With Specified Seal Patents (Class 384/130)
  • Patent number: 6241393
    Abstract: In a guiding device for mechanical members, which consists of two parts intended to engage by sliding friction, one of the two parts, called the smooth part, has a smooth, functional, i.e. friction, surface and the other part, called the pierced part, has at least one functional, i.e. friction, surface, including emergent cavities intended to accommodate a grease of the lubricating-paste type and especially an EP grease (extreme-pressure grease) comprising a soap-type constituent, an oil-type constituent and an extreme-pressure additive. The contact angle &thgr; between the functional surface of the smooth part and the grease is in the range from 20 degrees to 40 degrees and the material of the pierced part is such that the contact angle between the functional surface of the pierced part and the grease is in the range from 45 degrees to 75 degrees. The device may be of the slideway/runner type, shaft/bearing type, ball/socket joint type, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Centre Stenhanois de Recherches Mecaniques Hydromechanique et Frottement
    Inventors: Etienne Georges, Daniel Tourneux
  • Patent number: 6210041
    Abstract: An improved bearing usable, among other applications, in a suspension system for heavy vehicles and in other machines includes an internal member, a journal fitted to the internal member and an external member fitted to the journal member, at least one end of the external member extending beyond at least one and of the journal member and defining a recess for receiving a seal member, to seal against either the bushing, shaft or journal member, for preventing intake of extraneous matter such as dirt and for preventing leakage of lubricant from the bearing. A method of fabrication of bearings Alternatively, the journal and internal member may comprise a single part includes the steps of machining or pressfitting an inner member with a journal section in turn fitted or slipped into an external member. Apparatus for fabricating a bearing component comprises a slide tool with at least two adjustable receiving mounts for receiving a cutting tool and a pressblock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: William A. West
  • Patent number: 6193418
    Abstract: A bearing housing carries a bearing in which an end of a rotary shaft is to be mounted. A safety end cap is mounted to the housing to cover the shaft end. The end cap includes a cupshaped plastic body which has a circular front rim, and a pair of metal brackets slidably mounted in slits formed in the body behind the rim. Outer ends of the brackets are bent to engage side surfaces of the housing, and the end cap is permanently secured to the housing by rivets which extend through the brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: FYH Bearing Units USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6146020
    Abstract: A circular seal assembly is provided for a roll in a rolling mill. The roll has a neck with a tapered section leading from a roll end face to a reduced diameter section rotatably supported in a non-rotating bearing chock. The chock is spaced axially from the roll end face to define a circular gap therebetween, and the seal assembly is adapted to span the gap. The seal assembly comprises a rigid circular seal end plate adapted to be fixed to the chock at a location cooperating with associated resilient seal components to subdivide the gap into an inboard chamber adjacent the roll end face and an outboard chamber adjacent the chock. A vent connection is provided in an upper quadrant of the seal end plate between the inboard and outboard chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Morgan Construction Company
    Inventor: Charles L. Innis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6129533
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid-conveying machine, in particular, a pump having a component rotating in a stationary housing part inside an annular gap. The stationary housing part separates an interior having a higher product pressure from an exterior having a lower pressure. A rotating component is mounted in an external bearing which is sealed with respect to the interior via a sealing system. In order to improve the sealing, the invention provides that the annular gap is formed between two sliding bearing shells which comprise extremely hard, wear-resistant materials and, in accordance with the operating principle of a radial sliding bearing, form a first pressure-reducing stage. A feedback device, which feeds back the leakage from this first sealing stage into the conveying process of the machine, is connected downstream of the first pressure-reducing stage. A second sealing stage is arranged axially downstream of the feedback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Joh. Heinr. Bornemann GmbH
    Inventors: Jens-Uwe Brandt, Gerhard Rohlfing, Vejen Hristov
  • Patent number: 5993066
