Snap Means Patents (Class 384/539)
  • Patent number: 5785433
    Abstract: An eccentric groove 10 is formed in an outer peripheral surface of an outer ring 5 and an outer peripheral surface of an eccentric ring 1a shaped like a segmentary ring is engaged with an inner peripheral surface of a housing 3 by friction. An elastic deformation part having a predetermined length dimension in the circumferential direction is formed in a part of the eccentric ring 1a. The elastic deformation part projects between a bottom face 11 of the eccentric groove 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 3 in the mounting state in the housing 3. Resultantly, the rotation prevention effect of the outer ring 5 with respect to the housing 3 is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Takahashi, Koichi Goto
  • Patent number: 5782564
    Abstract: A clutch release bearing with a control member made of synthetic material and having a thin bearing plate (30) secured to the thrust surface (7) thereof opposite a fixed raceway (11) of a ball bearing (3), by means of tabs (32) which are provided at the outer periphery of the plate and are flexible enough to be able to bend and lockingly engage the control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Kromwel, Laurent Dequesnes
  • Patent number: 5660484
    Abstract: To locate a bearing axially and concentrically on a shaft, a resiliently compressible assembly is slid along the shaft until its leading edge is restrained (e.g. by contacting a yoke at the end of the shaft), the bearing is slid along the shaft until it abuts the assembly, and a sleeve is slid along the shaft to abut the bearing. Further movement of the sleeve compresses assembly, whereupon three internally sprung fingers of the sleeve snap into corresponding detents in the shaft. Releasing the sleeve permits the assembly to exert a contrary force whereupon the finger ends engage the ends of the detents and provide axial location of the bearing. Internal cone surfaces of the bearing contact a split cone of assembly and an external cone surface of sleeve. The shaft may be part of a vehicle steering column with reach and rake adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Nastech Europe Limited
    Inventor: Richard James Peel
  • Patent number: 5659848
    Abstract: A heat roller device includes a frame, a hollow cylindrical fixing roller accommodating therein a heat source for fixing a toner image on a recording medium; a driving gear for driving the fixing roller; a first flange shaped bearing having a base attached to the frame and a projection extending from the base in order to accommodate the driving gear, for rotatably supporting one end of the fixing roller; and a second flange shaped bearing having a base attached to the frame, a projection extending from said base and a pair of hooks integrally extending from the projection for preventing movement of the fixing roller in its longitudinal axis, when the fixing roller is driven by the driving gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nam-Gon Jeon
  • Patent number: 5651617
    Abstract: A connecting ring for holding together first and second inner race sections of adjacent bearings is disclosed. The ring is continuous and made of a resilient material, and includes a plurality of first and second axially opposed resilient tongues which engage with the inner race sections of the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventor: Ulf Danielsson
  • Patent number: 5641239
    Abstract: The device for connecting bearing rings with ring-shaped grooves is machined into the peripheral surfaces. An essentially sleeve-shaped connecting element engages in these grooves, where flange-shaped retaining projections on the connecting element cooperate with conical clamping surfaces of the ring-shaped grooves, which are characterized by ring-shaped grooves formed in the ring-shaped undercut. These grooves have positive-locking surfaces oriented toward its interior and snap-lock elements are arranged in a ring on the retaining projections to grip behind the positive-locking surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Michalek
  • Patent number: 5566623
    Abstract: An improved wheel and bearing assembly for a load transporting overhead trolley with a load support bracket having opposed stems mounting laterally offset wheels in rolling engagement with an overhead track has wheel-incorporated radially inner and outer race members with anti-friction load bearing balls between them in an annular trackway. The radially inner race member is split offset from the line connecting the center of the balls and formed of mating laterally outer and laterally inner abutting members which have laterally mating non-compressible radially abutting surfaces with radially aligned annular grooves therein. A circumferentially compressible retention spring is carried in one of the annular grooves and resiliently projects radially from the groove so that a snap fit is achieved when the inner race members are moved relatively laterally into mating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Saginaw Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Wareham
