at an inner periphery thereof, an intermediate ring which is interposed between these, and has a third raceway at an inner periphery thereof and also has a fourth raceway at an outer periphery thereof, first rolling elements interposed between the first raceway and the third raceway, and second rolling elements interposed between the fourth raceway and the second raceway. The intermediate ring includes a larger-diameter ring portion, and a smaller-diameter ring portion formed on the larger-diameter ring portion through an inclined ring portion. The third raceway is formed at a boundary portion between the larger-diameter ring portion and the inclined ring portion, and the fourth raceway is formed at a boundary portion between the smaller-diameter ring portion and the inclined ring portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueno, Toshihiko Shiraki, Akio Oshima, Masaki Abe, Masaaki Ohtsuki, Ryuuji Nakata, Shigenori Bando, Tomonori Nakashita, Takehisa Kida, Tetsuro Inoue
  • Publication number: 20090052825
    Abstract: A preload measuring device for a double row rolling bearing unit includes an outer bearing ring member having double rows of outer ring raceways on an inner circumferential surface, an inner bearing ring member having double rows of inner ring raceways on an outer circumferential surface, rolling elements rollably arranged between the outer ring raceways and the inner ring raceways in each of the rows such that contact angles given to the respective rows are opposite to one another, axial displacement measuring means for obtaining an axial relative displacement between the outer bearing ring member and the inner bearing ring member, inclination angle measuring means for obtaining an inclination angle between center axes of the outer bearing ring member and the inner bearing ring member, and preload calculating means for obtaining a preload applied to the rolling elements based on the inclination angle and the axial relative displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Ono, Takeshi Takizawa, Mamoru Aoki
  • Patent number: 7461979
    Abstract: An exemplary housing for a turbocharger includes a substantially cylindrical bore having a longitudinal axis, an inner diameter, a proximate end and a distal end; a counterbore positioned at the distal end, substantially centered on the longitudinal axis and having an inner diameter; a plate attachment mechanism at the proximate end for attachment of a plate including an opening substantially centered on the longitudinal axis and having an inner diameter wherein the inner diameter of the cylindrical bore exceeds the inner diameter of the counterbore and the inner diameter of the opening of the plate; and a pin opening to the cylindrical bore positioned substantially at the inner diameter of the bore, the pin opening capable of receiving a pin. Various exemplary bearing cartridges, housings, assemblies, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Mavrosakis
  • Patent number: 7435006
    Abstract: A bearing in which the thickness of the bottom of at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring is 50% or more of the diameter of the balls. Further, the bearing includes an outer ring having an outer diameter of 65 mm or less and balls having a diameter of 4 mm or less and has a width dimension of 45% or less of the inner diameter dimension thereof wherein the pitch diameter of the balls is closer to the outer side of the bearing than to the center of the section of the bearing. The outer side of the outer raceway grooves is tapered, and the inner side of angularly arranged outer raceway grooves is positioned closer to the central axis of the bearing than to the outer side of the outer raceway grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Ohata, Hiroshi Ishiguro
  • Publication number: 20080240639
    Abstract: The difference between a revolution period of larger diameter-side balls and a revolution period of smaller diameter-side balls is smaller as compared with a conventional bearing. The relation, (??10)??<?, is established, where ?(°) represents a contact angle of the larger diameter-side ball, and ?(°) represents a contact angle of the smaller diameter-side ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Takimoto, Youzou Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20080226213
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing unit having at least one outer part, having at least one inner part, and having at least two rows of rolling bodies between the outer part and the inner part, wherein in each case at least one inner raceway is formed on the outer part and in each case at least one outer raceway is formed on the inner part for the rolling bodies of one row. A ratio of the diameter of the reference circle of at least one row of the wheel bearing unit to the diameter of the rolling bodies of the respective row is greater than the numerical value six. The row spacing between the rows corresponds to at most 1.65 times the diameter of the rolling bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Ernst Masur, Gottfried Ruoff
  • Patent number: 7350977
