Abstract: A light weight bearing cage assembly (100) consisting of a plurality of snap-on bridge elements (104) coupled between first and second cage support rings (102A, 102B) conforming to the surfaces of adjacent rolling elements (10). The snap-on bridge elements maintain rolling element (10) in separation, provide rolling element retention within the bearing assembly, and function as a lubrication reservoir between the rolling elements for grease lubricated bearings. Each snap-on bridge element may be individually removed and replaced by snap-on engagement with the first and second cage support rings. Optional locking clips or rings (300, 302) fitted over each snap fitting end of the bridge elements optionally provides additional security against accidental uncoupling of the bridge elements from the first and second cage rings.

Abstract: A structure (200) for containing a volume of lubricant additive gel (10) which is disposed within a mechanical system, in close proximity to a wear critical surface, and which is configured to provide a release of the contained additives into a flow of lubricant over time or as a function of temperature in a site-specific manner to minimize wear or reduce oil oxidation due to harsh operating conditions. The structure defines a cage or capsule with screen or mesh sides (202) having multiple perforations or openings through which the flow of lubricant may circulate. Within the contained volume of the structure (200), additives are disposed in a gel matrix (10), and are release over time or as a function of temperature, through the perorations or openings, in close operative proximity to wear critical surfaces of the mechanical system such as a bearing assembly or gear arrangement.

Abstract: An integrated wheel end which includes a movable clutch ring for selective engagement between an engaged and disengaged position for transferring driving torque from a drive shaft to the wheel end. The integrated wheel end incorporates a clutch ring abutment feature or travel limiter configured to position the movable clutch ring relative to a coupler on the wheel end during assembly with the drive shaft.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes a sun gear (2), a ring gear (4) located around the sun gear, planet gears (6) organized in two arrays between the sun and ring gears, and a carrier (8) having walls (14) located beyond the planet gears and flexpins (24) that project from the walls into the planet gears. Each flexpin includes an inner pin (30) provided with a flange 36 that is secured to the wall from which the inner pin projects, thus cantilevering the inner pin from the wall, and a sleeve (32) that is cantilevered from the opposite end of the inner pin and extends back over the inner pin, thus providing a double cantilever. Between the sleeve of the flexpin and the planet gear for that flexpin is a double row tapered roller bearing (26). The planet gears on the one array may be offset angularly with respect to the planet gears of the other array.

Abstract: A displacement, strain, and/or force sensor assembly (10, 110) has a mounting structure (12) with an anisotropic stiffness to facilitate the measurement of displacements, strains, and/or forces along the X-axis, while minimizing errors due to undesired displacements, strains, and/or forces along the Y- and Z-axes, and rotations about the X-, Y-, and Z-axes. A pedestal (30, 130) configured to respond to axial displacements along the X-axis is centrally disposed on the X-axis of the mounting structure (12), and a displacement or strain sensor (38) is coupled to the pedestal (30) to provide a measure of the displacements, strains, and/or forces. Contact pads (14, 114) are formed on opposite ends of the X-axis of the mounting structure, to enable the displacement and/or strain sensor assembly to be secured to an application structure.

Abstract: A method for assembling a set of bearing assemblies 100 onto a mill roll 10 and for establishing a required bearing setting. The mill roll 10 is configured to receive a set of bearing assemblies 100 at each axial end, with the bearing rolling elements 100A contained within supporting chocks 102 adapted for placement within a mill housing. The chock assembly 102R and bearing assembly 100 at a first end of the roll are positioned first, and coupled to the first end an axial center rod 22 passing through an axial bore 24 of the roll 12. The chock assembly 102L and bearing assembly 100 at the second end of the roll 12 is then positioned onto the opposite end of the roll 12, and a connecting sub-assembly 300, 400, 504A is secured to the second end of the axial center rod 22. The connecting sub-assembly engages the second chock assembly 102L and bearing assembly 100, and is adjusted to achieve a desired bearing setting for both bearing assemblies 100 through the center rod 22.

Abstract: A supercharger for boosting intake manifold pressure in an internal combustion engine and producing electrical energy comprises an input shaft (3), a electric machine (50) including a stator (51) and a rotor (53), a compressor (70) including an impeller (71), and a planetary transmission (30) located between the input shaft (3) and the rotor (53) of the electric machine (50) and the impeller (71) of the compressor (70), all such that the input shaft 3 can drive both the impeller (71) and the rotor (53), or the rotor (53) and input shaft (3) can drive the impeller (71). The planetary transmission (30) includes an outer ring (31) operatively coupled to the input shaft (3), a sun member (39) operatively coupled to the impeller (71), planetary clusters (38) located between the outer ring (31) and sun member (39), and a carrier (37) operatively coupled to the planet clusters (38) and the rotor (53). Each planetary cluster (38) comprises an inner roller (35) and an outer roller (33).