  • Patent number: 5564995
    Abstract: A planetary transmission comprising a planet carrier (6) connected rotationally fast to a driving shaft (3), a planet gear (7) of which planet carrier (6) is simultaneously in mesh with an annulus (9) fixed on a housing (1,2) and with a sun gear (10) connected rotationally fast to a driven shaft (12) arranged concentric with the driving shaft (3), each of the driving shaft (3) and the driven shaft (12) being mounted for rotation relative to the housing (1,2) on at least one bearing (16,17) and outer and inner rings (22,25 31 34) of said bearings (16,17) being seated on bearing seats (5,14,11,15), characterized in that at least one of two bearing seats (5,14,11,15) of each bearing (16,17) comprises at an axial end thereof, a resilient projection (19,24,27,32) engaging by elastic reverse deformation, an end face of the inner or outer bearing ring (22,25,31,34) seated thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Roder, Sigurd Wilhelm, Werner Hehn, Uwe Hammerl, Doris Greiner, Wolfgang Hentschke, Udo Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 5562347
    Abstract: A bearing system for a brushless direct current fan includes a bearing pedestal having a first chamber for receiving a plurality of bearings and a plurality of tongues protruding from an inner wall of the first chamber and a second chamber communicated with the first chamber with an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the first chamber and a flexible sleeve having a plurality of slots axially extending from a first end of the sleeve to an intermediate position of the sleeve for the corresponding tongues within the pedestal to extend through so that the sleeve is engaged by the pedestal and a plurality of feet protrude from the first end of the sleeve for engaging with an intersection edge between the first chamber and the second chamber of the pedestal thereby securing the sleeve in the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: Hsin-mao Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5511885
    Abstract: A plain flanged bearing or bushing for supporting a rotating shaft in a thin walled frame of an electrophotographic printing machine. The composite bearing has a flanged end and is adapted to be inserted in an opening in a thin walled support member until the flange abuts the surface of the wall. A protruding tab formed by displacing a small portion of the flange extends in an axial direction along the bearing and cooperates with a corresponding opening in the wall to prevent rotation of the bearing. A friction push nut or snap ring is attached to the bearing on the side of the wall opposite the flange. The protruding tab prevents the bearing from rotating about an axis which can cause the bearing to be worn on the exterior surface by rotational contact with the thin wall. A shaft to support idler rolls or other rotating elements is inserted in an inner bore of the bearing and is rotatably supported thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond C. Coleman
  • Patent number: 5492417
    Abstract: A powered wheel bearing has a solid spindle supported within a stationary hub by two rows of bearing balls. The innermost ball row has a separable race that is fixed in place by an abutting keeper ring that sits in an adjacent groove. The keeper ring, in turn, is prevented from dislodging by an overlaying shoulder on the sleeve of a CV joint that fits over the end of the spindle with interengaging splines. The joint sleeve is fixed to the spindle by an internal snap ring, so the motion of inserting the sleeve over the spindle is all that is necessary, both for attachment and alignment. The outside of the sleeve also carries regular teeth that provide the encoder ring for a speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Steven F. Baker, Edward R. Clark, Robert P. Tussey
  • Patent number: 5487613
    Abstract: An adaptor for use with an inner bearing ring having a cylindrical bore. The adaptor comprises a tubular portion having a cylindrical outer surface adapted to be received within the inner bearing ring cylindrical bore and a non-cylindrical inner surface adapted to receive a non-cylindrical shaft. A plurality of foldable tabs are distributed along the circumference of the ends of the adaptor. The foldable tabs have a uniform thickness in the axial direction and are directed substantially radially outwardly from the cylindrical outer surface of the tubular portion and are angled axially inwardly. The tubular portion and foldable tabs are formed integrally of a resilient material such that the foldable tabs transiently fold to permit insertion of the adaptor into the bearing ring cylindrical bore and engage end surfaces of the bearing ring to retain the adaptor in the inner bearing ring after insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Walter P. Waskiewicz
  • Patent number: 5470165
