Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John C. Bigler
  • Thrust bearing assembly
    Patent number: 5474390
    Abstract: A thrust washer has a radially directed annular portion providing a first raceway and an axially directed annular flange. A subassembly comprising a plurality of rollers, in rolling contact with the raceway, retained axially and radially in a roller cage, has a pilot surface facing the axially directed annular flange. A bushing or rolling element between the pilot surface and the axially directed annular flange reduces friction between the pilot surface and the flange while maintaining concentricity of the subassembly relative to the thrust washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Thomas G. Rhoads
  • Low friction roller bearing
    Patent number: 5474389
    Abstract: There is provided a roller bearing having inner and outer annular roller races, each race having a bearing raceway that is spaced from and opposes the bearing raceway of the other race, and a rigid frame for retaining a complement of rollers arranged between the roller races. The rigid frame includes annular end plates having a series of concave seats and a plurality of spacers mounted at right angles to each of the end plates. A complement of axially extending rollers is arranged in the frame and the frame is positioned between the races and in rolling contact with the bearing raceways. Spherical balls or convex sphere built into the roller are provided between the ends of the rollers and each end plate for reducing friction between the roller ends and the end plates while piloting the rollers in such a way as to maintain alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Teofilo A. Garcia
  • Shield for rolling element bearings
    Patent number: 5472284
    Abstract: A shield has an outer periphery portion engaging a grooved outer bearing ring, an inner periphery portion adjacent an inner bearing ring, and a mid portion joining the outer periphery portion and the inner periphery portion. The outer periphery portion has an annular reverse bend and terminates in an annular flat surface having radially outer and radially inner edge portions. The radially outer edge portion and the radially inner edge portion and the reverse bend each contact the grooved outer bearing ring to retain the shield axially and radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Alling, Daniel R. McLarty
  • Method of assembling a bearing
    Patent number: 5469620
    Abstract: A flat, thin ring is formed into a modified ring having bridge material between adjacent, initial ball pockets. Movable anvils having a rounded surface are positioned within the initial ball pockets and the bridge material is flattened such that a flat bridge is formed between adjacent final ball pockets enclosing more than a 180 degree circumference of the rounded surface. The movable anvils are then moved such that the final ball pockets do not enclose more than a 180 degree circumference of the rounded surface to facilitate removal of the movable anvils from the final ball pockets. A method of assembling a ball bearing assembly is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Gunter J. Zinken
  • Seal for rolling bearings
    Patent number: 5470158
    Abstract: An annular sealing groove is provided at an axial end of one of an outer or inner bearing ring. The seal element comprises an annular ring of an elastomeric material with a plurality of circumferentially periodic radially extending projections integrally formed in an outer periphery or an inner periphery thereof. The projections are configured to provide an interference fit in the radial direction with respect to a bottom wall and outer side wall of the sealing groove to effect a seal. Preferably, the radial interference fit of the seal element biases the seal element axially against an inner side wall of the sealing groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. McLarty, Salvatore Acampora
  • Surface treated cast iron bearing element
    Patent number: 5468308
    Abstract: A bearing blank is cast or machined of cast iron to a configuration near a final shape of a desired bearing element. A first surface of the bearing blank, corresponding to a sliding surface of the desired bearing element, is remelted while other portions of the bearing blank remain in a solid state. The remelted first surface is quenched such that fine particles of iron carbide precipitate in a remelted zone having an increased hardness and a decreased presence of graphite particles. A bearing element having a core portion composed of cast iron and an integral first surface portion including a precipitate of fine iron carbide particles, and having greater hardness and lesser incidence of graphite particles than the core portion, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Braza, John A. Larson
  • Bearing assembly
    Patent number: 5468074
    Abstract: A bearing assembly has a stationary housing with a bore with a constant inside diameter. The non-metallic or powdered metal outer assembly is fixedly retained in the housing. A non-metallic or powdered metal inner assembly ring is slidably retained in the outer assembly ring. A ball bearing is retained by the inner assembly ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Maksimilijan Godec, John A. Larson, Walter P. Waskiewicz
  • Spherical bearing and method of assembling a spherical bearing
    Patent number: 5463811
    Abstract: An outer ring is formed with counterbores at the ends thereof, disposed along a common axis and separated by a radially inwardly extending keel portion. A polymer liner is inserted into each end of the outer ring into abutment with the keel portion, the polymer liners being preformed with spherically concave inner surfaces conforming to a ball part entrapped therebetween. A portion of the outer ring is then deformed by upset forming over a portion of the polymer liners to lock the polymer liners in position. An electrical sensor for indicating failure of the polymer liners is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: William D. Aureli, Robert E. Furst
  • Sensor bearing with clip-on sensor
    Patent number: 5451869
    Abstract: A stationary bearing ring, a rotatable bearing ring, and a sensor support having a slide are provided. The sensor support is axially retained in engagement with the stationary bearing ring, and a sensor is slidably mounted in the slide of the sensor support. The sensor is biased into contact with the sensor support and is radially retained in the slide. An encoding element is carried by the rotatable bearing ring and is rotatable in front of the sensor. Various embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Denis Alff
  • Method of forming one-piece metallic ball bearing cage
    Patent number: 5446963
