Patents Examined by Kashif Mohammed
  • Patent number: 8678657
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) bearing pads having first and second bearing pad portions that exhibit different wear rates, and bearing assemblies and apparatuses (e.g., thrust-bearing apparatuses and radial bearing apparatuses) that utilize such PCD bearing pads. In an embodiment, a PCD bearing pad for use in a bearing assembly of a subterranean drilling system includes a PCD bearing pad body including a plurality of directly-bonded together diamond grains. The PCD bearing pad body further includes a first bearing pad portion exhibiting a first wear resistance, and a second bearing pad portion exhibiting a second wear resistance greater than the first wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation
    Inventors: Cody W. Knuteson, Craig H. Cooley, Timothy N. Sexton
  • Patent number: 8632249
    Abstract: A free ball bearing includes a retainer ball-pressing ring, the retainer ball-pressing ring including a substantially cylindrical pressing member inserted in an internal space between the semispherical recessed surface and the main ball toward the base end; the retainer ball-pressing ring being moved from a pressing position to a standby position along the unit center axis by the ring moving mechanism; the pressing member restricting or preventing rotation of the plurality of retainer balls by pressing the plurality of retainer balls when the retainer ball-pressing ring is at the pressing position; and the plurality of retainer balls of which the rotation is restrained or prevented by the pressing member being released when the retainer ball-pressing ring is at the standby position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Iguchi Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Iguchi
  • Patent number: 8632251
    Abstract: At least one closure element is arranged between an outer ring and an inner ring of a bearing. The closure element aids in ensuring electric current is kept away from the rolling elements by diverting electric current from the outer ring to the inner ring of the bearing and onto a shaft of an associated machine. The closure element can take the form of either a seal or a shield. The closure element is arranged in the outer ring and contacts at least one of the notches of the inner ring. Preferably, more than one closure element is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: William Moratz
  • Patent number: 8596877
    Abstract: A tapered roller bearing includes a retainer with a protrusion that is axially brought into engagement with a flange of the inner race. The inner race has a flange for guiding the tapered rollers only at the large-diameter end of the raceway. The retainer has on the large-diameter side thereof a protrusion radially inwardly extending and axially engaging the flange of the inner race. The flange of the inner race is formed with a circumferentially continuous cutout groove having a smoothly curved concave surface through which the radially outer surface and the outer end surface of the flange are connected to each other. The protrusion of the retainer has its inner side at its radially inner end portion in engagement with the cutout groove, allowing size reduction and load bearing capacity increase for the tapered roller bearing, while preventing stress concentration on the flange of the inner race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kanbori, Takashi Ueno
  • Patent number: 8585297
    Abstract: A rolling-bearing mounted apparatus includes a shaft, and at least one rolling bearing supporting the shaft in a section of the apparatus. The rolling bearing includes at least one inner ring arranged on the shaft, an outer ring arranged on the section, and rolling elements arranged between the inner and outer rings. A sleeve is provided between the outer ring and the section to permit an axial and/or radial displacement of the outer ring of the rolling bearing when exposed to an axially and/or radially directed force. The sleeve has at least two rows of recesses, with hollow-drilled rolling elements being arranged in the recesses of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Felix Butz
  • Patent number: 8578813
    Abstract: In a parking brake system, a locking tooth of a ratchet plate includes a first area for contacting and retaining a locking claw of a ratchet pawl in an equilibrium state when a parking brake lever is pulled up; and a second area in which the locking claw remains in a state of halfway engagement of tooth tips when a pressing force of a release rod is released. When the locking claw comes into contact with a portion closer to a tip of the locking tooth beyond the first area, a line of force is maintained due to the pressing force of the release rod. The system is configured such that even if an occupant erroneously pulls up the parking brake lever while the release rod is pressed, it is possible to reliably prevent halfway engagement of tooth tips in a ratchet mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Otsuka Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaya Azumi, Naoto Shibui, Satoru Masuda
  • Patent number: 8549957
    Abstract: A rotation angle detecting apparatus to detect a rotation angle of a rotating member, including a housing, the rotating member being disposed so as to be rotatable relative to the housing; a fixing member to fix a magnet to the rotating member; and a sensor, fixed to the housing, to detect a rotation angle of the magnet, the rotating member including an abutting part with which the magnet abuts in a direction of a rotation axis of the rotating member, and a supporting part that faces the abutting part with the magnet interposed therebetween to support the fixing member located between the magnet and the supporting part, and the fixing member presses the magnet against the abutting part by coming into contact with the supporting part and the magnet without allowing a section contacting the supporting part and a section contacting the magnet to overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mikuni Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Ogura
