Floating Bushing Patents (Class 384/901)
  • Patent number: 11959670
    Abstract: The present invention includes: an electric component; a compression component driven by the electric component; and a sealed container accommodating the electric component and the compression component. The compression component includes: a shaft part rotated by the electric component; and a bearing part slidingly contacting the shaft part. A film having hardness equal to or more than hardness of a sliding surface of the bearing part is provided on a sliding surface of the shaft part. The sliding surface of the bearing part includes a curved-surface portion having an inner diameter that continuously increases, or the sliding surface of the shaft part includes a curved-surface portion having an outer diameter that continuously decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ishida, Noboru Iida, Ko Inagaki, Hiroyuki Kawano
  • Patent number: 10480396
    Abstract: A spacer is disposed between a rotor and a bearing of an electric supercharger to fix the rotor. The spacer has a tapered surface with a diameter decreasing toward the bearing in an outer circumferential surface of the spacer. An area of an end surface of the spacer on a rotor side is larger than an area of an end surface of the spacer on a bearing side. A balance correction part that corrects balance of the spacer is disposed inside a recess formed in the end surface. A region of the end surface located on an outer side of the recess relative to a central axis of the spacer constitutes a surface coming in contact with the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sadamitsu, Makoto Takeyama
  • Patent number: 9790950
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes: a bearing provided in a turbocharger body, and configured to rotatably support a turbine shaft in an insertion hole formed in the bearing; and an opposing portion which faces an end surface of the bearing in an axial direction of the turbine shaft. An end-surface guide portion is provided to any one of an opposing surface of the bearing which faces the opposing portion, and an opposing surface of the opposing portion which faces the bearing. The end-surface guide portion configured to make the insertion hole and an outer peripheral edge of the end surface of the bearing in radial directions of the turbine shaft communicate with each other extends forward in a rotational direction of the turbine shaft from a part of the end surface of the bearing which communicates with the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Uneura, Tomomi Otani, Yuichi Daito
  • Patent number: 9739304
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a composite crosshead. The composite crosshead comprises a crosshead body made of a first composite material, wherein the first composite material comprises a first reinforcing material distributed in a first matrix material, wherein the composite crosshead is configured to move in a reciprocating motion in a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Compression Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Omar M. Kabir, John C. Bartos, Kent Pearl
  • Patent number: 8845271
    Abstract: A bearing system for a turbocharger shaft comprising a rotatable elongated cylinder with axially spaced journal bearing surfaces on the inside diameter and a thrust face on each end. A sleeve on the shaft incorporates a flange on one end that transmits thrust force to one thrust face on the elongated cylinder. A flanged collar on the opposite end of the shaft transmits thrust force to the thrust face on the opposite end of the elongated cylinder. A radially extending flange on one end of the elongated cylinder transmits thrust forces to stationary housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: William E. Woollenweber, Joseph S. Delgado
  • Patent number: 8734130
    Abstract: An exemplary anisotropic member supports a semi-floating bearing in a bore and can reduce non-synchronous vibration of the bearing in the bore. An anisotropic member can include an annular body configured to receive a semi-floating bearing and to space the bearing a distance from a bore surface and can be configured to impart anisotropic stiffness and damping terms to the semi-floating bearing when positioned in the bore. Such a member is suitable for use in a rotating assembly for a turbocharger where the bearing may be a semi-floating bearing. Various exemplary members, bearings, housings, assemblies, etc., are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Lee Meacham, Kostandin Gjika, Mohsiul Alam, Gerald D. LaRue
  • Patent number: 8556511
    Abstract: A fluid bearing assembly provides support to stent tubing while the stent tubing is undergoing laser cutting to form a stent pattern. The fluid bearing assembly supports the stent tubing and provides a fluid barrier between the bearing and the stent tubing thereby providing nearly frictionless movement between the support bearing and the stent tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Randolf Von Oepen
  • Patent number: 8118570
    Abstract: An exemplary anisotropic member (625, 1200, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1950) supports a bearing in a bore and can reduce non-synchronous vibration (NSV) of the bearing in the bore. An exemplary anisotropic member includes an annular body configured to receive a bearing and to space the bearing a distance from a bore surface and is configured to impart anisotropic stiffness and damping terms to the bearing when positioned in the bore. Such a member is suitable for use in a rotating assembly for a turbocharger where the bearing may be a floating bearing, a semi-floating bearing or a ball bearing. Various exemplary members, bearings, housings, assemblies, etc., are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Lee Meacham, Mohsiul Alam, Gerald D. LaRue, Kostandin Gjika