    Abstract: A ball bearing with double raceway rotatably supports a pinion shaft having a pinion gear on its one end. This ball bearing with double raceway is provided with: an outer ring member having a large-diameter raceway surface and a small-diameter raceway surface; an inner ring member having a large-diameter raceway surface and a small-diameter raceway surface that correspond to the large-diameter raceway surface and the small-diameter raceway surface of the outer ring member; a large-diameter-side row of balls that are interpolated between the two large-diameter raceway surfaces; a small-diameter-side row of balls that are interpolated between the two small-diameter raceway surfaces; a large-diameter-side cage that holds the large-diameter-side row of balls; and a small-diameter-side cage that holds the small-diameter-side row of balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Toshirou Fukuda, Hideo Ueda, Toshihiro Kawaguchi, Kunihiko Yokota, Motoshi Kawamura, Muneyasu Akiyama, Tomonori Nakashita
  • Publication number: 20080031560
    Abstract: An upper surface of an outer ring is disposed axially inwardly of an end surface of a larger-diameter annular portion of a cage, and an outer diameter of the end surface of the larger-diameter annular portion of the cage is larger than an inner diameter of a lower surface of the outer ring. Chamfered portions for facilitating the taking-out of an outer ring assembly from the lower side of a stack of outer ring assemblies are formed respectively at the end surface of the larger-diameter annular portion of the cage and the lower surface of the outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Toshirou Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7059777
    Abstract: An assembly for a ball bearing with double raceway assembled in an outer ring member provided with double row raceway surfaces apart from each other in an axial direction from one side in an axial direction, on an inner peripheral surface includes an inner ring member provided with double raceway surfaces apart from each other in an axial direction in correspondence to the double raceway surfaces on an outer peripheral surface, double row cages arranged in respective outer diameter sides of the double raceway surfaces of the inner ring member, and a plurality of ball rows respectively held by the double rows cages. The inner ring member is set to be non-separable from the respective cages and the respective ball rows, and can be assembled in the outer ring member from one side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kawaguchi, Hideo Ueda, Motoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6957919
    Abstract: In a double-row angular contact ball bearing comprising an outer ring (1), an inner ring (2) and two ball crown rings (3, 4) formed by bearing balls (3.1, 4.1) guided in two separate cages (3.2, 4.2) and supported on shoulders (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2) of said inner and outer rings, ball raceways of the bearing having different diameters, the cages (3.2, 4.2) are made of plastic and configured as window-type cages comprising pockets for receiving the bearing balls (3.1, 4.1), and one of the cages (3.2, 4.2) comprises on an axially inward oriented end, a plurality of spacers (3.5, 4.5) uniformly spaced from one another in peripheral direction, said one cage further comprises a plurality of retaining lugs (3.4, 4.4) uniformly spaced from one another in peripheral direction, which retaining lugs engage a corresponding groove (2.3, 1.3) of one of the inner (2) and the outer ring (1), and the spacers (3.5, 4.5) of the one cage (3.2, 4.2) prevent an axial displacement of the other cage (4.2, 3.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Roland Kern, Tino Beck, Helmut Schopplein
  • Patent number: 6769809
    Abstract: The bearing is an angular contact ball bearing with two asymmetric rows of balls, with a one-piece outer race and an inner race having two matched inner half-races side by side and able to be axially preloaded against each other when the bearing is mounted on the shaft of a gear the set of teeth of which cantilevers out from the bearing which has its row of larger-diameter balls on the same side as the set of teeth. Preloading may be provided by a nut screwed onto the shaft and tightened up against one of the inner half-races until the latter bears against the other inner half-race. A lock nut may hold the nut in position. The gear with its set of teeth and its shaft, the bearing with its large-diameter balls on the same side as the set of teeth, and the preloading device constitute a modular assembly, premounted and preloaded prior to fixing to a housing using a flange belonging to the outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Pierre Maret
  • Patent number: 6749341
    Abstract: A ball bearing construction including a plurality of balls supported in a cage and each ball within a row is off-set relative to each other. In certain applications the rolling surface of the balls bear against the rotating shaft and the case enclosing the bearing. The number of balls and the number of rows are predicated on the particular application. This invention is particularly efficacious for use for medical instruments. In other embodiments an inner race and/or outer race can be utilized with this configured balls and cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: The Anspach Effort, Inc.
