Thrust Bearing Patents (Class 29/898.041)
  • Patent number: 11655850
    Abstract: Bearings assemblies are provided that include polycrystalline diamond bearing surfaces that are engaged with opposing, metal bearing surfaces that include more than trace amounts of diamond solvent-catalyst. In the bearings, the opposing bearing surface is slidingly engaged with the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface along a diamond contact area of the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface, and the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface is a continuous surface along the diamond contact area. Also provided are methods of making and using the bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Pi Tech Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Prevost, Edward C. Spatz
  • Patent number: 10422379
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to bearing assemblies having features that provide heat dissipation for bearing elements, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and methods of operating such bearing assemblies and apparatuses. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed about an axis. Each superhard bearing element of the plurality of superhard bearing elements has a superhard table including a superhard surface. The bearing assembly includes a support ring structure coupled to the plurality of superhard bearing elements. One or more of the superhard bearing elements includes a superhard table, which may have a thickness at a peripheral that is greater than an average thickness of the superhard table improve heat transfer from such superhard bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jair Jahaziel Gonzalez, Timothy N. Sexton
  • Patent number: 9689430
    Abstract: A carrier is supported by a case via a bearing. The bearing comprises an inner race, an outer race, rollers, and a retainer. The inner race has a tapered outer peripheral surface, and is fixed to a carrier. The outer race has a tapered inner peripheral surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the inner race, and is fixed to the case. The rollers is disposed between the inner race and the outer race. An end part of the retainer having a larger diameter makes contact with the case via a first member. The larger diameter end part of the retainer makes contact with the case via a second member. By the retainer making contact with the case and the carrier via the first member and the second member, the retainer can reduce friction compared to when making direct contact with the case and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsui, Yusuke Kataoka
  • Patent number: 9353791
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements may include a bearing surface. At least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements may include one or more grooves may be formed in the bearing surface thereof. The bearing assembly may also include a support ring that carries the superhard bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: S. Barrett Peterson
  • Patent number: 9297411
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements may include a bearing surface. At least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements may include at least one texture feature that may be formed in a lateral surface thereof. The bearing assembly may also include a support ring that carries the superhard bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: S Barrett Peterson, Jair J. Gonzalez, Kenneth E. Bertagnolli, Debkumar Mukhopadhyay, David P. Miess, Mark P. Chapman, Ronald W. Ward, Nicholas Christensen, Damon B. Crockett, Mohammad N. Sani
  • Patent number: 9188157
    Abstract: An axial sliding bearing has a sliding ring disposed between two planar, ring-shaped sliding surfaces pressure-stressed against one another. The axial sliding bearing is overload-proof, in particular by about 30% to 80% with regard to the average pressure stress of about 30 to 40 bar per wedge segment that is usual in the case of wedge segment bearings, and at the same time, is not susceptible to axial vibrations, and, in this connection, can be easily produced in terms of production technology, and easily installed, and furthermore does not permit the “snap-over effects” that drastically impair the lubricant wedge effect, so that even under more difficult operating conditions, targeted optimal variation of the wedge angle, adapted to the operating conditions, in each instance, is always guaranteed, and great reliability of the axial sliding bearing, at a long useful lifetime, can be guaranteed, while simultaneously expanding the optimal dynamic supporting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NIDEC GPM GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Blechschmidt, Sebastian Kirchner
  • Publication number: 20150043845
    Abstract: A rotating assembly adapted for use in turbines and pumps is provided. The rotating assembly includes a shroud that rotates around a central axis and a disk seated in a recess in the shroud so that the disk rotates with the shroud, the disk being oriented perpendicular to the central axis. The rotating assembly also includes a stationary element in which at least one surface of the disk contacts a fluid so that when the fluid flows under pressure, the surface of the disk resists the generation of drag between the surface and the stationary element of the rotating assembly. A shroud is provided that includes a circular recess with a cavity on an outer perimeter extending away from the fixed assembly. A method of manufacturing a rotating assembly is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Felix Winkler, Jeffrey Michael Calkins
