Abstract: A clamp isolator for an intermediate shaft assembly comprising an intermediate shaft having a free end and a secondary shaft having a free end. The clamp isolator includes a clamping portion and an isolation portion and interconnects the two shafts. The clamping portion is configured to rigidly clamp upon one of the shaft free ends and the isolation portion includes a substantially hollow housing configured to receive an isolation bushing therein. The isolation bushing has an opening therein configured to receive the other of the shaft free ends.

Abstract: A roller retainer assembly for an axial-thrust bearing comprising first and second annular retainer plates. At least one roller pocket extends through each annular plate. The first and second annular retainer plates are interconnected such that the at least one first roller pocket is substantially circumferentially aligned with the at least one second roller pocket with the inner and outer radial edges of the opposed pockets offset from one another. As such, the first pocket defines a first fluid passage gap through the first annular plate between the roller and the first outer edge and the second pocket defines a second fluid passage gap through the second annular plate between the roller and the second inner edge.

Abstract: A shaft coupling assembly comprising a coupling element including a shaft-receiving slot configured to receive a shaft. A retaining bolt is extendable through the coupling element adjacent the shaft receiving slot and to be received and retained in a bolt receiving recess in the upper shaft surface adjacent the forward shaft end after the shaft forward end is inserted in the coupling element slot. At least one projection extends from the shaft forward end adjacent the shaft upper surface to prevent improper clamping of the shaft forward end and any associated feeling of proper interconnection.

Abstract: A device for a magnetic encoder, the magnetic encoder being designed to work with a sensor to measure the rotation of a rotating element, wherein a protective element, whose shape is designed to cover the active face of the magnetic encoder, is placed on the magnetic encoder during the storage, handling or shipment phases of the magnetic encoder.

Abstract: A bearing encoder is used with two or three Hall effect sensors. One sensor is used to provide a high resolution quadrature signal for speed control, and the other sensor or sensors provide a low resolution signal that may be used as a rescue encoder quadrature signal and/or an ANSI speedcheck encoder signal. The device is suitable for elevator control.

Abstract: An acoustic signal unit comprises a signal generation unit to generate a first electrical signal, a first transducer to generate an acoustic signal in response to the first electrical signal, and a second transducer to generate a second electrical signal in response to the received acoustic signal. A calculation unit is provided to compare the first and second electrical signals to determine the time of flight of the acoustic signal, wherein the time of flight corresponds to the stress in the rolling element bearing. The stress may be calculated according to a formula or by multiplying an acoustic time constant for the rolling element bearing by the distance traveled by the acoustic signal across the rolling element bearing, and by the time of flight determined by said comparison unit.

Abstract: A sensor of position and/or of displacement of a moving member generating magnetic pulses. The sensor comprises a plurality of aligned sensitive elements that are divided into at least two subassemblies. The signals emanating from the subassemblies are processed by an electronic circuit able to deliver two analog signals in substantially perfect quadrature.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a first race with an axially extending section and a radially extending section, a second race with an axially extending section and a radially extending section, a cage supported between the first and second races, and a plurality of rolling elements circumferentially spaced within openings formed in the cage. A radial lubrication passage with an inlet and an outlet extends through at least a portion of the cage. The radially extending section of the first race and the axially extending section of the second race define a first annular gap. The radially extending section of the second race and the axially extending section of the first race define a second annular gap. Preferably, the inlet is in fluid communication with the first annular gap and the outlet extends axially through the cage and is aligned with the second annular gap.

Abstract: A test body deformable upon application of torque to a turning shaft. First and second bearings with the turning collar of the first bearing being connected near a first end of the test body and the turning collar of the second bearing being connected near a second end of the test body. Each bearing is equipped with a digital device for determining the angular position of the turning collar relative to the fixed collar. Each digital device includes an annular device for generating magnetic pulses, mounted for turning jointly with the turning collar, and a fixed magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetic pulses and for delivering digital signals. An electronic device processes digital signals from the magnetic sensors to determine the angular position of the annular devices, and a comparison device compares the digital signals to ascertain the torque applied to the turning shaft.

Abstract: A laminated carrier comprises a first end plate, a second end plate, and a connection joining the first and second end plates together such that windows are formed therebetween for locating planetary gears. At least one of the first and second end plates comprises multiple layers of material joined together, such that a non-uniform internal structure is formed.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a first race with an axially extending section and a radially extending section, a second race with an axially extending section and a radially extending section, a cage supported between the first and second races, and a plurality of rolling elements circumferentially spaced within openings formed in the cage. A radial lubrication passage with an inlet and an outlet extends through at least a portion of the cage. The radially extending section of the first race and the axially extending section of the second race define a first annular gap. The radially extending section of the second race and the axially extending section of the first race define a second annular gap. Preferably, the inlet is in fluid communication with the first annular gap and the outlet extends axially through the cage and is aligned with the second annular gap.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft for rapid length adjustment consists of a tube having a plurality of alternating circumferential ridges and grooves on at least a portion of an inner surface and having an oval cross-section with a major diameter DA and a minor diameter DB; a shaft disposed within the tube and having matching circumferential ridges and grooves, the shaft also having an oval cross-section with a major diameter DC and a minor diameter DD; and the ridges and grooves of the tube interengaging with the grooves and ridges of the shaft when the shaft major diameter DC is substantially parallel with the tube minor diameter DB.