    Inventor: Eddy Del Rio
  • Patent number: 6742933
    Abstract: A bearing for use in a water pump or similar apparatus and a method of assembling the bearing. The bearing has a stepped shaft and a counterbored raceway at the fan or pulley end which allows for use of a larger number of balls in the raceway at the fan or pulley end, and which allows for using larger balls at the impeller end. The method of assembly of the bearing includes assembling balls and a cage to form a ball and cage assembly, assembling ball and cage assembly into the outer race at its pulley end, then sliding the shaft, impeller end first, into the outer race through the pulley end such that the first inner raceway and the first balls align with the first outer raceway. The shaft is then displaced in a direction perpendicular to its axial centerline within the outer race. A second plurality of balls is inserted onto the shaft within the outer race at its second outer raceway end, and a second cage is inserted over the shaft and within the outer race to surround the second plurality of balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenori Murata
  • Patent number: 6661143
    Abstract: Of a pair of rolling bearings provided for protection of magnetic bearings which support a rotatable shaft in a non-contact condition, such that the rolling bearings for protection are arranged together with the magnetic bearings, and used for supporting the rotatable shaft upon rotation stoppage, one of the rolling bearings for protection is provided on the side where thrust load is received or on the side where positioning in the axial direction is carried out, and comprises a double row, angular ball bearing which has inner and outer races one of which is installed on the rotatable shaft side and of an integral type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Ohura
  • Patent number: 6655847
    Abstract: A pivot bearing assembly comprises a shaft having a main body portion and a reduced portion integrally and coaxially formed therewith, an outer ring-sleeve member coaxially surrounding the shaft, a first bearing arranged between the reduced portion of the shaft and the outer ring-sleeve member, a second bearing arranged between the main body portion of the shaft and the outer ring-sleeve member and a tolerance ring mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring-sleeve member. The inner ring of the second bearing is a part of the main body portion of the shaft. The outer ring-sleeve member can comprise an outer ring and a sleeve tightly mounted on the outer ring or an outer ring portion and a sleeve portion surrounding the outer ring and integrally formed therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuro Obara, Toshisada Koyama
  • Patent number: 6599021
    Abstract: A compound bearing apparatus including a shaft, a cylindrical outer ring member surrounding the shaft, and a plurality of balls of the first and the second rows interposed between the shaft and the outer ring member is provided. The bearing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that: the outer ring member includes upper and lower portions and a central portion therebetween, two rows of outer raceways for the first and the second row of balls are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper and lower portions of the outer ring member, a squeeze ring of the same material as that used in making the outer ring member or of any other material of substantially the same factor of linear thermal expansion as that of the outer ring member is press fit around the outer periphery of the central portion of the outer ring member to elastically deform the outer ring member inwardly to form an inwardly protruding squeezed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 6595555
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a coiled tubing swivel for rotatably connecting a first conduit to a second conduit. The swivel comprises a swivel body having a cylindrical receptacle and a flowpath that communicates between the receptacle and the first conduit, a tubular mandrel having a first end that is received within the receptacle and a second end which communicates with the second conduit, and a bearing assembly positioned between the receptacle and the mandrel. The bearing assembly includes a central axis, a cylindrical outer sleeve having an inner surface and a number of annular inner grooves which are formed on the inner surface coaxially with the central axis, and a cylindrical inner sleeve having an outer surface and a number of annular outer grooves which are formed on the outer surface coaxially with the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tep Ungchusri, Steven L. Schwegman
  • Publication number: 20020097935
    Abstract: A ball bearing (6) and a bearing assembly are proposed which are intended especially for high-speed devices such as dental turbines, dental angle handpieces, turbomolecular pumps, etc., with balls (4) which are arranged between an inner ring (7) and an outer ring (8), which has substantially better anti-friction properties in rotating operation, especially during a startup phase, while simultaneously preventing the ball bearing or the bearing assembly being overloaded by the prestress or due to deviations in the geometry and and/or imprecision in assembly. This is achieved, according to the invention, by providing a device (4) to produce a tension force that is dependent on the speed (n).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Johannes Beckers, Otto Gaile, Martin Engler, Edmund Foehr, Peter Moesle
