Plain Bearing Patents (Class 384/129)
  • Patent number: 7322749
    Abstract: A low-friction sliding mechanism includes first and second sliding members having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other and a lubricant applied to the sliding surfaces of the first and second sliding members. At least the sliding surface of the first sliding member is made of a diamond-like carbon material, and at least the sliding surface of the second sliding member is made of either an aluminum-based alloy material, a magnesium-based alloy material or a diamond-like carbon material. The lubricant contains a base oil and at least one of an ashless fatty-ester friction modifier and an ashless aliphatic-amine friction modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Shozaburo Konishi, Makoto Kano, Yoshiteru Yasuda, Yutaka Mabuchi, Takahiro Hamada, Shigeki Takeshima, Kenji Tsushima
  • Patent number: 7306059
    Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly in which each thrust pad is individually mounted on a deflection element. An embodiment of the invention comprises a rotating bearing runner having a wear resistant face and a stationary bearing carrier defining a plurality of cavities disposed annularly around the carrier. A deflection element, such as a Belleville washer, is disposed in a cavity of the plurality of cavities and a pad is disposed over the deflection element. The pad is at least partially disposed within the cavity. The wear resistant face of the rotating bearing runner contacts the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Russell Douglas Ide
  • Publication number: 20070231136
    Abstract: A bearing includes an axial hole and a plurality of first grooves. The first grooves are disposed formed on the inner wall of the bearing, and extends through the top surface and to the outer wall of the bearing. The lubricant oil originally hold in the bearing can be guided to flow around the whole bearing effectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Wei-Chun Hsu, Shun-Chen Chang, Wen-Shi Huang
  • Patent number: 7226051
    Abstract: In a sheet feeder of the present invention, a groove-shaped concave provided on an inner surface of a bearing extends therethrough in a direction where a rotational shaft of a feed roller extends. A surface of the rotational shaft of the feed roller is supported on a pair of outer edges of the groove-shaped concave formed on the inner surface of the bearing. A bottom of the groove-shaped concave is substantially circular-arc and concentric with the inner surface of the bearing other than the groove-shaped concave. The bottom of the groove-shaped concave is formed at such a depth that the surface of the rotational shaft of the feed roller does not contact the bottom while the rotational shaft of the feed roller is supported on the outer edges of the groove-shaped concave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Sawai
  • Patent number: 7165891
    Abstract: A guide roller assembly includes a guide roller and a bearing that supports the roller body of the guide roller and is formed as a ring-shaped, segmented slide bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventor: Klaus Giertz
  • Patent number: 7093618
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lounge valve mounting housing and assembly. The housing and assembly are useful for directing air through ducts, and particularly the assembly is useful for directing air, or other fluid, through Y-shaped junctions. The housing comprises in part a plate and a supported platform. The plate mounts to a duct. An actuator assembly can be affixed to the platform. The housing further includes a cylinder; a shaft is disposed within the cylinder and extends into the duct. A flapper affixed to the shaft can direct air depending on the radial position of the shaft. The housing and assembly offers weight and capital advantages over dual valve assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Williams, Robert D. Sleeper, Stuart K. Denike, Don J. Atkins
  • Patent number: 7077573
    Abstract: A bearing adapted to support and allow controlled relative movement with an opposed bearing surface. The bearing is constructed to have a long life by incorporating a surface that addresses many causes of friction and wear. The bearing includes a plurality of support members extending from a base. Together, the plurality of support members can support a load applied to the base through an opposed bearing surface. Additionally, the plurality of support members allow sliding modes of motion between the opposed bearings. These support members can move independently to accommodate irregularities located between the support member and the opposed bearing, such that plowing is reduced and wear to the bearings is minimized. The support members may also be configured to allow certain non-sliding modes of motion between opposed bearing surfaces while resisting other non-sliding modes of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Tribotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nam P. Suh, Matthew Sweetland
  • Patent number: 7023119