  • Patent number: 7736117
    Abstract: A linkage assembly that includes a pivot pin cartridge disposed to connect pivotably a lift arm and a lever of the linkage assembly along an axis including the cartridge. The pivot pin cartridge includes a pin, at least one bushing pivotably disposed about at least a portion of the pin, and a pair of sleeve bearing inserts free-floatingly positioned about the pin and within at least a portion of the bushing. The rear tilt lever is coupled to the bushing for rotation about the pin, while at least one of a pair of side plates of the lift arm is coupled to the pivot pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Harshberger, Darren M. Schambach, Jason J. Hagedorn, Paul D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 7703432
    Abstract: A bearing mechanism for mounting a connecting rod to a crankshaft is disclosed. The bearing mechanism may include a first bearing half-shell forming a first semicylindrical member and a second bearing half-shell forming a second semicylindrical member. The second bearing half-shell may be assembled to the first bearing half-shell to form a cylindrical member. The cylindrical member may include an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley Joseph Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7429132
    Abstract: A hydrostatic air bearing in which a journal rotates within a cavity formed within a bearing race, and a sleeve that rotates with the journal within the cavity of the bearing race, where the sleeve is formed of a porous metallic material that allows for a bearing fluid such as air to flow from a high pressure side of the journal to a low pressure side of the journal through the porous sleeve that acts to dampen the bearing fluid flow, and therefore dampen the bearing. Another embodiment is for a hydrodynamic air bearing with an annular sleeve arranged between the rotating journal and the bearing race, where the annular sleeve is formed of a porous metallic material to dampen air flow across the journal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Marussich
  • Patent number: 7284909
    Abstract: Hybrid orbital fluid dynamic bearing motors are disclosed. The motors achieve improved efficiency advantages observed in fluid dynamic bearing motors containing an orbital ring. In addition, the hybrid orbital FDB motor has serial thrust bearings and traditional style journal bearings, which provide typically higher radial and angular stiffness not observed in previous orbital fluid dynamic bearing motor designs. Designs for centering orbital rings are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Aiello, Hans Leuthold, Klaus D. Kloeppel, Paco Flores, Alan L. Grantz
  • Patent number: 7189005
    Abstract: A bearing system for a turbocharger, simple in design and easy to manufacture, having desired rotational dynamics of a three piece bearing design, yet having the superior vibration damping characteristics of a one piece bearing design. The inboard end of each journal bearing includes an axial recess for receiving an outboard end of a cylindrical bearing spacer, thereby axially locating the journal bearings as well as axially and radially locating the bearing spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Ward
  • Patent number: 7073944
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing assembly is described. In one embodiment, the assembly includes an inner member. The assembly further includes an outer member configured to rotate about a rotational axis at a first angular velocity. The assembly also includes an orbital ring disposed between the inner member and the outer member. The orbital ring is configured to rotate about the rotational axis at a second angular velocity, which is less than the first angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Joseph Aiello, Klaus Dieter Kloeppel
  • Patent number: 7025579
    Abstract: A bearing system for a turbocharger shaft includes an elongated bearing carrier with two anti-friction ball bearings mounted in its ends and with a radially extending flange at one end that cooperates with stationary housing portions and carries thrust loads of the rotor in both directions. The elongated bearing carrier is supported within the housing by axially spaced elastic supports which permit the rotating assembly to rotate about its mass center and provide a shock and vibration cushion. The elongated bearing carrier and housing cooperate to provide a coolant cavity which communicates with the outside periphery of the elongated bearing carrier between the axially spaced elastic supports, which also act as coolant seals between the elongated bearing cavity and the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Turbo Systems Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Woollenweber, Jon A. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6893022
    Abstract: An arrangement for sealing an opening of a rotor housing in which a vacuum prevails, through which opening a shaft of a spinning rotor, supported outside of the rotor housing, projects. The arrangement has free floating sealing element arranged towards the opening and forming at least two sealing gaps with the spinning rotor. A first sealing gap is located between the sealing element and the shaft, a second sealing gap is located between the sealing element and a collar of the spinning rotor which borders the shaft. The sealing element can form an additional third sealing element with the back wall of the spinning rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter
    Inventor: Gerd Stahlecker
  • Patent number: 6877901