    Abstract: Retaining bushing for securing bearing rings comprising a strip of sheet metal bent to form a cylinder having radially projecting retaining projections engaging in a positively locking fashion in grooves in the bearing rings, the retaining projections being distributed around the periphery and being raised up from the sheet material in the radial direction by deep-drawing and stamped out to the required width along a circumferential line around the retaining bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventor: Ronald Bissinger
  • Patent number: 5468072
    Abstract: A system for supporting a shaft member at one end of a support component, including a bearing inner ring and a bearing outer ring, a row of rolling elements in the space between the rings, characterized in that the bearing outer ring (1,27, 34) has a radially outwardly directed flange (2) which can be fastened to the support component (9), the bearing inner ring (3), (32) having a radially inwardly directed flange 4 which can be fastened to the end surface of the shaft member (11), a cylindrical centering surface (15) on the bearing outer ring (1), (27), (34) for centering guidance in a corresponding bore in the support component (9), a cylindrical centering surface (13) on the bearing inner ring for centering guidance on a corresponding section of the shaft member (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Egon Ekdahl, Jiri Gurka, Rupert Huber, Hubert Kottritsch, Gottfried Kure, Johann Mullner, Helmut Weninger
  • Patent number: 5462368
    Abstract: A bearing block has a central hub with a pair of circular grooves near the sides of the hub. The grooves define an inner ball race and also define an outer ball bearing retaining lip. A ring-shaped sheave is disposed around the hub and has a pair of recesses in the sides, which define an outer bearing race and a thrust bearing race. Ball bearings are snap fitted into the races over the lips, such as that the bearings are self-contained in the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Harken, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Lob
  • Patent number: 5462369
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for attaching the inner race of a bearing assembly to a shaft is provided. A locating shoulder and an annular groove of constant depth are positioned on opposite sides of the bearing assembly when mounted on the shaft. An eccentric split ring is placed in the groove and is bodily positioned in a recess formed diametrically across the inner race. One of two opposed stops on opposite sides of the recess engages and cams against an enlarged portion of the ring upon initial relative rotation between the inner race and the shaft. The recess is formed by milling a gap across the end of the inner race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Span Tech Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Mark T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5452381
    Abstract: Bushing for bicycle wheels, which consists of a tubular body that is integral with the bicycle frame and perpendicular to the frame. The bushing includes a free-turning axle coaxially mounted inside the tubular body, with no possibility of axial displacement from same. The bushing further has two hollow revolving hubs that can be coaxially coupled to each other, with no possibility of relative turning. A device is also provided for fastening the two hubs to each other and to the axle. The outer hub is integral with the bicycle wheel in coaxial position, while the inner hub is fastened to the axle, without the capacity to turn in relation to same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Antonio Guerra
  • Patent number: 5414784
    Abstract: An axial retention 4 of a roller bearing 1 in a support part 2 comprises a stop shoulder 7, disposed at an elastically or flexurally widenable portion 6 of the support part 2. When the roller bearing is pressed into the support part 2, the portion 6 widens. After the roller bearing has been pushed up to the shoulder 3, a reverse or return deformation of the portion 6 occurs, so that the stop shoulder 7 forms the axial retention 4 for the roller bearing 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Automobilguss GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Schulte, Fritz Mahnig
  • Patent number: 5193917
    Abstract: A rolling bearing, in particular for steering columns of automotive vehicles, comprising rolling elements in the form of balls arranged between an inner ring and another ring, and a tolerance ring made of a polymeric material which is at least partially surrounded by the inner ring and is pressed axially against the inner ring in the direction of the balls by a spring, characterized in that the spring (7, 17) is made of a polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Hellmut Adler, Alexander Zernickel
  • Patent number: 5121998
    Abstract: A bearing assembly monitors angular velocity about its axis of rotation. The bearing assembly includes an outer race having a pair of tapered raceways presented inwardly, and two inner races in the form of cones, each having a tapered raceway presented outwardly toward one of the raceways of the outer race. The raceway of each cone lies between a thrust rib and end rib at the ends of the cone and tapers downwardly toward the end rib, all such that an undercut exists at the small end of the raceway where the end rib projects beyond it. The bearing assembly also has tapered rollers organized into two rows which are located between the opposed raceways of the outer race and the two cones. The cones abut at their end ribs, and the end ribs of the two cones carry a target wheel in the space between the two rows of rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventor: Ravi R. Bhatia