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing design is disclosed incorporating a flexible membrane at one end of the fluid gap in the hydrodynamic bearing. If voids exist in the fluid, and if changes in the size of these voids or bubbles occur with changes in temperature or pressure in which the disc drive is being used, then the volume of the fluid will change, and increase relative to the change in size of the volume of the surrounding physical part. The flexible membrane will yield to the increased pressure of the increasing volume of the fluid. The membrane essentially acts as a spring whose spring force is overcome by the pressure created by or accompanying a increase in volume in which the lubricating fluid is contained, and preventing its escape or being forced out of the inner region of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Leuthold, Coda H. Pan, David John Jennings, Lakshman Nagarathnam, Raquib U. Khan, Wesley Ronald Clark, Gunter Heine
  • Patent number: 5860746
    Abstract: A sealed roll bearing of a roll which has neck sleeves of high strength, preferably shrunk onto the roll necks of the roll, wherein the flanges of a profiled sealing ring sealingly engage over the end portions of the neck sleeve facing the end faces of the roll bodies and at least over portions of the end phases of the roll bodies. The flanges of the profiled sealing rings engaging over the end faces of the roll bodies are connected to the end faces of the roll bodies and the flanges of the profiled sealing rings engaging over the end portions of the neck sleeves surround the flanges of the profiled sealing rings engaging over the end portions of the neck sleeves so as to form a narrow gap, wherein the narrow gap is sealed by means of at least one sealing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Konrad Roeingh, Matthias Tuschhoff, Karl-Friedrich Muller
  • Patent number: 5805958
    Abstract: A seal bearing assembly for seal a rotating member in a development system is disclosed. The seal bearing assembly includes a seal assembly; a cutter, in contacted with the seal assembly, for cutting a portion of the seal assembly to seal the seal assembly about the member; and a bearing assembly, enclosed by the seal assembly, rotatingly supporting the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Duane H. Fisk
  • Patent number: 5685647
    Abstract: The present invention includes four sections or partitions: two thrust bearings which are formed by the sides of a grooved thrust plate and corresponding countersurfaces, the thrust bearings designed to cause fluid flow in a single direction up around the rotating thrust plate and upward along the surface of a rotating journal, and two journal bearings formed side-by-side on the journal formed between a rotating shaft and a bushing with multiple spiral-grooved sections being formed on the rotating shaft or in the stationary bushing. The two journal bearings are separated by a circumferential groove in the shaft which is connected by a radial bore to a hollow reservoir in the shaft for providing fluid to the journal bearing and the thrust bearing. By providing this bore and a second bore located near to the thrust bearing, the boundary conditions for the combined journal bearings and thrust bearings are fixed and a stable rotating shaft is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Leuthold, David John Jennings, Wesley Ronald Clark, Raquib Khan, Guenther Heine
  • Patent number: 5669717
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic sleeve bearing for supporting the shaft of a relatively large electromechanical machine. The bearing includes a base element and a cap element matable about the shaft to produce the bearing housing. The bearing housing when assembled includes a shaft receiving portion through which the shaft extends and a sump portion for containing a lubricant fluid. The design of the present invention minimizes the axial length of the shaft receiving portion to approximately that of the bearing liner contained therein. As a result, the weight of the cap element will be significantly reduced over many prior art constructions. Respective lubricant seals are attached at opposite end faces of the shaft receiving portion. The lubricant seals and the end faces are configured to permit lubricant fluid to flow directly back into the sump. The lubricant seals may be installed in a plurality of angular orientations, which may be particularly useful if a selected sensor device is installed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Industrial Co.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Kostrzewsky
  • Patent number: 5655862
    Abstract: A machine tool has a spindle with a splayed taper at the tool-holding tip, the taper expanding outwards in the direction away from the supporting bearings. Due to centrifugal forces, any cutting fluid (scattered by cutting operations) that reaches the surface of the taper tends to move on the surface of the taper and scatter away from the bearing, avoiding the intrusion of cutting fluid into the bearing. A flange having an internal taper matching the splayed taper of the tool-holding tip can be provided around the tip, making it more difficult for cutting fluid to reach the clearance between the tapers and further encouraging any intruding fluid to move and scatter away from the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumihiko Kato
  • Patent number: 5645356
