Patents Examined by Lenard A. Footland
  • Patent number: 7237959
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary shaft arrangement carrying equipment at one end and extending rearwards from the equipment, the shaft (1) being supported by a first bearing (2) behind the equipment, and by a second bearing (3) behind the first bearing (2), the first bearing (2) being carried by a casing (4) surrounding the shaft (1) and extending rearwards from the first bearing (2) to a stator structure (5) to which the casing (4) is fastened by screws (6) that extend parallel to the shaft (1) and that are fusible in traction, the arrangement being characterized by the fact that the second bearing (3) is disposed with radial clearance (J) in a bore (7) of an annular support (8) secured to the stator structure (5), and is fastened to said annular support (8) by screws (9) that are parallel to the shaft (1) and that are fusible in shear, whereby the second bearing (3) can bear against said support (8) in the event of said screws (9) rupturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Gael Bouchy, Bertrand Jean-Joseph Marie Heurtel, Eric Jean Masson, Bien-Aime Rakotondrainibe, Pierre Pandelakis, Daniel Martin, Patrick Morel, Henry Souyeaux
  • Patent number: 7237963
    Abstract: There is provided a rolling component formed of a steel material of the medium carbon steel level that provides a rolling life improved to be comparable to that of bearing steel and also provides improved characteristic against surface-cracking, and a power transmission component including the rolling component. To achieve this, the rolling component is formed of steel having an induction hardened portion having a stress intensity factor range associated with tension associated-fatigue crack extension that has a lower limit ?Kth of 6.2 Mpa?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Matsubara, Kikuo Maeda
  • Patent number: 7237962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical machine 1, in particular an electric motor, with a housing 2 and covers 3, 4 that close the housing 2 and contain bearings 7, 8 that rotatably support a rotor 5. According to the present invention, spring elements 7.3, 8.3 are provided that act upon at least one bearing shell 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2 each of bearings 7, 8 with a compression force acting in the axial direction, whereby the mounting of the bearing shell 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2 that is acted upon by one of the spring elements 7.3, 8.3 is configured as a sliding fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Maik Zernikow, Oliver Eckert, Ngoc-Thach Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7234871
    Abstract: A sliding bearing which is suitable for and durable in the use under high load of sliding in rocking motion, and the structure of bearing is not complicated so as to facilitate the manufacturing. The alloy used for making the bearing is composed of iron-based sintered alloy having quenched structure, and the bearing surface is provided with inclined grooves of an inclination angle of 10 to 40° relative to the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and a width of 2 to 8 mm and the area of inclined grooves is 50% or less of the total inner bearing surface and an imaginary line perpendicular to the sliding direction crosses both the inclined groove and the bearing surface at any position of the inner surface of bearing. When the bearing is used, at least the inclined grooves are impregnated with a lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Powdered Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Maruyama, Motohiro Miyasaka, Osamu Mawatari
  • Patent number: 7234868
    Abstract: An improved rotational motor, such as a spindle motor for a disc drive, is provided. The motor first comprises a hub having a shaft portion and a horizontal body portion. The motor also comprises a sleeve surrounding the shaft portion of the hub. A fine first vertical gap is retained between the shaft and the inner diameter of the surrounding sleeve. In addition, a fine horizontal gap is provided between the upper hub portion and the top of the sleeve. A third gap is preferably provided between the hub and an outer diameter of the sleeve. The first vertical gap is filled with a lubricating liquid, such as a clean oil. A capillary seal is provided in the third gap. In one embodiment, the lubricating liquid extends into the horizontal gap. Oil pumping grooves are machined along the horizontal fluid gap. When the hub is rotated, the oil pumping grooves impel oil towards the shaft. This prevents any portion of the first vertical gap from becoming un-lubricated during rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Ray Tiller, Robert Alan Nottingham, Jeffry Arnold Leblanc, Troy Michael Herndon, Norbert Steven Parsoneault
  • Patent number: 7234872
