Patents Examined by Lenard A. Footland
  • Patent number: 7147378
    Abstract: A friction-reducing abrasion resistant bearing material is described. The material comprises a monolithic, porous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) having dispersed therein a wear-resistant thermosetting or thermoplastic resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Chaokang Chu, James R. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 7144162
    Abstract: A rolling element bearing anti-cavitation cage is a circular ring with a plurality of cage pockets at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the circular ring. Each of the cage pockets has at least one groove on the leading edge of the cage pocket and at least groove on the trailing edge of the cage pocket. An assembled rolling element bearing is also provided in which the rolling element bearing anti-cavitation cage has rolling elements within the cage pockets and in concentrically disposed between inner and outer races. A method for preventing cavitation during the operation of an assembled rolling element bearing using the cage is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Raymond J. Knorr
  • Patent number: 7144161
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing system, particularly for the rotary bearing of spindle motors to power hard disk drives. The bearing system includes a bearing sleeve, a shaft accommodated in an opening in the bearing sleeve and at least one radial bearing section provided between the bearing sleeve and the shaft with the aid of which the shaft and the bearing sleeve are supported rotatably in relation to each other. A bearing gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve and is filled with a liquid lubricant. A lubricant reservoir and equalizing volume independent from the design of the bearing arrangement is provided in that at least one duct is formed in the bearing sleeve that extends from an outer section of the bearing sleeve to the bearing gap and that is at least partially filled with lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Andreas Kull, Tadashi Akahori
  • Patent number: 7140780
    Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a sleeve bearing (2) having a mating portion (22) and a center bore (20), a shaft (1) disposed in the center bore, and a rotary block (3) mounted on the shaft and being rotatable therewith. A gap exists between the inner circumferential surface of the bearing and the outer circumferential surface of the shaft to allow the shaft to be capable of rotate in the bore without scrapping the bearing. The rotary block includes a mounting portion (30) engaging with the mating portion of the bearing, whereby the rotary block is rotatably supported on the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Long Ku, Chin-Wen Yeh, Chih-Hao Yang
  • Patent number: 7140109
    Abstract: A bearing assembly and method in which a bearing cage is disposed around a rotating member and a housing is disposed around the cage. A first portion of the radial outer surface of the cage extends in a slightly spaced relation to the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the housing, and a second portion of the radial outer surface of the cage projects from the first portion in a radial direction and engages the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: Herve H. Dourlens, Dale F. Marshall, Philippe Auber
  • Patent number: 7140779
    Abstract: In a bearing constituted by a plural-layer slide member, the plural-layer slide member comprises a resin layer of polytetrafluoroethylene as a slide member and a backing strip to which the resin layer is bonded. A fitting hole having a depth exceeding the thickness of the resin layer is formed from the resin layer side. A temperature measuring metallic member formed of a white metal is fitted in the fitting hole. A temperature sensor is positioned within the temperature measuring metallic member. This bearing permits an accurate detection of its temperature. Further, in an oil cooled screw compressor having a bearing lubricating oil supply pipe, a slide surface of the bearing is covered with polyether ether ketone. Even if foaming occurs in the oil, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a mechanical trouble such as galling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshimura, Yasushi Amano, Takao Ohama
  • Patent number: 7134792
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor is described. In one embodiment, the fluid dynamic bearing motor includes a stationary member and a rotating member. The motor further includes a fluid dynamic thrust bearing disposed along an axial surface of a sleeve. The thrust bearing is configured to axially support the relative rotation of the rotating member and the stationary member and to pump bearing fluid towards a corner of the sleeve. The motor also includes a fluid dynamic journal bearing disposed radially inboard of the thrust bearing along a radial surface of the sleeve, where the radial surface is adjacent to the axial surface. The journal bearing is configured to radially support the relative rotation of the rotating member and the stationary member and to pump bearing fluid to the corner of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Joseph Aiello, Klaus Dieter Kloeppel, Paco Gregor Flores, Alex Gredinberg
  • Patent number: 7134789
    Abstract: A roller chain is provided, which is composed of more than one roller and a carrier belt. The roller chain helps make sure of keeping the rollers against moving on the skew even under carrying high loads while the carrier belt is made to have a large space to reserve lubricant sufficient to ensure good lubrication. The carrier belt is comprised of a pair of continuous bands lying to carry or bear axially opposite ends of the roller across an area set off-center from an axis of the roller, and more than one U-type separator to join the continuous bands together with one another. The U-type separators 6 are each composed of a pair of legs joined together with their associated continuous bands, and a horizontal bridge interconnecting the sidewise spaced leg with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouji Nagao, Hiroaki Izumi, Noriaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7134791
    Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing device and a spindle motor used for a magnetic disk drive device capable of increasing an impact resistance, reducing A-PRO (oscillating motion of shaft), reducing a variation in rigidity of bearings against a variation in temperature, suppressing a current loss, and reducing a size and a thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventor: Yoshinari Yokoo
  • Patent number: 7128469
    Abstract: A lightweight bearing and wave gear drive are provided. An outer or inner bearing ring of the bearing has fixing holes to enable the ring to be attached to another member. The parts of the bearing on which raceway surfaces are formed are made of an iron-based material, while the main bearing ring member is formed of a lightweight material that is lighter than the iron-based material. Surface portions that constitute fixing bolt seats are plated to increase the strength of such portions. The wave gear drive includes a rigid internal gear, a flexible external gear located inside the internal gear, and a wave generator located inside the external gear. The internal and external gears are coupled by the lightweight bearing in a way that allows the gears to rotate relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc., Harmonic Drive Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Masaru Kobayashi, Rolf Slatter
  • Patent number: 7128468