    Abstract: A bearing system for a turbocharger shaft includes two angular contact ball bearings mounted in the opposite ends of a lubricated rotatable elongated cylinder, which includes a radially extending flange at one end that cooperates with stationary housing portions and carries the thrust load of the rotor in both directions. The angular contact ball bearing on the turbine end (hot end) of the machine is provided with a radial spring between the outside of its outer race and the elongated cylinder, which prevents rotation of the outer race, but still allows axial movement of the outer race in the elongated cylinder due to axial expansion of the shaft when exposed to high temperature. The inner races of the ball bearings are separated by a spacer, which is clamped in place between the bearings when the rotor assembly lock nut is tightened. Thus, the inner race of the bearings and spacer rotate with the shaft as part of the rotating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: William E. Wollenweber
  • Patent number: 6712515
    Abstract: A bearing is presented having a multiplicity of rotating sleeves. A bushing is connected to one of the multiplicity of rotating sleeves. At least one bearing set is connected to the multiplicity of rotating sleeves. Also, a bearing is presented having a multiplicity of rotating sleeves. At least two bearing sets are connected to the multiplicity of rotating sleeves. Another bearing is presented having a multiplicity of rotating sleeves. At least two bearing sets are connected to the multiplicity of rotating sleeves. A bushing is connected with one of the rotating sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Fite, Donovan D. Van Sleet, Casey R. Winkel, Tomm V. Aldridge
  • Patent number: 6709160
    Abstract: A greatly simplified turbocharger assembly comprised of a minimum number of parts allows accurate and efficient control of oil flow over the bearings (44,46), thereby permitting excellent lubrication of the bearings with a reduced amount of oil flow through the bearing housing (16), resulting in significantly lower hydrocarbon leakage from the turbocharger into the engine or engine exhaust, and ultimately lower hydrocarbon emissions by the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel N. Ward, Jaroslaw M. Kierat, Richard D. Hall, Allen W. Gray, III
  • Patent number: 6663289
    Abstract: A bearing with one or more layers of lubricated spacers for dynamically brace-supporting first and second slide surfaces independently movable relative to each other. The spacers are positioned between the first and second slide surfaces, and each spacer has a pair of opposing spacer slide surfaces which are adapted to slide in surface-to-surface contact relative to an adjacent slide surface. Lubricants are used to facilitate low friction relative sliding motion between the slide surfaces, which can be either bonded to the spacers, or separately deposited between the slide surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Pablo Javier Iljin
  • Patent number: 6499884
    Abstract: A gas dynamic machine, such as a turbocharger, compressor or turbine, includes a housing and a rotor mounted in the housing and rotatable on an axis. A bearing and seal member or assembly includes a bearing mounted in an axial bore of the housing and having an inner bearing surface radially supporting a bearing journal of the rotor An axial oil seal is aligned with and fixed to the bearing for radially positioning the seal in axial alignment with the journal bearing surface of the bearing/seal assembly. The seal may further include a generally radial flange fixed to the housing for axially positioning the bearing/seal assembly relative to the rotor. The bearing and seal may have separate bodies attached together or be combined in an integral body. Mounting with a single radial pilot for radial location and a single radial flange for axial location, which may be combined, is featured. An optional thrust flange may be integral with the bearing portion or attached as a separate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Svihla, Eric J. Duve
  • Patent number: 5984526
    Abstract: A rotor 16 rotatably installed on a casing 10 is in contact with a container hole 11 of the casing 10, and the rotor 16 is equipped with a rotating shaft 17 which rotates around a rotation center O.sub.2 at a position deviated from a reference axis O.sub.0 of a container chamber by a distance E. An eccentric bearing 25 is rotatably attached to the casing 10, and has a rotation center O.sub.1 at a position deviated from both the rotation center O.sub.2 and the reference axis O.sub.0 by a predetermined distance. The eccentric bearing 25 rotates in accordance with rotation of the rotating shaft 17, and the rotor 16 is thereby brought into contact with the sliding contact portion 11a with a predetermined stress. As a result, it is possible to set large tolerances of processing precision of components of a driving device having a rotating member and a casing containing the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventors: Tooru Imai, Akira Imai, Yutaka Imai
  • Patent number: 5885006
    Abstract: A plain bearing assembly including an inner bearing, outer bearing, and at least one intermediate bearing. The inner bearing has an annular inner bearing surface. The intermediate bearing includes a ring bearing having an annular inner and outer surface. The intermediate bearing also includes bushes rotatably mounted about the inner bearing and rotatable with respect to the bearing ring and outer bearing. The bushes provide a bearing surface adjacent to the annular inner bearing surface of the bearing ring and providing a bearing surface adjacent to the annular outer bearing surface of the bearing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Plastic Bearings & Housings Australasia PTY. Ltd.
