Abstract: A fixed shape hydrodynamic journal bearing 10 is provided having a plurality of pads 18, each pad having a peak 22, a trough 20, and a curve 24 connecting the peak and the trough, the curve being defined by the equation: h=r+s (1-.theta..sub.1 /.theta..sub.2).sup..alpha..

Abstract: A ball structure for stabilizing bearing torque in high speed, preloaded, angular contact load supporting ball bearings operating on elastohydrodynamic lubricant films. Angular momentum developed about a ball spin axis that is not parallel to the bearing rotation axis results in a continuous creep of the ball about the momentum axis, thereby allowing a long term preload and torque variation. The improved ball set is shaped so that each ball has a mass inertia about its desired spin axis that is greater than about all other axes, so as to develop a restoring moment tending to maintain rotation about a fixed axis in each ball. The ball cage is configured to maintain ball alignment during run-up and run-down of the bearing.

Abstract: A roller bearing comprising an inner and outer raceway and a row of rollers arranged between and contacting the raceways, the axes of the rollers being substantially parallel to the axes of the raceways when the latter are coinciding, the rollers and the raceways having curved longitudinal section profiles in which the curve radii are substantially greater than the greatest distance between the central axis of the bearing and the surfaces of the raceways and wherein the rollers are axially movable between the raceways without being obstructed by axial limitations at the raceways or by limited axial cage play for permitting relative inclination and axial displaceability being limited only by the rollers being squeezed radially between the raceways.

Abstract: An improved roller bearing assembly of the type comprising an inner race having a cylindrical riding track; an outer race coaxial with the inner race, having an inner cylindrical riding track facing the outer riding track of the inner race; and a series of rollers mounted between the riding tracks. This roller bearing assembly is improved in that each of its rollers has at least two cylindrical riding surfaces of different radii, the cylindrical riding surface of longer radius exclusively contacting the outer race riding track while the cylindrical riding surface of smaller radii exclusively contacts the inner race riding track. The radius of the riding track of the outer race equals the sum of the radius of the riding track of the inner race plus the longer and smaller radii of the riding surfaces of one roller. The ratio of the radius of the riding track of the outer race over the radius of the riding track of the inner race equals the ratio of the longer radius over the shorter radius.

Abstract: A ball bearing which is to function as a radial, radial angular-contact, and axial angular-contact bearing includes coaxial inner and outer races respectively formed with ball grooves which face each other, the bearing having a plurality of balls of a given ball radius situated between these races and extending into the grooves thereof so as to have rolling contact with the races. At least one of these races has in an axial plane which contains the common axis of the races a cross-sectional configuration according to which the innermost part of the groove of this one race has a radius of curvature which is somewhat greater than the radius of the ball, e.g., about 51.6% of the diameter of the ball, with the radius of curvature of the latter groove gradually increasing from the innermost part thereof up to a pair of opposed side edges of the groove.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bearing assembly for the wheels of automobiles, wherein an axle member B is ground by a first step wherein a raceway surface 5 and a cylindrical seat 6 are simultaneously ground, a second step wherein any deviation of the finished raceway diameter from its predetermined size is fed back to a gauge 23 for in-process control which controls the grinding operation on back-face rib surface 21 and shoulder 9, and a third step wherein the back-face rib surface 21 and shoulder 9 are ground simultaneously, while an inner annular member C is ground by a first step wherein a raceway surface 11 is ground, a second step wherein any deviation of the finished raceway diameter from its predetermined size is fed back to a gauge 29 for in-process control which controls the grinding operation on back-face rib surface 21 and front face 10, and a third step wherein the back-face rib surface 21 and front face 10 are ground simultaneously, and the inner annular member B is then fitted on the cylindrical