  • Publication number: 20140301681
    Abstract: A thrust plate includes an annular-shaped body having a scalloped outer edge that forms a first circumference defined by a first diameter. The thrust plate further includes a plurality of cooling slots formed in a first surface of the body. The cooling slots are formed between each pair of adjacent scallops. A center of each cooling slot extends towards the center of the thrust plate at a common predetermined angle with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl A. Colson, Craig M. Beers, John H. Paliulis
  • Patent number: 8834028
    Abstract: A rotating assembly adapted for use in turbines and pumps is provided. The rotating assembly includes a shroud that rotates around a central axis and a disk seated in a recess in the shroud so that the disk rotates with the shroud, the disk being oriented perpendicular to the central axis. The rotating assembly also includes a stationary element in which at least one surface of the disk contacts a fluid so that when the fluid flows under pressure, the surface of the disk resists the generation of drag between the surface and the stationary element of the rotating assembly. A shroud is provided that includes a circular recess with a cavity on an outer perimeter extending away from the fixed assembly. A method of manufacturing a rotating assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Energy Recovery, Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Winkler, Jeffrey Michael Calkins
  • Publication number: 20140230422
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a torque converter; a stator in the torque converter; and a thrust washer adjacent the stator. The thrust washer includes a circulation circuit formed in the washer to facilitate fluid movement from one side of the washer to another side of the washer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Diana Placha
  • Patent number: 8789281
    Abstract: Methods of wearing-in superhard bearing elements over time so that hydrodynamic or near hydrodynamic lubrication of opposed bearing surfaces develops and thrust-bearing apparatuses. In an embodiment, a thrust-bearing apparatus including first and second thrust-bearing assemblies is received or provided. Each thrust-bearing assembly includes a support ring and a plurality of superhard bearing elements mounted circumferentially around the support ring. The superhard bearing elements of each thrust-bearing assembly are oriented so as to be opposed to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy N. Sexton, Craig H. Cooley, Cody W. Knuteson
  • Publication number: 20140169721
    Abstract: A thrust race of a thrust roller bearing has a race portion and a cylindrical portion extending from the race portion in an axial direction. At a plurality of locations along a circumferential direction on the cylindrical portion, cutout portions are formed such that each of the cutout portions is recessed in the axial direction from a distal edge of the cylindrical portion toward the race portion. A protrusion is provided at a portion closer to the race portion from a bottom edge of each of the cutout portions such that the protrusion protrudes in a radial direction from the cylindrical portion toward a side away from the race portion. The protrusion serves as a race-retaining locking portion to prevent a race from moving out from a mating member on which the race is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki HARA, Kazuhiko KANOU, Tomoyuki YOKOTA
  • Patent number: 8732954
    Abstract: A typical dynamic bearing design comprises a ring shaped or circular thrust plate mounted at or near the end of a shaft, the shaft defining together with a surrounding sleeve a journal bearing by providing grooves on only one of the two surfaces facing the gap between the shaft and sleeve. On the ring shaped thrust plate supported by the shaft, the traditional upward thrust bearing defined between the lower face of the thrust plate and the facing surface of the sleeve is maintained; but no grooves are on the surface of the thrust plate distant from the shaft and a facing counterplate surface. Further, the journal bearing is defined to have an asymmetry so that a bias force pressure along the surface of the shaft toward the thrust plate is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Anthony J. Aiello
  • Patent number: 8641860
    Abstract: Methods for adhering parts together using part gap spacers are provided herein. Part gap spacers are formed in a selected pattern and a selected height on a surface of at least one surface of two parts to be oppositely disposed. When disposed opposite each other, at least some of the part gap spacers contact the opposite surface, and establish a standoff distance that is generally uniform, and thereby creating voids. Adhesive is disposed in at least some of the voids to adhere the part surfaces to each other. Further methods comprise forming part gap spacers on multiple sides of a third part to be disposed intermediate two surfaces. The part gap spacers can be formed in a variety of shapes, including bumps, tapers, ribs, and flange edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Paco Flores, Anthony J. Aiello, Klaus D. Kloeppel, Reid E. Berry
