Abstract: A roller bearing having inner and outer raceways and a series of rollers interposed between the raceways characterized by a roller profiled in a predetermined manner to produce a residual frictional moment when the bearing is loaded which tends to control the direction of roller skew. To provide the residual frictional moment, the roller is designed with a profile contour having a predetermined variable curvature and the inner and outer raceways are designed with a constant radius of curvature. Thus designed, the frictional moment distribution on the roller is made to produce a positive skew resulting in decreased heat generation, less bearing friction and longer bearing life. The principle of the invention applies to bearing assemblies having barrel-shaped rollers as well as assemblies having hour-glass shaped rollers. In assemblies with barrel-shaped rollers, the geometric relationships are preferably as follows: R.sub.r2 <R.sub.o <R.sub.r1 <R.sub.iwhereinR.sub.

Abstract: A lubricant insert for lubricating rolling bearings composed of a firm, tough, solid gel matrix containing a lubricating oil of lubricating viscosity which exudes therefrom to provide an oily surface in contact with the elements of the bearing. The preferred form of lubricant insert comprises an annular member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially directed projections which have surfaces conforming to the contour of the rolling elements and which are of a predetermined orientation to permit ease of assembly and locking of the insert in place in the annular space between the inner and outer rings of the bearing.

Abstract: Novel, unitary, full complement bearing components are described which comprise a plurality of rolling elements embedded in a solid, self-supporting lubricating matrix with at least one arcuate operative surface of each rolling element exposed for rolling contact with another bearing component, the rolling elememts being in side-by-side contact or only slightly spaced from each other, and the matrix being composed of a gel obtained by thermally curing a mixture of lubricating oil and a high molecular weight polymer, and being capable of exuding lubricating oil under sliding friction in operation after insertion of the bearing component into a bearing structure in a single assembly operation. Full complement as used herein means a cageless rolling element bearing with a maximum number of rolling elements wherein no additional rolling elements can be added to the complement of rolling elements and wherein the rolling elements are in side-by-side relation.

Abstract: A wheel bearing has inner and outer bearing rings each having a radially outwardly directed flange, and a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the rings. An annular seal has a support element affixed to the outer ring, the support element terminating in an annular elastic element of oil resistant material that is slidably engages the inner ring. A cover extends over the flange of the inner ring and has an end terminating radially spaced from a shoulder of the outer ring, to define a sealing gap. The intermediate portion of the cover defines a lubricant accumulation space.

Abstract: A rolling bearing assembly particularly adapted for wheel bearings in vehicles comprising an inner ring having at least one radially outwardly directed mounting flange, an outer ring and a plurality of rolling elements in the annular space between the inner and outer rings, at least one cap member secured to the inner ring having an annular rim section directed towards the outer ring and a seal ring secured to the outer ring in sliding engagement with said cap member under the rim thereof, said rim portion incuding at least one lubricant collector chamber defined in part by a radially inwardly facing wall portion and including at least one relatively small opening in said wall portion communicating with said lubricant collector chamber.

Abstract: The invention concerns an inner ring for a rolling bearing provided with a raceway for co-operation with a number of rolling bodies. In order to improve the bearing lubrication properties, the raceway is provided with grooves extending across the raceway with a direction component parallel to the bearing axis.

Abstract: Sliding bearings of all types, including axial, radial, and linear bearings and combinations thereof, are described which are composed of integral foamed molded plastic by processes known in the art per se to provide unitary bearing structures having surface and/or interior portions of hard material and surface and/or interior portions of porous material, said porous material being saturated with a lubricant and acting to release said lubricant to a sliding bearing.

Abstract: A double row spherical roller bearing having symmetrical rollers (3) guided in a retainer (5), which is centered on the inner race ring (2) of the bearing without the intermediary of any guiding ring or flange, but by aid of the retainer side portions (6), which engage the said inner race ring at positions outside the two rows of rollers (3).

Abstract: A rolling bearing assembly has inner and outer members, rotatable with respect to one another, and defining a pair of races therebetween. Each of these members has a flange-shaped portion for mounting the respective member. A separate row of rolling bearings is provided in each of the races. The outer member is formed with separable ring-shaped portions defining the running surfaces of the two races, the separable portions forming an inwardly directed annular ridge under ajoining faces, so that the rolling elements abut the sides of the ridge. One of the rows of rolling bearings has twice as many rolling elements as the other row.

Abstract: Lubricating compositions and shaped articles composed thereof are described which consist essentially of about 30 to about 60% by weight of an oil of lubricating viscosity, about 20 to about 50% by weight of a high molecular weight polymer, and about 20 to about 50% by weight of a heat conductive agent capable of conducting heat away from a bearing surface where it is generated. The high molecular weight polymer may, for example, be polyethylene, having average molecular weights in the range from about 1.0.times.10.sup.5 to about 5.0.times.10.sup.6. The oil may be a mineral oil, a diester oil or preferably a synthetic hydrocarbon oil having a viscosity in the range from about 13 to about 1200 millimeters.sup.2 /sec (mm.sup.2 /s) at 38.degree. C. (100.degree. F.) The heat conductive agent may be powdered zinc oxide, aluminum powder, or equivalents thereof in this invention. The compositions are semi-rigid gels which may be formed in a mold and used as is, or which may be shaped further after molding.