  • Patent number: 6394657
    Abstract: An assembly method of a preload-adjustable rolling bearing unit comprising the steps of providing a shaft having a first inner raceway, an inner ring being press fitted onto the shaft and having a second innor raceway, such that a pitch of both raceways is set greater than a pitch required to give a predetermined preload, providing an outer ring having outer raceways, providing a plurality of balls to be fitted between the outer raceways of the outer ring, and the first and second ir raceways, positioning the balls equidistant apart in the circumferential direction, and vibrating the rolling bearing unit by means of piezo electric elements while moving the inner ring In the axial direction, measuring the resonant frequency of the rolling bearing unit with a vibration sensor to control the preload whereby the inner ring is pressed onto a shaft while vibrating with only a small amount of energy without scratching the raceway and rolling surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takamizawa, Daijiro Kitahara, Seizo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6386765
    Abstract: A bottom bracket for bicycles includes a tube with a hollow shaft received therein and two first grooves are defined in an outer periphery of the hollow shaft. Two collars each have a second groove are mounted to the hollow shaft and balls are engaged with the first grooves and the second grooves. An inner tube is mounted to the hollow shaft and engaged between the two collars. Two races are respectively engaged with two ends of the tube and each race has a positioning flange for engaging with two respective second ends of the collars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Douglas Chiang
  • Patent number: 6379129
    Abstract: A blower includes a durable and quiet bearing structure which eliminates or reduces rotational run out, and a bearing wherein the number of essential components and cost for manufacturing is reduced, and the diameter of the shaft can be increased. The blower has an impeller adapted to be rotated upon energizing the blower. The blower has a bearing apparatus which supports the rotational center portion of the impeller, in which the bearing apparatus has a sleeve, and a stepped shaft including a larger diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion provided at one end thereof. A first rolling contact groove is formed at an appropriate position on the outer peripheral surface of the larger diameter portion. A second rolling contact groove is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the sleeve so as to correspond with the first rolling contact groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 6371654
    Abstract: A pivot bearing cartridge for an actuator in a disc storage system includes a shaft, a first outer sleeve and a second outer sleeve. The first and second outer sleeves are coupled together. Raceways are formed in the sleeves and the shaft. The raceways carry balls to form ball bearings allowing movement of the sleeves relative to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Nigel F. Misso
  • Patent number: 6269711
    Abstract: In a flexible type transmission device, an angular ball bearing is interposed between an output member and a fixed case so as to support the output member and the fixed case while permitting relative rotation between the output member and the fixed case. The loads acting on the output member and fixed case are received using the rolling contact of steel balls included in the angular ball bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Teijin Seiki Company Limited
    Inventor: Kenji Tejima
  • Patent number: 6250431
    Abstract: A method to retain a minimum running clearance between the friction pads associated with a caliper of a brake and a rotor attached to a wheel of a vehicle. A bearing member associated with the wheel includes a plurality of rollers which axially move about a reference point to allow the rotor to correspondingly move and retract the friction pads of the caliper when the vehicle is subjected to centrifugal forces. This retraction of the friction pads by movement of the rotor creates a minimum running clearance between the rotor and friction pads on termination of the radial forces. A desired running clearance is reestablished during a brake application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 6227714
    Abstract: A compound bearing assembly for a swing arm is disclosed, which comprises a stepped shaft 1 having a large-diameter portion 1a and a small-diameter portion 1b, the large-diameter portion 1a having an inner raceway groove 2a directly formed in the inner periphery, a sleeve-like outer race ring 5 surrounding the stepped shaft 1 and having a distinct-member outer race ring 3 provided adjacent one end and also having an outer raceway groove directly formed in the inner periphery of a portion adjacent the outer end, a plurality of balls 4 provided between the inner raceway groove 2a directly formed in the large-diameter portion 1a and an outer raceway groove 2a formed in the distinct-member outer race ring 3, and a plurality of other balls 8a provided between an inner raceway groove formed in an inner race ring 7a fitted on the small-diameter portion 1b of the stepped shaft 1 and the outer raceway groove 2b directly formed in the inner periphery of the sleeve-like outer race ring 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 6202306