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic induction hardening of a workpiece includes a magnetic tool having a body portion formed of a generally non-magnetic material. The body portion has a surface configured to be positioned in close proximity to the workpiece being hardened. The apparatus further includes a magnetic arrangement coupled to the body portion at or adjacent the surface of the body portion and configured to provide regions of alternating polarity. A workpiece holder is configured to support the workpiece in close proximity to the surface of the magnetic tool. A drive arrangement for rotating the magnetic tool relative to the workpiece holder about an axis of rotation is provided to induce heating of the workpiece to achieve a temperature in the austenitic range of the workpiece resulting in hardening of the workpiece through a microstructural transformation.

Abstract: A traction drive transmission has an outer ring 40, a sun roller 10, support rollers 30, and one or more loading rollers 20. The outer ring 40 includes a raceway 42 presented inwardly. The sun roller 10 includes a raceway 12 presented outwardly toward the raceway 42 of the outer ring 40. The sun roller 10 is offset eccentrically with respect to the outer ring 40 so that a wedge gap 112 exists between the raceways 42, 12 of the outer ring 40 and sun roller 10. The support rollers 30 are located between the outer ring 40 and sun roller 10. Each support roller 30 has first and second raceways 36, 38 that have different diameters and contacts the raceway 12 of the sun roller 10 along its first raceway 36 and the raceway 42 of the outer ring 40 along its second raceway 38. Each loading roller 20 is located at the wedge gap 112 between the raceway 42 of the outer ring 40 and the raceway 12 of the sun roller 10.

Abstract: An applicator and method of discharging a corrosion preventative. The applicator controllably and uniformly applies a corrosion preventative to a surface that has a sensor instrument mounted thereon. The applicator comprises a reservoir block that defines an interior reservoir that is configured to contain an amount of the corrosion preventative. The applicator further comprises a plate attached to the top of the reservoir block. The plate includes a sensor guide that extends outward from the top surface which is configured to engage the surface. Discharge tubes attach to the plate and extend outward from the plate in a pattern around the sensor instrument, wherein the tubes operatively communicate with the reservoir. A proximity sensor which is positioned within the sensor bore is configured to sense and to signal a presence of the sensor instrument positioned within the sensor bore.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes a sun gear (2), a ring gear (4) located around the sun gear (2) and planet pinions (6) located between the sun and ring gears (2,4). The planet pinions (6) rotate on a carrier (8) that includes flexpins (20) that are cantilevered from a wall (12) of the carrier (8) and sleeves (22) that are attached to the remote ends of the flexpins (20) and extend back over the flexpins (20) to create a double cantilever. Bearings (24) support the planet pinions (6) on the sleeves (22) so that the planet pinions (6) rotate about the flexpins (20). The double cantilever enables the flexpins (2) to flex such that the axes (Y) of the planet pinions (6) remain parallel to the common axis (X) of the sun and ring gears (2, 4). Each sleeve (22) h an integrated bearing race (44) and a bearing seat (42) that carries a separate bearing race (60).

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a magnetic track having a plurality of magnetic poles separated by a plurality of pole junctions. The sensor assembly also includes a first magnetic sensor disposed proximate a high-resolution portion of the magnetic track and a second magnetic sensor disposed proximate a reference portion of the magnetic track. The second magnetic sensor spans adjacent pole junctions in the magnetic track. Each of the adjacent pole junctions includes a high-resolution segment corresponding with the high-resolution portion of the magnetic track and a reference segment corresponding with the reference portion of the magnetic track. The reference segment of each pole junction is one of offset and aligned with the corresponding high-resolution segment in each pole junction.

Abstract: A friction drive (10) having a plurality of planet assemblies (24A, 24B, 24C) pivotally mounted to a carrier (12), a sun shaft (14) rotatably mounted with the carrier (12) and having a first raceway (16), and an outer ring member (18) having a second raceway (22) concentric to the first raceway (16) and having a ring shaft (20). The plurality of planet assemblies (24A, 24B, 24C) frictionally engaged with the first raceway (16) and the second raceway (22) for transferring power between the sun shaft (14) and the outer ring member (18).