  • Publication number: 20130318797
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of inhibiting a thrust bearing capacity of a compression system from being exceeded during a surge event in which a thrust bearing is biased with a biasing force to increase the thrust bearing overload margin between the capacity of thrust bearing to absorb axial forces and the greatest force produced during the surge event. This biasing force can be produced by appropriately sizing the high pressure seal on the side of the impeller opposite to the inlet of a compressor of the compression system so that the back disk force produced in the high pressure region of the high pressure seal and the low pressure region located inwardly of the high pressure region creates the desired bias force value and direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: John H. Royal, Michael J. Stanko
  • Publication number: 20130259414
    Abstract: An angular contact bearing is provided having an outer and inner bearing rings, and a plurality of ball rollers arranged between the bearing rings in two rows having a same reference circular diameter. The ball rollers in each row are held by a respective bearing cage. The ball rollers all have a same or different diameter and each of the ball rollers has two respective lateral faces arranged parallel to one another which are flattened symmetrically from a spherical basic shape and run with running faces in respective groove-shaped raceways defined in an inner face of the outer bearing ring and in an outer face of the inner bearing ring. The raceways have pressure angle axes pitched at a pressure angle with respect to a bearing radial axis. Adjacent ones of the ball rollers of the two rows are spaced apart to exclude mutual frictional contact. An assembly method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Shakeel Shaikh
  • Publication number: 20130182980
    Abstract: Bearing components, bearing assemblies and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a bearing element includes a base layer and a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) layer comprising a plurality of PCD elements coupled with the base layer wherein each PCD element comprising a substrate and a diamond table. The plurality of PCD elements may be fit together to form a substantially continuous bearing surface. For example, the diamond tables may exhibit substantially square or rectangular geometries that are fit together to define the bearing surface. In other embodiments, the bearing elements may be spaced apart from one another. In other embodiments, the bearing element may include a single PCD element formed from a prefabricated PCD compact or cutting tool blank. Various bearing assemblies may incorporate such a bearing element including, for example, thrust bearings, journal bearings, and tilting pad bearing assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: S. Barrett Peterson, Craig H. Cooley, Timothy N. Sexton
  • Publication number: 20130156357
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements may include a bearing surface. At least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements may include at least one texture feature that may be formed in a lateral surface thereof. The bearing assembly may also include a support ring that carries the superhard bearing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: S. Barrett Peterson, Jair J. Gonzalez, Kenneth E. Bertagnolli, Debkumar Mukhopadhyay, David P. Miess, Mark P. Chapman, Ronald W. Ward, Nicholas Christensen, Damon B. Crockett, Mohammad N. Sani
  • Patent number: 8375587
    Abstract: A method includes providing a journal bearing blank that includes an axis, an inner surface disposed at an inner diameter, an outer surface disposed at an outer diameter, a first axial surface, a second, opposing axial surface, and a lubricant opening that extends between the inner surface and the outer surface; along the inner surface, milling a well that spans an azimuthal angle about the axis, milling an arm that spans an azimuthal angle about the axis and that extends from the well to the first axial surface of the journal bearing, and milling an opposing arm that spans an azimuthal angle about the axis and that extends from the well to the second axial surface of the journal bearing; and inserting the journal bearing in a bore of a turbocharger center housing. Various other devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A Gutknecht
  • Patent number: 8317400
    Abstract: An exemplary bearing for a turbocharger includes one or more thrust pads where each thrust pad includes a portion of a conical well; and a through-bore that includes lubricant channels, each channel configured to direct lubricant from the bore to a corresponding conical well of a thrust pad. Other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dominique Petitjean, Guillaurne Dupont, Anthony Ruquart, Philippe Arnold
  • Patent number: 8231276