    Abstract: A motor, suitable for driving a fan, features a plain bearing (36) that contains ferromagnetic material and serves for radial support of a rotor shaft (34) made of ferromagnetic material. The shaft (34) is arranged rotatably and axially displaceably in that plain bearing (36), and has a free end (35). Provided at the free end is a thrust bearing which has a dome-shaped end (66) provided at that free end (35), and a contact member (68, 69), coacting with the latter dome, the contact member being made at least partially of ferromagnetic material. Also provided is at least one permanent magnet (72) in order to form a magnetic circuit (82) from a first magnet pole (74) via the plain bearing (36), the free shaft end (35) and its dome-shaped end (66), and the contact member (68) to the other magnet pole (76), and thereby to bring about a defined magnetic attractive force between the dome-shaped end (66) and the contact member (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benno Doemen
  • Patent number: 6969198
    Abstract: A low-friction sliding mechanism includes first and second sliding members having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other and a lubricant applied to the sliding surfaces of the first and second sliding members. At least the sliding surface of the first sliding member is made of a diamond-like carbon material, and at least the sliding surface of the second sliding member is made of either an aluminum-based alloy material, a magnesium-based alloy material or a diamond-like carbon material. The lubricant contains a base oil and at least one of an ashless fatty-ester friction modifier and an ashless aliphatic-amine friction modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Shozaburo Konishi, Makoto Kano, Yoshiteru Yasuda, Yutaka Mabuchi, Takahiro Hamada, Shigeki Takeshima, Kenji Tsushima
  • Patent number: 6942387
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pivot bearing insert for a bearing body (1) consisting of two bearing parts (2, 3) which can pivot about a pivot axis (5) and between which the pivot bearing insert (6) is located. The invention is characterized in that the bearing insert consists of two bearing bushes (7) which slide into each other and which are provided with bearing surfaces (9) which slide into each other and outer surfaces which face towards the respective bearing part (2, 3). The bearing surfaces (9) which slide into each other are smooth and free of play, while the outer surfaces are rough and are solidly connected to the respective bearing part (2, 3). A pivot bearing insert (6) of this type is simple to produce and is well protected against wear and tear. The invention also relates to a bearing produced with at least one pivot bearing insert (6) of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Joachim Janz
  • Patent number: 6819017
    Abstract: A device is presented having a multiplicity of motors connected to a shaft. A multiplicity of motor control devices are connected to the motors. A multiplicity of bearings are connected to the motors and the shaft. The multiplicity of motors, the multiplicity of motor control devices and the multiplicity of bearings continue to control the shaft rotation speed upon failure of either one of the multiplicity of motors, the multiplicity of motor control devices, or the multiplicity of bearings. Also presented is a device having at least one motor connected to a shaft. At least one bearing is connected to the at least one motor and the shaft. The at least one bearing has a multiplicity of rotating sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Casey R. Winkel, Donovan D. Van Sleet, Robert J. Fite, Tomm V. Aldridge, Eyran Eylon
  • Patent number: 6802646
    Abstract: A low-friction device having a moving interface comprising first and second members. Each of the members has a maximum dimension of about 100 &mgr;m or less between any two points. At least the first member is formed of diamond and the first and second members are in sliding contact or meshing contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: General Nanotechnology LLC
    Inventor: Victor B. Kley
  • Patent number: 6726366
    Abstract: Spindle bearing for essentially parallel spindles, in particular of air flaps in a vehicle heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning unit, having respective bearing bushes, the bearing bushes at least partially overlapping in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Grimke
  • Patent number: 6718617
    Abstract: In order to simplify the adjustment of an axial play of a rotor shaft (2.4) between the rotor shaft (2.4) and a stator (1) of a motor with the purpose of reducing the component expenditure and the assembly expenditure of the motor, a first clamp holder (3) and a second clamp holder (4) exert pressure on both sides of a plain bearing (5). In a first step, a rotor (2) of the motor is positioned relative to a housing (1.3) of the motor. A bearing receiver (1.1) is then fixed relative to the housing (1.3) of the motor by inserting, at an axially inner end of the bearing receiver (1.1), the second clamp holder (4); by moving the second clamp holder (4) to a second operating end position; and by fixing the second claim holder (4) at the second operating end position. Next, at an axially outer end of the bearing receiver (1.1), the plain bearing (5) and the first clamp holder (3) are axially inserted into the bearing receiver (1.1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Drexlmaier
  • Patent number: 6688001