    Abstract: A rotary shaft is supported by a bearing surface of a bush body. The diameter of the rotary shaft is slightly smaller than that of the bearing surface of the bush body, thus defining a clearance therebetween. On both end sides of the bush body, seal portions elastically engage with the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, and the outer surfaces of the seal portions extend within a range of thickness of the bush body so that end surfaces of the bush body and end surfaces of the seal portions are in contact with each other. Consequently, both sides of the clearance are sealed by inside surfaces of the seal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shibayama, Masatoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5558443
    Abstract: A seal for a hydrodynamic bearing unit having a shaft and a sleeve includes a seal ring secured to the shaft and extending radially outwardly of the pair of spaced-apart hydrodynamic journal bearings defined between the seal ring and a thrust plate. The seal ring adjacently faces adjacent radial and axial portions of the sleeve. An annular taper capillary seal is defined between a diverging outer wall surface of the seal ring and the adjacent axial portion of the sleeve. A containment ring extends from the sleeve to surround a radial wall portion of the seal ring adjacent to an opening of the taper capillary seal and forms a secondary containment seal opening toward the shaft for preventing escape of the hydrodynamic bearing lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: Yan Zang
  • Patent number: 5536088
    Abstract: A construction for an electric spindle motor includes a stationary central shaft with a horizontal thrust bearing plate and a rotating hub assembly. A flanged thrust bearing ring having an upper capillary surface is affixed to the hub assembly. An annular end cap having a lower capillary surface is nested within the flanged bearing ring. The upper and lower capillary surfaces are radially outwardly diverging horizontal surfaces relative to each other which define a capillary cavity. Lubricating fluid partially fills the capillary cavity to form a horizontal capillary seal which prevents the fluid from escaping the motor. The capillary seal may be formed by tapering either the upper or lower capillary surfaces to provide an enlargement of the bearing cavity in an axial direction radially outwardly from the central shaft. Alternatively, the capillary seal may be formed by substantially coating the upper and lower capillary surfaces with a barrier coating to increase surface tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Synektron Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Cheever, Mark Hazelton, Frank A. Gray
  • Patent number: 5533811
    Abstract: An improved hydrodynamic bearing comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve and an elongated shaft with the shaft being disposed within the sleeve for rotation relative thereto. A first thrust plate is coupled to one end of the shaft and a second thrust plate is coupled to the opposite end. A lubricant is disposed between the shaft and the sleeve as well as between the first and second thrust plates and the sleeve. The first thrust plate extends radially outward adjoining a corresponding first end of the sleeve forming a gap for containing the lubricant therebetween and the first thrust plate further extends axially inward toward a center of the bearing along an outer surface of the sleeve defining a surface tension seal forming gap therebetween. In a particular embodiment, the surface tension seal forming gap may be tapered to grow wider as it extends axially inward toward the center of the bearing to form a surface tension seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Ewaryst Z. Polch, Carl D. Williams, Jackie Cordova
  • Patent number: 5509737
    Abstract: A track roller or cam follower type bearing has seal-thrust withstanding members. The sealing function and the thrust withstanding function are performed by a single structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Walter P. Waskiewicz, Daniel R. McLarty
  • Patent number: 5498084
    Abstract: Means and method for restricting the flow of oil which passes between the front bearing and the main shaft of an automatic transmission for motorized vehicles. A gland is formed at the downstream end of the front bearing in either the inner surface of that bearing or of the housing into which the bearing is press-fitted. A split ring made of thermoplastic material having a pressure velocity value in excess of 20,000 at 100 feet/minute surface speed is inserted in the gland and keyed in place against rotation. The ring has a diameter which is slightly less than the diameter of the main shaft which it surrounds, and has circumferential gaps between its overlapping end portions which extend circumferentially 0.006"-0.300" and has axial dimensions of 0.006"-0.150". The circumference of the ring is spaced radially from the opposed wall of the gland at least 0.0005".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Quadion Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 5487608