Abstract: A fixed magnetic sensor (16) is used to determine absolute angular position of a turning component (3, 4). A detection device (27) detects an angular position of a multipole magnetic ring (11) near a reference angular position. A resetting device (28) resets the angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11) detected by detection device (27). The resetting device (28) is capable of assigning a value called “offset” to the value of the absolute angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11). A determination device (29) determines the absolute angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11) on all of the turns made by a turning component (3, 4) ascertained from the offset value and variations in the angular position.

Abstract: A joint assembly and a joint socket sleeve. The joint assembly includes a first yoke including a ball portion, a second yoke including a socket portion and a socket sleeve. The socket sleeve has a continuous side wall defining an opening for receiving the ball portion. A portion of the side wall is flexible. In some constructions, flat surfaces and/or grooves are formed on the outer surface of the socket sleeve. In some constructions, ribs are formed on the outer surface of the socket sleeve.

Abstract: A first race component includes a flat, circular raceway portion, defined about an axis, and an axially extending lip portion. A plurality of needle rollers is arranged radially with respect to the axis for rolling contact with the flat raceway. A bearing cage retains the needle rollers and is engageable with the lip portion of the first component for piloting of the bearing cage. A second race component, made of different material, includes a flat portion in contact with the raceway portion of the first race component and a lip portion extending axially and radially from the flat portion and beyond the lip portion of the first race component such that the second race component is engageable by the bearing cage to hold the first race component, the second race component and the bearing cage together as an assembly.

Abstract: A steering column slider shaft assembly includes a shaft and yoke assembly having yoke at a first end and an attached non-cylindrical shaft extending therefrom to a second end. The second end is engaged with a non-cylindrical tube which forms a second end of a tube and yoke assembly, the tube being congruent with and adapted to slidably receive the shaft and provide a slip fit therefor. The shaft and yoke assembly and the tube and yoke assembly each have interengaging provisions which are over-molded or otherwise attached, for sealing the slider shaft assembly. The interengaging provisions also serve to limit extension of the slider assembly to resist inadvertent separation of the slider shaft assembly during assembly of the steering column.

Abstract: A metal sheet is cut to provide an elongated blank having five regions defined along the length of the elongated blank, the defined regions being a central region, two end regions, and an intermediate region between the central region and each of the two end regions. The elongated blank is bent such that the two end regions overlap and provide a mounting for a shaft and such that a pivot member to be mounted on the central region of the elongated blank will be in alignment, axially, with respect to the shaft. Bores may be formed in the intermediate regions for mounting of a cross-piece to pivotably connect the yoke to a coupling member.

Abstract: An assembly forming a seal with a built-in multi-pole magnetic encoder, intended to be mounted between a stationary support and a rotating support forming part of a rolling bearing. The assembly comprises a stationary armature secured to the stationary support and a moving armature bearing the encoder and secured to the rotating support. The assembly has no means allowing the association of a sensor past which the encoder moves. The magnetic encoder comprises a low even number of poles allowing the sensor to be distanced from the stationary armature such that magnetic flux of the encoder may be detected by the sensor that can electronically compensate for the reduction in the number of the pairs of poles, with detection being performed through the stationary armature.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a stationary armature to be secured to a stationary support, a moving armature bearing a magnetic disk to be secured to a rotating support, and a seal. The seal covers at least part of an exterior lateral face of a seal support wall of the stationary armature. The seal has at least one dynamic sealing means for rubbing against the rotating support and a ferromagnetic annulus attracted toward the magnetic disk, due to a magnetic field developed by the magnetic disk, to bias the dynamic sealing means against the rotating support. The stationary support and the rotating support may be stationary and rotating rings, respectively, of a bearing, upon which the assembly is mounted.

Abstract: A thrust washer formed from metal sheet has a flat, ring-shaped thrust portion oriented radially, and at least one tab extending from an outer or inner perimeter of the thrust portion. The tab includes a radially oriented mid-portion and at least one wing-portion extending perpendicular to the mid-portion and parallel to the axis of the thrust portion such that a flat surface of the wing-portion can engage a recess of a backup member to prevent rotation of the thrust washer relative to the backup member. The tab is not symmetrical about a line along a diameter of the thrust portion.