    Abstract: There is provided a method of working a plain bearing and a working apparatus of the plain bearing, which make it easy to perform working by forming a plurality of inclined surfaces of different angles in portions on both sides of the inner peripheral surface of the bearing alloy metal of the plain bearing in the axial direction thereof. In the working method and apparatus, a working holder 18 is provided which has a groove 20 extending on the inner peripheral surface in the peripheral direction and portions on both sides of the groove in the transverse direction formed in step-like shape, a half bearing 11 is housed in the working holder 18, and both ends of the half bearing 11 in the peripheral direction are pressed by use of pressing means 24. Then, the half bearing undergoes plastic deformation so as to be fitted into the groove and both sides of the half bearing in the axial direction thereof come into abutment with the edges 22, 23 of the step-like portions and are deformed in a polygonal line form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Okamoto, Satoshi Imai, Nobutaka Hiramatsu, Hideo Ishikawa, Takayuki Shibayama, Mikio Suzuki, Mitsuharu Sahashi
  • Patent number: 6669370
    Abstract: A hinge housing has a flange bearing bush pressed into a transverse bearing opening. A bearing pin is swively inserted in the flange bearing bush. The plain bearing is a ready-to-install unit in that the cylindrical bush part of the flange bearing bush inserted in the bearing opening is deformed radially outwards and radially inwards by axially upsetting the front face and rests on the inner wall of the bearing opening and against the circumferential surface of the bearing pin without play. The front face is recessed behind the surface of the hinge housing part. One side of the plain bearing has an axial bearing element that exteriorly rests radially against the surface area of the hinge housing part surrounding the bearing opening and radially interiorly against an axial step of the bearing pin. The bearing pin is secured in a position in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: KS Gleitlager GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Storch, Wolfgang Bickle
  • Patent number: 6663289
    Abstract: A bearing with one or more layers of lubricated spacers for dynamically brace-supporting first and second slide surfaces independently movable relative to each other. The spacers are positioned between the first and second slide surfaces, and each spacer has a pair of opposing spacer slide surfaces which are adapted to slide in surface-to-surface contact relative to an adjacent slide surface. Lubricants are used to facilitate low friction relative sliding motion between the slide surfaces, which can be either bonded to the spacers, or separately deposited between the slide surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Pablo Javier Iljin
  • Publication number: 20020191874
    Abstract: An oil dynamic pressure bearing device comprises a bearing, a shaft freely rotatably supported by the bearing in a non-contact manner, and a dynamic pressure bearing section defined by at least one dynamic pressure groove on at least one side of the shaft and the bearing for generating dynamic pressure by a lubricant fluid filled in a minute gap between the shaft and the bearing. Grinding scratches are formed on the dynamic pressure bearing section in a circumferential direction of the dynamic pressure bearing section. The dynamic pressure groove may be formed only on one side of either the shaft or the bearing at the dynamic pressure bearing section and the grinding scratches are formed only on the other side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Sunohara, Nobuyuki Nakamori, Takao Nakae
  • Publication number: 20020154841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting of the bottom bearing ring of a rotating deck or a truck of a crane on a mast. Said mounting comprises bearing slides, which are spaced apart and connected to the inside of the bearing ring and which support the bearing bodies, which are made of a high quality sliding material and are braced against an annular peripheral surface of the mast. The invention is characterized in that each bearing slide comprises a steel plate with a flat rearside, whose entire area rests without tilting against a flat support surface of the bearing ring, and that the bearing slide is connected to the ring so as not to rotate or move.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Walter Laenge
  • Patent number: 6280089
    Abstract: A shaft structure for rotational support by a non-ball type bearing includes a spherical rotation-supporting section and a non-spherical section. The spherical rotation-supporting section provides a support for the shaft when the shaft rotates in an axial hole of the non-ball type bearing, thereby reducing the frictional area between the shaft and the inner periphery of the axial hole of the non-ball type bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Horng
  • Patent number: 6190050
    Abstract: A wear-resistant bearing system utilizes a grid pattern of wear-resistant material. In instances where two bearing surfaces slide with respect to one another, such as with a thrust bearing, wear-resistant material strips are inlaid in the surrounding support material. The strips of wear-resistant material are arranged on each component such that the strips intersect one another when one component is moved with respect to the other. This transverse relationship or grid pattern promotes extremely long component life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Camco International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Campbell