    Abstract: The present invention includes four sections or partitions: two thrust bearings which are formed by the sides of a grooved thrust plate and corresponding countersurfaces, the thrust bearings designed to cause fluid flow in a single direction up around the rotating thrust plate and upward along the surface of a rotating journal, and two journal bearings formed side-by-side on the journal formed between a rotating shaft and a bushing with multiple spiral-grooved sections being formed on the rotating shaft or in the stationary bushing. The two journal bearings are separated by a circumferential groove in the shaft which is connected by a radial bore to a hollow reservoir in the shaft for providing fluid to the journal bearing and the thrust bearing. By providing this bore and a second bore located near to the thrust bearing, the boundary conditions for the combined journal bearings and thrust bearings are fixed and a stable rotating shaft is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Leuthold, David J. Jennings, Wesley R. Clark, Raquib Khan, Guenther Heine
  • Patent number: 5482378
    Abstract: A vacuum motor bearing protection system includes a barrier wall interposed between a motor assembly and a fan assembly. A shaft interconnecting the assemblies is rotatably received within a bearing received by the barrier wall. In order to prevent moisture and debris from attacking the bearing, apertures are position in the top plate of the fan assembly nearest the bearing and in juxtaposition thereto for drawing air away from the bearing and into the fan eye. Accordingly, this scavenging action draws any moisture or debris from the area of the bearing. To assist in the pumping action, the barrier wall, fan top plate, or a spacer interposed therebetween may be provided with vanes positioned and configured to direct moisture laden air to the apertures in the fan top plate and into the fan eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Ametek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Vona, Jr., George E. Marsinek
  • Patent number: 5427456
    Abstract: An electric motor construction includes a rotor housing and sleeve which surrounds a shaft/thrust plate. The thrust plate is enclosed in a dead end cavity and is surrounded by a fluid which forms a fluid bearing. The shaft has asymmetrical grooves which create a net pressure gradient from a capillary seal formed near the bottom of the shaft toward the dead end cavity. This helps maintain the capillary seal and reduce the risk of cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Synektron Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Hensel
  • Patent number: 5407283
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing device for a motor comprising a rotor frame with a field magnet provided on an inner periphery thereof, a shaft coupled to the rotor frame, an oilless bearing for rotatably supporting the shaft, a stator fixedly accommodating the oilless bearing, and a stator fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the stator boss. The bearing device comprises an annular oil seal washer made of a viscoelastic member with an least an adhesive layer provided on a surface thereof, and a substantially disk shaped resin cap. The oil seal washer is sandwiched between an end surface of the stator boss and the resin cap fixed on an inner peripheral surface of a stator boss supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ohtsuka, Takehito Tsukada
  • Patent number: 5407235
    Abstract: A bearing seal for axles, in particular the seal of a grease-lubricated sliding bearing for a pin. A sealing ring which is arranged on the axle via a press fit is provided in the bearing housing and a retaining ring is arranged in an annular groove for the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Winfried Rechenberg
  • Patent number: 5368397
    Abstract: A guide bushing having an integrated seal for the clutch-release bearing of a gear unit, comprising a connecting sleeve [pipe socket] circumferentially surrounding an input shaft of the gear unit with radial clearance and a mounting flange affixed to the connecting sleeve, whereby, on the side facing the outer wall of the gear unit, the connecting sleeve has an essentially Z-shaped cross-section, whereby the Z-shaped cross-section is comprised of a first axial side piece situated radially to the inside and of a second axial side piece situated radially to the outside, and whereby the first and the second axial side piece are joined by a radial side piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Gerhard Freiwald
  • Patent number: 5281033
    Abstract: A housed bearing assembly suitable for use as a pillow block bearing unit or flanged bearing unit. The assembly includes a shaft sleeve and roller body secured to one another and enclosed by a housing. The roller body is adapted to roll against an inner peripheral surface of the housing. A supply of lubricant sufficient to lubricate the roller body is contained within the housing. The housing and rolling body are designed to direct lubricant toward fluid tight areas of the assembly and away from those areas where leakage might occur. A lubricant containment reservoir is formed in either the housing or the shaft such that lubricant will not reach the space or interface between the shaft and the housing. The roller body may be provided with a drip edge to further direct lubricant away from the interface between the housing and the shaft. The housing is constructed as a spherical segment seated in a spherical seat to allow pivoting of the inner housing portion to pivot to adjust for misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Russell D. Ide
