Abstract: A bearing support member, mountable about a support stud, has two support arms extending toward side walls of a rocker arm. A bearing cup is rigidly mounted on each respective side wall and extends over the respective arm of the bearing support member, providing an annulus. Rolling members within the annulus permit the rocker arm to freely oscillate rotatably while being constrained axially. The bearing cups may include a keyed shape to limit orientation of the bearing support member. Another aspect of the invention is a rocker arm subassembly having "open" bearing cups.

Abstract: A device for measuring the torque of a shaft which uses two magnetic field sensors located between two coaxial magnetic encoders. The magnetic field sensors are angularly displaced by one-fourth of the period of magnetic field.

Abstract: An antifriction bearing assembly comprises a stationary outer race and a rotatable inner race with two annular rows of rolling elements between the races. A sensor assembly is mounted in the outer race so as to position a sensor between the races and the two rows of rolling elements, and an encoder is mounted on the inner race between the rows of rolling elements. Several sensor assembly and encoder configurations are included.

Abstract: A retainer for use with a needle roller bearing having crossbars with an inverted trapezoidal shape such that the cross bars shape increases roller retention. A method for manufacturing the enhanced retention retainer is described which also eliminates the need for post piercing burr removal.

Abstract: A method of welding bearing retainer rings comprising the steps of: assembling two annular metal retainer rings and a plurality of bearing balls, each retainer ring having a plurality of ball pockets spaced about the ring, the ball pockets of one retainer ring being aligned with the ball pockets of the other retainer ring, a bearing ball being located within each ball pocket; applying pressure to the retainer rings; and then exposing at least a portion of the area of the retainer rings between adjacent ball pockets to a coherent high-energy beam of radiation thereby fusing the retainer rings together at a plurality of locations.

Abstract: A plastic part is molded of a plastic with an inner body of crystalline plastic and an outer surface layer of an amorphous plastic. The amorphous surface layer withstands friction loading at least during an initial break-in period. In one embodiment, the amorphous surface is formed by using a higher plastic melt temperature and/or or a lower mold temperature than normal. In another embodiment, an intermediate part is molded as a crystalline intermediate part, and a surface layer is heated and quenched to form the amorphous surface layer on the final part. A bearing cage is molded by injecting the plastic melt at a single point intermediate the ends of a single bar of the bearing cage to permit formation of the desired amorphous layer on rails connected to the ends of the bars.

Abstract: A bearing has an inner ring coaxial to and rotatable relative to an outer ring. A central bore of the inner ring accommodates a multi-sided shaft in at least two positions that are angularly offset relative to each other. Each position provides a different fit between the inner ring and the shaft. A preferred embodiment has a 12-pointed star-shaped bore defined by the superposition of two hexagons of slightly different scale, to accommodate a hexagonal shaft in either of two positions. The second position provides a tighter fit between the bearing and the shaft without requiring tighter manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: Bearing or roller bearing with information sensor, of the type comprising a stationary element carrying at least one magnetic field sensor device and one rotating element carrying a multipole magnetized ring coaxial to said moving element, which rotates in front of the sensor device and in which the ring is mounted in a support carried by said rotating element and is separated from the sensor device by an air gap, characterized in that the ring is provided with circumferentially distributed notches.

Abstract: A transmission shaft speed sensor which comprises a Hall-effect or variable reluctance detector and a means for generating a magnetic field which is integrated into a thrust bearing assembly positioned about the differential casing of an automobile transmission, thereby avoiding structural modification of the transmission itself.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing rotation of a rotary member comprising a fixed sensor, the sensor being stationary relative to the rotary member. An encoder rotates with the rotary member and is disposed adjacent the sensor. A biasing member for biasing the encoder is in close proximity into the sensor. The sensor may be a Hall effect sensor or a magnetic resistive sensor. The biasing member may be a well known biasing device such as a spring washer, a magnetic device, a hydraulic or pneumatic device.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing ball bearing retainers by forming material into a helical coil consisting of a plurality of coils, then severing a coil of the helical coil to form a split ring, the severed ends overlapping one another. The split ring is then pressed to form a ball pocket opposite the overlapping severed ends. The remaining ball pockets are formed by successively pressing the split ring forming a pair of ball pockets, each ball pocket being adjacent a previously formed ball pocket.

Abstract: An antifriction bearing for mounting in a housing bore. The antifriction bearing has a groove in one of the peripheral surfaces of the outer race, an annular encoder rotatable with the inner race, a sensor support including an arcuate band having an axially extending lip which matingly engages the groove in the outer race and a sensor removably attached to the sensor support.

Abstract: A mechanism for absorbing energy transmitted through a vehicle steering column in an impact situation having a steering column support bracket which houses a clamp bolt for positionally adjusting the steering column. The bolt is located by cam/spacers which are located in a slot; a slanted slot extension is provided which has a smaller width than the diameter of the bolt. Upon impact by the driver into the steering wheel, the bolt is forced into the slot extension, thereby deforming the slot which absorbs energy as it yields.

Abstract: A high performance, two-piece cage for a ball bearing assembly includes a first annular member having a plurality of pockets and a second annular member that serves as a retaining ring to retain the balls in the first annular member. The pockets of the first annular member enclose an arc slightly greater than 180 degrees of each ball. Recesses in the second annular member, corresponding to the pockets of the first annular member, make point contact with the balls to urge the balls into position in the pockets. The limited arc of the pockets allows the first annular member to be removed from its mold, even when made of a brittle high temperature material. Second annular member can be made from a material different from that of the first annular member and can be made radially thinner than the first annular member to facilitate visual inflection of the ball bearing assembly.

Abstract: An antifriction bearing assembly comprises a stationary outer race and a rotatable inner race with two annular rows of rolling elements between the races. A sensor assembly is mounted in the outer race so as to position a sensor between the races and the two rows of rolling elements, and an encoder is mounted on the inner race between the rows of rolling elements. Several sensor assembly and encoder configurations are included.

Abstract: A bearing with a magnetic field sensor for detecting the angular position of one element of the bearing relative to a second element of the bearing. The bearing has a ring of ferromagnetic material mounted on the rotating element. The ring has a multiple of magnetic pole segments around its circumference. The magnetic pole segments are arranged so that half of the segments are north poles and the other half of the magnetic pole segments are south poles, thus forming a two-pole ring. Two magnetic field detectors are located proximate the ring at two locations 90 degrees from one another.

Abstract: A bearing assembly comprises an outer race with an outwardly projecting flange and an inner race with a similar outwardly projecting flange. A sensor assembly is mounted on the flange of the stationary race, and an encoder is mounted on the flange of the rotating race. Several sensor assembly and encoder configurations are included.

Abstract: An antifriction bearing assembly comprises a stationary outer race and a rotatable inner race with two annular rows of rolling elements between the races. A sensor assembly is mounted in the outer race so as to position a sensor between the races and the two rows of rolling elements, and an encoder is mounted on the inner race between the rows of rolling elements. Several sensor assembly and encoder configurations are included.

Abstract: A method of selectively coating surfaces of bearing races by first electroplating a first material on a bearing raceway. Then a second material is deposited only onto the remaining surfaces of the bearing race. The second material is selected from a group of materials which do not deposit onto surfaces containing the first material.

Abstract: A split ring antifriction bearing retainer assembled from two mating annular split rings. Each split ring has a plurality of ball pockets. When the two split rings are assembled, the ball pockets of one split ring are aligned with the ball pockets of the other split ring. The ends of one split ring are angularly offset from the ends of the other split ring.