    Abstract: A rolling bearing includes a plurality of rolling elements movably retained at almost the same interval between an inner ring and an outer ring with a cage made of synthetic resin provided interposed therebetween. The rolling bearing further includes, an oil film made of a lubricant, and a grease containing a synthetic oil as a base oil enclosed therein. The lubricant contains at least one additive selected from the group consisting of organic aliphatic acid, organic aliphatic acid derivative and organic phosphorus compound incorporated in a synthetic oil in a proportion of from 0.5 to 10% by weight formed on the surface of the raceways of the inner and outer rings and the surface of the rolling elements, and a grease containing a synthetic oil as a base oil enclosed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Fujita, Masao Yamamoto, Kouichi Hachiya, Atsushi Yokouchi, Toshikazu Yabe, Emiko Shiraishi, Michiharu Naka
  • Patent number: 7234867
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit is disclosed, in which components required for a slider are all joined together with no fasteners including bolts, screws, and so on used conventional assembly operations, but mutual fit-engagement of any components with their mating counterparts. This allows reducing the number of components to cope with a modern tendency of miniaturization of the linear motion guide system. The slider includes a carriage casing composed of end panels facing forward and aft ends of a carriage, one to each end, and side panels facing widthwise opposing sides of the carriage, one to each, the end and side panels being connected integrally to surround the carriage. To complete the slider, the carriage first fits between the end panels of the carriage casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toyohisa Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7234869
    Abstract: A bearing for supporting a shaft submerged in molten zinc, has a bearing surface comprising a steel cylindrical liner having slots retaining ceramic shaft-engaging bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Alphatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 7232257
    Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing apparatus has a hydrostatic bearing pad, a labyrinth seal part having an exhaust groove provided around the outside of the hydrostatic bearing pad, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a labyrinth seal part gap, non-contacting displacement gauges for sensing changes in the size of the gap, and actuators that are activated to adjust the gap so as to maintain the gap at a predetermined constant value. The exhaust groove parts and the labyrinth seal part can move relative to each other, and an annular seal forms an airtight seal to prevent air leaks and keep the bearing steady.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Patent number: 7229214
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing unit includes a bearing housing (20) axially defining therein a bearing hole (21), a rotary shaft rotatably received in the bearing hole with a radial space formed between the rotary shaft and the bearing housing, and lubricant filled in the radial space. A ventilating path (25) is formed in a wall of the bearing housing to communicate a bottom of the bearing hole with an exterior of the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsing Huang, Wun-Chang Shih, Hsien-Sheng Pei
  • Patent number: 7223018
    Abstract: A biaxial linear-revolving guide unit is disclosed, which is comprised of a pair of linear motion guide units each composed of a guide rail and a slider fit over the guide rail, and a revolving bearing installed between the linear motion guide units to joint them for revolving movement relative to one another. The revolving bearing is composed of an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling elements. The inner ring is joined directly to the slider of any one linear motion guide unit while the outer ring is joined directly to the other linear motion guide unit. A table system compact in construction is provided, in which more than one the biaxial linear-revolving guide unit is installed between a moving table and a stationary bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kanehira
  • Patent number: 7220055
    Abstract: An air bearing including a unitary, i.e., single piece, housing, which removes the need for an insert, is disclosed. The air bearing may include a shaft opening longitudinally extending through the housing for receiving the shaft; a plurality of passages that longitudinally extend into the housing for communicating a gas; a set of a plurality of nozzle seat openings, each nozzle seat opening extending from the shaft opening and intersecting one of the passages; and a nozzle positioned in each nozzle seat opening at a distance from the shaft opening for injecting the gas into the shaft opening to support the shaft. The air bearing allows for contact of the shaft to the shaft opening in the housing without damage, no leakage, and easier and more cost-effective manufacturability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Hertel, Jeffery E. Krampert
  • Patent number: 7220054
    Abstract: A dynamic bearing apparatus which supports a shaft and a bearing so as to be capable of relative rotation by a dynamic pressure of a lubricating fluid. A bottomed screw hole (21a) is provided to at least one end of the shaft (21) to screw a headed screw (24) for attaching a thrust plate (23) a lubricating fluid (F) is filled in a gap of a screw portion between the screw (24) and the screw hole (21a) or a screw non-occupied space (17), and an interposing member (25) which reduces a void cubic content in the screw non-occupied space (17) is attached to the screw non-occupied space (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masato Gomyo