  • Patent number: 5238308
    Abstract: Adjustable gap hydrostatic bearings and adjustable gap seals wherein the adjustable gaps are useful to compensate for wear, thermal expansion, journal speed, and radial deflection of the journal. A housing 10 is adjacent to a journal 2. The housing contains an annular electrodeformable material 5 which will expand or contract radially with the application of voltage and thus adjust the gap between the liner material 3 and the journal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Ko-Wei Lang, Joseph K. Scharrer, Robert F. Beatty, Nandor L. Gaspar
  • Patent number: 5217309
    Abstract: A drive device for wipers of motor vehicles includes a shaft extending a front face of a bearing housing and with a cylindrical slide bearing which is inserted into the bearing housing at little distance from the front face of said bearing housing, and with a ring groove limited by the slide bearing, the bearing housing and the shaft. A bush firmly fixed to the bearing housing and made of elastic material closes the ring groove in front of the slide bearing and at its end turned off from the bearing housing comprises a sealing flange radially projecting towards the inside, which sealing flange engages into a ring groove of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Csermak, Bernd Walther
  • Patent number: 5171126
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a housing which defines an annular chamber disposed downstream of the impeller and surrounding the shaft seal. The chamber receives a hollow cylindrical or frustoconical shroud which surrounds the shaft seal with spacing and protects it from solid particles in the conveyed fluid. A non-contact type annular seal between the impeller and the housing surrounds the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karlheinz Becker, Karl-Heinz Bayer
  • Patent number: 5141339
    Abstract: A brake shaft of a vehicle is rotatably supported in a housing by a pair of bush assemblies acting as plain bearings. Each bush assembly is composed of a cylindrical body with grooves in its inner periphery which open to one end of the body. The housing has a bore for introducing lubricant into the grooves. A flange at the opposite end of each body has a recess in which a multi-lip seal is fitted. The housing has recesses which receive the flanges, of the bodies and deformable lips on the bodies locate in the recesses and assist the seals to prevent the ingress of contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: RHP Bearings Limited
    Inventor: Terence A. Evans
  • Patent number: 5048978
    Abstract: A shaft damper bearing utilizing spaced apart piston ring seals to seal off an annular squeeze film space between the rings, includes diagonal cross-section ring grooves in the bearing housing with diagonal cross-section rings in the housing grooves adapted to engage a bearing support undergoing radial motion in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Anant P. Singh
  • Patent number: 5040905
    Abstract: An elastomeric combined seal and spring formed of uniformly resilient flowable rubber-like material and comprised of a one-piece annular body of uniform cross-sectional configuration throughout, which is of generally right angled polygonal shape and having a pair of opposed concave working surfaces spaced a distance only 60%-70% of its maximum radial dimension, measured at its corners, and its convex corners having a convexity of only 14%-16% of said maximum radial dimensions, the concavity of said surfaces being 17%-30% of said maximum radial dimensions, thereby providing an elastic seal which will function as a forgiving spring in support of a self-adjusting, self-lubricating split-ring annular bearing and thereby perfect a lasting seal against an annular surface while the latter is moving relative thereto at high speeds for prolonged periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Quadion Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 5035681
    Abstract: A sprocket assembly, particularly adapted for use in wastewater settling tanks, is provided, which assembly is adapted to be supported on a shaft having a longitudinal axis. The sprocket assembly includes a polymeric sleeve adapted to be mounted on the axially extending shaft, the sleeve including a low friction bearing surface formed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The sprocket assembly further includes a sprocket wheel adapted to be mounted on the bearing surface of the sleeve for rotation relative to the sleeve about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Seals are further provided to inhibit the introduction of grit between the sleeve and the sprocket wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Envirex Inc.