    Inventor: Noel Francis Sheedy
  • Patent number: 5828148
    Abstract: A rotating flood cooled machine having reduced windage losses comprises a stator having an inner periphery and a rotor rotatably positioned within the stator separated from the stator by a gap which is filled with fluid. A film divider is rotatably positioned within this gap and is allowed to rotate freely. In such a machine, when the rotor rotates at a speed .omega., the film divider is caused to rotate at a speed of approximately .omega./2. At this speed, the film divider obtains a radial position during rotation of approximately midway between the outer periphery of the rotor and the inner periphery of the stator. This radial position is preferably maintained by the hydrodynamic bearing action of the fluid within the gap, or alternatively through the use of radial positioning or retaining mechanisms. The use of axial constraint mechanisms to maintain the film divider within the air gap under the shear forces of the fluid during operation is also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Niggemann, Scott M. Thomson, Michael G. Schneider
  • Patent number: 5680792
    Abstract: A drive bearing for a windscreen wiper system wherein two actuator rods for actuating two wiper arms are driven by a motor crank. The two bearings are concentrically nested one within the other thereby allowing the driving forces of the two rods to extend in one plane. Other features include the association of the individual bearing elements to the actuator elements, and the design of the bearing faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Harro Buhl, Bruno Egner-Walter, Peter Fein, Robert Klinar
  • Patent number: 5676468
    Abstract: A bearing includes a first race in operational contact with a shaft, a second race in operational contact with the first race, and a third race in operational contact with the second race. The first, second and third races cooperate to define an aperture therethrough to the shaft. A connector is disposed through the aperture to functionally interlink the first race, the second race and the shaft to insure that the first race and the second race rotate substantially with the shaft. In operation, the first and second races define a first bearing surface that accommodates angular displacements of the shaft, and the second and third races define a second bearing surface that accommodates axial and rotational movements of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: John P. Webb
  • Patent number: 5666854
    Abstract: A support for a gear wheel, used in a toothed gear change transmission having a shaft and a gear wheel, where the support provides both sufficient axial fixing and radial play between the gear wheel and the shaft, necessary to compensate for working loads. The support is used with a gear wheel having internal teeth with at least one discontinuity in the internal teeth and a groove extending into the internal teeth. The support has a first disc with external teeth and at least one mating discontinuity in the external teeth, whereby the internal and external teeth and the discontinuities, respectively, can coincide with one another. A locking mechanism locks the position of the first disc relative to the gear wheel. To prevent against axial movement of the first disc against the direction of insertion into the groove, the support also includes a securing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Buri, Josef Bader
  • Patent number: 5618107
    Abstract: The bearing assembly for supporting one end of a rotatable shaft, such as the lower end of an agitator drive shaft inside a mixing tank, includes a mounting sleeve surrounded and spaced radially outwardly from the lower end of the drive shaft, a support supporting the mounting sleeve at a location where there is sufficient space between the mounting sleeve and the tank bottom to gain access to the lower end of the drive shaft, an annular bearing slidably mounted on the drive shaft, a bearing housing disposed inside the mounting sleeve and receiving the bearing to provide a bearing/bearing housing subassembly and a locking arrangement on the bearing housing and the mounting sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: A&B Process Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Steve A. Bartsch
  • Patent number: 5598746
    Abstract: A transmission assembly used to connect with a rotatable ornament or a toy to provide bilateral rotations for achieving their cosmetic effect comprises a casing enclosing a set of three pinions which are driven by a battery-operated electrical circuit therein. An elastic rectangular bar used to restrict the rotary extent of a first pinion will elastically obstruct the rotary movement of the pinion in order to provide continuous bilateral rotation and each turn of the bilateral rotation will exceed 360.degree. without making any noise. The noses of the spindles of the pinions are formed as tapering sockets or as tapering pointed plugs to enhance the intensity of the assembly. Most of the components in this assembly are made integrally of plastic material so as to reduce the time and cost to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Ching-Ti Chen