    Abstract: A sliding material sliding material includes: a sliding plane member; a base member made of a material different from that of the sliding plane member; an intermediate member provided between the sliding plane member and the base member and formed with a plurality of spaces; and a joining member for bonding the intermediate member to the base member, in which a portion of the space formed to the intermediate member is impregnated with a portion of the sliding plane member so that the sliding plane member is bonded to the intermediate member, and a residual portion of the space of the intermediate member is impregnated with a portion of the joining member so that the base member is bonded to the intermediate member with the joining member therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Long Than Trong, Satoshi Namba, Nobuyuki Yasu, Kazuma Mukai
  • Publication number: 20120002910
    Abstract: A thrust ring for an undercarriage in a track-type machine includes an annular body having an outer circular edge and an inner circular edge defining a common center axis. A first set of oil grooves and a first set of thrust faces are positioned in an alternating arrangement on each of a first axial side and a second axial side of the annular body. Each of the oil grooves includes a cross sectional contour shaped to balance an oil flow property of the thrust ring with a strength property of the thrust ring, and defining a non-uniform curve which includes a plurality of curve segments each having a different radial attribute. The thrust ring defines a Plouzek value equal to 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Anthony R. Snyder, John M. Plouzek
  • Patent number: 8087172
    Abstract: A method of extending the life of a journal bearing assembly in a solid fuel pulverizer includes: removing a first lower journal bearing from a journal shaft and a lower bearing seat of a lower bearing housing; removing a first upper journal bearing from the shaft and an upper bearing seat of an upper bearing housing; modifying the lower and upper bearing seats; modifying lower and upper shoulders on the journal shaft; disposing the second lower and upper journal bearings on the modified lower and upper bearing seats; disposing a new journal bearing spacer between the second lower and upper journal bearings; disposing a new journal bearing collar between the upper shoulder and the second upper journal bearing; filling a cavity defined by the lower and upper journal housings with grease; and disposing a seal assembly between the shaft and one end of the upper journal housing opposite the lower journal housing to prevent the ingress of solid fuel into the cavity of the journal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Lawrence S. Farris, Mark Andrew Fuller
  • Publication number: 20110280508
    Abstract: A thrust bearing component is formed of cold-reduced steel sheets and strip having surface roughness of Rmax?2 ?m and provided by cold rolling a high-carbon steel containing 0.9 wt % to 1.2 wt % of carbon, 1.2 wt % to 1.7 wt % of chrome, 0.1 wt % to 0.5 wt % of manganese, and 0.15 wt % to 0.35 wt % of silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki KAWAMURA, Yasuyuki Watanabe, Kousuke Obayashi
  • Patent number: 8042272
    Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly includes an upper thrust bearing and a lower thrust bearing for an engine assembly of a vehicle and which, are preferably, identically configured. The thrust bearings each include an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, and each includes a pair of axially spaced flanges extending radially outwardly of the bearing shells. The flanges may be formed as one piece with the bearing shell, and one flange is thicker than the other flange. The thicker flanges are load bearing and preferably contoured, whereas the thinner flanges are not. The bearings are installed with the thick flange of each bearing matched radially opposite the thin flange of the companion bearing to minimize fatigue and failure normally attributed to repeated seating and unseating of bearing assemblies having flanges of equal thickness caused by changing bending loads imparted by a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide Inc.
    Inventors: Sean M. Welch, Ronald J. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20110206311
    Abstract: A clutch release bearing device having an interior and an exterior raceway. The exterior raceway is equipped with a ring wall being retracted underneath the path radius of an inner roller body raceway. An interior sealing device is provided, including a ring element axially supported on an inner radial wall section of the retracted ring wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Schaeffler Tehcnologies GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Steffen Dittmer, Bernhard Kloepfer, Ludwig Winkelmann
  • Publication number: 20110188789
    Abstract: There is disclosed a bearing to support a rotating shaft. The bearing includes a cylindrical housing defining a central opening. A plurality of bearing pads integrally coupled to the housing with each bearing pad having a circumferential surface defining a portion of the central opening. A plurality of pins disposed in a bore defined in the housing, with each pin aligned as a pivot for each corresponding pad. Each pad can tilt about the pin in relation to the rotating shaft. Each pad is coupled to the housing by a pair of webs defined by a plurality of cuts forming a plurality of openings in the housing substantially parallel to a line tangent with the circumferential surface of the pad. Each pin is aligned parallel with the rotating pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Bischof, Randy Gerard Lindner, Timothy J. Renard, Thomas Lamar Richards, II