    Inventors: Karl R. Hertel, James H. Wiegand
  • Patent number: 5011301
    Abstract: An auxiliary sealing system generally includes a flexible sealing ring, with an optional restraining element, such as a metal band, secured therearound for further fastening same to a given circular member. Such circular member may comprise an extension of the inner race of a bearing assembly secured to a shaft by a plurality of set screw arrangements radially disposed about such inner race extension. The auxiliary seal may be provided with radial holes in the circumference thereof for selective alignment with such set screws to provide access thereto. After the set screws are tightened, the auxiliary seal may be rotated and clamped to the given circular member to thereby protect the set screws from contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Company
    Inventor: Howard W. Martinie
  • Patent number: 5005990
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump of the type specially adapted to be used as a boiler feed pump and including a bearing system at the driven end of the pump comprising a bearing chamber housing a flexible bearing supporting the pump shaft and being cooled by the fluid that is being pumped which is fed to the bearing through passages in the pump casing. The pump further includes controlled leakage seals located at each end of the bearing and adapted to leak the cooling fluid at controlled rates into both the chamber housing the pump impeller and a fluid collection chamber. The leakage into the fluid collection chamber is withdrawn and reused in the usual manner. The pump shaft engages additional seals which serve to prevent the pump cooling fluid from leaking to the outside of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Timothy L. Wotring
  • Patent number: 4969752
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for use with an automobile thrust-strut type suspension comprises a lower casing made of resin, an upper casing made of resin, and a bearing piece made of resin. The bearing piece is disposed rotatably within the upper and lower casings upon snap-fitting a hook portion of an annular suspended portion of the upper casing with an engaging portion of an annular protruded portion of the lower casing. The thrust bearing is so adapted that two annular inner labyrinth portions and two annular outer labyrinth portions are respectively formed at inner and outer peripheral portions of the thrust bearing to thereby prevent sufficiently dust from intruding into a sliding surface of the bearing piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Oiles Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubota, Hiroto Kamimura, Hiroshi Suda
  • Patent number: 4944610
    Abstract: A bearing retainer and seal is described which is snapped into locking engagement on a bearing mounted in a pillow block. The retainer includes an interior circular locking flange which snaps into locking grooves on the outer surfaces of the bearings whereby a pair of the retainers cooperate to lock the bearing in position in a pillow block or other bearing support. The retainer shaft opeining has an integral wiping seal at its edge both to seal the bearing for excluding foreign matter and also for retaining lubrication within the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Winfred M. Berg, Inc
    Inventor: Dennis G. Berg
  • Patent number: 4923312
    Abstract: A thrust bearing made of synthetic resin assembled into a strut-thrust type suspension for use in four wheel cars, comprising a casing made of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin, the bearing body being fitted rotatably to the casing by snap-fitting a hook portion of a suspended portion with an engaging portion of a protruded portion, the suspended portion being formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the casing, the protruded portion being formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the bearing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Kamimura, Shuichi Kubota, Masaru Iwakura
  • Patent number: 4907289
    Abstract: A thrust bearing made of synthetic resin assembled into a strut-thrust type suspension for use in four wheel cars, comprising a casing made of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin, the bearing body being fitted rotatably to the casing by snap-fitting a hook portion of a suspended portion with an engaging portion of a protruded portion, the suspended portion being formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the casing, the protruded portion being formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the bearing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Kamimura, Shuichi Kubota, Masaru Iwakura
  • Patent number: 4898479
    Abstract: In a bearing assembly for a roll neck in a rolling mill, an inner seal ring is mounted with an interference fit as by shrink fitting, on an end portion of an inner bearing component, e.g., the sleeve of an oil film bearing or the inner race of a roller bearing. The end portion of the inner bearing component is suitably dimensioned and configured to deflect radially inwardly under the influence of hoop stresses developed as a result of the aforesaid interference fit, thereby causing the inner seal ring to be inclined towards the roll end face. The end portion of the inner bearing component has an outer diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the remainder of the inner bearing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Morgan Construction Company
