Abstract: A bearing unit is provided which includes a shaft (51) to support rotatably, radial bearing (55) to support the shaft (51) circumferentially, a thrust bearing (66) to support the shaft (51) in the direction of thrusting, and a housing (56) having the radial bearing (55) and thrust bearing (66) disposed therein and in which a viscous fluid (57) is filled. The housing (56) has a sealed structure except for a shaft insertion hole (65) formed therein and through which the shaft 51 is introduced. Between the outer surface of the shaft (51) and the inner surface of the shaft insertion hole (65), there is defined a gap (69) having a sufficient width to prevent the viscous fluid (57) filled in the housing (56) from leaking out of the latter. The housing (56) is formed as a one-piece structure by molding a synthetic resin.

Abstract: A bearing outer shell encases a self-lubricating polymeric bearing pad material concentrically therein. A helical spring applies a force through from the outer shell, through the bearing pad material, and onto a shaft when the bearing is installed on a shaft. An elastomeric base material may be interposed between the outer shell and the bearing pad to provide additional resiliency. The shaft may be sized to create an interference fit, causing a radial preload that can be designed to exceed the expected external vibration or shock forces. Proper selection of the elastomeric base material affords damping of these environments. The bearing provides the necessary guidance with minimal loss in power consumption. Therefore, not only is the useful life of the shaft and housing extended, but the life of the associated gears, bearings, and components that require proper alignment to minimize wear the load concentrations is further extended.

Abstract: A hydrostatic guidance system for the torch carriage used in an MCVD system has a plurality of air bearings mounted on the carriage and a pressurized fluid manifold device for routing pressurized fluid, such as air, to the several air bearings. The several bearings are located and oriented on the carriage adjacent the rails or ways of the lathe bed so that the carriage is made to float, contact free, over the ways for smooth, jerk free movement. The manifold house valve adjustments for controlling the amount of air routed to each air bearing, and the spacing of each bearing from the adjacent way is controlled by adjustable studs having the air bearings mounted on the ends thereof.

Abstract: A linear bushing attachable to a structural member is formed of a tubular body having a tail part and a lead part forward of said tail part, the tubular body defining a cylindrical wall about a central longitudinal axis and having inner and outer surfaces. First and second sets of resiliently bendable arms extend respectively from the lead part and from the tail part, the arms of each set being spaced apart circumferentially and extending generally forwardly and radially inwardly. The arms of each set have distal ends with inner surfaces which define a bore of first diameter, these arms of each set being deflectable radially outward to define between the inner surfaces of their distal ends a bore of greater diameter than the first diameter. Each of these arms when deflected radially outward applies a resilient opposite radially inward force.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering gear (10). The rack and pinion steering gear (10) comprises a housing (12) having a chamber (18). A portion of the chamber (18) is a relief pocket (22). A pinion gear (26) is rotatably mounted in the chamber (18) of the housing (12). A rack bar (38) is movable relative to the pinion gear (26). The rack bar (38) is at least partially disposed in the chamber (18) of the housing (12) and has teeth (44) in meshing engagement with the pinion gear (26). A spring (60) is disposed in the chamber (18) of the housing (12) for supporting and guiding movement of the rack bar (38) relative to the pinion gear (26). The spring (60) extends across an opening to the relief pocket (22). The spring (60) extends into the relief pocket (22) as a load applied to the spring (60) from the rack bar (38) increases.

Abstract: A hydrostatic guidance system for a moving carriage upon a lathe bed or other such machining has a plurality of fluid, preferably air bearings mounted on the carriage and a pressurized fluid manifold device for routing the pressurized fluid to the air bearings. The several air bearings are located and oriented on the carriage adjacent the rails or ways of the machine so that the carriage is made to float, contact free, over the ways for smooth, jerk free movement. At least one of the air bearings is mounted on the distal end of a bendable beam which, under pressure of the air, maintains the gap between the bearing and the way despite variations in the straightness or linearity of the way so as to maintain a uniform velocity profile.

Abstract: A video query and editing system which is capable of querying images without fast-forward and playback operations, to specify an editing start or end point easily, and to lower editing cost of compressed data. An edit control window is displayed (11) first, and then a file for query and editing is selected in query and editing file processing 12. In motion picture query processing 13, image query is performed in macro or micro units for the selected file and then the images to be under the query and editing are displayed. In editing section specification 14, a start point and an end point of a section for the editing are specified out of the images displayed in the motion picture query processing. Editing of a plurality of sections or other files are performed in the same manner as for the above processing if desired. After all the editing sections are determined, the editing sections are played back in editing section playback 17 to confirm the editing parts.

Abstract: A bearing for supporting a load for axial and rotational motion relative to a shaft is disclosed as including an outer shell having a cylindrical inner wall supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate bearing pads for engaging the shaft. Each bearing pad includes a pair of elastically deformable lateral tip portions arranged for interference fit with the shaft to exert a static preload on the shaft, and a mid portion intermediate the lateral tip portions arranged for clearance fit with the shaft. A plurality of lubricant channels communicate with the shaft through gaps between the separate bearing pads.