  • 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: 5096310
    Abstract: A rolling bearing having separated bearing ring having held together by a dimensionally stable holding ring tightly fit over the ends of the ring halves. The axial holding of the ring halves is effected by a row of snap elements distributed about the circumference of the holding ring, the snap elements extending into annular grooves adjacent the ends of the ring halves. The snap elements are joined to the surface of the holding ring to enable bending at the joints thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Meining, deceased, by Jurgen G. Meining, Heir, Alfred Weidinger, Theo Schmitt, Manfred Schlegelmilch
  • Patent number: 5067198
    Abstract: A wiper pivot is provided with a pivot arm, a pivot shaft having a spherical convex part, and a pivot holder having a spherical concave part. The pivot shaft is supported rotatably by the pivot holder through the spherical connection, and an opening of the pivot holder is closed with a waterproof member made from elastic material. In this wiper pivot, it is possible to prevent the pivot shaft from rattling and prevent the pivot holder from the penetration of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Masaru Ishikawa, Yuichi Ito
  • Patent number: 5061091
    Abstract: A bearing case for a roller slide comprises a casing, an arm, a stopper formed on the casing and a pawl retainer formed around the outer edge of an end of the arm, which are all formed of a tough material by integral molding. The casing for receiving a bearing comprises a drum, an inner lid and an outer lid and has a depth virtually equal to the thickness of the bearing and an inner diameter virtually equal to the outer diameter of the bearing, and the arm has an outer diameter virtually equal to the diameter of a hole in which the bearing is built.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Shiratori Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shiratori
  • Patent number: 5058262
    Abstract: Attachment means for mounting a first annular member such as a bearing ring having a first seating surface to a second member, such as a housing. The bearing ring has a plurality of recesses formed therein and is made of a material having a predetermined hardness. The housing has a second seating surface and a contact surface disposed angularly to the second seating surface and a fillet surface defining at least one narrow intermediate space at the juncture of the said second seating surface and contact surface. The recesses in said first seating surface open toward the internal end surface and open out into the intermediate spaces, whereas, at the end facing away from this end surface, the recesses are closed off by a boundary wall. By this arrangement, during assembly of the bearing ring in the bore of the housing or to a journal material from the housing or journal is removed to fill the recesses and thereby lock the bearing ring in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Brockmuller, Hans Freund
  • Patent number: 5002407
    Abstract: A hub includes an axle. Each end of the axle has an annular groove and a longitudinal groove. A dust cap, two bearings and a cone are provided on each end of the axle. A clamping ring has a key extending inwards for engaging with the longitudinal groove of the axle. The clamping ring is tapered from an outer peripheral edge toward a center so that the clamping ring is resilient. A lock ring is engaged with each annular groove. The clamping rings stably retain the axle in place so that the axle do not move laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Inventor: Yi C. Chi
  • Patent number: 4968910
    Abstract: An axial securing device for the shaft of a small motor in which one end of the shaft is solidly connected with a rotor and the other end is supported in a thrust bearing of a stator. A securing element is locked into an annular groove of the shaft. The securing element has an inwardly directed bulge and a cylindrical projection. When the shaft is inserted, the securing element is pushed in front of the annular groove during the radial extension and locks into the annular groove by itself during further axial movement. The projection is so dimensioned so that through this movement its underside surrounds the contact surface of the shaft end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Micronel AG
    Inventors: Peter Meier, Ernst Scherrer
  • Patent number: 4958944