  • Patent number: 5454646
    Abstract: A journal bearing for use with a turbocharger includes a free floating bushing rotatable between a shaft and housing. In one embodiment, a single oil feed passage is provided at an angle in the housing, and a number of radially disposed oil transfer passages are provided in the free floating bushing. The angle of the housing passage relative the bushing passages is such that oil flowing between the passages imparts an angular momentum to the bushing opposite the shaft rotation to slow the rotational velocity of the bushing. Alternately, the housing passage may be radially disposed and the bushing passages may be inclined at an angle relative to the housing passage to similarly impart an angular momentum to the floating bushing in a direction opposite the directing of rotation of the shaft, or both the housing passage and the bushing passages may be inclined relative one another to impart an angular momentum to the bushing in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Paul W. Reisdorf
  • Patent number: 5439544
    Abstract: A no-crush roll system for attaining zero crush across the double backer in a corrugator is disclosed which is retrofittable to most existing machines. The no-crush roll system includes a series of pairs of bearing adapters each formed with a pin received in an overhead support frame with a bearing support cup located at inwardly extending ends of the pin to receive a bearing mounted to opposite ends of the roller. Each bearing is received in an elongate cavity facing the roller which permits the height of the roller to self adjust in response to changes in thickness of the cardboard material being conveyed along a hot plate as the weight of the rollers pressing against the top surface of the cardboard ensure even glue distribution and curing contact without crushing the material. A method of eliminating crush in a double backer of a corrugator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Chesapeake Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Bory
  • Patent number: 5246352
    Abstract: A centrifugal supercharger is provided with a supporting system for supporting a shaft. The supporting system includes at least one outer bearing and at least one inner bearing. The outer bearing is fitted in the housing so as to form a small clearance between its outer circumferential surface and the housing. The inner bearing is fitted in the outer bearing so as to form a small clearance between its outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the outer bearing. In the inner bearing, the shaft is inserted so as to form a small clearance between its outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the inner bearing. At least one outer oil supply hole and at least one inner oil supply hole are formed in the outer and inner bearings, respectively and oil is supplied from the oil supply passage to each small clearance through the oil supply holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiro Kawakami
  • Patent number: 5219232
    Abstract: A bushing roller bearing having particular application for use in a wing flap assembly of an aircraft by which a wing flap is raised or lowered. The bearing includes metallic, coaxially aligned outer and inner races and a non-metallic intermediate liner disposed therebetween. The inner race is coupled to and rotatable with a shaft that is interconnected with the wing flap. The outer race is adapted to rotate (i.e. ride) along a wing flap track at the wing of an aircraft. The intermediate liner is formed from a self-lubricating composite material which reduces wear and friction between the outer and inner races. The intermediate liner floats through the bearing, such that a clearance exists between the liner and the races to permit the liner to be displaced laterally and radially. By virtue of the intermediate liner, the susceptibility of the bearing excessive wear, to lock-up and possible failure is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Tiodize Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Adams, Gary R. Wittman
  • Patent number: 5161898
    Abstract: A roller cutter drill bit (10) has separate bearing elements (82, 84, 86) positioned between a journal (20) and a roller cutter (60) mounted for rotation on the journal (20). The bearing elements (82, 84, 86) are formed of a superalloy material and the bearing surfaces of the bearing elements (82, 84, 86) have an aluminide coating applied thereon to form a bearing surface stable at operating temperatures over 500 F. and as high as 1000 F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Camco International Inc.