    Abstract: The preload of the double row rolling bearing unit after completion is kept at a proper value regardless of the elastic deformation of the shaft caused when pushing the inner race in the axial direction wherein the balls are first installed in the bearing at the first pitch P1 of the ball rows which is larger than the pitch p1 in the state where the preload is proper and then preloaded to a pitch slightly smaller than the second pitch p1, so that the ball rows have the second pitch p1 after the shaft is elastically restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Seizo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6168316
    Abstract: A rotary bearing assembly (10) for a motor vehicle water pump employs a spindle (11) with a central region (14) surrounded by an outer bearing ring (15). The ring (15) and spindle central region (14) have axially spaced complementary raceways (16, 17) on their confronting surfaces in angular contact with sets of balls (18). The spindle central region (14) adjoins one end region (12) with the same diameter as the central region and an opposite end region (13) of smaller diameter. The end region (12) is driven by a belt-and-pulley of the vehicle engine while the smaller end region (13) drives an impeller of the water pump. The set of balls (18) adjacent the driven end region (12) has a full complement of balls (18) in mutual contact while the smaller diameter end region (13) has the balls spaced apart with a cage (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: NSK-RHP European Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Neil Darren Paling, Andrew Macalpine Marshall, Nobuhiko Miyake
  • Patent number: 6164707
    Abstract: A fluid-carrying swivel joint has a stepped bearing race arrangement on interconnecting hubs having an improved bore seal capability. The stepped arrangement allows more ball bearings per adjacent race which allows equal distribution of hydrostatic end loading to each bearing race, thereby enabling maximum total end loading while minimizing load concentration on a particular bearing race section due to increased total ball and race contact area. A straight bore type seal is used to reduce surface area subject to axial pressure and to minimize rotational friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tep Ungchusri, Sergio A. Castillo
  • Patent number: 6050728
    Abstract: A compound ball bearing type pulley comprises a bearing assembly including a spindle 1, a sleeve 2 surrounding the spindle 1 with outer flanges 22a, 22b formed on upper and lower ends of the sleeve and an inner ring fitted on the spindle. Balls 5, 9 are provided and between the spindle 1 and sleeve 2, between the inner ring 6 and sleeve 2. Conventional outer rings are not necessary and the outer diameter of the pulley can be made smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventors: Rikuro Obara, Katashi Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 6026711
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel harmonic drive transmission arrangement having an input member and an output member, and its method of manufcature. The transmission comprises a generally cylindrically-shaped housing including a circular spline gear arranged therein, and a cup-shaped flexspline with an array of radially outwardly directed gear teeth on a first end thereof, engaged with the circular spline teeth. A wave generator is rotatably supported on the input member radially inwardly of the gear on the flexspline. An annular diaphragm is arranged at a second end of the cup-shaped flexspline, and a flange is attached or integral to the diaphragm to permit the cup-shaped flexspline to be securely attached to the output member, the flange having a annular outmost surface thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Technologies
    Inventors: Carmine Gabriel Tortora, Robert P. Lascelles, Kenji Tejima, Joseph John Aubin
  • Patent number: 6003907
    Abstract: A rotating joint for pressure hoses has a plug-in part (1) with a hollow pin (4) that projects into and is sealed against a receiving part (2). The rotating joint also has a rolling bearing, in particular a ball bearing, that has an outer race joined to the receiving part (2) and a inner race joined to the plug-in part (1), as well as two coaxially-arranged elastically biased angular ball bearings (K1 and K2). The angular ball bearings are biased by a thrust collar (21) under pressure, which is slipped onto the hollow pin (4) coaxially to the receiving part (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Stolco Stoltenberg-Lerche GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Gau, Jochen Seelbach
  • Patent number: 5996230
    Abstract: The double-row ball bearing having a stationary shaft, a rotatable outer ring and balls between them is set in an inspection apparatus, so that the acoustic sound produced as the outer ring is rotated with the shaft inserted inside the balls is detected by a vibration pickup device to examine for the flaws on the surfaces of balls, shaft and outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Seizo Miyazaki, Daijiro Kitahara, Shiro Saito