    Abstract: A wheel mount for motor vehicles or the like. An axially inner hub having an axle journal which projects axially outwardly and a first row of ball bearings rolling about the axle journal. A separate inner ring axially outward of the axle journal and having a second row of ball bearings rolling about it. The separate inner ring having a radially widened region on the axially outward side. The internal bore of the separate inner ring progressing from a radially smaller diameter at the widened region over a plurality of steps which have gradually greater inner diameters. The axle journal on the hub extends through the inner ring and has correspondingly shaped steps. The inner ring is force fit over the axle journal. A radially outwardly bulging bead presses on the axially outward end of the separate inner ring and presses that ring against a shoulder of the axle journal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer (KGaA)
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Manfred Troster
  • Patent number: 4887331
    Abstract: A pivot bushing comprises a tubular body defining a bore adapted to receive a pivot pin and includes a radially enlarged peripheral flange and at least one resilient finger extending radially outwardly from one end of the body and facing toward the peripheral flange. The free end of each finger is axially spaced from the annular surface of the peripheral flange so as to receive an apertured support panel therebetween. The tubular body also includes a radially expanded shoulder adjacent the peripheral flange and having a periphery formed with a cone surface dimensioned to matingly engage with the aperture in the support panel in a self-centering manner. The components are unitarily formed from a siingle bearing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4883373
    Abstract: In a drive mechanism where there are relatively rotating components, it is common practice to use roller bearings to accommodate relative rotation between various components. In order to properly maintain the position of the bearing assembly with respect to the components, some form of locking mechanism is commonly employed. Normally, the locking mechanism requires additional components, such as a locking washer, to be used in conjunction with those used to mount the bearing assembly. This results in an increase in the size and complexity of the drive mechanism. In addition, when a locking washer is utilized, sufficient space must be available to properly "set" the locking washer with respect to the bearing assembly after it has been properly adjusted. Many times use of such locking components requires the machining of adjacent components which serves to anchor the locking mechanism. The additional machining requires the components to be of a larger size to obtain proper fatigue lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Brent E. Rieke
  • Patent number: 4881842
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly comprises an outer bearing member which is secured to a steering knuckle, and a hollow spindle which is rotatably supported in a fixed longitudinal relationship in the outer bearing member by two rows of bearing balls. The hollow spindle has a splined bore which receives a splined stub shaft of a drive bell which is pulled through the splined bore by way of a pull groove in the free end of the stub shaft. A snap ring is assembled to the stub shaft to secure the hollow spindle on the stub shaft against the resistance of a deformed crush ring which is disposed between an inboard end of the hollow spindle and a shoulder of the drive bell. In an alternate embodiment the snap ring secures the hollow spindle on the stub shaft against the resistance of interengaging straight and helical spines of the hollow spindle and the stub shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Farrell, George A. Lundy
  • Patent number: 4831921
    Abstract: A wind powered turbine ventilator is disclosed in which a turbine head is rotatably supported about a tubular base through which air flow is to be induced. For supporting the head for rotation, there is provided a sleeved ball bearing housing coaxially secured in a bidirectional interlock to a relatively stationary mounting plate and through which an axial spindle extends. Also disclosed is a subassembly of the bearing housing secured to the mounting plate in the bidirectional interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Clark United Corporation
    Inventor: Paul S. Potter
  • Patent number: 4806024
    Abstract: A rotatably supporting structure is composed in combination of a raised portion and its matching annular recess. The raised portion is provided on either the outer circumferential surface of a shaft, which is adapted to be fixed at one end thereof on a fixed part, or the inner circumferential surface of a central bore of a member to be supported rotatably. The annular recess is formed in either the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface and is adapted to receive the raised portion therein. A tapered or curved surface is formed on at least one of the raised portion and a portion of the shaft or rotatably supported member defining the annular recess, which portion is brought into contact with the raised portion upon assembly of the rotatably supporting structure. The rotatably supported member is supported at both sides of the raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Tanashin Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsaku Tanaka, Toshio Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 4795280