    Inventor: Eric F. Drake
  • Patent number: 5102239
    Abstract: A ceramic bearing is provided by an outer ring, an inner ring, and a sliding ring fitted between the outer and inner rings. Each of the rings is made from ceramic material. Sliding contact occurs between the sliding ring and the inner ring, and between the sliding ring and the outer ring. Whereas the difference in relative rotation between the respective rings is divided among a plurality of relatively sliding surfaces, the bearing can support increased loads and rotation speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Wing Highcera Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terunobu Momose, Tetsuo Shibata
  • Patent number: 5056938
    Abstract: A track roller bearing having a floating sleeve between the inner race and outer race. The floating sleeve has a self-lubricating bearing material on its outer surface. The coefficient of friction of the self-lubricating bearing material increases as the material is worn. When the self-lubricating bearing material coefficient of friction exceeds the coefficient of friction of the floating sleeve inner surface, the floating sleeve will rotate with the outer race until a new unworn surface of self-lubricating bearing material is presented to the load area of the outer race. This precessing of the floating sleeve will continue until the entire surface area of the self-lubricating bearing material is worn, thus extending the track roller bearing life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: S. Robert Ahlman, William E. Dunn, Harry Magazian
  • Patent number: 5030074
    Abstract: A rotary machine for handling a fluid includes a housing having a rotor chamber and a rotor rotatably mounted in the chamber. The rotor has a plurality of generally radially disposed vane slots, and a plurality of vanes are slidably mounted in the vane slots and operable to define variable volume chambers for the fluid as the rotor rotates and the vanes move generally radially in and out of the vane slots. The vanes have projections projecting from the longitudinal ends thereof, and the housing has annular rings having inner cylindrical surfaces disposed to be engaged by projections. Grooves on the outer surface of the rings are operable to produce a layer of fluid between such outer surface and the housing to thereby minimize the frictional rotational resistance of the rings on the housing, the rings thereby being rotated in approximately synchronization with the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakamaki, Yukio Horikoshi, Takeshi Jinnouchi, Kenji Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 5020923
    Abstract: A vibration damping system for a transmission or gearbox which includes rotatable components. A housing structure is provided for supporting and journalling an inner rotatable component drivingly coupled to a plurality of outer rotatable components defining a plural load path. A compliant bearing is disposed between the housing and the inner rotatable component. The compliant bearing includes a laminated structure having an inner bearing member journalled on the housing, an outer bearing member supporting and journalling the inner rotatable component, and a resilient damping layer sandwiched between the inner and outer bearing members. A liquid squeeze film is located between the outer bearing member and the inner rotatable component, and passages through the housing and the compliant bearing supply liquid for the squeeze film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Heitz, Jeffery N. Fairchild, John Readman
  • Patent number: 5011390
    Abstract: A rotary machine for handling a fluid includes a housing having a rotor chamber and a rotor rotatably mounted in the rotor chamber. The rotor has a plurality of generally radially disposed vane slots and a plurality of vanes are slidably mounted in the vane slots and operable to define variable volume chambers as the rotor rotates and the vanes move generally radially in and out of the vane slots. Rotatable retainer plates are disposed between the housing and the longitudinal ends of the vanes, the retainer plates having stoppers extending axially into recesses in the vanes, the stoppers being operable to limit the extent of outward radial movement of the vanes to preclude sliding contact between the vanes and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakamaki, Yukio Horikoshi, Takeshi Jinnouchi, Kenji Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 4997353
    Abstract: A vane pump in which a projection is provided on the end of a vane which radially slides as a rotor rotates, and an annular race concentric with an inner peripheral surface of a housing is provided in the inner surface of the end wall of the housing, the projection being brought into engagement with the annular race to control the slide of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakamaki, Yukio Horikoshi, Takeshi Jinnouchi, Kenji Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 4983050
    Abstract: A bearing supporting arrangement is provided for a turbocharger having a turbine shaft provided with turbine and compressor wheels. The bearing supporting arrangement includes first and second cylindrical oil film damper members, each of which is supported in a floating state through an oil film to the inner peripheral surface of a bearing housing thereby constituting an oil film damper. First and second annular ball bearings are coaxially fixedly supported respectively to the first and second oil film damper members. A generally cylindrical thrust receiving member is interposed between the first and second oil film damper members to be contactable with the first and second oil film damper members. The thrust receiving member is fixed at an axially intermediate portion to the bearing housing by a pin fixed to the bearing housing so as to be movable to make contact with the bearing housing. A first clearance (C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Aida
  • Patent number: 4955730