  • Publication number: 20110158573
    Abstract: A thrust race of a thrust roller bearing has a race portion and a cylindrical portion extending from the race portion in an axial direction. At a plurality of locations along a circumferential direction on the cylindrical portion, cutout portions are formed such that each of the cutout portions is recessed in the axial direction from a distal edge of the cylindrical portion toward the race portion. A protrusion is provided at a portion closer to the race portion from a bottom edge of each of the cutout portions such that the protrusion protrudes in a radial direction from the cylindrical portion toward a side away from the race portion. The protrusion serves as a race-retaining locking portion to prevent a race from moving out from a mating member on which the race is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hara, Kazuhiko Kanou, Tomoyuki Yokota, Tetsuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7866046
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hydrodynamic bearing (30) includes the following steps. First, a substrate having a surface with multiple protrusions thereon is formed. The protrusions are adapted for forming grooves in a preform. The preform, when finally processed, becomes a shaft of the hydrodynamic bearing or a bearing of the hydrodynamic bearing. Second, a feedstock of binder and powder is pushed to the surface of the substrate to form the perform on the surface of the substrate. Third, the substrate is removed from the preform. Fourth, the preform is sintered. Fifth, the preform is precision machined to obtain the shaft or the bearing, as the case may be. In the shaft or bearing, the grooves are for generating hydrodynamic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuen-Shu Hou
  • Publication number: 20100266229
    Abstract: An aircraft thrust bearing assembly utilizing a U-shaped bearing disposed over a portion of a thrust bearing shaft, both within a housing that is mounted to the front of an engine utilized for driving an aircraft propeller. The thrust bearing shaft rides in the U-shaped bearing, wherein the U-shaped bearing separates the thrust bearing shaft from the housing. The front of the thrust bearing shaft has a mounting plate for attachment of a propeller, the mounting plate being machined to be perpendicular to the rotational axis of the thrust bearing shaft. The rear of the thrust bearing shaft comprises an outer surface adapted to receive a gear press-fitted thereon and an aperture within the shaft that is dimensioned to fixedly receive therewithin an end portion of the crankshaft of the engine being selected for propulsion of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Solly Melyon, William M. Clapp
  • Publication number: 20100166346
    Abstract: A dynamic bearing device is provided, which can prevent abrasion powder generated when a sealing member is pushed into an inner circumference of a housing from entering the housing. A sealing member is inserted into an inner circumference of an opening of a housing with an adhesive interposed therebetween The adhesive moving forward in a pushing direction of the sealing member is retained by a capillary action in a lower tapered space between an outer circumference of the sealing member and the inner circumference of the housing. Abrasion powder is captured by the adhesive in the tapered space so as to be confined in the adhesive as a result of the setting of the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaharu HORI, Tetsuya KURIMURA
  • Patent number: 7736238
    Abstract: A trunnion of a universal joint cross-shaped member supports a bearing cup, thrust washer, and needle bearing assembly. The thrust washer includes a first surface that faces the bearing cup and a second surface that faces an end face of the trunnion. A first lip extends outwardly from the first surface to contact the bearing cup and a second lip extends outwardly from the second surface to contact the needle bearing assembly. The first and second lips cooperate to hold the bearing cup and needle bearing assembly in a proper installation for final assembly to form a universal joint assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick L. Kurzeja
  • Patent number: 7721419
    Abstract: A full complement taper roller bearing consists of an inner ring or cone having an inner track on its radially outer conical surface, and an outer ring or cup having an outer track on its radially inward conical surface and one or more rows of taper rollers having a contact angle of less than 30 degrees freely disposed between the inner and outer rings and guided between said tracks. Each row of rollers is axially located within a recess on the inner track defined by a shoulder abutment disposed at least at the edge of the inner track having the greatest diameter and each of the rollers is in contact with the inner track over the entire length of the taper roller in the axial direction of the bearing. A method of assembly is also enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hansen Transmissions International, N.V.