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for connecting machine parts such as bearing rings on a support. The support includes at least one radially elastic element having a seating surface for the ring which is deflectable radially inwardly to permit assembly of the ring on the support surface and at least one locking element formed integrally with the support and acuatable between a release position wherein the snapping element can be flexed to facilitate assembly and removal of a ring on the seating surface and a locked position wherein the ring is supported in a form locking manner in the seating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Dobhan, Bruno Schemmel, Hilmar Leuner, Walter Hahn
  • Patent number: 4793459
    Abstract: A conveyor roller comprises a steel roller tube fitted with end cap assemblies incorporating bearings for rotatably mounting the roller tube on a fixed shaft. Each end cap assembly comprises a rigid housing which supports the bearing, and a separate collar of resilient plastics material mounted on the housing. The axially inner end portion of the collar has an annular recess which receives a radial flange on the housing, and the axially outer end portion of the collar consists of inner and outer tubular walls which are spaced apart prior to fitting of the end cap assembly in the roller tube. The external surface of the inner tubular wall is curved radially inwards and axially outwards. Each end cap assembly is secured in position by swaging the end of the tube so as to force the outer wall of the collar against the inner wall along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: SKF (U.K.) Limited
    Inventors: John P. Forknall, Hubert W. T. Neal
  • Patent number: 4783183
    Abstract: The thrust bearing fits on a rotatable shaft having an annular groove or in a rotatable housing with an annular groove. One of the thrust bearing races has an axially extending flange with deflective tabs projecting from the flange. The deflective tabs deflect radially when the race is pushed over the end of the rotatable shaft or into a rotatable housing. The deflected tabs spring back into the annular groove when the thrust bearing is fully seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Cameron Gardella
  • 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: 4774848
    Abstract: A worm reduction gear has a casing formed by a pair of tubes oriented at right angles between another and respectively receiving a wormwheel shaft and a wormshaft. In the tube receiving the wormwheel shaft, the wormwheel is flanked by a pair of bearings held by respective bushings prevented from axial displacement by C-clips received in respective grooves adjacent the respective end of that tube. The worm on the wormshaft meshing with the wormwheel is also supported by bearings in the respective tube and at one end of one tube, at least, and preferably an end of the tube receiving the wormwheel, a flange is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Inventor: Viktor Zupancic
  • Patent number: 4767078
    Abstract: A bearing for the rotatable mounting of a control disc in an automatic safety belt retractor is disclosed. The relative rotation between the belt reel and the control disc activates an emergency blocking mechanism. In order to reduce the axial dimension of the control disc, the bearing comprises a bearing journal inserted into a central bearing opening of a hub of the control disc, and one of the axial ends of the opening is widened to receive an insert having a bearing bore receiving the adjacent axial end of the bearing journal. The bearing journal has a radial shoulder and the insert has detent elements engaging behind the radial shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: TRW Repa GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • 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: 4746231
    Abstract: A bearing device for small rotary machinery having such a construction that a cylindrical bearing having therein a ball bearing is housed in a housing, made of a synthetic resin, for rotatably holding a rotating shaft having a rotor, in which a cap having a flange portion is interposed between the housing and the bearing to stably retain the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Hoshino
  • Patent number: 4723851
    Abstract: A double-row, angular-contact ball bearing unit includes double sided cage, a plurality of balls maintained in first and second circular arrays by the cage and disposed between a one piece outer ring having two races and an inner ring formed of two side by side sections, each having an individual race. Angled deflectible locking fingers extend inwardly from the cage into a locking groove in the inner ring section for the first array at a location between the arrays of balls, and this section extends sideways into the region of the second array. The outer ring is undercut from the outer race having the second array to the side of the outer ring that is remote from the first array. The cage side for the first array is of the comb-type and the cage side for the second array is of the window-type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer (KGaA)
