Patents by Inventor Stephen T. Podhajecki
Stephen T. Podhajecki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6533459Abstract: A plurality of rollers is positioned between side members of a longitudinally-split, two-piece bearing race and a backup member that supports the two-piece bearing race along the length of side members. The backup member has angled surfaces such that ends of the rollers are closer to the angled surfaces than are intermediate portions of the roller. The two side members of the two-piece bearing race may be spread apart such that the angled surfaces of the backup member direct the side members of the two-piece bearing race toward the rollers to decrease the roller clearance and to create a preload.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: The Torrington CompanyInventors: Stephen T. Podhajecki, John H. Hubbard, Daniel R. McLarty
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Publication number: 20020102037Abstract: A plurality of rollers is positioned between side members of a longitudinally-split, two-piece bearing race and a backup member that supports the two-piece bearing race along the length of side members. The backup member has angled surfaces such that ends of the rollers are closer to the angled surfaces than are intermediate portions of the roller. The two side members of the two-piece bearing race may be spread apart such that the angled surfaces of the backup member direct the side members of the two-piece bearing race toward the rollers to decrease the roller clearance and to create a preload.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2001Publication date: August 1, 2002Inventors: Stephen T. Podhajecki, John H. Hubbard, Daniel R. McLarty
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Patent number: 6414479Abstract: A drawn cup wheel bearing is mounted within an axle tube and supports an axle shaft mounted in the drawn cup wheel bearing with a vehicle mounting flange of the axle shaft positioned axially outwardly of the axle tube. An annular target is supported from the vehicle mounting flange of the axle shaft such that the target is positioned axially inwardly of the vehicle mounting flange and is positioned over the axle tube. A sensor is supported from the axle tube over the annular target for sensing rotation of the annular target.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2000Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: The Torrington CompanyInventors: Mark E. LaCroix, A. John Santos, Stephen T. Podhajecki
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Publication number: 20020067158Abstract: A drawn cup wheel bearing is mounted within an axle tube and supports an axle shaft mounted in the drawn cup wheel bearing with a vehicle mounting flange of the axle shaft positioned axially outwardly of the axle tube. An annular target is supported from the vehicle mounting flange of the axle shaft such that the target is positioned axially inwardly of the vehicle mounting flange and is positioned over the axle tube. A sensor is supported from the axle tube over the annular target for sensing rotation of the annular target.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2000Publication date: June 6, 2002Inventors: Mark E. LaCroix, A. John Santos, Stephen T. Podhajecki
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Patent number: 6179474Abstract: Two axially spaced retailer end rings have axially inwardly extending blades forming circumferentially spaced roller pockets. No rigid connection of the end rings is provided. Circumferentially spaced rollers are aligned parallel to the bearing axis between the end rings such that ends of the rollers are received within the roller pockets. Abutment means limits axially outward movement of the end rings. The blades of the end rings have retention surfaces retaining the rollers radially and extend axially inwardly, parallel to the bearing axis, such that skew of the rollers is limited.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1997Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: The Torrington CompanyInventor: Stephen T. Podhajecki
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Patent number: 6102580Abstract: A roller cage for an axial-thrust bearing in a rotating machine has a substantially flat annular body with a first face, a second face, a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, and a plurality of radially-arrayed substantially rectangular roller pockets with axially oriented sidewalls and endwalls. The cage also has features which provide enhanced flow of lubricant, present within the rotating machine, through the radially arrayed roller pockets during operation of the rotating machine. Rollers are retained within the pockets by a single projection on the sidewall of each pocket at the first face and another single projection on the other sidewall at the second face. Cage design in conjunction with inner and outer race design assures direction of lubricant flow to locations with greatest lubrication and cooling requirements.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: The Torrington CompanyInventors: Richard L. Alling, Curtis H. Perkins, Stephen T. Podhajecki
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Patent number: 5660485Abstract: A plurality of wedge-shaped separator elements are pivotably mounted on a retainer ring such that the separator elements may space rollers of a roller bearing circumferentially. The separator elements include a narrow portion for engagement with a thrust flange of one of the inner and outer bearing rings to restrain the bearing retainer in the axially outward direction and include a wide portion for engagement with the rollers to retain the rollers in one of the radially outward and radially inward directions. The retainer ring engages the rollers to retain the bearing retainer in the axially inward direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1996Date of Patent: August 26, 1997Assignee: The Torrington CompanyInventors: Stephen T. Podhajecki, John H. Rhodes, Walter P. Waskiewicz
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Patent number: 4874260Abstract: The cage portion of a cage and roller assembly has two annular end rims joined by cross-bars around the periphery of each rim. The rims and cross-bars define multiple pockets which hold the rollers. The cross-bars are configured to contain the rollers within these pockets; in addition, coined ramp surfaces and land surfaces on the cross-bar outer surfaces extend radially outward farther than the outer surfaces of the end rims and are configured to provide improved lubrication between the outer surface of the cage and an outer raceway.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1988Date of Patent: October 17, 1989Assignee: The Torrington CompanyInventor: Stephen T. Podhajecki
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Patent number: 4677720Abstract: A single retainer retains two sets of circumferentially separated rollers. The retainer is made from flat metal stock. A method for making a double row retainer bearing from strip stock is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1986Date of Patent: July 7, 1987Assignee: The Torrington CompanyInventors: Richard L. Alling, Richard W. Shepard, Clyde L. Landrum, Robert H. Tofield, Stephen T. Podhajecki
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Patent number: 4605322Abstract: A single retainer retains two sets of circumferentially separated rollers. The retainer is made from flat metal stock. The retainer includes a pair of axially separated end rings interconnected by circumferentially separated axially extending cross-bars, and an axially centered ring. The axially centered ring may be an integral center ring or a separate metal band which has been attached to the cross-bars by methods such as welding.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1985Date of Patent: August 12, 1986Assignee: The Torrington CompanyInventors: Richard L. Alling, Richard W. Shepard, Clyde L. Landrum, Robert H. Tofield, Stephen T. Podhajecki