  • Patent number: 8549958
    Abstract: This automatic bicycle pedal comprises a pedal body (2) equipped at a first end (5) with first attachment means (7) and at a second end (6) with second attachment means (10), an elastically deformable lever (8) bearing the second attachment means and capable of being deformed between a first position of holding a cleat fixed to the underside of a shoe between the first and second attachment means, and a deformed second position allowing the cleat to be attached and detached in respect of attachment and detachment movements. The deformable lever comprises at least one first deformable zone (12) that can be deformed during attachment and detachment movements and at least one second deformable zone (13) that can be deformed during one of the said attachment and detachment movements, the said first and second zones having different stiffnesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Look Cycle International
    Inventors: Julien Bouchez, Fabien Delangue
  • Patent number: 8522643
    Abstract: A cam follower for a high-pressure fuel pump of an internal combustion engine, which has a cam roller that is accommodated in a pocket of the cam follower. The cam roller has a bore and the bore is mounted by on a pin which is seated at the ends in receptacles of opposite walls of the pocket. The cam roller runs with its end sides directly in front of the walls. Each end side of the cam roller takes the form of an outer surface of a spherical zone, and each wall is smooth and straight, at least in the region of its run-on piece at the respective end side of the cam roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Dorn, Norbert Geyer
  • Patent number: 8523448
    Abstract: An X-ray tube bearing includes an outer housing having an axial bore, a shaft at least partially received within the axial bore, a first outer ring positioned within the axial bore and surrounding a first portion of the shaft, and a second outer ring at least partially received within the axial bore and surrounding a second portion of the shaft. The second outer ring includes a radially outwardly extending flange engaged with the outer housing to limit the extent to which the second outer ring is received within the axial bore. The X-ray tube bearing also includes a first biasing member biasing the flange into engagement with the outer housing, and a second biasing member positioned within the axial bore for exerting an axial preload force between the first and second outer rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventor: Frank Damato
  • Patent number: 8523444
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ring (120) that is intended for being mounted tightly around a shaft of a hydraulic machine to form a portion of a hydrostatic or hydrodynamic bearing. The ring includes at least one first section (122), at least one second section (124) and means (132) for mounting the first and second sections around the shaft. Each section (122, 124) includes two edge surfaces (1223, 1243) connecting the external (1221, 1241) and internal (1222, 1242) radial surfaces thereof. The first section (122) is provided with at least one threaded hole (127) accessible via an edge surface (1223) and capable of receiving a screw (132) projecting from an edge surface (1243) of the second section (124). The screw (132) is provided, on the portion of the shank (134) thereof that projects from the second section (124), with at least one raised pattern (140) for rotatably moving the shank (134) in order to screw or unscrew the shank in the threaded hole (127).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Renewable Technologies
    Inventor: Eric Melet
  • Patent number: 8516922
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly having a pedal body rotatably coupled to a pedal shaft. A bore receiving the pedal shaft passes through the pedal body. A semi-cylindrical shoulder extends outwardly from an exterior surface of the shaft. A bushing is positioned within the bore to rotatably support the pedal shaft. An inner surface of the shoulder rotatably engages the external end of the bushing, so that the second end of the shaft is movably connected to the pedal body without assistance of any fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Animal Bikes, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Curran, Frank Lam
  • Patent number: 8439567
    Abstract: A preload assembly for a thrust bearing. The preload assembly includes a carrier plate having a central annular protrusion, wherein the annular protrusion has an inner diameter and an outer diameter; an inner disc spring; an outer disc spring; and a housing having an annular channel for housing the carrier plate, the inner disc spring, and the outer disc spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Witten Armentrout, Ryan Michael Voss, Christopher Daniel Champion, Richard Andrew Gronholm
  • Patent number: 8430000
    Abstract: A cam indexer includes a driving assembly, a driving plate, a multi-task dial, a latching assembly and a positioning assembly. The driving plate defines an arc-groove at the periphery thereof and a cam surface at the bottom of the arc-groove, the driving plate further includes a receiving end and a resisting end positioned at opposite ends of the cam surface. The multi-task dial defines four positioning grooves along the periphery thereof; the latching assembly is fixed to the driving plate and elastically engages in first one positioning groove, the positioning assembly elastically engages in a second one positioning groove. The latching assembly and the positioning assembly are adapted to detach from the positioning grooves when the driving plate is driven by the driving assembly, such that the cam indexer functions as a partitioning mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bing Li, Bo Yang, Yong Zhang