    Inventor: Dirk-Olaf Leimann
  • Patent number: 7721445
    Abstract: A plate-like material is pressed and a middle concave portion centered on a center axis is formed in one axial surface of the material. Likely, an annular concave portion centered on a center axis and radially outwardly arranged is formed in one and/or the other axial surface of the material. The material is then cut along a radially outer rim of the middle concave portion, and between a radially outer rim and a radially inner rim of the annular concave portion. In this way, a thrust plate having indented portions at radially inside and outside portion of the one and/or the other axial surface thereof is manufactured. A burr formed in press working is accommodate within the indented portion and does not axially protrude from the one and/or the other axial surface of the thrust plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Takehito Tamaoka, Ryouji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7707723
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a roller thrust bearing having a plurality of rows of rollers, the bearing featuring reduced differential slip, reduced friction and wear, and increased longevity without flaking. The method includes forming a cage to accommodate the rollers, crowning the rollers, and arranging the rollers in pockets such that the rollers held by a pocket have respective end surfaces in direct contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Tamada, Kikuo Maeda, Tomoaki Kawamura, Hirokazu Nakashima, Takumi Fujita, Mitsuo Sasabe
  • Publication number: 20100061668
    Abstract: An exemplary bearing for a turbocharger includes one or more thrust pads where each thrust pad includes a portion of a conical well; and a through-bore that includes lubricant channels, each channel configured to direct lubricant from the bore to a corresponding conical well of a thrust pad. Other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Dominique Petitjean, Guillaurne Dupont, Anthony Ruquart, Philippe Arnold
  • Publication number: 20090257702
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft with a roller bearing. The roller bearing has an inner ring with an outer surface for rolling elements to roll on. According to the invention, the inner ring of the roller bearing is embedded, at least partially, into the shaft, which has been produced using primary forming methods, and the outer surface of the inner ring is exposed, at least in a part, in the axial direction and over its entire circumference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventor: Peter SOLFRANK
  • Publication number: 20090238509
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple-row and axially biased angular ball bearing with a one-piece outer ring and an inner ring consisting of two inner ring halves. In order to facilitate an easy and precise setting of the desired pretensioning force and to produce a transport-safe mount cartridge, it is intended that the axial distance of at least two close-end contact surfaces of the angular ball bearing should be equal to zero in the pretensioned state, and that the axial distance of at least two close-end contact surfaces of the angular ball bearing should be greater than zero in a nonpretensioned state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Uwe Abraham, Manfred Winkler, Georg Von Petery, Andreas Droege
  • Publication number: 20090123106
    Abstract: Thrust bearing device 1 comprising a first ring 4, a second ring 5, a row of rolling elements 6 arranged between the rings, a cage 7 for retaining the rolling elements 6 and a sleeve 8 for retaining the said rings, the retaining cage 7 and sleeve 8 being produced from deep-drawn sheet metal, the sleeve comprising a retaining portion 8b extending radially outwards, the retaining portion 8b being inscribed within a circle having a diameter substantially equal to the bore of the said cage 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Jerome Boussaguet, Romuald Lescorail, Samuel Viault, Christophe Houdayer
  • Patent number: 7513043
    Abstract: A support structure carries a thrust load of a transmission which includes a torque converter having an impeller and a turbine opposite to each other with a stator therebetween. A thrust needle roller bearing having needle rollers arranged in two rows is provided at, at least one of places respectively between the stator and the impeller and between the stator and the turbine. The support structure carrying a thrust load of the transmission, a method of manufacturing the support structure and the thrust needle roller bearing are thus obtained, with an improvement in inflow and outflow of a lubricating oil, a reduction of the differential slip of the needle rollers, and an improvement in strength durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kousuke Obayashi, Tetsuya Hayashi, Shinji Oishi
  • Publication number: 20090087128
    Abstract: A cage includes a radially inward-side annular plate, a radially outward-side annular wall, a plurality of pillar portions, and pockets formed in the pillar portions. Rollers are rotatably retained in the pockets. An inner peripheral surface of the radially outward-side annular wall is formed so as to be oblique toward a radially outward direction. A radially outward-side end surface of each of the rollers has a spherical surface shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT Coporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Waseda
  • Publication number: 20090056136
    Abstract: A heated tool is depressed onto the upper surface of a work in process piece made from a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin to deform the work in process piece, so that a concave portion is formed. In this way, a thrust plate with the concave portion can be manufactured easily and readily. By properly choosing a tool according to the radius of curvature of the lower end of a shaft, a concave portion having an appropriate radius of curvature can be formed on the work in process piece, and a thrust plate with high wear resistance can be manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato GOMYO
  • Publication number: 20080310049