    Abstract: A flat, thin ring is formed into a modified ring having bridge material between adjacent, initial ball pockets. Movable anvils having a rounded surface are positioned within the initial ball pockets and the bridge material is flattened such that a flat bridge is formed between adjacent final ball pockets enclosing more than a 180 degree circumference of the rounded surface. The movable anvils are then moved such that the final ball pockets do not enclose more than a 180 degree circumference of the rounded surface to facilitate removal of the movable anvils from the final ball pockets. A method of assembling a ball bearing assembly is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Alling
  • Methods of regenerating metalworking fluids with chelating agents
    Patent number: 5445945
    Abstract: Metalworking fluids (MWFs) can be regenerated and stabilized by the controlled addition of a chelating agent. The resulting sequestration of the dissolved metals in the MWF has been found to reduce incidence of dermatitis, to control the growth of microbes including bacteria and fungi, and to reduce the generation of odors, all without the further addition of fresh (virgin) MWF or a conventional biocide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Peter H. Drechsler
  • Resolution multiplying circuit
    Patent number: 5442313
    Abstract: Peak and valley voltages of signals from at least two analog sensors are held by the circuit. A plurality of threshold voltages is generated from the previous peak and valley voltages of the respective analog sensors. The signal of each sensor is compared to the respective threshold voltages to produce a sequences of output transitions for each sensor. The output transitions are combined such that each sequence of output transitions from each analog sensor occurs between sequences of the other analog sensor (or sensors). An optional peak and valley reset is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: A. John Santos, Mark E. LaCroix
  • Rocker arm assembly
    Patent number: 5437209
    Abstract: Two support arms of a bearing support member extend in opposite directions, each support arm having an overlying bearing cup engageable with a rocker arm. A bearing sleeve is mounted over each support arm between the respective bearing cup and the bearing support member to provide an inner raceway. Each bearing sleeve has sufficient radial clearance with respect to the respective support arm such that the bearing sleeve precesses with oscillation of the rocker arm. Rolling members within an annulus formed between the bearing support member and each bearing cup allow the rocker arm to freely oscillate rotatably with respect to the bearing support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Robert V. Santoro
  • Polymer bearing housing
    Patent number: 5433530
    Abstract: A one-piece body portion injection molded of polysulfone or similar polymer has mounting portions for securing the bearing housing to a support surface and a transverse bore having a spherically concave annular bearing seat for tiltably supporting a convex outer ring of a bearing. Diametrically opposed axially extending recesses within the bearing seat facilitate insertion of the outer race ring after molding of the body portion. The bearing housing has significantly improved stiffness and resistance to moisture, creep, thermal deflection, chipping and corrosion, making the bearing housing particularly suited for use in the food processing industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Walter P. Waskiewicz
  • Rocker arm assembly and method of assembly
    Patent number: 5433178
    Abstract: A bearing support member has two support arms extending in opposite directions along an axis. A bearing cup extends over each support arm and into a bore of the rocker arm and has a radially outwardly extending protrusion engageable with the rocker arm to limit axially outward movement of the bearing cups. A radially inwardly extending protrusion of the bearing cups abuts rolling members between the bearing support member and the bearing cups to limit axially outward movement of the rolling members. A stepped bearing sleeve and pedestal may be provided to limit axially inward movement of the rolling members. During assembly, components are inserted through an opening in the rocker arm intersecting the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Matthew G. Urmaza
  • Seal incorporating an encoder
    Patent number: 5431413
    Abstract: A disk mountable on a rotating support has one side at least partially covered with an elastomer loaded with magnetic particles to form an encoder while the other side of said disk axially limits an annular chamber. A sealing structure attached to the disk and contained within the plane of a lateral side of a support capable of supporting a non-rotating component of the seal with incorporated encoder is mountable within an annular cavity which is axially limited by the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Christian Hajzler
  • Sealing structure for a bearing
    Patent number: 5419642
    Abstract: A resilient seal member, fixed to one of an inner bearing ring and an outer bearing ring, engages a contact member fixed to the other bearing ring to close an annulus between the bearing rings. The resilient seal member has at least one resilient lip forming an interference fit with a contact surface of the contact member. The contact surface is configured such that misalignment of the inner bearing ring with respect to the outer bearing ring does not significantly change the amount of interference between the resilient lip and the contact surface. The contact surface may be substantially spherical or conical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Daniel R. McLarty
  • Method of making a bearing cage with depressed slot end
    Patent number: 5410809
    Abstract: A flat strip of metal is formed to provide a depressed center relief portion between two edge portions. Depressions are formed in the two edge portions and center slots are pierced across the center relief portion such that roller receiving slots are formed with slot end depressions at both ends of the roller receiving slots. The partially formed bearing cage is then formed into a circular hoop such that the edge portions form rings at the axial ends of the circular hoop. The resulting roller bearing cage of the present invention may also be formed by other methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Alling
  • Method of assembling a bearing
    Patent number: 5404642
    Abstract: A flat, thin ring is formed into a modified ring having bridge material between adjacent, initial ball pockets. Movable anvils having a rounded surface are positioned within the initial ball pockets and the bridge material is reformed such that a substantially flat bridge is formed between adjacent final ball pockets conforming to more than a 180 degree circumference of the rounded surface. The movable anvils are then moved such that the final ball pockets do not conform to more than a 180 degree circumference of the rounded surface to facilitate removal of the movable anvils from the final ball pockets. A method of assembling a ball bearing assembly is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Alling, Gunter J. Zinken
  • End cap for housed bearing units
    Patent number: D365829
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Terrier