    Inventor: Thomas E. Simmons
  • Patent number: 4878766
    Abstract: A high-speed self-lubricating bearing-seal assembly comprised of an annular bearing-seal composed of readily moldable, self-lubricating, plastic material having a pressure velocity value at least equal to 1800 at 100 feet per minute surface speed, and an elastic combined spring and seal member biasing the bearing-seal. The elastic member is located behind the bearing-seal and is formed of a readily flowable rubber-like material, consisting of a combined spring and seal which gently urges the bearing-seal against a sealing surface. The elastic member is generally right-angled polygonal in cross-sectional shape and has concaved sides and convex corners, its minimum radial dimensions between the corners being 60-70% of its maximum radial dimensions. A salient feature of the assembly is that it is a dry bearing-seal, in that no lubrication is required other than that inherent in the bearing-seal member, yet it outlasts other lubricated bearings by a wide margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Quadion Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 4863290
    Abstract: A marine propulsion lower unit including a gear case supporting a propeller shaft adapted to carry a propeller, which gear case has an upper surface including therein a cylindrical well defined by cylindrical peripheral wall and a bottom wall having therein an axial bore, a combined shift rod bushing and gear case seal assembly comprising a hub having an axis and axially spaced first and second ends, which hub also includes therein an axial bore extending from the first end, and which hub also includes therein a counter bore extending from the second end, and communicating with the axial bore in coaxial relation thereto, a flange extending from the hub and received in the well in the gear case, a pair of attachment arms extending from the hub in transverse radially outward relation to the axis of the hub and fixedly connected to the gear case, a plug member received in the counter bore and having an axial bore communicating with the axial bore in the hub, a shift rod extending through the axial bore in the pl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. McNeill, Scott N. Burmeister, Matthew H. Mondek, Roger B. Whipple
  • Patent number: 4854743
    Abstract: The present invention includes a rear seal assembly that holds and seals a rotatable shaft extending through the cooling chamber and extending axially outboard through a rear wall in the cooling chamber. In the interior of the cooling chamber, the seal assembly includes a first resilient seal having a coupling section fitted about the shaft and a radially protruding lip section at the base of the coupling section. At the axially outboard end portion of the seal housing, an axially outboard male threaded extension protrudes from a wall abutment surface of the seal housing. The outboardly extending male threaded extension of the seal housing mates with complementary threads in the hole through the rear wall of the cooling chamber. A retaining ring, that is metal in the preferred embodiment, is threaded from the outside of the chamber onto the outwardly extending male threaded extension of the seal housing. The retaining ring has a threaded outer circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: ICEE USA Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney N. Sexton, Floyd S. Woolf, Timothy W. Ruud
  • Patent number: 4854745
    Abstract: A thrust bearing made of synthetic resin assembled into a strut-thrust type suspension for use in four wheel cars, comprising a casing made of synthetic resin and a bearing body made of synthetic resin, the bearing body being fitted rotatably to the casing by snap-fitting a hook portion of a suspended portion with an engaging portion of a protruded portion, the suspended portion being formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the casing, the protruded portion being formed integrally with an outer circumferential edge of the bearing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Oiles Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Kamimura, Shuichi Kubota, Masaru Iwakura
  • Patent number: 4842423
    Abstract: An apparatus which seals a shaft mounted rotatably on a bearing member. At least two spaced apart annular flanges are mounted on the shaft. One of the flanges being is arranged to bear radially against the bearing member. An annular sealing member is mounted on the shaft between the two flanges in abutting relation with at least one of the flanges to form a radial seal with the bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Anil G. Bhagwat
  • Patent number: 4790673