    Abstract: An oil-pressure-supplied bearing apparatus which is ideally suited for the support of rotating shafts receiving significantly heavy thrust loads such as the propulsion shaft of a vessel. A plurality of pressurized chambers receiving oil pressure and a plurality of pressurized clearances are formed facing each other on both sides of a plurality of floating discs fixed to the rotating shaft and between a pair of bearing housings supporting the rotating shaft. Oil delivered to the pressurized chambers is fed back to the oil tank via the pressurized clearances. When the pressurized clearance opposite the direction of the thrust load narrows, oil pressure in the pressurized chambers rises and resists the thrust load. Meanwhile, floating discs on the rotating shaft are lubricated by oil passing through those pressurized clearances. When the direction of the thrust load is reversed, the inverted thrust load is supported by the pressurized chamber and the pressurized clearance on the opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kashima, Kensei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4909707
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a floating casing ring which is deflectable in response to contact by an impeller of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Wauligman, Reinhold B. Erickson, James H. Ball
  • Patent number: 4902144
    Abstract: An improved bearing assembly is provided for axially retaining journal bearings in a turbocharger. The turbocharger includes a center housing having an elongated bearing bore for receiving an axially spaced pair of journal bearings which in turn support a rotatable turbocharger shaft. Lubricating oil is supplied through the center housing for passage to the shaft-bearing interface through radially open oil flow ports formed in the journal bearings. A bearing spacer is interposed axially between the journal bearings such that the opposite ends of the bearing spacer define a pair of thrust surfaces for engaging and locating the axially inboard faces of the journal bearings. Additional thrust surfaces are formed on thrust members carried by the turbocharger shaft to engage and locate the axially outboard faces of the journal bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Allied-Signal, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis F. Thoren
  • Patent number: 4838711
    Abstract: A bearing for an exhaust-gas turbocharger including a sleeve 26 which is arranged in a bore 36 of a bearing housing 6 and which is prevented from rotating. The sleeve 26 contains, at each of its two axial end regions, an inner and an outer bearing face 34, 32 and at least two openings 28 between the end regions. Sleeve rotation is prevented in a functionally reliable manner and at a low construction cost by a preferably annular spring element 50 which is elastic in the circumferential direction and which engages by means of a axially bent first end 52 in a groove 54 in the sleeve 26. The bearing housing 6 has a recess 56 which opens into the bore of the bearing housing radially relative to the shaft 14 and in which the radially outwardly bent second end 58 of the spring element 50 engages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Kuehnle, Kopp & Kausch
    Inventor: Uwe Munkel
  • Patent number: 4834560
    Abstract: A plural ring bearing is comprised of at least outer and inner radially superimposed rolling bearings and has an intermediate ring common to the inner and outer bearings. The outer bearing comprises an inclined roller bearing with two rows of cylindrical rollers inclined with respect to one another and to the axis of the plural ring bearing. The inner bearing may have two rows of cylindrical or tapered rollers, and may additionally include a crossed roller bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Jacob, Paul-Gerhard Hoch
  • Patent number: 4832525
    Abstract: A portable vibrating screed includes a driven, vibratory rotatable shaft assembly mounted on an elongated frame equipped with means for screeding concrete. The shaft assembly includes a plurality of bearing assemblies spaced along the length of the shaft. Each bearing assembly includes a pair of separate bearing elements mounted on the shaft and supported in bearing supports secured to the frame. Failure of any single bearing element allows a companion bearing element in the same assembly to absorb all of the load imposed on such assembly to prevent shutdown and without impairing the needed vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventor: Donald R. Morrison
  • Patent number: 4832565
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes a rotating impeller for accelerating low pressure inlet fluid to a substantially tangential high pressure fluid. A pair of floating rotatable shrouds flank opposite axial sides of the rotating impeller. Pressurized hydrostatic bearings back the shrouds to float and support the shrouds in a uniform fashion. Pressurization for the hydrostatic bearings can come from the high pressure fluid side of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Sunstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Jules L. Dussourd
  • Patent number: 4829815
    Abstract: A tire testing machine for measuring rolling resistance of a pneumatic tire by bringing a freely rotatably mounted tire into contact with a driven rotating load wheel. Spindles of the tire mounting structure and load wheel are supported in bearing assemblies. Each of the bearing assemblies includes an inner race rotatable with the spindle and an outer race mounted on a cylindrical sleeve. The sleeves are rotatably supported by an outer bearing assembly within a stationary housing. The speed of the sleeve and correspondingly the speed of the outer race is "slaved" to the speed of the associated spindle and inner race by drive motors whereby no relative motion exists between the bearing races and intervening bearing elements thereby negating bearing friction and associated losses. Elimination of bearing losses enables a more accurate and constant rolling resistance to be measured by the tire test machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: George S. Kuzas
  • Patent number: 4808015
    Abstract: An improved clutch release bearing assembly includes a sliding sleeve providing first and second sliding surfaces respectively facing the bore of a bearing and a guide element extending through the bore, both surfaces minimizing binding, wear or excessive friction between the bearing and the guide element during relative reciprocal motion therebetween. The sleeve, preferably fashioned from plastic, finds particular utility in a clutch release bearing surrounding a transmission shaft retainer or quill tube. The length of the sleeve is such that the bearing may slide on an outer sliding surface for a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Bryce W. Babcock