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing with a modified air-gap is disclosed. One embodiment provides a clamp adjacent to the fluid dynamic bearing, the clamp for clamping at least one disk with respect to the fluid dynamic bearing. In addition, a cap is also provided proximal to a shaft of the fluid dynamic bearing, the cap having an outer end proximal to the clamp such that an air-gap is provided between the outer end of the cap and the clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Jr-Yi Shen, Kunihiro Shida
  • Publication number: 20080292235
    Abstract: A sliding material sliding material includes: a sliding plane member; a base member made of a material different from that of the sliding plane member; an intermediate member provided between the sliding plane member and the base member and formed with a plurality of spaces; and a joining member for bonding the intermediate member to the base member, in which a portion of the space formed to the intermediate member is impregnated with a portion of the sliding plane member so that the sliding plane member is bonded to the intermediate member, and a residual portion of the space of the intermediate member is impregnated with a portion of the joining member so that the base member is bonded to the intermediate member with the joining member therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Long Than Trong, Satoshi Namba, Nobuyuki Yasu, Kazuma Mukai
  • Patent number: 7441958
    Abstract: A collar bearing comprising a bearing shell and at least one thrust washer, whereby the at least one thrust washer is fixed on an outer convex circumferential surface of the bearing shell to define a joint site that extends between the convex outer circumferential surface of the bearing shell and a concave inner circumferential surface of the thrust washer, the at least one thrust washer being welded along a weld seam to the bearing shell such that the weld seam extends axially between an outer thrust facing and an opposite inner surface of the at least one thrust washer, and the weld seam extends over only a part of the joint site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Klier, Klaus Kirchhof
  • Patent number: 7398752
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved rocker arm system for actuating poppet valves in high performance internal combustion engines. The rocker arm provides trunnion journals extending from each side fitted to outboard bearing mounts to guide the motion of the rocker arm. An I-beam rocker arm having high stiffness and low mass is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Robert R. Weaver
  • Publication number: 20070227005
    Abstract: A sleeve has a thrust dynamic pressure generating groove arrangement for generating a dynamic pressure in a thrust direction between another member and the sleeve. The sleeve is formed in the following manner. First, a mold is prepared which is provided with a portion corresponding to the thrust dynamic pressure generating groove arrangement. Injection molding is carried out by using this mold and material containing binders and metal particulates, thereby forming a work-in-process piece having the thrust dynamic pressure groove arrangement in a cavity of the mold. Then, binders in the work-in-process piece are removed by heating, and thereafter metal particulates in the work-in-process piece are sintered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehito Tamaoka, Masato Gomyo
  • Patent number: 7249581
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system, comprising a camshaft with at least two bearing points, a two-part camshaft receptacle which has, in a lower part, at least two bearing saddles and, in an upper part, at least two bearing covers corresponding to the bearing saddles, the camshaft being mounted with its bearing points in the bearing saddles and bearing covers. Further, bearing half shells are provided, of which in each case two are arranged in pairs between a bearing point and the bearing saddle and bearing cover receiving this bearing point, so that, the bearing half shells are supported on the bearing saddle or bearing cover and in each case two bearing half shells, together with a bearing point form a radial plain bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Guenter Bartsch
  • Patent number: 7146733
    Abstract: The thrust member is inserted into the inner circumferential surface of the housing, to make the end face of the thrust member contact with the lower side end face of the flange portion, and at the same time, to make the upper side end face of the flange portion contact with the lower side end face of the bearing sleeve. This stated is that the thrust bearing gap is zero. Then, the thrust member is made to relatively move with respect to the housing and the bearing sleeve in the axial direction together with the axis member, with a dimension ?(?=?1+?2) that is equivalent to the sum of the thrust bearing gap (size is ?1) of the first thrust bearing portion and the thrust bearing gap (size is ?2) of the second thrust bearing portion. Then, as the thrust member is fixed to the housing at that position, the predetermined thrust bearing gap ?(?=?1+?2) is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Yamashita, Tetsuya Kurimura
  • Patent number: 6952875
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing including a shaft rotating within a sleeve and a thrust plate or the like supported at an end of the shaft rotating in a recess defined with the sleeve. The thrust plate faces a counterplate supported from the sleeve over the recess, and the sleeve and shaft are supported for rotation by fluid in the gap or gaps between the shaft and sleeve, thrust plate and sleeve, and thrust plate and counterplate. To prevent fluid from leaking out of the fluid dynamic bearing into the surrounding atmosphere by seeping between the counterplate and sleeve face it rests on, a seal recess is defined in the sleeve, a crush ring seal is placed in the recess. The counterplate is then pressed into the recess, crushing the crush seal ring and blocking any passage of the fluid from the gap region surrounding the thrust plate through the gap between counterplate and sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Robin Francis Dorulla, Mark Gregory Steele