    Abstract: In a bearing assembly for a roll neck in a rolling mill, an inner seal ring is mounted with an interference fit as by shrink fitting, on an end portion of an inner bearing component, e.g., the sleeve of an oil film bearing or the inner race of a roller bearing. The end portion of the inner bearing component is suitably dimensioned and configured to deflect radially inwardly under the influence of hoop stresses developed as a result of the aforesaid interference fit, thereby causing the inner seal ring to be inclined towards the roll end face. The end portion of the inner bearing component has an outer diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the remainder of the inner bearing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Morgan Construction Company
    Inventor: Thomas E. Simmons
  • Patent number: 4783179
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sealing device for a rotary fluid machine having bearings which are disposed at opposite end portions in a shaft chamber and support a shaft, the sealing device being characterized by comprising a fluid seal of a fluid having a higher pressure than in the shaft chamber, the fluid seal being provided at a portion in the shaft chamber through which the shaft extends; usual dynamic pressure type bearings disposed in the middle of the fluid sealing device itself or in the vicinity of the middle thereof, the bearings being further received in a housing of the sealing device; and sealing members for partially confining a space defined between the housing and the bearings in an axial direction and a peripheral direction in order to form a closed loop; whereby the bearings are pressed downward by a differential pressure between a pressure of the fed fluid and a pressure in the outside of the shaft chamber so as to permit increasing the number of kinetic fulcrums for the shaft an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Mitsubishi-Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuso Katayama, Yasushi Mouri
  • Patent number: 4765755
    Abstract: An improved roller-type grinding mill wherein antifriction thrust-type roller bearings and an improved packing are utilized to improve the loading stress absorption characteristics and to prevent dust from entering into the mill structure and thereby shortening the useful life thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: J. M. Huber Corporation
    Inventor: Billie R. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4750847
    Abstract: A bearing assembly designed to preclude the escape of lubrication through bushings within which elongated shafts are rotated at high speeds. The bearing assembly is comprised of a bearing member of split-ring form which is made of a readily moldable self-lubricating material having a pressure velocity value at least equal to 1800 at 100 feet per minute surface speed, and is L-shaped in cross-sectional configuration. It includes an elastomeric sealing ring mounted in supporting relation to the sealing portion of the L-shaped bearing member which is compressed therewith within a groove provided for that purpose at the outer end of the bushing. The sealing ring maintains the bearing member in close-fitting, sealing relation to the sealing surface surrounding the shaft and is insulated by the bearing member from the sealing surface having rapid relative movement and from associated parts to thereby obviate the normally attendant destructive effects of high speed rotation upon such a ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Quadion Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 4660995
    Abstract: In a hydrostatic axial thrust bearing structure in which two bearing members are disposed for movement relative to one another, a central bearing cavity adapted to receive pressurized bearing fluid is surrounded by a limited leakage seal structure which includes a ring of an elastomeric material disposed in a recess in one of the bearing members and a seal face formed on the other member which has a cylindrical outer surface received in a cylindrical projection of the one bearing member with a small axial leakage gap provided between the cylindrical sufaces of the two bearing members thereby providing a leakage path from the bearing cavity which is independent of the movement of the two bearing members relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4606652
    Abstract: A cryogenic turboexpander employing a rotor and a shaft fixed thereto including bearings rotatably supporting the shaft having a pressurized lubricating system. A labyrinth seal is positioned between the bearings and the rotor. A control valve is employed to sense differential pressure across a portion of the seal and regulate the pressure within a cavity between the seal and a near bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Rotoflow, Corporation
    Inventor: Judson S. Swearingen
  • Patent number: 4600318
    Abstract: Accelerated wear of the seal in a thrust bearing and seal assembly is avoided by the provision of a bearing having a thrust bearing pad engaging a shoulder on a shaft with the inner diameter of the bearing being spaced from the shaft sufficiently to define a seal receiving space. An axially movable seal having a sealing surface engaging the shoulder is located in the space and is biased against the shoulder by a biasing spring. When deflection occurs, the sealing element is free to yield axially, allowing the loading to be taken up by the thrust pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: E. K. Miller