Abstract: A linear guiding apparatus for guiding an object, comprising a rail system and a first partial group of object-guiding rail runner elements primarily responsible for the guiding precision of the object, which first partial group comprises at least one group member, the guiding rail runner elements being guided in a moving direction along associated roller paths of the rail system by rolling member loops mounted on the guiding rail runner elements, a second partial group of damping elements guided along the rail system, connected with the object and being primarily responsible for the damping of vibrations directed transversely to the moving direction being additionally provided between the object and the rail system, which second partial group comprises at least one group member, the damping elements differing from the guiding rail runner elements with respect to the internal structure and/or with respect to the mounting relationship between the object and the rail system.

Abstract: A wear ring constructed for use with a pneumatic tube system carrier of a type having two spaced apart wear rings positioned near the axial ends of the carrier. The wear ring is comprised of a rigid, yet flexible, annular support member having an outer cylindrical surface. A layer of woven fabric selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, or felt is bonded to the cylindrical surface of the support member. The fabric material preferably has a coefficient of friction with the interior transfer tube not greater than 0.35.

Abstract: A bearing body is provided with first roller bodies such that a shaft may be rollably bearing-mounted on the surface of the first roller bodies, for centering the shaft such that the shaft is shiftable along the shaft axis, rotatable about the shaft axis, and swivelable with respect to a central axis of the bearing. The first roller bodies may be balls and may, in turn, be rollably bearing-mounted by second roller bodies. The bearing assembly achieves a device having zero runout and low friction that ensures a smooth, reliable bearing for shafts and rods, for example, in the gear shift rods of motor vehicles.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a frame; a work holder operably associated with the frame; at least one carriage disposed on the frame and movable along an axis; at least one tool disposed on the carriage for operating on a work piece disposed in the work holder; at least one nozzle assembly disposed on the carriage for directing at least one fluid stream to the work piece and the tool; a screw-nut drive operably associated with the carriage, the drive including a lead screw; a device for stretching the lead screw for compensating for thermal growth of the screw during operation; and a resilient strip operably disposed between the frame and the carriage for absorbing impact forces.

Abstract: A stiffener assembly which provides for improved performance of a movable stage arrangement. Often, it is desired to provide a movable stage arrangement in which a stage moves linearly with respect to a stationary base. In many applications, it is necessary for the stage to move to successive rest positions, with movement of the stage inhibited at each of the reset positions. The stiffener of the present invention allows for controlled movement of a stage along its direction of travel, with the stiffener inhibiting undesired movement when the stage is at a rest position. In one form, a stiffener extends in the direction of travel of the stage, with one end of the stiffener assembly mounted to the stationary base, and the other end urged into frictional contact with the movable stage by a force applicator. As a result, the stiffener is placed in frictional contact with the movable stage.

Abstract: In the ball screw guide unit of the invention, since a guide rail is formed of a channel bar having a groove, and a ball screw shaft is engaged with a movable member which is reciprocatively movable in the groove along a lengthwise direction of the guide rail, so that the centroid of the guide rail is adjacent to the axis of the ball screw shaft. Therefore, when a pretension is applied to the ball screw shaft, a straightness of the guide rail is not impaired and a feed accuracy of the movable member can be maintained. Further, the guide rial may be provided at its lower and side surfaces with reference surfaces used for adjusting parallelism between the guide rail and the axis of the ball screw shaft, in which case assembly and adjustment of the table can be performed more easily.

Abstract: The invention contemplates use of a suction bell to enhance the loading with which a guided machine part is gravitationally supported on its guide. In application to a machine in which the machine part is movably supported on air bearings, the suction bell applies a preload force of magnitude to optimize the stiffness of air-bearing action and to maintain an air gap of uniform capillary thickness, free of mechanical contact between the machine part and its supporting surface.

Abstract: A rod guide member includes a base portion having integral attachment means for securement to a sheet metal panel and a pair of integral legs which receive a rod member therebetween. One leg member is thicker than the other to withstand lateral loads imposed thereon by the rod member. The other leg has flexible extensions which engage the rod member and bias the rod member into engagement with ribs on the one leg member.

Abstract: A bearing construction interposes the coils of one or more coil springs between bearing surfaces. In one embodiment a bearing coil spring is wrapped around a shaft several times. The bearing coil spring may be freely mounted on a more substantial race coil retainer centered on the shaft. In another embodiment toroidal coil springs separated by disc races extend circularly about the shaft. In linear bearing construction, the bearing coils are in planes parallel to the line of shaft movement. Other embodiments of the invention involve disengageable shafts having complementary centering end-faces accommodating misalignment through the yield able action of the bearing spring coils, shafts and housings having non-circular cross-sections, and shafts and housings not having completely complementary surfaces to enable interference fit and positional control.