  • Patent number: 6086257
    Abstract: A sliding bearing having an improved load-carrying capacity and fatigue strength, by sintering a molded body of iron-based metal mixture powder and concurrently bonding the same to steel-backed metal layer, in which a lubricating oil having the optimal lubrication conditions is impregnated, and providing convenient maintenance and management thereof due to an increased grease non-supplying period, and a manufacturing method of the same. A sliding bearing includes a steel-backed metal layer, and an iron-based sintered alloy layer formed of copper of 10-30 wt % and iron for the residue. The iron-based sintered alloy layer is sintered and concurrently bonded to the steel-backed metal layer. A bush type sliding bearing is formed by inserting a steel-backed metal layer into a mold of a press having cavity for installation of a core at the central portion of the mold and a lower pressing member at the lower portion thereof; filling metal mixture powder formed of copper of 10-30 wt %, graphite of 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Woo Chun Lee
  • Patent number: 6082902
    Abstract: A wiper device has a tubular plate, a tubular element provided in the tubular plate for supporting a driven shaft, a bearing bushing in which the tubular element is introduced, the bearing bushing and the tubular element being fixed with one another in a form-locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Muehlpforte, Henk Becker, Claus Fleischer, Tino Boos
  • Patent number: 6065876
    Abstract: An equipment for use in a molten metal plating bath, comprising a bearing disposed in the molten metal plating bath for supporting a roller with an end, the bearing containing 70-95 wt. % of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, 2-10 wt. % of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 1-10 wt. % of AIN and 1-10 wt. % of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and having a concave with a rectangular shape in section, the end of the roller being directly disposed in the concave to be supported by the bearing without using rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Hardfacing Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Corporation, Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michinori Suhara, Yasunari Sato, Toshinori Yashiro
  • Patent number: 5984526
    Abstract: A rotor 16 rotatably installed on a casing 10 is in contact with a container hole 11 of the casing 10, and the rotor 16 is equipped with a rotating shaft 17 which rotates around a rotation center O.sub.2 at a position deviated from a reference axis O.sub.0 of a container chamber by a distance E. An eccentric bearing 25 is rotatably attached to the casing 10, and has a rotation center O.sub.1 at a position deviated from both the rotation center O.sub.2 and the reference axis O.sub.0 by a predetermined distance. The eccentric bearing 25 rotates in accordance with rotation of the rotating shaft 17, and the rotor 16 is thereby brought into contact with the sliding contact portion 11a with a predetermined stress. As a result, it is possible to set large tolerances of processing precision of components of a driving device having a rotating member and a casing containing the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventors: Tooru Imai, Akira Imai, Yutaka Imai
  • Patent number: 5772336
    Abstract: A method for mounting a sliding bearing comprises the steps of holding a position different in an axial direction from that of a shaft sliding portion of the bearing by a bearing holding member, inserting a sizing bar having almost the same outer diameter as that of a shaft supported by the sliding bearing, into a bearing hole of the bearing and pressing the outer circumference onto the shaft sliding portion of the sliding bearing in a radial direction while the sizing bar is inserted into the bearing hole. A sliding bearing described by the method comprises a portion adapted to being held by a bearing holding member to support a shaft in a radial direction, shaft sliding portions at positions displaced in the axial direction from the portion held by the bearing holding member and a pressing mark formed on the surface of the outer circumference side of the shaft sliding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Sankyo Seiki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Katagiri
  • Patent number: 5758976
    Abstract: A running wheel is slidably supported on a stationary axle between the axle and the bearing bore with a large bearing play and a small Hertzian stress. The axle has a circumferential section which is defined by its sector with a sector angle of less than 180.degree., wherein its radius of curvature is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the inner wall of the bearing bore. In accordance with the desired bearing play, the radius of curvature of the remaining circumferential section of the axle is smaller than the radius of curvature of the bearing bore. The direction of the main stress acting upon the running wheel lies in the section of the central plane of the axle sector with the larger radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Liebherr-France S.A.