Abstract: An angular contact or oscillating ball bearing (100) in which each ball or rolling element (102) is separated by a friction-reducing toroid spacer (103), which has low starting and miming friction, and which maintains a high degree of precision over an operational lifespan. Within the angular contact or oscillating bearing (100), each toroid spacer (103), disposed about alternate balls or rolling elements (102), is configured with sufficient clearance to allow free low-torque movement of the balls or rolling elements (102), and to minimize wear. The inner ring element (101a) of the bearing (100) includes an inner raceway (105a) disposed between a full shoulder side (109) and a low shoulder or relieved side (107), while the outer ring element (101b) includes an outer raceway (105b) disposed between a pair of full shoulder sides (110a, 110b). Both the inner ring element (101a) and the outer ring element (101b) surfaces are finished to minimize abrasion and wear of the toroid spacers (103).

Abstract: A spherical outer diameter tapered roller bearing pillow block system (100) for supporting the rotating main shaft of a wind turbine. The bearing system is configured with a unitized construction and factory set preload bearing settings to facilitate installation and setup. A spherical outer diameter surface (114) is formed on the outer race (116) of a tapered roller bearing assembly disposed about the rotating main shaft of the wind turbine. The bearing assembly is secured to a stationary support structure of the wind turbine through a pillow block housing assembly (102) providing a matching spherical housing seat (112) to form a ball and socket interface between the tapered roller bearing assembly (118) and the pillow block housing assembly (102). The ball and socket interface accommodates static and dynamic misalignments between the wind turbine main shaft and the supporting structure, while the bearing assembly (118) accommodates radial and axial loads.

Abstract: An angular contact ball bearing cylindrical retainer element (100) with a reduced mass, reduced axial width, and a rigid “crown” shape. The rigid crown shape of the cylindrical retainer element (100) defines a plurality of uniformly spaced cylindrical ball receiving pockets (104) about the circumference of the cylindrical retainer (100), each receiving pocket partially open to a slot (108) on an axial end of the retainer (100) and enclosed at an opposite axial end to define a continuous axial side rail (110).

Abstract: A weld joins a thin overlay of low carbon steel to a base that contains high carbon steel, at least at its surface along which the weld is formed. The weld may be effected by fusion (melting) or by solid-state diffusion. With either it creates a heat affected zone (HAZ) in the base around the weld. The HAZ contains enough austenite, and perhaps bainite as well, to render the HAZ relatively ductile and also crack resistant. Adjacent to the weld the HAZ has a hardness that does not exceed 58 HRC. The weld may be produced with a high energy beam or with resistance welding equipment.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly endcap 200 configured with a pilot structure 202 defined by radially-inner and radially-outer annular portions 202a, 202b joined by an annular bend 202c disposed between a central face 204 of the endcap and an outer peripheral flange 206. The pilot structure 202 projects in an axially outboard direction along the axis X of the wheel bearing assembly 100 for fitment within an inner diameter surface 112 of an outer axial member 106, to facilitate sealing and a spring-biased retention of the endcap 200 within the wheel bearing assembly 100. The outer peripheral flange 206, which is contiguous with the pilot structure 202, seats against an inboard end face 114 of the wheel bearing assembly 100 outer axial member 106 to provide a positive axial stop, and is configured as an additional sealing element to reduce contaminate ingress between the endcap 200 and the interior surfaces of the wheel bearing assembly 100.

Abstract: An absolute position magnetic encoder includes a first magnetic track configured for a binary output, a second magnetic track configured for a decimal output, a first magnetic sensor positioned proximate the first magnetic track to detect the magnetic field of the first magnetic track, and a second magnetic sensor positioned proximate the second magnetic track to detect the magnetic field of the second magnetic track. The encoder is selectively operable to provide one of the binary output and the decimal output.

Abstract: A geared power train (100) for use in a wind turbine application to maximize a step-up ratio within a radial space that is defined by the planetary gearing system ring gear size. The geared power train (100) is configured as a split-compound planetary gearing system with a closed-carrier flex-pin planetary system in a high-torque stage (Stage 1) for receiving driving torque via an input shaft (IN) from a wind turbine, and an open-carrier flex-pin planetary system in a low-torque stage (Stage 2) coupled to the high-torque stage (Stage 1) for delivering the driving torque to an electrical generator via an output shaft (OUT).