Abstract: A pillow block assembly including a housing having an internal seat for a bearing and retaining means in the form of snap rings on both sides of the outer ring for limiting axial displacement of the outer ring of the bearing in the seat. The pillow block is convertible between free and held units. One form of conversion device comprises a screw member including a conical tip which engages in an annular groove in the outer ring having tapered circumferential sidewalls complementing the tip of the screw member. The screw member is actuatable between a first position permitting movement of the outer ring relative to the housing and a second position preventing axial movement of the outer ring in the pillow block housing. The screw member has a port extending therethrough and a head portion with a lubricant fitting and at least one radial port is provided in the outer ring connecting the annular groove to the interior of the bearing. This arrangement permits lubrication of the bearing through the screw member.

Abstract: A rolling bearing cage made of an elastic material comprising an annular member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets for rolling elements, confronting terminal end portions, at least one shoulder projecting in a peripheral direction from at least one of the terminal end portions adapted to engage the opposing terminal end portion under pre-tension, at least one recess in at least one of the terminal end portions adjacent the shoulder and extending inwardly from the side edge of the annular member so that the lug member functions in the nature of a leaf spring having limited pivotal movement in a peripheral direction. In this fashion the cage has elastic resilience within a relatively wide range in a peripheral direction without unduly overstressing the cage material.

Abstract: A rolling bearing characterized by novel features of construction and arrangement wherein the rotational speed of the rolling bodies all have the same revolution speed under varying load conditions and even if they lie in different load zones or are of different size within reasonable tolerance limits. By this construction, the retainer pockets can be sized to provide small play for the rolling elements to enhance the guiding of the rolling bodies and eliminate undesirable noise. This, of course, eliminates force effects from the retainer for rolling elements which are larger or smaller than the nominal dimension. This is achieved by providing an oscillation ratio G.sub.i /G.sub.y wherein G.sub.I and G.sub.y are the spaces between the envelope surface of the rolling body and the race track in the inner race ring and the outer ring taken along a normal to the rolling body axis located at a distance from the rolling body center of a non-loaded bearing is greater than ##EQU1## in which .gamma.=D.sub.w cos .

Abstract: A one-piece cage for a rolling bearing assembly made of an elastically deformable, synthetic material. The cage comprises a pair of spaced annular members of a predetermined uniform radial height, a plurality of axially extending webs between the annular members and of a maximum radial dimension only slightly greater than the radial height of the annular members. The webs are circumferentially spaced to define a plurality of pockets for rolling elements and have arcuate confronting faces conforming generally to the contour of the rolling elements. Each web has inner and outer projections adjacent inner and outer end portions which are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the rolling elements to retain the rolling elements in the pockets and provide a certain amount of flexibility to permit assembly of the rolling elements in the pockets from either radial direction.

Abstract: Ball bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a belt support roll on an axle comprising a pair of bearing rings having confronting spaced apart sections defining inner and outer raceways disposed at an angle to the normal axis for a plurality of balls. The inner bearing ring has a radial outwardly directed flange serving as means to secure the bearing to the roll casing and a flange extending radially inwardly from the race confronting a sleeve mounted on the axle. The outer bearing ring has an annular ring flange facing inwardly to the bearing axle confronting the radial flange of the inner bearing ring and terminating in an annular shoulder running axially for fastening to the axle. A sleeve circumscribes the axle and has a radially outwardly directed rib which forms with the inner bearing ring an annular chamber for a sealing agent. A seal with flocked fibers is interposed between the confronting inner flanges of the inner and outer bearing rings.

Abstract: A seal for a gap between at least two surfaces comprising a unitary body member made of a foam plastic material including at least one homogeneous peripheral surface portion and at least one internal porous portion. The porous portion is filled with a lubricant and is exposed through at least one section in the homogeneous peripheral surface portion to permit transfer of lubricant therethrough.

Abstract: Lubricating compositions and shaped articles composed thereof for use in bearings and the like are described which consist essentially of about 50 to about 90% by weight of an oil of lubricating viscosity and about 50 to about 10% by weight of polymethylpentene having an average molecular weight in the range from about 3 to about 5 million; the oil being a mineral oil, a diester oil or preferably a synthetic hydrocarbon oil, and having a viscosity in the range from about 15 to about 300 millimeters.sup.2 /second (mm.sup.2 /s) at 38.degree. C. (100.degree. F.

Abstract: A rolling bearing assembly has inner and outer members, rotatable with respect to one another, and defining a pair of races therebetween. Each of these members has a flange-shaped portion for mounting the respective member. A separate row of rolling bearings is provided in each of the races. The outer member is formed with separable ring-shaped portions defining the running surfaces of the two races, the separable portions forming an inwardly directed annular ridge under adjoining faces, so that the rolling elements abut the sides of the ridge. One of the rows of rolling bearings may have a substantially larger number of rolling elements than the other row.

Abstract: An antifriction bearing has an inner race with a radially outward extending flange, an outer race, and rolling elements between the inner and outer races. The surface of the outer race toward the flange has a sealing lip, and an annular flexible resilient sealing element engages the lip and extends into sliding contact with the flange. The sealing element is held in place by a cylindrical casing radially surrounding the sealing element, the casing extending axially to form a narrow gap with the flange.

Abstract: A tapered roller bearing comprising inner and outer members and a plurality of frusto-conical rolling elements interposed between the members has means for controlling the skew angle of the rolling elements during operation of the bearing to lower overall friction in the bearing and to increase its service life. The profiles of the rolling elements and raceways are designed for skewing the rolling elements at a predetermined angle to cause the rolling elements to slide relative to the raceways during operation of the bearing. Optimum bearing performance is obtained when the element in the load zone is disposed at a positive skew angle which, by definition, occurs when the rotational axis of the rolling element and the bearing axis are not coplanar and the axial component of an external load applied to a bearing raceway tends to be counteracted by an oppositely directed axial component of a friction force applied to that raceway by the rolling element.