    Inventors: Heinz Lause, Vincent Dreyer
  • Patent number: 5462363
    Abstract: A rotary roller band device having a central roller disposed within a cluster of orbiting rollers and rows of flexible bands holding the rollers together in a self-supporting structure. The bands are intertwined between the rollers such that as the rollers rotate the bands loop around and between the rollers. The bands engage each of the rollers in a low friction rolling contact that does not require lubrication. The bands each form a C-shaped loop. The central roller is cupped inside the C of each band loop such that the outer surface of each band contacts with the surface of the central roller. The orbiting rollers are concentrically arranged around the central roller and rotate counter to the central roller. Each of the orbiting rollers is disposed inside of the loop of each band such that the outer orbiting rollers engage the inner surface of each band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Erik J. Brinkman
  • Patent number: 5456536
    Abstract: A bearing having an inner section that is easily snapped into an outer section to form the bearing. The inner section includes a cylindrical ring portion and an exterior-extending, locking ring portion. The outer section includes a cylindrical ring portion and an interior-extending, locking ring portion. When formed of self-lubricating plastic, this bearing is light-weight, thin and inexpensive. Dimensions can be selected to make this bearing easy or difficult to disassemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Inventor: Richard W. Holmes
  • Patent number: 5306090
    Abstract: A plurality of retaining grooves for rolling members are arranged in the inner cylinder. The retaining grooves have semicircular bottom halves and top halves having sector-shaped sections diverging radially outwardly. The rolling members are accommodated in the bottom halves of the retaining grooves and grease fills the top halves. Then, the inner cylinder is fit into the outer cylinder. In rotating the bearing, the rolling members are rotated by the bottom halves of the retaining grooves serving as a sliding bearing and rolled on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. When a heavy load is applied, the rolling members are pushed down to the same level as the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, thereby distributing and supporting the load by the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and the rolling members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosaburo Niwa, Hideyumi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 5290069
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a mechanical drive train having a bushing-type plain journal bearing, a housing radially supporting the bearing to a reference plane, and a shaft extending through the bearing beyond the reference plane. That portion of the bearing between the reference plane and a bearing end is unsupported by the housing and therefore subject to fatigue breakage as the shaft repeatedly deflects or tips. The improvement comprises a contoured surface formed on an end of the bearing to define a clearance zone. When the shaft deflects or tips under load or for other reasons, the shaft is prevented from contacting the bearing along the zone. Fatigue breaking of the bearing is thereby substantially reduced. The invention also helps reduce localized heating and wear and formation of wear particles which may result in secondary damage. All of the foregoing would contribute to reduced bearing life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Harnischfeger Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey J. Kallenberger
  • Patent number: 5248361
    Abstract: To make a laminated flexible bearing constituted by rigid reinforcing layers made of composite material alternating with layers of rubber or elastomer, each reinforcing layer is formed by winding a resin preimpregnated thread directly on the underlying layer of rubber or elastomer. Advantageously, the flexible bearing is made by alternating layers formed by winding a resin pre-impregnated thread and layers formed of non-vulcanized rubber or elastomer, after which the resin is polymerized and the rubber or elastomer is vulcanized simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion
    Inventors: Robert E. Paquet, Andre Negrier, Regis L. Ferment
  • Patent number: 5244285
    Abstract: Squeeze film damper with a viscous damping agent between two concentric cylindrical surfaces (5) on the internal (3) and external (6) parts, respectively, of the damper. The clearance between these two surfaces (5) is supplied with a viscous damping agent, usually oil, from a groove (4) in the cylindrical surface on the internal part (3) of the damper. This groove (4) does not extend all around. In the lower part of the internal part (3) of the damper there are instead two pockets (7) which are separated from each other and from the long damper oil groove (4). When these two pockets (7) are supplied through channels (8) with oil of an adjusted pressure, a lifting force arises which acts on the internal part (3) of the damper so that this part and the associated shaft (1) are lifted and centered, whereupon during operation a damper clearance, extending all around, is obtained without mechanical means. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: ABB Stal AB