    Abstract: According to the invention, a shaft as a component of a shaft member of a hydrodynamic bearing and a disc member such as a thrust plate are joined to each other by welding by a simple method with high precision. A shaft having a cylindrical outer circumferential surface, in joint surfaces which are joined to each other of the shaft and a disc member having a flat surface facing an end surface of the shaft, a circumferential projection having a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the shaft and projected in the axial direction and a recess at least of which outer periphery has a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the shaft and larger than the diameter of the projection and has a circular shape are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeharu Sumi, Takeshi Ohiro, Tatsuya Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7125171
    Abstract: An inner race 5 is retained by a crimped portion 30, so that a pre-load is applied to rolling elements 6. A bearing unit for wheel support 1 is connected to a constant velocity joint 2 through tightening of a nut 24. By regulating the tightening force of the nut 24, at the area of contact between the inside end of the crimped portion 30 and the outside end of the outer ring of the constant velocity joint 14, the load per unit length is controlled up to 125 N/mm, or the surface pressure is controlled up to 1.5×108 Pa. Consequently, a bearing unit for wheel support is realized at a low cost with the pre-load securely applied, preventing unpleasant noise from occurring during operation, and preventing play due to plastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Ouchi
  • Patent number: 7125170
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid dynamic bearing motor in which a rotor is rotatably supported by forming an oil gap between the rotor and a stator to form a fluid dynamic pressure bearing and a plurality of oil grooves are formed in a surface of the rotor or stator forming the oil gap and facing each other. The oil grooves include a first oil groove inclined at a first angle with respect to a circumferential direction, and a second oil groove extending from an end portion of the first oil groove and inclined at a second angle with respect to the circumferential direction. The first angle is formed relatively greater than the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: G & W Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Uk Kim
  • Patent number: 7121728
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a wheel assembly. In some constructions and in some aspects, the bearing assembly includes a housing defining a cavity therethrough, a first bearing cone positioned within the cavity and a second bearing cone positioned within the cavity and spaced from the first bearing cone. A first plurality of rollers is positioned between and engageable with the housing and the first bearing cone and a second plurality of rollers is positioned between and engageable with the housing and the second bearing cone. A seal seals the space between the first bearing cone and the second bearing cone. In some constructions and in some aspects, the seal is non-metallic or elastomeric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Gunite Corporation
    Inventors: Reginal A. Pete, Omar J. Fakhoury
  • Patent number: 7121727
    Abstract: The present invention is a bushing for use in a gas turbine engine. The bushing is suitable for use in a gas turbine engine. The thickness of the bushing is increased to about 0.050 inches and the life expectancy of the bushing is at least doubled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert William Bruce, Timothy David Distler
  • Patent number: 7121730
    Abstract: A bearing device in which a rolling bearing is fitted on one axial end of a shaft and in which the one axial end of the shaft is caulked to fix the rolling bearing while preventing the same from coming out. The shape of the outer end face of the caulked portion is devised to maximize the resistance to the coming-out by the caulked portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Kashiwagi, Naoki Morimura, Kazutoshi Toda, Tadashi Mitarai, Nobuyoshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 7121723
    Abstract: A linear guide apparatus is provided with two (upper and lower) tracks of rolling element race tracks formed on a guide rail and of rolling element race tracks formed on a slider main body so as to oppose the rolling element race tracks on the respective sides, i.e., four tracks of race tracks in total. A recess is provided below the lower rolling element race track on the slider main body and the end cap fixed to an end face of the slider main body is provided with a projection that engages with the recess so as to determine a position of the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Xu Wei, Masaru Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7121729
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for reducing vibration in bearings. There are provided first and second bearing rings with races, rotating members rollingly engaging both first and second bearing races, a cage for aligning the rotating members between the first and second bearing races, and vibration reduction means coupled to the cage. The vibration reduction means preferably comprises one or more resonant spring-mass combinations mounted in or on the cage. Damping means is preferably included with the resonant spring-mass combinations. The resonant frequencies of the unmodified bearing cage are first determined and then the spring-mass combinations tuned so that the spring-mass combinations when attached to the cage absorb vibrational energy that would otherwise excite cage vibrations. By selecting the type of spring-mass combination different vibrational modes can be suppressed and/or controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Davis, Dennis W. Smith
  • Patent number: 7121725
    Abstract: The fluid dynamic bearings system of the invention provides a device located in a non-grooved low pressure region located at some point in the overall fluid circulation path of the fluid dynamic bearing to collect and trap any air bubbles which may be found in the fluid of the hydrodynamic bearing. More specifically, the air extraction device of the invention comprises a shallow angle V-shaped region which is located in fluid communication with but not in a grooved region of the hydrodynamic bearing. In summary, according to the present invention the hydrodynamic bearing comprises a shaft with a thrust plate at or near at least one end thereof. The thrust bearings are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the thrust plate (301) and journal bearing (320) on the shaft or facing sleeve surface. Lubricant lies between each of these surfaces and facing surface of a sleeve (312) or counter-plate (308) which overlies the thrust bearing, and fluid lies in all these regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Joseph Aiello, Christopher M. Woldemar
  • Patent number: RE39377
    Abstract: A helical groove 1B is formed in the sliding surface 1A of a sliding bearing 1 over the entire axial region thereof. To establish the height of a peak 1a defined by the helical groove 1B, an imaginary reference line L extending parallel to the axis is formed which is determined such that the total cross-sectional area of all the peaks 1a is equal to the total cross-sectional area of all the valleys 1b when the helical groove 1B is considered in axial section. A height, as measured from the reference line L to the top 1a? of the peak 1a is chosen in the range of from 1 to 8 ?m. The space created by forming the valleys 1b allows the supply of lubricant oil to be increased, thereby simultaneously achieving a reduction in the frictional resistance and the occurrence of an impact sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Taiho Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Kumada, Katsuyuki Hashizume, Soji Kamiya