  • Patent number: 7216430
    Abstract: To form a dividing portion 21 of an outer ring 13 so that a dividing line is of a crankshaft shape as seen in the axial direction while first and second race ring halves 16, 17 fit to each other. The dividing portion 21 is formed so that first dividing surfaces located on the side of the inside cylindrical surface 14 are in contact with each other in the state of being attached to a cylinder body and a crankcase. The dividing portion 21 is also formed so that a clearance S is produced between third dividing surfaces on radially outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Nishi, Kouichi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7217037
    Abstract: An adjustable eccentric bracket assembly for a bicycle provided with at least two wedge surfaces in a body member designed to co-act with at least one wedge member having a wedge surface, where upon axial displacement of the wedge member relative to the body member, the wedge member is laterally displaced so as to selectively engage with an inner surface of a shell in which the body member is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Cannondale Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Chris Dodman, James Gardner, Curt Davis
  • Patent number: 7215110
    Abstract: A seal ring has an annular body which is constituted so that a disc section extended to a radially inward direction is overlapped with one end of a cylindrical section, and a sensor member for detecting rotation of an inner ring is provided to an outer periphery of the cylindrical section, and an outer case for covering the sensor member is provided by insert-forming. The outer case contracts after it is formed and is press-contact with the cylindrical section so that a gap is hardly generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignees: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd., Koyo Sealing Techno Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Toda, Minoru Sentoku, Hirokazu Arai, Fumiaki Kasahara, Shinichi Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7213973
    Abstract: A single-row or multi-row rolling bearing comprising thin-walled bearing races which are made of a martensitic, through hardened steel and have the following characteristics: a surface hardness of ?613 HV (56 HRC) in the area of the bearing face; a core hardness of ?285 HV (28 HRC); a difference of ?150 HV (9 HRc) between the surface hardness and the core hardness. The core hardness is reached at a depth ranging between 8 percent of the diameter of the rolling elements and 90 percent of the wall thickness on the bottom of the track. There is a ratio of ?20 between the diameter of a pitch circle Tk and the diameter of a rolling element DW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Fag Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kreiselmeier, Wilhelm Sebald, Franz Josef Ebert
  • Patent number: 7198408
    Abstract: A retainer for holding bearings within a shaft bearing has C-shaped pockets for holding the bearings. Between the pockets are connecting portions, which are close to the openings of the pockets. The rear sides of adjacent pockets and the rear side of the connecting portion for the adjacent pockets form a concave site that is deeply gouged into the retainer. The bottom of the concave site is closer to the openings than the bottom of the pockets, thereby allowing base oil from grease in the concave site to better migrate onto the bearings and so lubricate the shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7198405
    Abstract: An innovative parabolic profiled rolling grooves for linear guide way is disclosed. Cross sectional profile of at least one of the ray-way and the slider grooves is configurated into a parabolic curve so as to avoid the balls to comprehensively contact the grooves and seriously increase the frictional loss. With the rolling grooves constructed as such, the mechanical durability and the loading ability can be definitely improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Chang-Hsin Kuo
  • Patent number: 7198407
    Abstract: A bearing assembly carrying a rotational speed sensor unit is proposed. The sensor unit includes a sensor holder mounted on the outer member of the bearing assembly and having a pocket in which is received the sensor. The pocket has a clip portion which, with the sensor fully inserted in the pocket, elastically engages the sensor to press it against the end of the outer member. The pocket has a bottom frame at its bottom or a front wall having a bottom edge. With the sensor fully inserted in the pocket, the bottom frame or the bottom edge of the front wall is configured to abut the bottom end of the front side of the sensor, thereby keeping the sensor from inclining backward even if it is pushed backward at its upper portion. This prevents the sensor from disengaging from the pocket in a radial direction of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Iiya, Syougo Suzuki