    Inventors: Bo Hagstedt, Hans-Lennart Olausson
  • Patent number: 5099780
    Abstract: A hot dip metal strip coating apparatus includes at least one roll submerged in a bath of molten coating metal for guiding the strip through the bath. The submerged rolls are mounted on the ends of support arms by bearings including a pair of substantially flat metal surfaces disposed in planes parallel to and spaced from the horizontal axis of the roll shaft, with the planes of the flat surfaces intersecting one another at an angle within the range of about 60.degree. to about 135.degree.. The flat bearing surfaces are oriented to contact the roll shaft tangentially, with the load in the strip and the flat bearing surfaces supporting the roll during coating and the bearing permitting the free flow of liquid metal between the bearing and shaft on each side of the tangential line of contact of each flat surface with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: National Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Nappier, Marvin C. Pansa
  • Patent number: 5046377
    Abstract: Power actuator unit for servo-drive of motor vehicle body closures e.g. centrally controlled door latches and locks, window winders etc and including a power transmitting drive train wherein the latter includes a female bearing surface, e.g. the bore (34) of a boss (30) of a gear wheel or pinion (31) which is a running fit on a complementary male bearing surface e.g. a metal shaft (32). One surface e.g. of the shaft is at constant radius from the axis of relative revolution of the surfaces e.g. is cylindrical; and the other surfaces e.g. the bore (34) is formed to have a plurality of facets or other sections e.g. by being square in diametral cross section to provide line or point contact with the one surface at sufficient angularly spaced locations to ensure true running but the facets or sections not being otherwise in contact with the one surface e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Rockwell Automotive Body Systems Ltd
    Inventors: Steven F. Wilkes, John F. Dean
  • Patent number: 5000585
    Abstract: A shaft is borne in a standard by an intermediate member and a supporting bearing so that the shaft may follow without constraint lateral shifts of the supporting bearing by tilts about a plurality of small angles located in different planes. This effect is achieved by providing one of two guiding rings for the shaft within the intermediate member with two small sliding projections. These projections may be vertically arranged on a diameter of the intermediate member, which in turn is mounted to the standard by two small seat-engaging surfaces which are horizontally arranged on a diameter of the intermediate member. The apparatus is preferably used with shaft angle encoders for theodolites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Kern & Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dieter Hoffmann, Thomas Scholian
  • Patent number: 4967705
    Abstract: A power transmission device which includes trunnion and bearing sets for transferring power from a power generating unit to an operating unit. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a cross is provided with a plurality of trunnions which define transfer surfaces. A bearing member in the form of a cup is provided for each of the transfer surfaces. The bearing cup is defined by a plurality of internal bearing surfaces which are integral with the bearing cup sidewall and which contact the transfer surfaces of the cross. The bearing surfaces, in the preferred embodiment, are semi-circular in cross-section and make bearing contact with the essentially cylindrical transfer surface of the cross. The bearing cup is preferably fabricated using powder metallurgy techniques which advantageously form the integral bearing surfaces within the cup, thereby eliminating the necessity for the use of balls or needles in the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Walter J. Maciag
    Inventors: Walter J. Maciag, Ralph E. Storey
  • Patent number: 4911273