Abstract: A glide apparatus for an assembly, such as a vehicle interior accessory, includes a first member disposed for slidable relative movement with respect to a second member. The first member has a longitudinally-extending, generally channel-shaped portion defined a base and a pair of spaced-apart legs protruding laterally outwardly from the base. A glide member preferably includes a number of serially-arranged arcuate slide portions at least partially fixed relative to a backing plate and curving laterally outwardly from the backing plate for relative slidable engagement with at least one, or both, of the legs on the channel-shaped portion of the first member. Preferably, a number of second arcuate slide portions are at least partially fixed relative to the backing plate and curve laterally outwardly from the backing plate for relative slidable engagement with the base of the channel-shaped portion of the first member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for continuous introduction and exit of workpieces into and out of a vacuum. A first seal is provided between the atmosphere and a first pumping station. This seal comprises compliant members positioned within cavities in a plate so that the pressure differential causes the members to push against the workpiece and the cavity wall to establish a rotating seal. A second seal may also be provided between the first pumping station and the vacuum chabmer. This seal includes compliant members mounted within a series of differentially pumped cavities and providing a low friction seal with the workpiece.

Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting a linear motion rolling contact bearing assembly using a bolt extending through a mounting hole provided in a guide rail and/or a slider member of the bearing assembly includes a mounting area which is defined by a slit, an outwardly projecting stepped section or a combination thereof so as to confine any deformation or error in size therein and prevent it from being transmitted to other sections when the bolt is tightened for fixedly mounting the bearing assembly to a supporting member.

Abstract: A hydrostatic apparatus for supporting a collared shaft bearing face which xially translates creating thrust force on a button bearing face wherein the button bearing is radially supported and fluidly sealed by two separate means. This arrangement avoids sustantial non-parallelism between said shaft bearing face and said button bearing face.

Abstract: A slider (41) for guiding the top of a sliding door (12) in a channel (42) comprises spaced cheeks (56) between which extends a rib (59) which engages one side of the channel, and flexible tongue (60) which flexes between the cheeks and is thereby biased into engagement with the other side of the channel. Another embodiment of door guide has a pair of wheels (113, 114) having enlarged rims at one end for engaging opposite walls of a door guiding channel. One of the wheels is inverted relative to the other. Thus, the rim of one wheel is at a higher elevation than the rim of the other wheel.

Abstract: A telescopic steering mechanism for automotive vehicles includes first and second support members telescopically coupled with each other for relative movement, a first shaft rotatably carried by the first support member, a second shaft rotatably carried by the second support member and telescopically coupled with the first shaft for rotation therewith, a feed screw shaft arranged in parallel with the first and second shafts and rotatably carried by the first support shaft, and a feed nut fixedly mounted on the second support member and threadedly coupled over the feed screw shaft for effecting relative movement of the support members in accordance with rotation of the feed screw shaft.

Abstract: A telescoping torque transmitting shaft comprising a shaft having at least three longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced guide grooves and a sleeve axially slidably surrounding the shaft and having an inner counter groove opposite each guide groove. Torque is transmitted between the shaft and the sleeve by a row of balls for each guide groove, each ball being partially received in its guide groove and partially received in the counter groove opposite its guide groove. At least certain of the balls in one row are of resilient elastic material; all others are substantially harder. Bias imposed upon the shaft by the resilient balls, urging the shaft in one lateral direction relative to the sleeve, maintains every ball in torque transmitting contact with both the shaft and the sleeve, while the harder balls in the other rows, by such contact, maintain the elastic balls compressed for exerting such bias.

Abstract: An optical pickup of the invention has an objective lens holder holding an objective lens, a support shaft which supports the objective lens holder such that the holder is slidable along the axial direction and pivotable about its axis, and a press member for pressing the objective lens holder against the support shaft.

Abstract: A device for guiding movement of a stage, carrying thereon a semiconductor wafer, for printing in a reduced scale an integrated circuit pattern of a mask onto different portions of the semiconductor wafer through a reduction production lens, includes linear roller bearings for supporting the stage for movement in a predetermined direction, a slider and a roller for pressing a portion of the stage against the slider to thereby constrain the displacement of the stage in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction of movement, whereby higher accuracies of the stop position of the stage as well as higher speed of the stage movement are assured.

Abstract: The support and guide roller for extension guides for drawers consists of a roller body of hard material whose outer surface forms a first bearing surface. A circumferential slot is arranged in the area of the first bearing surface. The slot is filled with an elastic material. In the case of an unloaded roller the elastic material forms a second bearing surface protruding radially a specific amount above the first bearing surface. Transverse spaces of greater width than the slot are provided in the area of the slot. The spaces are likewise filled with an elastic material which is homogeneous and continuous relative to the elastic material in the slot.