  • Patent number: 5969449
    Abstract: A miniature inner rotor type of rotary machine having a high durability and anti-vibration property, includes a double row bearing apparatus (2) and comprises a stepped shaft (10). The shaft has a larger diameter shaft portion (10a) around which an inner rolling contact recess (11a) is formed and a reduced diameter shaft portion (10b), a first outer race (12), first balls (13) interposed between the large diameter shaft portion and the first outer race, and a ball bearing (17) comprising an inner race (14) to be fitted over the reduced diameter shaft portion (10b), a second outer race (15), and second balls (16) to be interposed between the inner race (14) and the second outer race (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 5957590
    Abstract: In a sealing device for angular contact ball bearings comprises an outer race (20), a pair of inner adjacent half-races (30, 31) and two sets of balls (40, 41) interposed between the outer race (20) and the two inner half-races (30, 31), respectively. The sealing device is mounted to one (30) of the two inner half-races (30, 31) in an axially external position and comprises a body of resiliently yieldable material. The sealing device comprises a retaining lip (14) so shaped as to face a concave surface (22) fast with the outer race (20) and stop against said surface (22) to prevent the inner half-race (30) from coming off when not locked in its operation position yet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: SKF Industries S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mauro Picca, Luciano Pons, Angelo Vignotto
  • Patent number: 5882122
    Abstract: A rolling bearing having a plurality of rolling elements interposed between an inner race and an outer race, wherein the number of the rolling elements is selected to be equal to a number having, as divisors, main low-frequency peak components of geometrical error of the inner and outer races to be assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Noguchi, Katsuhiko Tanaka, Ikunori Sakatani, Keisuke Kimura, Kazuhiro Uemura, Hiroshi Nakajima, Toru Takamizawa
  • Patent number: 5882123
    Abstract: A double cup for a tapered roller being has a concave intervening surface between the small diameter ends of its tapered raceways. The cup is produced by roll forming a tubular blank at ambient temperature into a ring form having the raceways and the concave intervening surface. The presence of the concave intervening surface leaves only a shallow discontinuity in the exterior surface of the ring form, and that discontinuity is machined away with the removal of only a minimal amount of stock. The cup weighs less than cups with straight intervening surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Peter W. Lee, Martin D. Pierce, Goverdhan D. Lahoti
  • Patent number: 5863136
    Abstract: The center of rotation of a shaft 2 with inner rings 11a externally secured thereto, is made concentric with the geometric center to thereby prevent the occurrence of runout during high speed rotation. To achieve this, the axial runout of the end portion of the shaft 2 is detected by a displacement sensor 23 while the shaft 2 is rotating. Then based on the measurement results, a portion of the shaft 2 is heated by a laser projector 24 to produce a structural change in this portion, thereby slightly bending the shaft 2. The center of rotation of the shaft 2 is thus made to coincide with the geometric center as a result of the bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Seizo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 5841210
    Abstract: In the motor, the compound bearing assembly is assembled from stepped-diameter shaft 1, sleeve-like outer race ring 5, first balls 4, second balls 8a, and inner race ring 7 a, and has a base-end portion of large-diameter portion la of the stepped-diameter shaft 1 fixedly mounted on a base member 10 of the motor at right angles to permit the stepped-diameter shaft 1 to extend upward. After that, the compound bearing assembly is fixedly mounted in a central hub portion 12 of a rotor 11 of the motor in an insertion manner to complete the motor provided with the compound bearing assembly. Consequently, it is easy for the motor manufacturer to assemble his product or motor with the compound bearing assembly at high accuracy. (See FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: RE39695
    Abstract: A swivel joint comprises a tubular male member having at least first and second outer annular grooves formed on an outer surface, a tubular female member having at least first and second inner annular grooves formed on an inner recess, and a plurality of balls disposed in at least first and second annular races which are formed by the alignment of the first and second outer grooves with the first and second inner grooves when a first end of the male member is received within the recess of the female member. In addition, the radius of the first race is greater than the radius of an adjacent race closer to the first end of the male member, and the number of balls in the first race is just one more than the number of balls in the adjacent race closer to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tep Ungchusri, Sergio A. Castillo