    Abstract: A one-way clutch with a cage-displacement limiting mechanism is constructed of an outer race; an inner race concentric with the outer race; sprags arranged within a space between the outer and inner races and being displaceable between first positions, where the sprags are maintained in contact with the inner and outer races to transmit a torque, and second positions where the sprags cannot transmit any torque; first and second annular cages arranged within the space with a radial interval therebetween, holding the sprags in place, and being rotatable relative to each other between first relative positions, where the sprags are caused to move to the first positions, and second relative positions where the sprags are caused to move to the second positions; a limiting means for connecting the cages to each other and limiting the degrees of relative movements of the cages; and a means for urging the sprags to the first positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: NSK-Warner, K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshio Kinoshita, Mikio Uchida
  • Patent number: 4854742
    Abstract: A wheel bearing, in particular for toy vehicles, which are usually subjected to strong overloads, is characterized in that, in the vicinity of each end, the wheel axle (10, not shown in FIG. 2) has both a bearing face (14, 15) with a relatively small radius of curvature and a bearing face (12, 13) with a relatively large radius of curvature substantially corresponding to the radius of the axle. The bearings with the small radius of curvature (14, 15) are elastically resilient, the bearing faces with the relatively small radius of curvature being provided in bearing plates (2, 3) which are connected with a vehicle portion (1) via elastic connecting members (4, 5). When the toy vehicle is overloaded, the axle is supported in the large bearings (12, 13) so that the small bearings (14, 15), having a very small friction under normal operating conditions, are not damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Interlego A. G.
    Inventor: Erik Bach
  • Patent number: 4848933
    Abstract: A rotary mounting for mounting a gear wheel relative to a frame, the gear wheel being constrained to rotate with a shaft such as a drive shaft, the mounting being constituted by: the gear wheel being mounted at one end of the shaft around the outer periphery thereof; an axial hollow in the end of the shaft opening out into the end transverse face of the shaft; a protuberance fixed to the frame and coaxial with the hollow, the protuberance being contained inside said hollow; and a single rotary bearing disposed between the protuberance and the hollow at the end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Poclain Hydraulics
    Inventors: Louis Bigo, Marc Perot
  • Patent number: 4839551
    Abstract: A brushless motor is disclosed having a plurality of stator coils disposed circumferentially around a rotatable shaft and a rotor magnet supported to a yoke fixed to the rotatable shaft and opposed to the stator coils. A radial bearing, for radially supporting the shaft, is supported at the center of a coil supporting member supporting the plurality of stator coils. The coil supporting member is formed integral with the radial bearing and is fixed to a casing having a thrust bearing at its center for axially supporting the shaft. Thus, the relative positional accuracy between the stator coil, thrust bearing, and radial bearing can be made high resulting in a stable rotating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Tomisawa
  • Patent number: 4771873
    Abstract: A one-way clutch with a cage-displacement limiting mechanism is constructed of an outer race; an inner race concentric with the outer race; sprags arranged within a space between the outer and inner races and being displaceable between first positions, where the sprags are maintained in contact with the inner and outer races to transmit a torque, and second positions where the sprags cannot transmit any torque; first and second annular cages arranged within the space with a radial interval therebetween, holding the sprags in place, and being rotatable relative to each other between first relative positions, where the sprags are caused to move to the first positions, and second relative positions where the sprags are caused to move to the second positions; and a limiting member for connecting the cages to each other and for limiting the degrees of relative movements of the cages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshio Kinoshita, Mikio Uchida
  • Patent number: 4768888
    Abstract: A bearing system for a motor (10) having a housing (20) and a rotor shaft (25). The bearing system includes a first unitary bearing member (31) located proximate to a first end (17) of the motor (10), and rotatably receiving the rotor shaft (25). The first bearing member (31) has a body region (40), first and second outer radial alignment surfaces (35, 36) for aligning the body region (40) relative to the housing (20), a radial bearing surface (45) for resisting radial forces from the rotor shaft (25) and an axial bearing surface (54) for resisting axial forces in a first direction. A flange (33) secures the first bearing member (31) to the housing (20). A first bearing plate (56) is fixed to the rotor shaft (25) for rotation therewith. The first bearing plate (56) is positioned in opposition to the axial bearing surface (54) of the first bearing member (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: McNeil (Ohio) Corporation