    Inventors: Manfred Troster, Heinrich Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4722617
    Abstract: The ball bearing assembly includes an outer race, an inner race, and a ball cage. The cage is molded of a resilient plastic material and has features located on one rim which retains the outer race and inner race in the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Leo Stella, Edward F. De Vito
  • Patent number: 4708499
    Abstract: A pivot mounting assembly for movably mounting a steering column of a vehicle in a housing or the like comprising a rolling bearing including an outer ring and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the steering column and a housing for pivotally mounting the outer ring in the housing including an intermediate mounting member disposed between the outer ring and housing and adopted for positive form locking connection with the housing in an axial direction and including a pair of cooperating retaining ring members having cooperable axially oriented projectors and recesses which are interengageable in a friction locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: SKF Gleitlager GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Loser, Leopold Tilgner, Jurgen Scholer
  • Patent number: 4682901
    Abstract: A ball bearing structure comprising an outer ring and an inner ring defining a ball race. The inner ring is composed of two sections which when assembled trap the outer ring against axial separation of the rings. The inner ring sections are provided with an annular rib structure which enables their being snap-fitted together easily and inseparably, giving a long service life, low cost bearing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Inventor: Peter Hauber
  • Patent number: 4682065
    Abstract: A molded plastic housing for a small electric motor having a radial end wall and an axially projecting portion for mounting the stator and journalling the motor shaft. An annular stator is mounted on and about the projecting portion and shaft bearings are mounted in axially spaced relationship in interference fit respectively at end sections of the housing portion and in direct engagement with the molded plastic. Reduced diameter and reduced thickness zones at the end sections provide for resilient and firm bearing retention and alignment. Four (4) circumaxially spaced slots at each end section with flats radially inwardly thereof provide for the reduced thickness and reduced diameter. The bearings engage the flats in an interference fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Nidec-Torin Corporation
    Inventors: George A. English, Charles R. Marracino
  • 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: 4615626
    Abstract: A rolling bearing device comprises a ball bearing having an outer ring and an inner ring to which a rotating shaft is fitted, a snap ring fitted in an eccentric annular groove formed in the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring of the ball bearing, the snap ring having a head portion projecting in the radial direction from the groove and an inner circumferential part supporting the ball bearing therein. The inner circumferential part is provided with a small diameter part to which the outer ring of the ball bearing is fitted and a large diameter part having a diameter greater than that of the small diameter part but allowing passing of the head portion of the snap ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Iwaki
  • Patent number: 4606657
    Abstract: A synthetic resin ball bearing. It comprises an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of balls provided therebetween. The outer race is composed of a first cup-shaped member and a second cup-shaped member. Each cup-shaped member has an opening in the center of the floor portion. The first cup-shaped member is sized to snugly fit generally in the second cup-shaped member. The inner race has an annular shape to be positioned to extend through said respective openings in the first and second cup-shaped members to define an annular chamber in cooperation of said first cup-shaped member and the floor wall of the second cup-shaped member. The annular projection extends into the chamber to define a pair of ball receiving sections. The balls are accommodated within the ball receiving sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Chubu Bearing Seisakusho
    Inventor: Kouichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: RE34813
    Abstract: The thrust bearing fits on a rotatable shaft having an annular groove or in a rotatable housing with an annular groove. One of the thrust bearing races has an axially extending flange with deflective tabs projecting from the flange. The deflective tabs deflect radially when the race is pushed over the end of the rotatable shaft or into a rotatable housing. The deflected tabs spring back into the annular groove when the thrust bearing is fully seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Cameron Gardella