Patents Assigned to The Torrington Company
  • 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
  • Method of making a camshaft
    Patent number: 5428894
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a camshaft wherein the camshaft has a plurality of first zones having a plurality of circumferentially spaced thicker wall segments and a plurality of thin wall sections. Axially spaced cams are mounted on a hollow tube about the zones. The thicker wall segments are deformed outward to mechanically secure the cams to the hollow tube. The outer diameter of the hollow tube thin wall sections are not deformed when the thicker wall segments are deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Louis V. Orsini, Jr.
  • 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
  • Alignment ring for split bearing race and method of assembly
    Patent number: 5405201
    Abstract: A split outer ring has a raceway on a radially inwardly directed surface and a circumferential groove with tapered side walls on a radially outwardly directed surface and comprises a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion. An alignment ring engages the circumferential-groove of the split outer ring, forming an interference fit with the tapered side walls of the circumferential groove such that alignment of the first arcuate portion with respect to the second arcuate portion is maintained. A method of assembling a housed bearing, utilizing opposing jaws engaging a similar circumferential groove in the split outer ring, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Christopher G. Senger
  • Yoke clamp
    Patent number: 5403111
    Abstract: A yoke clamp for use with a pinion shaft. The pinion shaft has a pie shaped profile. The clamping bolt of the yoke clamp clamps across the small end of the pie shaped profile of the pinion shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Edward J. Wey
  • Polymer bearing housing
    Patent number: 5395171
    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: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Walter P. Waskiewicz
  • Bearing cage with depressed slot end
    Patent number: 5391005
    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: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Alling
  • Split bearing cages
    Patent number: 5388918
    Abstract: A split bearing cage assembly comprising two cage parts assembled and held together by means of components in the form of dowels (3) extending through and located in apertures through both cage parts. The apertures are located and aligned such that, when the dowels are inserted into the apertures, the relative alignment between the dowels is such as to present resistance to the separation of the two cage parts so assembled. The apertures can be straight drilled holes and the dowels can be aligned so as to lie on the surface of a cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Reginald Williams
  • Bearing assembly with axial retention
    Patent number: 5385413
    Abstract: A double-walled bearing cup has an inner cup portion and an outer cup portion fixed over the inner cup portion. Abutment portions of the bearing cup are engageable with a retaining washer, which is positioned within the bearing cup and adapted to be fixed over a shaft, to limit axial movement of the bearing cup relative to the shaft. Rolling members positioned within the bearing cup are engageable directly with the shaft such that the bearing cup may freely rotate with respect to the shaft. The bearing cup may have an open, closed, or tapered end to facilitate use of the bearing assembly in various applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Richard F. Murphy, James Van Horne, Walter R. Gist, Jr.
  • Steering column clamping mechanism
    Patent number: 5377555
    Abstract: A rake and reach adjustable steering column is secured in its desired location by means of a clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes a cam on camming surfaces on which rollers held in a body freely run. A bolt extends from the cam and roller arrangement through a mounting bracket for the steering column and through a member fixed to the steering column. The body is rotatable by a handle which, through the cam and roller arrangement, causes thrust washers and other parts to release and clamp the steering column in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Michael T. Hancock
  • Energy absorbing steering assembly
    Patent number: 5342091
    Abstract: A vehicle crash energy absorbing mechanism incorporated in a steering column structure mountable to a breakaway mounting, the structure including an inner steering shaft which is drivably coupled by a splined arrangement to an outer shaft. The inner shaft has an energy absorption member in the form of a tube which surrounds a pin which is mounted diametrically through the inner shaft. A crash induced force on the column structure causes the outer shaft to be forced relatively towards the tube, thereby inducing an interaction between the pin and tube, the latter being deformed thereby to achieve the requisite energy absorption. In an alternative embodiment, the splined outer shaft itself acts as the absorption energy member, the pin deforming the splined arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Michael T. Hancock
  • Method of making a camshaft
    Patent number: 5337476
    Abstract: A method of forming a camshaft tube having a plurality of thinner wall sections adjacent to thicker wall sections. The diameter of a hollow tube is mechanically reduced with a retractable mandrel inserted in the hollow tube. The retractable mandrel has a first portion having a larger diameter than an adjacent second portion. To form a thinner wall section, the larger diameter first portion is positioned under a reducing tool. To form a thicker portion, the smaller diameter second portion is positioned under a reducing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Louis V. Orsini, Jr.
  • Separable connecting device for steering column
    Patent number: 5336013
    Abstract: Two shaft sections have a common axis and overlapping end portions. Connecting pins on the end portions extend through sleeves on the end portions. A snap ring or similar device is releasably attached to the connecting pins to hold the connecting pins within the sleeves and to release the connecting pins when a predetermined force is applied. Alternatively, a deformable strap holds flanges on the end portions together and releases the flanges when a predetermined force is applied. Also disclosed is a sequential connecting device having a second mechanism to hold the two end portions together after the initial release and to provide a second release when a second predetermined force is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Paul E. Duffy, John Hanson, Robert Lugosi, Spencer H. Guptill, Matthew Kackowski
  • Roller bearing sigma cage
    Patent number: 5335416
    Abstract: A strip of metal is pierced intermediate the edges thereof to form slots for rollers and is bent adjacent the edges to form flanges. Each bend intersects the slots such that the slots wrap around the bends into the flanges. The strip of metal is then formed into a circular hoop such that the flanges form axially spaced end rims to retain the rollers axially. Crossbars between the slots are offset radially in a sigma configuration to retain the rollers radially. Edges of the slots may be specially formed to facilitate flow of lubricant through a roller bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Alling
  • Rocker arm assembly
    Patent number: 5329891
    Abstract: A bearing support member has two support arms extending in opposite directions along an axis and is adapted for mounting about a stud means. A bearing cup is fixed to the rocker arm, extending over each support arm. Rolling members are provided within an annulus formed between the support member and the bearing cups such that the rocker arm is free to oscillate rotatably with respect to the bearing support member. The bearing cups have a bottom surface forming an interference fit, axially, with an end surface of the bearing support member such that a preload is applied to the bearing support arm to reduce and control axial play. A protrusion and cutouts facilitating the preload and a method of assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Richard F. Murphy, John A. DiLauro, Matthew G. Urmaza
  • Thrust bearing assembly
    Patent number: RE34813
    Abstract: The thrust bearing fits on a rotatable shaft having an annular groove or in a rotatable housing with an annular groove. One of the thrust bearing races has an axially extending flange with deflective tabs projecting from the flange. The deflective tabs deflect radially when the race is pushed over the end of the rotatable shaft or into a rotatable housing. The deflected tabs spring back into the annular groove when the thrust bearing is fully seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Cameron Gardella