    Inventor: Michael H. McNaull
  • Patent number: 4732492
    Abstract: The cylinder may be an aircraft landing gear axle. The items may be pick-ups the sense axle deformation. A ring (30) for supporting the pick-ups is made of highly resilient material. It is initially of such a size that its cylinder-engaging surface overlaps the cylindrical surface it is to engage. The ring is then deformed by urging at least two points (34 to 37) around its circumference to increase the degree of overlap. While maintaining the deforming force on the ring, its cylinder-engaging surface (31) is machined so that there is no longer any overlap, and still maintaining the force, the ring is engaged with the cylinder. The force is then removed. The said points move resiliently away from the cylinder, but intermediate points are consequently resiliently urged into contact with the cylinder. The contact is smooth and progressive, thus avoiding the kind of stress concentrations that could reduce cylinder life by fatigue, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: S.F.E.N.A.
    Inventor: Georges Bonfils
  • Patent number: 4721399
    Abstract: A plain bearing includes a support base which carries a sliding layer and is supported in a bearing housing. For locally determining the temperature of the sliding layer, a heat conductor is inserted in the support base which transmits the heat to a temperature sensing and measuring element located in the bearing housing. The heat conductor is positioned in a plug and surrounded therein by a sheathing. In order to provide an intimate contact between the heat conductor and the temperature sensing and measuring element, the latter is biased by a spring in direction to the heat conductor. By means of guide tracks, the support base can be turned into the bearing housing as the element will be retracted by the guide track against the force of the spring and runs along the circumference of the support base until being in alignment with the heat conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Braunschweiger Huttenwerk GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Grosskurth, Fritz Schwarz
  • Patent number: 4721406
    Abstract: A friction pivot joint for use between two components such as two arms, or an arm and a frame or sash plate, of a window stay. The joint comprises an aperture in a first of the components, an annular shoulder surrounding and projecting from the periphery of the aperture, an aperture in the second component such that the component is located about the shoulder. A self-lubricating and wear-resistant bushing interposed between the shoulder and the second component to prevent direct contact therebetween and a fixing element extends through the joint and is fixed within the aperture below the shoulder so as to apply friction creating pressure to the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Inventor: Ronald P. Davis
  • Patent number: 4708758
    Abstract: An improved laminated flexible bearing wherein alternate layers of elastomer and reinforced plastic shims of the lamination are cured simultaneously with heat and pressure and the lamination is bonded to forward and aft end rings for facilitating attachment of a thrust nozzle to a rocket case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Morton Thiokol, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. McGregor
  • Patent number: 4645360
    Abstract: A plain bearing comprising a metal backing, an aluminium based bearing alloy layer and a sacrificial overlay of pure tin applied directly to the bearing material without a nickle interlayer. The bearing alloy comprises by weight, 1 to 11% silicon, 8 to 35% tin, 0.2 to 2% copper with the balance being aluminium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: AEPLC
    Inventors: Barry J. Eastwood, David R. Eastham
  • Patent number: 4640630
    Abstract: In a supercharger bearing assembly including floating bushes journalling a rotor shaft interposed between the rotor shaft and a housing assembly, the floating bushes each have an inner peripheral portion of a smaller length than an outer peripheral portion, to reduce the amplitude of vibration of the floating bush, reduce the loss of power due to a frictional loss and increase resistance to seizure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshioka, Haruyoshi Tsubouchi
  • Patent number: 4603982
    Abstract: A bearing having an outer race defining an internal channel and an inner race having integrally formed protrusions which extend into the outer race channel for load bearing support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Auscilla Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick E. Dittrich